Ethiopia in Depth: History, Nature, and Culture; 21 Days / 20 Nights

Tour Itinerary CO20

Arrival Bole International Airport
Awaze Tours will meet all clients arriving at the airport regardless of arrival time. For morning flight arrivals you may begin your tour after checking into your hotel. For afternoon or evening arrivals, you may begin your tour the following day.

Day 01 Addis Ababa
Visit Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Tour the Ethnographic Museum, a great introduction to Ethiopian culture and history. Make a short drive to Entoto Hills for a view of the city and visit Maryam Church. En-route, stop at Sheromeda traditional cloth market. Visit the Mercato or the Sholla Market, two of Addis Ababa's main markets.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

A tankwa on Lake Tana

Day 02 Addis Ababa - Bahar Dar
Fly to Bahar Dar on Ethiopian Airlines. Take a boat tour on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, and tour ancient monasteries on the Zege Peninsula. We will visit two of the following monasteries: Ura Kidane Mehiret, Azwa Maryam, Mehal Zege Giorgis, and Bete Maryam. End the day with a sunset visit to Bezawit Hills overlooking the Nile River.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

Spices at the Bahar Dar market.

Day 03 Bahar Dar - Gondar
Drive through the countryside to Gondar. Tour the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five castles built by a succession of Ethiopian kings beginning in the early 17th century. Having survived several wars, including air raids during World War 2, the castles are a testament to the resilience of this once mighty empire. Visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie, famous for its religious art and especially its iconic ceiling depicting angels.
Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Simien Mountains National Park

Day 04 Gondar - Simien Mountains National Park
Drive to Sankabar the gateway to the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park has some of the highest peaks in Africa (Ras Dashen - 4,550m - is the fourth highest on the continent). Hike in the park at your own pace accompanied by a National Park guide and scoutn. While taking in the spectacular scenery look for wildlife such as the Gelada, a primate endemic to Ethiopia with bright red markings on the chest.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

Simien Mountain Park scout.

Day 05 Simien Mountains National Park - Axum
Take a scenic drive from the Simien Mountains to Axum, capital of the ancient Axumite Empire which included much of present day Ethiopia, Eritrea and Yemen. Axum is where Christianity was first introduced to Ethiopia in the 4th century and proclaimed the official state religion in 330AD. Axum was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Arrive in Axum late afternoon.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Carved "false" doorway in one of the Axum stele.

Day 06 Axum
Tour the ancient stelae fields, standing for 2000 years. Note the tallest standing (24 meters) obelisk which is supported by cables. During the invasion by Benito Mussolini this stone was cut into sections and shipped to Rome were it was reassembled in the city center. Italy returned this national treasure to Axum in 2005. Next to the stelae fields, visit the impressive Archeological Museum. See St. Mary Tsion Church, which houses the Ark of the Covenant according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (no one is allowed to see the Ark.) Visit other tombs and archeological sites as time permits.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Axum's basket market is held every Saturday.

Day 07 Axum - Hawzein
Drive to Hawzein passing the Adwa battlefield, site of Emperor Menelik II's 1895 victory over the invading Italians. Visit the 2,500 year old ruins of Yeha, an ancient moon temple. Continue past Adigrat and visit Aba Gerima and Petros Paulos, two of the Tigray region's oldest and finest rock churches.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

Interior of a rock-hewn church in Tigray.

Day 08 Hawzein to Mekele
Visit more of Tigray's remote and ancient rock-hewn churches: Abraha Atsbeha, dating from the 10th century; the beautiful Wukro Chirkos; and Medhane Alem Kesho. Drive to Mekele.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Youngster in Lalibela.

Day 09 Mekele to Lalibela
Drive on a scenic road to Lalibela. Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the sunset from the terrace.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

St. George Church in Lalibela. (photo courtesy of Adrian Whear)

Day 10 Lalibela
Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group of eleven monolithic and semi-monolithic structures were carved directly into the stone of the mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings. In the late afternoon, enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony and learn the process for baking injera (a staple food for much of Ethiopia.)

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Walking back to Lalibela from Asheton Maryam.

Day 11 Lalibela
For the morning you have two choices: Take a morning hike with mules to Mount Asheton, with its 13th century rock-hewn monastery and great views of the town; - OR - Drive to Yemrehanna Kristos, a beautiful church situated in a shallow cave that predates the churches of Lalibela. The drive to Yemrehanna will also give you the opportunity to view the rural countryside and villages of the Ethiopian highlands. Following either option above continue with tour of Lalibela’s churches in the afternoon. paintings.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Priests in Lalibela, Ethiopia

Day 12 Lalibela - Addis Ababa - Langano
Fly to Addis Ababa and then drive to the Rift Valley Lake Langano. Relax at the Sabana Lodge. Lake Langano is safe for swimming.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

A Dorze home

Day 13 Lake Langano - Arba Minch
Drive to Arba Minch (“Forty Springs”) located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region. En route, visit a Dorze Village in the Guge Mountains. The Dorze are known for their tall, beehive-shaped bamboo houses. If the base becomes infested with termites, the entire house can be lifted and moved to another location.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

An Ari village near Jinka

Day 14 Arba Minch - Jinka
Take a boat trip on Lake Chamo and view some of the largest crocodiles in the world sunning on the banks of the lake. Hippopotami and birdlife are also abundant. Drive to Jinka visiting various peoples such as the Gamo and Derashe. Stop at Key Afar's weekly market (if on a Thursday) and wander among the various tribes such as the Benna and Ari that have gathered to barter their goods.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

Mago National Park

Day 15 Mago National Park Excursion
Early morning drive to the Mago National Park to visit the Mursi people. The Mursi women are known for the clay plates they insert into their lower lips. Time permitting, visit the Omo Valley Museum in Jinka.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

A Hamer village near Turmi

Day 16 Jinka - Turmi
Drive to Turmi to visit the Hamer people who are well known for the scarring of their bodies, using clay to shape their hairstyles, and the unique practice of "bull-jumping" which every young man must accomplish prior to marriage. En route to Turmi, visit the Benna and Ari people.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

Woman of the Dassanech tribe in the Omo Valley.

Day 17 Omorate Excursion
Excursion to Omorate to visit the Dassanech people, known for their elaborate body-painting. Cross the famous Omo River by canoe. Return to Turmi for the evening.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

A generation pole in a Konso village

Day 18 Turmi - Konso
Drive to Konso, recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A highland people, the Konso are known for the ancient and intricate terraces that encircle their well-planned villages.

Overnight Lodge (B, L, D)

A Konso village

Day 19 Konso - Hawassa
Drive to the lakeside town of Hawassa. Relax and recover from your journey at one of Hawassa's fine resorts.

Overnight Resort (B, L, D)

View near the Bale Mountain Lodge.

Day 20 Hawassa - Bale Mountains
Drive east to the Bale Mountains National Park which is known for its incredibly diverse landscapes. Near the park headquarters take a leisurely walk, possibly spotting two endemic mammals that frequent the area: Menelik's Bushbuck and the Mountain Nyala. Birds in this area include the Blue-Winged Goose, the Spot-Breasted Lapwing, the Abyssinian Long Claw, the Wattled Ibis, the Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail, and numerous other species.

Overnight Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 21 Bale - Addis Ababa
Drive to Addis Ababa via the Arsi/Bale region, home to many of Ethiopia’s famous distance runners. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country's many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure if needed.

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End of Tour
(Awaze Tours will arrange additional hotel nights in Addis Ababa upon request.)

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