Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival

   • You will be picked by our guide from the airport and then, transferred to the hotel. 
   • Start the tour of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital which means 'new flower' in the local language. Addis is located at 2,500 meters above sea level in one of the highest parts of the Entoto mountain chain which was founded in 1886 by Menelik II. It enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25ºC. Addis is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacaranda trees, interesting museums, and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, known as the 'Merkato'.

2. Day 2: Lalibela

   • In the morning, take a flight to Lalibela, located at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level, which was called Roha until the end of the 12th century. Check out the remarkably excavated 12th-century eleven rock-hewn churches that are registered as one of the world's wonders.
   • Once you've checked into your hotel, take some rest. In the evening, start visiting the first group (consisting of 6 churches) of the incredibly hewn-out churches, which symbolizes the New Jerusalem and the city itself.

3. Day 3: Aksum Tour

   • Early in the morning, you will have the option to attend the everyday mass that would take place from 6:00 am to 7:00 am in the church. 
   • Return to the hotel for breakfast and then, take a flight to Aksum city. 
   • When you reach the city, visit the Archaeological Museum and the Zion Cathedral where you can find the original Ark of the covenant.
   • Visit Stele park where the magnificent single block of stones was erected in the 3rd century. The ruined palace, the Bath of Queen Sheba, who was the mother of king Menelik I of 950 BC, and the tombs of the early century Kings, are some of the other attractions in Aksum. 

4. Day 4: Gondar

   • Visit the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire, Gondar. There are a dozen castles built by various emperors over 236 years. 
   • In the afternoon, visit the palaces, residences and baths of Fasilides. 
   • In the evening, visit the church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity), which is located at the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. The interior is amazingly decorated with beautiful frescos.

5. Day 5: Bahir Dar

   • After breakfast, depart for a three-hour drive to Bahir Dar, the beautiful lakeside city of Ethiopia. The journey will take you through rural villages and cross mountain passes with stunning vistas. Here, you can get your first glimpse of the impressive city of Bahir Dar.
   • In the afternoon, drive to the waterfalls of the Blue Nile, which are approximately 100m wide, and the water plunges for 45 meters, giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows. 

6. Day 6: Lake Tana & Zege Peninsula

   • In the morning, head out to Lake Tana and Zege Peninsula to visit its famous monasteries. There are 37 islands on the lake and 30 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. 
   • Board a boat trip on the lake to explore some of the islands. You can join one of the many organised walks, from that of Ura Kidanemihret, Kibran Gabriel, to the Azewa Mariam to see mural paintings, crowns, crosses etc. 
   • On the way back to Bahir Dar see the place where the Blue Nile River and Lake Tana join. 
   • In the afternoon, visit the market and the palace of former Emperor Haile Selassie. Then, take a flight back to Addis Ababa.