Ethiopia is like nowhere else on the planet, a beautiful country blessed with a peerless history, fabulous wildlife and some of Africa's most soulful people.
Best time to visit: between October and March
Arrive Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s sprawling capital.
Meet representative at the airport and transfer to check in at hotel.
Thereafter, proceed for a city tour. Visit the National Museum (where the Lucy fossil skeleton – hominid displayed) the Ethnological Museum, Trinity Cathedral Church, Entoto Hill for the great view of the capital city of Addis Ababa and Merkato the biggest open air market in Africa if time permits.
Back to hotel. Free and overnight at hotel.
Stay overnight in Addis Ababa
Early breakfast at hotel, check out. 05:30 pick up at hotel and transfer to airport
Depart Addis Ababa in the morning and take flight to Bahir Dar
Arrive Bahir Dar in the morning.
Meet representative at the airport and transfer to check in at hotel.
Thereafter, take a boat trip on Lake Tana and visit two or three of its beautiful and interesting islands with their medieval period monasteries. Lake Tana is the largest in Ethiopia covering over 3500sq km and is renowned for its monasteries established on islands. There were 21 islands, seven to eight of which had monasteries on them "formerly large, but now much diminished. Most churches in the monasteries are having interesting paintings and contain a collection of church treasures and beautiful old manuscripts.
In afternoon drive to Tis Isat (Blue Nile Falls) Waterfalls, one of the most spectacular falls in Africa before, 400m wide when in flood and dropping over a sheer chasm more than 45m deep, the thunderous noise could be heard long before arrival and the spray that is thrown up could be felt up to a kilo meters away. But since a dam has been built upstream, the waterfall is reduced and has lost some of its former splendor but there may be some rain in spring p eriod, it is still impressive. And also the walk to the waterfall is nice and you can enjoy nature and watch birds. Keep an eye out for parrots, bee-eaters, lovebirds and Turacos. Drive back to hotel, free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Bahir Dar
Breakfast at hotel, check out.
In the morning, transfer to Gondar for abour 3.5 hours’ drive.
On arrival, will visit the Royal Enclosure that is surrounded by high stone walls containing the ruins of 17th century palaces of King Fasiladas, King Iyasu and Queen Mentewab and different other buildings. The castles are a mixture of Ethiopian, European and probably Indian styles. According to descriptions, the interior of the castle for King Fasiladas was extremely luxurious, decorated with gold, ivory and precious stones.
Then visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church meaning “Trinity at the Mount of Light”. Firstly built in 17th century and rebuild in 18th century, It has rectangular structure and ceilings are decorated with beautiful winged angels, and its walls with impressive scenes depicting biblical events, including the life of Christ, Mary, and the saints and martyrs. There is also a painting of the church’s founder, Emperor Iyasu I.
After the visit drive to check in at hotel, free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Gondar
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to visit the jagged panorama of the Simien Mountains National Park – drive for about 2.5 hours per way, famed for its exclusive landscape, afro-alpine vegetation and unique wildlife, where you may spot the endemic Wallia Ibex, Gelada Baboon troops, Bushbuck, Klipspringer. Also one of the UNESCO site. Enjoy the dramatic scenery and a troop friendly Gelada Baboon at very close distance and Birds such as Chestnut-napped Francolin, Mountain Thrush, Thick-billed Raven, Lammergeyer, White-collared Pigeon and Ankober Serin just to name a few. Take a short hike of 2 to 3 hrs on the edge to see the escarpments and green valley. After sightseeing, drive back to the hotel. Free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Gondar
Breakfast at hotel, check out. 08:00 Pick up at hotel and transfer to airport.
Morning transfer to airport for flight to Lalibela – a town in Amhara region in Northern Ethiopia. It's known for its distinctive rock-cut churches dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, w hich are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians.
Depart Gondar in the morning and take flight to Lalibela
Arrive Lalibela in the morning.
On arrival, meet representative and drive to have an excursion visiting the first group of the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which are carved out of living volcanic tuff with super architectural skill that the world has never seen, yet elsewhere, which is listed as UNESCO world heritage. Among churches of this group Bete Medahine Alem (house of the redeemer) is the largest with 5 aisles, 72 pillars, vaulted dome and molding decoration. Bete Mariam (house of St. Marry) is the most decorated among the rock hewn churches.
After sightseeing, check in at hotel and have lunch. (Lunch is on own account)
In the afternoon visit the second group of the rock-hewn churches; Bete Emanuel (house of Emanuel) is architecturally the finest. Bete Giorgis (the house of George) is the finest of all the churches in Lalibela for which reason art historians conclude that this church is carved at the end of the cluster, after the masons have developed their skill to carve the church in such extraordinary perfection. Back to hotel, free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Lalibela
Breakfast at hotel. Free until check out. 10:00 Pick up at hotel and transfer to airport.
Depart Lalibela in the morning and take flight to Addis Ababa
Arrive Addis Ababa in the early afternoon.
Greet by our driver then drive to Awassa (278kms, 4.5 hours’ drive).
Awasa, also called Hawassa, is a city in the Great Rift Valley of central Ethiopia. It lies at the eastern edge of large Lake Awasa, with its resident hippos. Water birds gather around a popular fish market along the lake’s shore. Nearby, the waterside Amora Gedel National Park is inhabited by monkeys. To the northwest, Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary is home to these endangered African antelopes. On arrival, check in at hotel.
Free and overnight at hotel.
Stay overnight in Aawasa
Breakfast at hotel. Check out.
In the morning visit to a local fish market at lake Awassa then proceed driving with some stops to visit Dorze People on the way to see their unique house built from bamboo and their way of life. The Dorze are a small ethnic group inhabiting the Gamo Gofa Zone (formerly part of the Semien, North) Omo Zone) of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region in Ethiopia. They speak the Dorze language, an Omotic tongue.
On arrival, check in at lodge. Free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Arba Minch
Breakfast at hotel. Check out.
Morning transfer to take the boat trip excursion on Lake Chamo - a lake in the Southern region. Located in the Main Ethiopian Rift, it is at an elevation of 1,110 meters. The lake is just to the south of Lake Abaya and the city of Arba Minch, and east of the Guge Mountains, lies in the Nechisar National Park. During the boat trip can see some crocodiles, Hippos and a lot of water birds. Then drive to Turmi via Dimeka to see the Saturday market which has several tribes from the area like Hammer, Karo and sometimes Dassanech etc…
Continue drive to Turmi and check in at lodge. Free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Turmi
Breakfast at hotel.
After breakfast excursion to Omorate to visit the Dasenach Tribes near the Omo River (also called Omo-Bottego) in southern Ethiopia is the largest Ethiopian river outside the Nile Basin. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and it empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya. A list of UNESCO site.
Take wooden local boat ride through the river. After the visit drive back to Turmi. In the afternoon to visit the nearby hammer tribe village, also possibility to see special occasion ceremonies like wedding and ritual.
Back to the lodge, free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Turmi
Breakfast at hotel. Check out.
Drive to visit Monday Hammer Market – it is interesting to see the local products and the tribes.
Then continue drive to Jinka via Karo Tribes Village for a visit, consisting of around 1500 people, is the smallest ethnic group in Omo Valley, there is no electricity or running water in the village as well as the medical service. Water is taken directly from the Omo river. Karo men and women are decorated their faces and bodies with paint made from chalk and ochre to be attractive.
On arrival, check in at lodge (very simple and basic) Free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Jinka
Breakfast at hotel, check out.
Morning excursion to Mursi Tribes Village. Surrounded by mountains between the Omo River and its tributary the Mago, Mursi is one of the most isolated regions of the country. Mursi tribes are the most famous tradition includes the lip plate worn by the women. The origin of this tradition is not known but the Mursi themselves consider it as something that makes them distinguish from the surrounding tribes.
Then continue drive to Arba Minch, on arrival check in at lodge. Free and overnight.
Stay overnight in Arba Minch
Breakfast at hotel, free until check out.
Pick up at hotel and transfer to airport.
Depart Arba Minch and take flight to Addis Ababa
Arrive Addis Ababa in the early afternoon.
Meet representative and transfer to check in at hotel.
Stay overnight in Addis Ababa
Breakfast at hotel. Check out and drive to visit the Tiya Stelae. Tiya is an archaeological site in central Ethiopia.
It is located in the Gurage Zone, listed as one of the UNESCO heritage site.
Then drive to Addis Ababa airport for your departure flight.
Overnight on board
Arrive home destination from your long haul flight.
- Price is for private sightseeing tour for minimum of 4 participants’
- Price is per person / sharing double/twin room. Price is for land arrangements only
- INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED (can be quoted and arranged separately)
- Price is subject to availability and confirmation at the time of booking.
Price includes:
~ 02 nights hotel stay in Addis Ababa as per itinerary with breakfast
~ 01 night hotel stay in Bahir Dar as per itinerary with breakfast
~ 02 nights hotel stay in Gondar as per itinerary with breakfast
~ 01 night hotel stay in Lalibela as per itinerary with breakfast
~ 01 night hotel stay in Hawassa as per itinerary with breakfast
~ 02 nights hotel stay in Arba Minch as per itinerary with breakfast
~ 02 nights hotel stay in Turmi as per itinerary with breakfast
~ 01 night lodge stay in Jinka as per itinerary with breakfast
~ Sightseeing and Entrance fees to sights, village, national park visited as per itinerary
~ Local / Domestic flight ticket in Economy Class with ET – Ethiopian Air as per itinerary
[ Addis Ababa / Bahir Dar ; Gonder / Lalibela ; Lalibela / Addis Ababa ; Arba Minch / Addis Ababa ]
~ All land transportation with experienced driver as per itinerary: Mini bus for the Northern Part and Land Cruiser for the Southern Route
~ All sightseeing tour with the service of a local English speaking guide for the whole tour
~ Boat trips to Lake Tana and Lake Chamo
~ All airport transfers as per itinerary.
Remarks:
- Ehiopia Visa is required.
- Customized tours can be shorter or longer. Land tour can be arranged without international flight tickets.
- All our private tour packages / Join-in tour packages / flight & hotel packages are under the protection of the TIC Reserved Fund.
To book and enquire, please contact us at (852) 2521 0571 or email: info@F56.com