11-Day North Ethiopia with Simien Mountain National Park

Itineraries

• 

  Day 1

  Addis Ababa

  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 Overnight Nexus hotel 4*.

    Destination

  Addis Ababa (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Nexus Addis
  

  Mid-range hotel located in or near Addis

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 2

  Addis Ababa to Bahirdar

  Morning transfer to Bahirdar and then 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 Monaster. Our second stop will be at the Bete Maryam Monastery located on the Zege Penisula not far from Bahir Dar. We chose to stop at Bete 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. Afternoon enjoy Bahirdar market and Bezawit palace for the panoramic view of the city, Lake Tana, Blue Nile falls. Overnight hotel.

    Destination

  Bahir Dar (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar
  

  Mid-range hotel located in or near Bahir Dar

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 3

  Bahirdar: Blue Nile Falls

  Morning drive 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 rest and Overnight hotel.

    Destination

  Bahir Dar (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar
  

  Mid-range hotel located in or near Bahir Dar

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 4

  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 hotel.

    Destination

  Gondar (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Goha Hotel
  

  Mid-range hotel located in or near Gondar

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 5

  Simien Mountain

  Morning we drive to Semien Mountain to visit the marvelous scenery of the Semien Mountain, 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. Walk /trek to Jinbar water fall and admire the wonderful view. Late afternoon drive to lodge overnight lodge.

    Destination

  Simien Mountains National Park
  
   

    Accommodation

  Simien Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 6

  Simien Mountain

  Simien Mountains National Park, listed as a World Heritage Site in 1918, is one of the more dramatic national parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Simien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region in northern Ethiopia, the park covers the Simien Mountains including Ras Dejen, the highest mountain in Ethiopia at 4,533m (14,850 feet). It is an exotic setting with unique and endemic wildlife and breath-taking views on a landscape shaped by nature and traditional agriculture. The natural beauty of this region has always filled photographers with awe. With its undulating plateau and deep valleys it is frequently dubbed the Grand Canyon of Africa. It is home to a number of endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf (the rarest canid in the world, and Africa’s most threatened carnivore) and the walia ibex – a wild goat found nowhere else in the world. Massive erosion over millions of years on the plateau has created one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.

    Destination

  Simien Mountains National Park
  
   

    Accommodation

  Simien Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 7

  Simien to Gonder

  Full day enjoy in the Simien mountain, admire the wonderful view and small walking with Chilada Baboon. The gelada is an “Old World” monkey, not a baboon despite previous naming conventions. It is the only living member of the once widespread genus Theropithecus and is only found in the highlands of Ethiopia. The present day population of the gelada is limited to the steep escarpments and gorges that border the eastern side of the central highlands and the north western highlands. The gelada feeds predominantly on fresh shoots of grass, roots and seeds. It is frequently called the “bleeding heart” monkey as a result of the distinctive, bright red, heart-shaped patch on its chest. The gelada social system consists of a hierarchy of social groups generally made up of 1-4 breeding males, 2-10 females and their dependent young.

    Destination

  Simien Mountains National Park
  
   

    Accommodation

  Goha Hotel
  

  Mid-range hotel located in or near Gondar

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 8

  Drive to Lalibela

  Today we drive to Lalibela Via Werota weldia. On the way visit the beautiful scenery, the Amhara people and their village, the real country side of Ethiopia. Visit the Awramba Community. In Northwest Ethiopia lives a community of around 500 people, founded by a once labeled crazy man called Zumra Nuru. The Awramba are completely self-sufficient and follow 4 principles: respecting equality of women, caring for the elderly, respecting children’s’ rights and avoiding bad deeds. Overnight Panoramic View/ Similar.

    Destination

  Lalibela (Town)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Panoramic View Hotel
  

  Mid-range hotel located in or near Lalibela

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 9

  Lalibela

  Morning we will visit the 1st group churches which are included Bieta Medhanialem (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 Bieta Denagel (Chapel of the Virgins), Bieta Meskel (Chapel of the cross) and finally, the “double – church” of Debre Sina and Bieta Golghotha (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). Afternoon time to enjoy the local market, meet the local people in the city and own activities. Or optional we will take you to the nearly village and you will see the country side and the village people way of life, their daily activities like how they prepare “ Enjera”, bread, homemade drinks and coffee ceremony in the country side. Overnight Panoramic hotel/ Similar.

    Destination

  Lalibela (Town)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Panoramic View Hotel
  

  Mid-range hotel located in or near Lalibela

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 10

  Lalibela

  In Lalibela you will have optional mule excursion/ drive by car to Asheton Mariam church situated at a very hill top, to see the town of Lalibela and the surrounding attraction. Afternoon visit of the second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, Bieta Merquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style and the Bieta Abaa Libanos (said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort Meskal Kebra and visit the Bieta Ghiorghis which is the cruciform chapel of St. George.

    Destination

  Lalibela (Town)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Panoramic View Hotel
  

  Mid-range hotel located in or near Lalibela

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 11

  Addis Ababa

  In the afternoon, you'll be driven to the charming semi–cave church of Neakutoleab, a church of the early 13th century. Proceed to Lalibela airport for T air transport back to Addis and visit of Ethnological museum that is found in the university and have lunch. 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.

    Destination

  Addis Ababa (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Not Specified

  Meals

   -Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)