12-Days North Ethiopia Historic Route + Harar

Overview

Tour : North Ethiopia Historic Route + Harar

Duration : 12 Days / 30th Dec – 10th Jan /

Group Size : Two

Day One

Sunday 30th Dec : Addis Ababa

Arriving into Addis Ababa, you will be transferred to the Jupiter Hotel. Depending on your arrival flight time, you will have a city tour of Addis Ababa and its various tourist attractions – the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University which will give you a good insight into the various attractions all over Ethiopia, Entoto Hills for a panoramic view of Addis Ababa and Trinity Church. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at the Jupiter Hotel.

 

Day Two

Monday 31st Dec : Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar (by flight)

Transferred to the airport at 5:45AM and arriving into Bahir Dar at 08:30AM, you will have a boat trip on Lake Tana where you will be able to see two Monasteries. Returning back to Bahir Dar for lunch, you will be going to the Blue Nile Falls located 30kms out of Bahir Dar. After visiting the Falls, you will be returning back to Bahir Dar End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Summerland Hotel / Tana Hotel.

Day Three

Tuesday 01st Jan : Bahir Dar – Gondar

At 7:30AM, you will be proceeding North to Gondar. Arriving Gondar at 10:30AM, you will spend the day visiting the various attractions of Gondar – Emperor Fasiledes Castle and spiritual Bathing Pool where Timkat and Epiphany festivals take place yearly. Additionally, you will also be able to visit Debre Birhan Silassie Church as well as Wolleka – the one-time Falashmura (Ethiopian Jews) village who were best known for their blacksmith and pottery skills. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Goha Hotel / Quara Hotel.

Day Four

Wednesday 02nd Jan : Gondar – Debark – Simien Mountains – Sankaber C/Site

At 7:30AM, you will be heading to Debark and into Simien Mountains. Driving through the scenic landscape, you will be able to see the endemic Gelada Baboons around Sankaber and additionally short treks in the surrounding trekking routes. End of the day, you will be camping overnight at Sankaber Campsite.

Day Five

Thursday 03rd Jan : Sankaber Campsite – Chennek Campsite – Gondar

Early morning, you will be heading further to Chennek Campsite where you may have the opportunity to see endemic Walia Ibex and Ethiopian Wolf. With additional trekking opportunities around Chennek Campsite and scenery sighting, you will be heading back to Debark shortly after noon and on to Gondar. Arriving Gondar late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Goha Hotel / Quara Hotel.

 

Day Six

Friday 04th Jan : Gondar – Axum (by flight)

Checking in for your flight to Axum at 7:00AM, you will be arriving Axum at 10:00AM. Through the day, you will be visiting the various attractions of Axum – St. Mary Zion’s Church, Dungur the ruined palace site of the Queen of Sheba, the Stelaes of Axum, King Kaleb’s Church and the national Museum which will give you a good insight into the historic value of Axum and the Axumite Dynasty in Ethiopian History. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Yeha Hotel / Brana Hotel.

Day Seven

Saturday 05th Jan : Axum – Lalibela (by flight)

Checking in at Axum airport at 8:30AM for your flight to Lalibela and arriving Lalibela at 11:10AM, you will spend the afternoon visiting the First Group and Bete Ghiorgis Church of the rock-hewn cluster churches of Lalibela. End of the day, you will spend overnight at Mount View Hotel / Roha Hotel.

 

Day Eight

Sunday 06th Jan : Lalibela

In the morning, you will be proceeding East to visit Yimrihana Kristos Church, same located in the scenic Sekota Lowlands. Returning back to Lalibela at noon, you will be visiting the Second Group of cluster churches in Lalibela. Time permitting, you will also be able to visit the cave Monastery of Neakuto Le’ab. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Mountain View Hotel / Roha Hotel.

Day Nine

Monday 07th Jan : Lalibela – Addis Ababa (by flight) – Awash

Early morning at 6:00AM, you will be proceeding to the First Group of cluster churches where due to the Ethiopian Christmas Holiday taking place, you will be able to watch and follow a lively ceremony by the priests. At 08:30AM, you will be proceeding to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa, arriving at 1:30PM in Addis Ababa. After lunch break, you will be proceeding South East to Awash via the crater lake region of Debre Zeit and the Eastern lowlands past Nazareth. Arriving Awash late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Genet Hotel.

Day Ten

Tuesday 08th Jan : Awash Harar

Early morning, you will be heading into Awash National Park where you will be able to see a bit of wildlife – Greater and Lesser Kudu, Gazelles, a variety of birdlife as well as the attractive Awash Water Falls. With lunch break back in Awash town or further at Asebe Teferri, you will be proceeding to Harar via the scenic winding hills around Hirna and Kulubi. Arriving Harar late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Winta Hotel or optionally at Rewda’s Traditional Guest House, an accommodation located in the walled Jegol town, set up in the local traditional Harari style.

 

Day Eleven

Wednesday 09th Jan : Harar

Through the day, you will be visiting the various attractions of Harar – Jegol the walled town with its five historic gates, it daily vibrant market, Rimbaud’s Museum and at end of the day, a visit to the Hyena-feeding man. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Winta Guest House / Rewda’s Traditional Guest House.

 

Day Twelve

Thursday 10th Jan : Harar – Dire Dawa – Addis Ababa (by flight)

At 8:00AM, you will be proceeding to Dire Dawa, the likeable city with its palm-tree lined streets, home to the very first Ethio-Djibouti Railway Station and Afetesa, and its bustling market around Afetesa and Taiwan. At 2:00PM, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Arriving Addis Ababa at 6:30PM, you will be transferred to the Jupiter Hotel where you will be able to have a brief rest and freshen up. At 8:00PM, you will have a complementary farewell dinner from SORA Tours at the traditional Abesha 2000 Restaurant where you will be able to taste the best of spicy Ethiopian cuisine while watching live cultural Ethiopian music from various ends of Ethiopia. At 10:30PM, you will be transferred back to the Jupiter Hotel for overnight stay, thereby ending your 12 days tour of North and East Ethiopia.

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