12 Days – North Ethiopia Historic Route

At 8:00AM, you will be heading North to Bahir Dar, Arriving Bahir Dar mid day, you will be visiting the daily local market that attracts farmers and locals with various produces from the surrounding rural villages around Bahir Dar. You will also be able to visit a local Weito-inhabited village where you will be able to see them making papyrus boats, the only tribe that makes the papyrus boats to this used on daily basis for fishing and other purposes on Lake Tana. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Summerland Hotel.

At 8:30AM, you will have a boat trip on Lake Tana where you will be able to visit about 2 of the Lake Monasteries. Returning back to Bahir Dar at lunch time, proceed to visit the Blue Nile Falls where you will also be able to visit the first Portuguese Bridge, the first bridge built on the Blue Nile River. Returning back to Bahir Dar, overnight will be at Summerland Hotel.

At 7:30AM, you will drive to Gondar, driving parallel to Lake Tana for the first 115Kms. Shortly before arriving Gondar, you will have a visit of Guzara Palace – a once strategically located Palace overlooking Lake Tana. Proceeding and arrival Gondar, you will spend the day visiting King Fasiledes Castle complex and Spiritual bathing Pool, Debre Birhan Silassie Church and Wolleka – the ancient settlement of Ethiopia Jews, locally known as the Falashas / Falashmuras. End of the day, you will spend overnight at Quara Hotel.

At 7:30AM, you will be heading to Debark, gateway town to the Simien Mountains. Through the day, you will be able to see the endemic Gelada baboons, appealing surrounding landscape and a bit of birdlife as well. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at camping overnight at Sankaber Campsite.

Departing from Sankaber at 7:00AM, you will head to Axum via the Lima-Limo route and same crossing the Tekeze River in the valley. Driving by the side of the Simien Mountains for roughly 95kms, you will get to have additional side views of the Simien Mountain’s scenic beauty. Arrival Axum late afternoon, you will spend overnight at Africa Hotel.

Through the day, you will be visiting the Stelae fields of Axum, St. Mary Zion’s Church and Bathing Pool, Dungur – the ruined palace site of Queen of Sheba and King Bazin’s and & Kaleb’s Churches. End of the day, you will spend overnight at Africa Hotel.

Starting off from Axum in the morning, you will be heading to Mekele, en route visiting the moon-temple of Yeha. Further ahead, you will be able to visit Debre Damo Monastery and further ahead visiting Abraha Atsbaha Church. Arriving Mekele late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Axum Hotel / Hill Top Hotel.

At 7:30AM, you will be proceeding to Lalibela via the Sekota route. A remote but relatively shorter route, you will be passing through some wonderful landscape. Shortly before arriving Lalibela, you will be able to visit Yimrihana Kristos Church. Late-afternoon, you will be arriving Lalibela where you will be spending overnight at Panoramic View Hotel / Roha Hotel / Seven Olives Hotel.

Through the day, you will be visiting the Cluster Churches of Lalibela. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Panoramic View Hotel / Roha Hotel / Seven Olives Hotel.  

At 8:00AM, you will be proceeding to Kombolcha, possibly visiting a local market at Wuch’ale, a historic town where occupying Italians had once signed the controversial ‘Wuch’ale Treaty’ with Ethiopia’s Emperor Menilik. Proceeding further through Hayk where you will be able to see Hayk Lake(Hayk by itself meaning Lake in Amharic) and Hayk Istifanos Monastery(allowed for women only), you will arrive Kombolcha late afternoon, spending overnight at Sunny Side Hotel. .

Starting off from Kombolcha at 8:00AM and heading back to Addis Ababa, you will be driving through diverse cultural territories of the Wollos and Oromos. If on a Sunday, you will be able to visit the colorful Senbete market, one that attracts the Wollo, Oromo and Afar community members.  

Arriving Addis Ababa mid-afternoon, you will be checking into Mr. Martin’s Cosy Place / Monarch Hotel, thereby finalizing your 12-days-tour of North Ethiopia.