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Day Itinerary
01 Arrival in Addis Ababa
Morning arrival at Bole International airport where you will be met and transferred to one of the breakfast places in town to have a short coffee stop before you check-into the Jupiter International Hotel or similar.
After check-in and some rest in your hotel, start your tour of the city with a visit of the National archeological museum with Lucy and other archeological collections.
Have lunch at the Lucy restaurant before you head to the Ethnographic museum which is also known as the ‘Institute of Ethiopian studies’.
Have a taste of the Ethiopian coffee at the Tomoca coffee shop and drive to Merkato, largest open air market in Africa. Dinner and overnight Hotel.

02 Flight to Bahirdar with ET 126 0700/0800hrs
Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Bahirdar. Up on arrival at Bahirdar, transfer one of the local juice shops to have a light breakfast and drive to the spectacular water falls (though the falls is not as spectacular as before because of the newly constructed hydroelectric dam), 35kms per way from Bahirdar and 30minutes walk per way to the view point of the water falls. Afterwards drive back to Bahirdar and check in to the Abay Minch Lodge or similar.
P.M Boat trip on Lake Tana to visit one of the most interesting churches of the area, URA Kidanemihret church. Please note that you have to walk about 25 minutes per way through the coffee forest to the church.
Late in the afternoon head to an area on the lakeshore where the locals gather to socialize and observe the Great white pelicans. Evening dinner and coffee ceremony in the Ghion Hotel. Overnight Abay Minch lodge or similar

03 Drive to Gondar (180km)
Drive north of Bahirdar to Gondar through the beautiful landscapes of Taragedam Mountain. Transfer to the Goha hotel or similar for check-in and lunch.
P.M visit of the castle compound where you can explore the medieval palaces/castles of Emperor Fasiledas, Yohannes, Eyasu, David, Bakaffa and Queen Mentuab. Further more visit the church of Debre Berhan Selassie with the famous wall paintings and paintings of more than 80 winged-angels covering the ceiling. Dinner and overnight Goha hotel or similar.

04 Flight to Lalibela with ET 122 0900/0930hrs
Morning transfer to the airport for your short and direct flight to Lalibela. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to the Mountain View Hotel or similar. P.M. After lunch, visit the first group of rock-hewn churches of Lalibela including Bete Medhanealem, Bete Maryam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil and the “double church� of Debre Sina and Bete Michael in which the “Selassie-Chapel� in integrated.
You will also visit the famous cross-shaped church of Bete Giorgis. Dinner and overnight Mountain View Hotel or similar.

05 Lalibela
Morning visit the second group of churches including “the double-church� of Bete Gebrel and Rafael, the tabot-less Bethlehem, Bete Merquorios, Bete Emanuel with its Axumite architectures on the exterior and interior walls and Bete Abba Libanos.
Afternoon drive out of town and visit the cave church of Neakutoleab. This cave church is from the 13th C and it has lots of icons, crosses and drums. Dinner and overnight Hotel.

06 Flight to Axum with ET 122 0950/1030hrs
Morning transfer to the airport for your short and direct flight to Axum. Upon arrival in Axum, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the town to visit the church of St. Mary of Zion which is believed to house the original Ark of the Covenant. There is a monastery which was constructed by Emperor Fasiladas in the 17th C which is only open for men and the Cathedral which was inagurated by Queen Elisabeth II in 1964 and which houses a 10th C church book, the book of the miracles of St. Mary. Afterwards, check-into your hotel and have lunch. P.M. After lunch, you will visit the archeological museum, the Stele Park to see the obelisks carved from single blocks of granite. Here in the field, you will see the tomb of King Remhai and the Stele which was taken to Rome by the Italians and which returned home in 2005 and which is erected on its original site.
You will also visit the remains of what was once a massive palace, which according to the legend was the original Palace of the Queen of Sheba. Drive to the tombs of King Kaleb and Gebre Meskel from the 6th C. On your way back to your hotel, you will see the Ezana stone inscriptions written on a big granite rock in the Geez, Sabean and Greek languages. You will also see the bath of the Queen of Sheba before you return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Yeha Hotel or similar.

07 Drive to Gheralta Mountains (197km)
Today you will drive to the rock-hewn churches of Tigray through the famous Adwa Mountains, where the Ethiopians defeated the Italians in a battle in 1896, the 5th C. B.C. Temple at Yeha and a view of the monastery of Debredamo, oldest standing monastery in Ethiopia which is only accessible with the help of ropes and not allowed for women. Have lunch at Adigrat and drive further south to Hawzen and transfer to the comfortable Gheralta lodge. Dinner and overnight Gheralta lodge or similar.

08 Drive to Danakil Depression at Hamed Ela (172km)
Morning drive to the Danakil depression with a visit of the famous rock hewn church of Abrha Atsbaha along the route. This church is one of the most interesting churches of Tigray and it is probably the oldest rock hewn church in Ethiopia (4th C)
Afterwards, drive to the Danakil depression through the highlands at Desiea forest. Arrive at Hamed Ela, nearest village to the Dallol in the afternoon to settle with your camping and take a rest before you drive to Lake Asale, the salt lake from which salt caravans or Arhos shape and transport the salt bars on their camels and donkeys. Return to Hamed Ela for dinner from your cook and overnight in your tents or the Afar houses.



09 Excursion to Dallol and Lake Assale (36km)
Early morning drive to the Dallol crossing Lake Assale. Leave the cars on the foot of the Dallol and walk for about 30-45minutes to see the magnificent colours of minerals covering the surface. Spend the day walking around the Dallol and return to Hamed Ela late in the afternoon for dinner and overnight.

10 Drive to foot of Ert Ale through Kusrewad (124km) and trek to Ert Ale (3hrs)
Drive to Kursewad, small village of the Afars from where you collect your camels and porters for your trip to the active volcanoes at Era Ale.
Short drive to the foot of Mt. Erta Ale where you leave the cars as the temperature drops and ride the camels or walk to the top of Erta Ale (3-4hrs walk). Arrival at Erta Ale will be in the evening and you will have a great view of the active volcanoes in the dark. Dinner from your cook and overnight camping.

11 Trek back to the cars and drive back to Hamed Ela (124km)
Early morning walk back to the cars where you will have your late breakfast before you drive back to the village of Hamedela. Dinner from your cook and overnight in a basic Afari house.

12 Drive to Mekele (155km)
Drive out of the Danakil depression to Mekele and transfer to the Axum Hotel or similar. P.M. Visit the market in Mekele where people sell the salt bars they get from the Danakil depression. You will also visit the museum and Martyrs‘ statue. Dinner and overnight Hotel.

13 Flight back to Addis with ET 101 0845/0945hrs
Morning transfer to the airport for your direct flight back to Addis. You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to the Jupiter Hotel or similar. P.M. After lunch, visit Merkato, the largest open air market and have some free time for shopping. Dinner in one of the traditional restaurants with live music and dance and overnight Jupiter Hotel or similar.

14 Departure back home/South


4pax = USD 3878,- per person plus a single room supplement of USD 447,-


The price for the above program that INCLUDES:
-All transfers and ground transportation (A/C 4WD Toyota Minibus for the Historic route and two A/C 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers for the Danakil) with fuel, English driver’s allowance and comprhensive insurance coverage.
-Accommodation on F/B basis (bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner)
-Non-alcoholic drinks with meals
-Three or more liters of bottled water a day
-Beverages such as juices and soft drinks while in the Danakil
-Domestic flight costs
-Boat hire on Lake Tana
-All entrance fees as per the program
-Professional English speaking guides on the spot
-Local guides and helpers
-Scout service in the Simien Mountains National park
-Local police men in the Danakil
-Camel rent for Ert Ale
-Camping and cooking materials in the Danakil
-Professional cook for the Danakil trip
-Porters at airports and hotels and government tax is: