Historical tour 7 nights - 8 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  ADDIS ABABA

  

  Welcome to Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa, "New Flower", is the third highest capital city in the world. It is located at an altitude of 3,000 m. Addis Ababa is a pleasant city, with wide avenues lined with jacaranda trees, interesting museums, and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, the "Mercato". Addis Ababa is the diplomatic capital of Africa and is home to the headquarters of the Organization of African Unity as well as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The capital is rich in impressive colonial architecture monuments, scattered among stretches of sun-bleached shacks. Upon your arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, after passing through immigration and customs formalities, you will be welcomed by the staff of Absolute Ethiopia Tours and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, it is possible to arrange a sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa with a national guide. Explore the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy at the National Museum, enjoy the panoramic view of Addis Ababa from the top of Mount Entoto, discover the 16th-century St. George's Cathedral, the superb stained glass windows of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the largest open market in Africa, the Merkato. Meals: Lunch and dinner are included.

• day 2

  FLIGHT ADDIS ABABA TO BAHIR DAR

  

  In the early morning, transfer to Addis Ababa (Bole) int. airport for your flight to Bahir Dar (1h flight). Bahir Dar is the capital of the Amhara region, located on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in the country. Bahir Dar is one of the best-developed cities in Ethiopia. Bahir Dar means "by the sea". After checking in at your hotel, go see the enchanting Blue Nile Falls, "Tissisat" (smoking water), enjoy a spectacular view from the top of Bezawit Hill, and visit the Bahir Dar open-air market to meet the locals. After lunch, explore the precious monasteries of Lake Tana, dating from the 12th to the 14th century, during a cruise on the grass-covered Zeghie peninsula. Discover Ethiopia's links with the ancient world thanks to the Tankwa papyrus boats that sail on the lake and strikingly resemble the boats of ancient Egypt. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• day 3

  Barahir Dar Road to the Simien Mountains via Gondar

  

  In the early morning, leave your hotel and head towards the magnificent Simien Mountains via Gondar. Road/land transfer: 295 km / 5 h. The spectacular topography of the Simien Mountains is the result of volcanic activity. It has been classified as a World Natural Heritage site and is enhanced by exceptional botanical phenomena as well as remarkable wildlife: Walia Ibex, red fox, and Chilada (the heart-baboon, few of which are found at the site). Visit Sankaber, the first campsite of the Simien Mountains, where you will discover one of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in Ethiopia. Stop to observe the Ghelada baboons and their eating habits, then take a short walk to a waterfall (the ground is uneven at this spot). Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• day 4

  MOUNT SIMIENS ROAD TO GONDAR

  

  Today, you will return to Gondar by road, a distance of 110 km in 2 hours. Enjoy the panoramic view and the countryside on your way. Gondar, "the Camelot of Africa," is a medieval royal city distinguished by its castles, imperial enclosure, and churches, especially the Debre Berhan Selassie church. The walls and ceiling of this church are entirely covered with murals; the faces of angels on the ceiling have become a common motif in Ethiopian design. This evening, enjoy traditional Ethiopian music at Four Sisters. Gondar is famous for the Azmari bet; enjoy traditional indigenous Ethiopian songs, mainly praises and songs with much merriment. Young couples, a man playing the masinko (a string instrument) and a woman singing at the same time, perform. If you wish, you will have the opportunity to try the dances. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• day 5

  Flight Gondar to Axum

  Transfer to Gondar airport to take your flight to Axum. Axum was once the capital of the Axumite Empire and an important trading center in antiquity. Axum is the land of the Queen of Sheba, with its own alphabet and numbering system. It is home to the original Ark of the Covenant and monolithic stelae, renowned for their great engineering works built in the 4th century. It was one of the four great powers of the ancient world. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• day 6

  FLIGHT AXUM TO LALIBELA

  

  Take a flight to the small town of Lalibela, which is home to one of the world's most amazing sacred sites, comprising eleven medieval churches carved out of rock, each entirely sculpted from a single piece of stone. Lalibela is also called the "New Jerusalem" – a town that houses internationally renowned rock-hewn churches, known as the "Eight Wonders of the World." These imposing buildings seem to be a superhuman creation in terms of scale, craftsmanship, and concept. After checking in at your hotel, visit the northwestern group of churches, consisting of Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Debre Sina, and Bet Golgotha. This visit also includes the isolated monolith of Bet Giyorgis (St George's Church). Bet Medhane Alem is the largest monolithic rock-hewn church. Take part in a traditional coffee ceremony. The coffee ceremony in Ethiopia is an integral part of social and cultural life. It is an important cultural ritual that has been passed down from generation to generation. An invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship or respect and is an example of Ethiopian hospitality. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• day 7

  LALIBELA

  

  Today, visit the rock-hewn church of Yimrehane Kirstos, 40 km from the city, built by the king of the same name before the reign of King Lalibela. The church is built inside a cave, in the Axumite style, similar to the church of Debre Damo, with alternating levels of wood and stone. If the day allows, attend the annual celebration of the king and Saint Yimrehane Kirstos, which is attended by tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over Ethiopia, making it one of the most joyful annual pilgrimages in Lalibela. It is celebrated with great devotion: the congregation, wrapped in white shawls, sings joyfully with the priests, one after the other. Among the swaying choir, the priests sing, dance, and circle the church, letting out a deep boom from the drums, while the female voice responds in a piercing chorus of ululations. Then, return to the city. And visit the churches of the southeast group, notably Bet Gebriel-Rafael, Bet Abba Libanos, Bet Lehem, Bet Emanuel, and Bet Mercurios. According to legend, Bet Abba Libanos was built overnight by Lalibela's wife, Meskel Kebre, who was assisted by a group of angels. You can also visit the markets of Lalibela or learn about Ethiopian cuisine. You will learn how to make injera, shiro, and other vegetarian options, then taste them. For the Ethiopian people, injera is the staple food, eaten at every meal of the day. Injera is a crepe-shaped product (with a slightly sour taste), mainly made from teff, although other grains, such as corn, are sometimes also used. Injera is eaten with the hands, first taking some meat or vegetables, then dipping them in a sauce. Teff is a gluten-free grain, grown in the highlands of Ethiopia. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• day 8

  FLIGHT LALIBELA TO ADDIS ABABA

  Today, transfer to Lalibela airport for your return flight to Addis Ababa. Spend the rest of the day relaxing, shopping, or taking part in other sightseeing activities in Addis. This evening, you will enjoy a wonderful cultural evening in one of Addis Ababa's restaurants. Ethiopia is a mosaic of peoples speaking more than 80 languages, with different lifestyles, costumes, and cultural dances. Take the opportunity to discover some of these cultural dances and taste traditional meals while drinking Tej, a type of wine made from honey. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.