Ethiopian Historical Route and the Danakil Depression – 16 Days

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Refresh and begin your sightseeing of Addis with a drive up to mount Entoto for a panoramic view of Addis. Descend down and drive to the National Museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of the ‘Lucy’ fossil. Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during WWII. Then proceed to the Ethnographic museum, which use to be the palace of Emperor Hailesellase. To wrap up you drive to Mercato, the biggest market in East Africa.
Overnight in Addis

After an early breakfast, you will drive to Debre Markos by visiting the monastery of Debre Libanos and Portugal bridge then passing through the Blue Nile gorge. You will have lunch at Dejen. Later in the afternoon, you will be arriving in Debre Markos
Overnight Hotel in Debre Mrakos

This day after breakfast we will be driving to the lakeside town of Bahir Dar via seeing the lake of Zengena and later around lunch time you will be arriving in Bahir Dar and you will be staying the day in your hotel.

Overnight Hotel in Bahir Dar

After having your breakfast you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th-century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries. Afternoon, you will drive to the village of Tis Isat to see the Blue Nile falls. (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal because of the construction of the new dam.)
Overnight Hotel in Bahir Dar

After having your breakfast, you will begin your journey to Gondar. The Royal Capital of Ethiopia, Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fassiladas. In the afternoon you will visit the city of Gondar with the drive to the Castles and Churches built by Emperor Fassiladas and his descendants. Proceed to the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie (The Enlightening of Trinity) with Wonderful murals art, Qusquam Church.
Overnight in Gonda

On this day you will have an excursion to Sanqaber a segment of the Semen Mountain. This is a sight, which is termed the wildest and most spectacular of all Ethiopian landscapes- 'the roof of Africa.' Observe the magnificent scenery. Overnight at Simien Park Hotel

Today you will have an excursion to Cheneck, where you may encounter the endemic Gelada baboon and Walia Ibex. This is a great opportunity to see some of Ethiopia's unique wildlife up close!
Overnight at Simien Park Hotel

A city with more than 2500 years of history, once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization, home of the original Ark of covenants, Axum is the prime historical site in the north of Ethiopia. Take a city tour that includes the St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the ‘Ark of the covenant’, the coronation yard, Stelae Park, the Tomb of Kaleb and his son Gebre Meskel, Ezana’s Inscriptions, Queen of Sheba’s Bath, Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins and Axum Museum.

Overnight Hotel in Axum

This day you will drive to Hawzen visiting en route the Yeha 5th century Temple displaying incredible skills in stonework and is in fact the oldest building still standing in Ethiopia. After lunch, you will have a chance of seeing the Tigray churches of Wukero Cherko.

Overnight Hotel in Mekele

We start early and drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). Leave after an early breakfast, possibly at 07:30. This may be one of the worst roads in the world. The 70 km distance may take about 5 hrs passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand, and occasional palm-lined oasis. After you pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert land, Dodom is about 9.5km from Erta Ale and it takes about 3 hrs trekking. Early dinner around 17:00 and trek up to Ertale at 20:00 hours. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mats and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks as one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and a 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. Overnight on the top of the mountain. Erta Ale is 613 meters, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century.

Overnight camping on the mountain

Descend from Erta Ale around 9 am Dodom - Hamd Ela. Leave back to Dodom after an early breakfast, if possible at 07:00. You will reach the latest at 10:30 am at the camp, time to relax. After driving to reach Hamad Ela, a better village with a total population of about 500 people.

Overnight Hamedela( camping)

Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look at the activity of breaking the salt from the ground, cutting it into rectangular pieces, and loading it on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the different landscapes formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salt mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans, and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele

Overnight Hotel in Mekelle

After an early breakfast, start the journey to the town of Lalibela via sekota observing the beautiful landscape.
Overnight in Lalibela Mountainview Hotel

Lalibela is a small town in Ethiopia that is home to some of the most incredible rock-hewn churches in the world. These churches, which were carved out of solid rock centuries ago, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a truly awe-inspiring sight.

In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit some of the most popular churches in Lalibela. The first is the Church of Saint George, which is carved out of a single piece of red granite. The second is the Church of Saint Mary, which is considered to be the most beautiful of all the rock-hewn churches. And the third is the Church of Saint Lazarus, which is the oldest of the churches and has some of the most intricate carvings.

These churches are truly a sight to behold and are a must-see for anyone visiting Ethiopia.

Overnight in Lalibela Mountainview Hotel

Morning you will take an excursion to visit Yimrehane Kirstos, located on a mountain ridge, at the peak of Abuna Yosep. This exquisite church is a masterpiece of Axumite wood and stone construction and renewed its interior decoration. The walls are subdivided vertically with recessions and projections. In the afternoon you will visit the remaining churches: Bete Gabriel, Bete Marqorios, Bete Emmanuel, and Bete Aba Libanos.

Overnight in Lalibela Mountainview Hotel

After having your breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. In the evening, you will attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia.

This is a great opportunity to experience the culture and cuisine of Ethiopia. The folkloric dinner will be a memorable experience, and you will get to try some delicious food. The dances of the various ethnic groups will be a great way to learn about the culture of Ethiopia

End of the Tour