HISTORIC ROUTE INCLUDING SEMIEN MOUNTAIN

Duration: 7 days/6 nights

Prices From: N1,952

TRIP OVERVIEW

This Ethiopian adventure begins and concludes in Addis Ababa
Visit Bahar Dar, the picturesque town set on the shores of Lake Tana. You will visit the island monasteries and the Blue Nile Falls.
The Amhara, Tigray people way of life and their village.
In Gondar you will visit the ancient churches and castles, remnants of a bygone Ethiopian Empire.
Proceed to Semien mountain, the region includes many summits above 4,000m. (13,000feet) ,and the highest point in Ethiopia. Ras-Dashen is also the fourth highest mountain in Africa. The park is 179 km2 (111square miles). It is in Afro Alpine zone and the temperature falls below freezing at night. The park hosts many mammals and birds including the endemic mammals —Walia Ibex, chelada baboon & Simien fox and endemic plant species. This scenically beautiful national park is registered by UNESCO as world heritage.
Continuing on the historic route, to Lalibela, a world-heritage-listed town set high in craggy mountains. Lalibela is renowned for its 12th- and 13th-century churches hewn out of solid rock and connected with subterranean passages.
Your adventure concludes in Addis Ababa where you enjoy a night of traditional Ethiopian food, live music and dancing.

ITINERARY

Day 1, Arrival and Addis Ababa City tour

Arrival at Bole International airport, meet our representative and transfer to hotel. After some rest we will have Addis Ababa city tour including a drive to Mount Entoto for panoramic view of the city, national Museum which is the resting place of our ancestor LUCY, Trinity Cathedral, Merkato which is the biggest market, some monuments etc. Rest free time and relax Overnight Nexus hotel 4*https://www.nexusaddis.net/

Meal: Own

Day 2, Flight toBahirdar

Morning flight to Bahirdar, transfer to hotel and we will start boat trip over Lake Tana to the Zeghie peninsula to visit the beautifully painted churches that are found hidden in the small forest: Azwa Mariam Monastery . Our second stop will be at the Betre Maryam Monastery located on the ZegePenisula not far from Bahir Dar. We chose to stop at Betre Maryam which means “the House of Mary” first since it is one of the oldest and most spectacular monasteries on the peninsula and is also a short walk from the boat landing. The monastery is a round wooden structure with mud and straw walls. There is an outer room, middle circular room and the central room for priests only. The outer ring has little decoration but the inner ring has floor to ceiling paintings depicting the bible stories. Back to Bahirdar for lunch.P.Mdrive 70KM round trip to visit Tississat named after the water falls of the Blue Nile River (the life blood for the Sudanese and Egyptians). Be informed that clients will walk about an 30 minutes to arrive near to the water falls on Blue Nile. Back to the city and Overnight Unison hotel/Similar.http://www.unisonhotelandspa.com/

Meal: Breakfast

Day 3, Drive to Gonder

Morning drive to Gonder. On the way visit the Guzara castle, admire the wonderful landscape and view. Transfer to hotel and have lunch. Afternoon you will be taken to visit the castle compound where you can see the medieval castle of king Fasilidas, King Yohannes, King Eyasu, King Dawit, King Bakafa and Queen Mentewab. We will also visit the churches of Debre Birhan Selassie with awesome wall paintings and the bath of King Fasilidas Overnight Gonder Hills/Similar. http://gondarhillsresort.com/

Meal: Breakfast

Day 4, Excursion toSemien Mountain

Morning we drive to Semien Mountain to visit the marvelous scenery of the SemienMountain , the endemic animals of Walya Ibex, Chilada Baboon and birds. Five Kms from Gonder you will see the old village of the black Jewish. The full day you are in the Semien mountain around Sankaber campsite, hiking to Jimbar water falls, trekking and time with Chilada Baboon. Afternoon drive back to GonderOvernight Gonder Hills/Similar. http://gondarhillsresort.com/

Meal: Breakfast

Day 5, Flight to Lalibela and visit

Morning flight to Lalibela and afternoon visit the 1^st group churches which are included BietaMedhanialem (Chapel of Holy Savior) which is the biggest and Bieta Mariam (Chapel of Mary): three aisled with mural paintings and a covered pillar containing inscriptions about the end of the world according to the gadl (act)of saintly king. Further visit of BietaDenagel (Chapel of the Virgins), BietaMeskel (Chapel of the cross) and finally, the “double – church” of Debre Sina and BietaGolghotha (women are not allowed in the latter since it’s where the remains of King Lalibela are and also because it contains the tabernacle of the Holy Trinity).Overnight Panoramic View/ Similar.https://www.panoramicviewhotel.com/

Meal: Breakfast

Day 6, Another day in Lalibela

Morning we will have trip to Asheton Mariam with hiking. This is the best place to explore the surrounding attractions. Afternoonvisit of the second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, BietaMerquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style and the BietaAbaaLibanos (said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort MeskalKebra and visit the BietaGhiorghis which is the cruciform chapel of St. George.Overnight Panoramic hotel/ Similar.
https://www.panoramicviewhotel.com/

Meal: Breakfast

Day 7, Flight back to Addis

Morning take rest and around 10:00 Proceed to Lalibela airport for the flight back to Addis. Up on arrival a visit of Ethnological museum that is found in the university, have lunch and souvenir shopping ,evening fare well dinner at one of the city’s best traditional restaurants to enjoy a variety of Ethiopian cuisines and watch traditional dancing transfer. Then transfer to Bole international airport for the night flight back home.

Meal: Breakfast and farewell dinner

Price includes:

Six nights room accommodation on a twin bed bases as per the above details.
Meal as per the above details.
All ground transport including the airport transfer in/out
Half day boat trip on lake Tana in Bahirdar
Complementary Water during the whole trip.
English speaking local guide fee in all destinations
All entrance fee as per the itinerary in villages, parks etc.
Scout at the Simien mountain
All road taxes

Excludes:

Lunch and dinner
Domestic flight cost (Addis – Bahirdar// Gonder- Lalibela- Addis ) USD 220/Person. The airline gives discounted rate for those who use Ethiopian airlines internationally. In that case price is USD 370/person. The ticket price might increase unless ticketed.
Any alcoholic drinks,
Personal gratitude to driver, guide
video/camera shooting fee,
What is not included in the inclusive part

With kind regards,