14-Days Historic Route + Danakil Depression
Overview
Tour : Historic Route + Danakil Depression
Duration : 14 Days / 20th Dec 2015 – 2nd Jan 2016/
Day One
Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar
Starting off at 7:30am, you will be heading North to Bahir Dar, on your way visiting the 13th century Debre Libanos Monastery and the Blue Nile Gorge. Arriving late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Avanti Blue Nile Hotel / Kuriftu Resort / Summerland Hotel / Ethio-Star Hotel.
Day Two
Bahir Dar
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 Avanti Blue Nile Hotel / Kuriftu Resort / Summerland Hotel / Ethio-Star Hotel.
Day Three
Bahir Dar – Gondar
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.
Day Four
Gondar – Simien Mountains – Sankaber
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.
Day Five
Sankaber – Axum
Day Six
Axum
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.
Day Seven
Wednesday 16th July : Kombolcha – Debre Birhan – Addis Ababa
At 8:00AM, you will be heading back to Addis Ababa via Kemise and Debre Birhan, en route driving through and visiting Amhara/Oromo villages. Arriving Addis Ababa mid-afternoon, you will be spending overnight at a hotel of your choice.
*Various accommodation options available for Addis Ababa
Day Eight
Axum – Adigrat – Mekele
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.
Day Nine
Hamed Ila – Dallol – As’Ale – Hamed Ila
Through the day, you will be driving into the Dallol Plains where you will be able to see locals making salt bars – cutting, shaping, packing and loading. Lake As’Ale, the old Italian sulphur site are also to be seen. Mid-afternoon, you will be returning back to Hamed Ila where you will be camping overnight.
Day Ten
Hamed Ila – Dodom – Erta Ale
Early morning, you will be heading East to Kusrawad and further on to Dodom – base camp to start your trekking ascent to Erta Ale peak. After a picnic lunch stop en-route, you will be arriving Dodom, adding up accompanying assisting local Afars and trekking up at about 6:30PM to Erta Ale peak, roughly 3 hours walking up to the tip. You will be camping overnight at the peak where you will be able to see the lava flows and for additional picturing opportunities, same to be repeated early morning the next day.
Day Eleven
Erta Ale – Dodom – Mekele
Starting off early morning from Erta Ale peak, you will be trekking back to base camp and then after reloading vehicles, head out to Mekele via Ab’ala and Irepti. Arriving Mekele late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Axum Hotel / Hill Top Hotel.
Day Twelve
Mekele – Sekota – Lalibela
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.
Day Thirteen
Lalibela
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.
Day Fourteen
Lalibela – Addis Ababa (Flight)
At 9:30am, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Arriving Addis Ababa at 2:20pm, you will be transferred to a hotel of your choice.
After freshening up, at 7:30PM, you will have a complementary farewell dinner at Yod Abyssinia / 2000Abesha Restaurant where you will be able to taste the best of spicy Ethiopian cuisine while watching live traditional music/dance performances from the various ends of Ethiopia. At 10:30PM, you will be transferred back to your hotel, thereby ending your 14-days-tour of North Ethiopia and the Danakil Depression.
