23 Days Ethiopian Tours
Tour Description
Destination : Mekelle, Hamdela, Dodome, Erta Ale, Labella, Axum,Gondar,Bale,Arbaminch, Dorze village, Lake Chamo, Turmi, Omorate,, Jinka, Mursi Village, Konso
Day. 01: Arrival of Addis Ababa and Sight seeing
Arrival Addis Ababa and meet by our representative. Then transfer your hotel. Depending on your arrival time make sightseeing in Addis Ababa.
Day. 2: Fly to Mekelle-Drive to Hamedella… 310km..3hr
This day after having your breakfast you will be flying to Mekelle then on arrival you will be Drive to Hamdela, Beginning the tour to Danakil Desert.At Berhale where we arrange the permits and police escort. On the way you will also admire some local Tigrean and Afar tribes village and camel caravan carrying the salt bars to transport it to the nearest local town.
Day. 03: Hamedela – Dodome – Erta Ale..
In the morning drive to Dodome. Here we will arrange camels to transport your luggage and water, and then you will start hiking to the Erta Ale Volcanic hills (613 meters above sea level) which is 15km one way, and walk to see the volcanic eruption. The eruption is so colorful and spectacular. At night, we will camp nearby the eruption, on the crater rim above the active lava lake.
Day. 04: More excursions in Dodom and drive back to Hamadela
Climbing again early in the morning to the rim to see the sun set., then drive to Hamedela.Late after noon visit camel caravan.
Day. 05: Excursion to Daloll depression drive back to Mekele
After early breakfast drive to the Lake Asale, salty Lake and visit the salt workers and the merchant, then head to Dallol/Denakil Depression, which listed as the hottest and active place on the earth surface with an average temperature of 40 – 50 degrees Celsius. Then drive back to Mekelle.
Day.06:Mekelle-Tigray Churches-Axum
After having an early breakfast in your hotel we will be driving to the small town of Wukero to see the ancients Tigray Rock Hewan Churches of Wukero Cherkos and Adikisho Medhanyalem after that we will have an excursion to the anchient churches of Abrha Wasbacontinue our journey to the town of Adigerat for lunch after lunch we will be beheading to the temple of Yeha then continue our driving to Axuma passing via the town of Adewa(the historical battle of Adewa is found which the Ethiopian people get a victory over Italy)..Overnight Axum
Day.07:Axum
Axum is the place where facts and legends meet. Is the Ark of the Covenant found in Axum? We take you in the footsteps of the famous Queen of Sheba and Ezana, the emperor who converted to Christianity. You will see the spectacular stelae of Axum and visit the Maryam of Tsion churches. (unfortunately the old church is not open for woman). Many more sites are available to visit or you might take a couple of hours at leisure to digest your overwhelming experiences of Ethiopia
Day.08: Axum-Simien Mountains,
The Simien Mountains are the next place we visit. On the way from Gondar we encounter already spectacular scenery as a good preparation for this afternoon. After an early lunch we spent the afternoon to enjoy the natural beauty of the Simien Mountains. There are several opportunities to explore the park, on foot or by car. It is almost guaranteed you see the gelada baboon. We enjoy the sunset at our destination the Simien Lodge.
Day.09:Full Day Excursions in Simen Mountain NP
This day you will have a full day excursions and you will have a chance of meeting a groups of Ethiopian endemic baboons known as Chelada Baboons and if we are lucky we will see the Walia Ibex Antelopes (the goat families that are only found in the simen NP) and you will see endemic plants and birds in the Simen NP…. Overnight Simen Lodge
Day 10: Simen NP-Gondar…123km(3hrs)
This morning we proceed to our next destination: Gondar. We will spent the afternoon to visit the highlights of Gondar: the Royal Enclosure, Fasilidas Bath and Debre Birhan Selassie, the church with the angel faces painted on the ceiling.
Overnight :Gondar
Day 11:Bahir Dar
After an early breakfast we drive to the lake side town of Bahir Dar for about three hour then drive to one hoursto reach the small village of Tissisat. Here we enjoy a lovely walk in the cooler morning hours. We cross the Nile by the 17th century Portuguese Bridge and continue the walk to the falls, meeting local people on the way. After admiring the falls we cross the Nile by small boat to find our car waiting for us. We are heading back to Bahir Dar for lunch and in the afternoon we embark for a boat trip on Lake Tana to explore some of the beautiful churches.
It is about one hour by boat to reach Zeghe Peninsula where we visit the most famous church Uhre Kidane Mehret. We enjoy a walk on the forested peninsula to the other churches and might meet monkeys and beautiful birds on the way. At the other side of the peninsula the boat is waiting and takes us to Kibran Gabriel Island (unfortunately women are not allowed). Before we are heading back to Bahir Dar the boat takes us to the the source of the Blue Nile where we find many water birds and maybe a hippo, meanwhile enjoying the sunset.
Day 12:Bahir Dar -Lalibela-Visit the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
morning, after breakfast, your visit will be transferred to the airport to couch up your flight to Lalalibela,On arrival transferred to your hotel then drive to the eleven rock-hewn monolithic (carved from a single rock) churches of Lalibela (UNESCO World heritage site, with magnificent architecture & paintings inside the churches). In the evening you will get back to the hotel, rest, have dinner and relax. Overnight stay Lalibela.
Day. 13: Fly Back to Addis and drive to Awash National Park
Morning after breakfast transfer to airport for flight back to Addis and transfer to Awash National Park then on arrival check in to your lodge after you take a rest you will have a game driving inside the park.
Overnight:Awash NP
Day. 14:Awash NP
This day you will have a game drive in the other parts of the park then visit Alledeghi area, in the afternoon you will see the hot spring area.
Overnight: Awash NP
Day 15:Awash-Adama-Bale
After having your early breakfast we will be driving to Bale via passing Adama and Asela then on arrival we will have some excursions near to the national park after that we will be staying the night in Bale.
Overnight :Bale
Day 16:Bale Mountain
You will have a fullday game driving and excursions’ inside of the Bale mountain national park.
Overnight:Bale
Day 17:Bale-Shashemene-Alaba-Welayta-Arbaminch via Dorze village
After breakfast drive to Arbaminch through passing the Rastferian city of Shashemene then we will have a stopover for lunch in the town of Welayta then drive to the wonderful village of Chencha to visit Dorze people and their typical culture of local foods and traditional houses that is made from the false banana tree then later we will be driving to Arba Minch.
Overnight:Arba Minch
Day. 18: Boat trip on Lake Chamo & drive to Turmi
Morning after breakfast make boat trip on Lake Chamo to see the largest crocodiles in Africa which measure up to 7 Mts. Then drive to Turmienroute visiting Tsemay and Benna tribes. Then walk to the villages of the Hammer people that enjoy body decoration and wear quantities of colorful beads and clay hair buns with Ostrich feathers spend pleasant after noon with friendly Hamar people.
Day. 19: Excursion to Omorate
Excursion to Omorate to visit the Dasenach tribes across the Omo river by wooden local boat then come back to Turmi in the afternoon to visit the nearby hammer tribe village, also possibility to see special occasion ceremonies like wedding and ritual.
Overnight:Turmi
Day. 20 Turmi-Jinka- Excursion to Mursi
In the morning after breakfast, you will be driven to Mursi (55 Km from Jinka) and visit to the of Mursi tribe village known for their attractive culture, women wearing large clay plates into their lower lips. Then after lunch we will see the village of Ari tribes of Jinka and we will see the way of making waving and different unique things.
Overnight:Jinka
Day 21: Drive to Arbaminch via Konso Village
After breakfast drive to Arbaminch en route visit Konso tribes village and visit the amazing natural landscape of New York near to Konso. The king village is very interesting.
Overnight: Arba Minch
Day 22: Drive to Langano Via the town of Shashemene and Alaba
Early in the morning we will be drive to Langano via the town of Shashemne to reach the beach area of Langano lake that is the only lake in Ethiopia comfortable for swimming and water activity..on arrival check in to the hotel and after that start the water activity and some interesting games near to the lake.
Overnight:Langano
Day 23: Drive back to Addis Ababa and Departure.
After breakfast drive back to Addis and on arrival you will have a shopping . Evening fare well dinner and transfer to airport for fly back home.