Day 1 Arrive Addis Ababa
Arrive in Addis Ababa at any time.
Day 2 Kombolcha (B)
Journey across the Shoan Plateau, past farming communities in the highlands which turn to panoramic views across the Rift Valley. Descend into the valley and stop for a short time at a traditional market in Sanbete to barter with the Oromo and Amhara people.
Day 3 Woldia
Visit Bati market, the second largest market in Ethiopia, where the Afar people from the East come to sell their livestock, and the Oromo and Amhara peoples come in their traditional best. Continue on to the bustling town of Woldia with stops along the way to enjoy the rugged mountain scenery.
Day 4-5 Lalibela (B)
Head to Lalibela through the stunning Lasta Massif, which links the provinces of Wollo and Gonder. In Lalibela, a place of religious pilgrimage and devotion, spend time in guided tours exploring the phenomenal churches carved out of rock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often coined as the "New Jerusalem".
FOR TRIPS IN JANUARY - APRIL ; SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER, SIMIEN MOUNTAIN TREK
Day 6-7 Gonder
Dubbed the 'Camelot' of Africa, Gonder was the capital of Ethiopia for more than 200 years. Visit the sprawling complex of Gonder’s Castles and notable sites such as Debre Berhan Selassie Church.
Day 8-11 Simien Mountains National Park (3B,3L,3D)
Spend four days in the Simien Mountains, considered the most beautiful of Africa's mountain ranges. Excellent for trekking, the Simien Mountains offer spectacular views and a number of endemic wildlife species, including the gelada baboon, walia ibex, and Ethiopian wolf.
FOR TRIPS IN MAY - AUGUST, NORTHERN HISTORICAL CIRCUIT
Day 6 Mekele (B)
The winding road through breathtaking mountain scenery takes us by spectacular views of Sekota Mountain and Lake Ashenge, at 2409 m above sea level. Mekele has been the capital of Tigrai since Emporer Yohanis IV (1871-1889) designated it so, and it has recently grown to now be fifth largest city Ethiopia.
Day 7 Adigrat
Continuing further north we stop in Wurko to explore the famous rock-hewn churches, including the semi monolithic church, Abraha Atsbeha, from the 10th century considered to be one of Tigrai’s finest. We spend our evening in Adigrat, a historical crossroads of cultures, expeditions, and religion.
Day 8-9 Axum
En route to Axum, we through Yeha, the area believed to be the site of Ethiopia’s oldest civilization, dating back to between the 5th and 8th century B.C. Spend all of day 9 exploring the Axum historical site, including visits to main stelae field, Queen of Sheba’s palace and bath, and Church of Tsion Maryam (St. Mary of Zion), which is claimed to house the Ark of the Covenant.
Day 10-11 Gonder
Journey through the scenic Tekaze Valley and past the towering Simien Mountains, en route to Gonder. Dubbed the 'Camelot' of Africa. Gonder was the capital of Ethiopia for more than 200 years. Visit the sprawling complex of Gonder’s Castles and notable sites such as Debre Berhan Selassie Church.
Day 12-13 Bahir Dar
En route to Bahir Dar, we'll make a number of fascinating stops - at Kuskuam, location of Queen Mentewab’s residence; in Gogora to see the Monastery of Debre Sina Maryam; and in Falasha village, to learn about the Ploughshare Women Crafts Training Centre, which teaches skills to disadvantaged women. While is Bahir Dar, explore the monasteries on Lake Tana's many islands and take an optional journey to the Blue Nile Falls.
Day 14 Debre Markos
Take the morning to relax in Bahir Dar, or get out and explore the city, visiting the market, the papyrus boat weavers, or just relax by the lake. We journey in the afternoon across rolling hills en route to Debre Markos for our final evening.
Day 15 Addis Ababa
Pass the Blue Nile Gorge on our way back to Addis Ababa, and enjoy an evening of traditional dance and food (optional).
Day 16 Arba Minch (B,D)
Our long travel day takes us past many scenic lookouts, local villages, and Rift Valley lakes as we descend to a lower altitude to the pleasant Arba Minch. Indulge in lunch at Shashemene, known for its Rastafarian community.
Day 17 Arba Minch - Lake Chamo - Dorze village (B,D)
After a relaxing boat ride Lake Chamo enjoying the resident crocodiles, hippos, and bird life, we drive high into the Guge mountains to spend the night with the Dorze people. They are famous for their beehive-shaped bamboo houses and products produced from the Enset "false banana" plant.
Day 18 Jinka (B,D)
Today’s long journey takes us to Jinka, a frontier town with a mix of a number of different tribes. The Ari are found around Jinka and also inhabit the northern border of Mago National Park. Ari villages have neat compounds, fertile and scenic land with coffee plantations.
Day 19 Jinka - Mursi - Jinka (B,L,D)
Using Jinka as our base, we take an excursion to visit the Mursi people via Mago National Park. These fascinating people are famous for circular lip plates that the women place into slits in their lips. In the afternoon, you’ll have some time to visit to the Anthropological museum in Jinka, or even take a tour of an Ari village.
Day 20 Jinka - Key Afar - Turmi (B,D)
Today we will drive to Turmi via Key Afar. En route we pass by Hamer and Benna cattle herders. We will have lunch in Key Afar where there will be the Thursday market, attended by the Benna, Hamer and Ari people. Here you are free to spend some time meandering through this colorful market enjoying the displays.
Day 21 Turmi - Omorate - Turmi (B,L,D)
Today we take a day excursion to Omorate to visit the semi-nomadic pastoral Omo Geleb/Dasanech people at the bank of the Omo River. Embark on an optional dug-out canoe ride across the Omo river to visit a Dasanech village on the other side.
Day 22 Turmi - Dimeka - Turmi (B,L,D)
Today we visit the Saturday market in Dimeka. This market is particularly interesting for its display of local products such as butter and honey produced from the Hamer natural environment and semi-nomadic livelihoods. Dimeka residents, Hamer, and some other tribes and tourists frequent this market.
Day 23 Konso (B,D)
Drive to Konso with a stop for lunch in Weito. We visit the Konso chief's compound which includes the family graveyard and mummification house. We may again encounter the Cushitic-speaking Tsemay people. The Konso are a rich agrarian culture. They construct ingenious terraces and walls that encircle their fields and villages for protection against livestock damage and flooding. Here spend the night in a traditional enclosure in Konso, which will give you the unique experience of staying in a Konso village.
Day 24 Yirgalem
We drive to Yirgalem where there is a pleasant peaceful lodge with walks through gardens and forests.
Day 25 Depart Addis Ababa
Depart Yirgalem, with a stop at Lake Ziway for some bird watching. We continue back to the modern and cosmopolitan Addis Ababa, perched on the slopes of the Entoto Mountains, where your tour ends upon arrival in the late afternoon.
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