Historical Route by Surface

Overview

Program

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The historic route features trekking or running while visiting the most fascinating historic locations in northern Ethiopia including UNESCO designated World Heritage sites. The route covers Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Bahir Dar, Gondar and Simen Mountains where you will have the opportunity to visit medieval castles, 12th-13th century rock-hewn churches, and the fascinating landscape in Simen Mountains while running and trekking up to 2300 km in 10 days.

11 days

Hotel

Camping

Trekking

Program

Day 1

Arrival Addis Ababa and City Tour

On arrival, Adimasu Tours representative will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Then, you will start visiting the city from National Museum, where Ethiopia’s oldest resident, Lucy is housed, Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, continue with Holy Trinity church and you will enjoy a panoramic view of the capital with fresh air. Overnight stay in the reserved hotel.

Day 2

Lalibela – ’the 8th Wonders of the World

After breakfast, depart on a morning flight to Lalibela. Upon arrival, you will be met by our tour guides, drive to a hotel where you will check and rest for a few minutes. Your first visit will be to the eleven Rock-hewn Monolithic (carved from a single rock) Churches of Lalibela.

The first group of Lalibela Churches includes Bete Medhanialem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagl and Bete Golgotha Michal, the second group of Lalibela Churches that includes: Bete Gebral, Bete Merquros, Bete Emanuel, Betelehiam, Bete Aba Libanos. Overnight stay in a reserved Hotel.

Day 3

Bahir Dar

Early the morning take the flight to Bahir Dar upon arrival, you will meet our guides and transfer to the Hotel. After a short break, take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit a selection of the monasteries hidden on the islands and shores of this sacred lake.

Visit the Zege Peninsula and the monasteries of Azuwa Maryam and Ura Kidane Mehret and the island monastery of Debre Maryam near the outlet of the Blue Nile River. In the afternoon drive out to the Blue Nill falls for a short hike in the area. Finish the day with the sunset over the lake. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 4

Drive to Gondar and City Tour

After breakfast, we continue north to Gondar. The four-hour drive will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture.

After briefly settling in your hotel, explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings.

Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today, Ras Gimb Palace Museum and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 5

Excursion to Simien Mountains

Early departure first to Debark and then to Sankabar the gateway to the Simien Mountain National park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the afternoon trek between Sanakbar and the large waterfall Jinbar, the trail proceeds along the vast escarpment, first slightly uphill before starting a descent to the waterfall Jinbar. Overnight stay at the reserved hotel.

Day 6

Simien Mountains – Axum

Take a scenic drive to Axum, capital of the ancient Axumite Empire, today modest town yet with great history and memory.

On the road, you would enjoy one of the most beautiful scenes in the country. Frequent stops to appreciate viewpoints of Limalimo, Tekeze River Gorge. Arrive in Axum late in the afternoon. Overnight stay at the reserved hotel.

Day 7

Axum City Tour

The morning after breakfast starts visiting the sites of Axum, including the famous obelisks (one that was recently erected after being returned from Italy) and the archaeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), Ezana’s inscription, King Kaleb’s tomb, King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace.

You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. Overnight stay at the reserved hotel.

Day 8

Axum – Hawzein

Drive from Axum to Hawzein via Adwa and Adigrat. Adwa is a town with tremendous importance to Ethiopians because it is in the hills surrounding that Menelik II defeated the conquering Italian army in March 1896.

A visit to Yeha dated back from the 8th to 5th centuries BC and used to be the capital of Ethiopian civilization before Axum. Afterwards, visit Debre Damo monastery where the man (no women allowed). Overnight stay at the reserved hotel.

Day 9

Gheralta

On this day you will visit two churches with climbing and an hour’s walking to reach the most popular churches are Abune Yemata and Mariam Korkor church, one of the largest and most interesting rock-hewn churches in Tigray. In the afternoon Dugum Selassie church, Overnight stay at the reserved hotel.

Day 10

Excursion in Tigray Rock hewn church and drive to Mekele

After breakfast drive to Mekele en route visit more of Tigray Rock hewn church and ancient rock-hewn churches: Abraha Atsbeha, dating from the 10th century, the beautiful Wukro Chirkos after that continue to Mekele. Overnight stay at the reserved hotel.

Day 11

Fly to Addis Ababa and departure

After breakfast transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis Ababa, visit Mercato, one of Africa’s largest outdoor markets. Evening we will have farewell dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurants for cultural dances from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for flight back home.

Images by our customers
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