Network Travel & Tour

Day 2:

Arrival Addis Ababa

Arrival Addis Ababa and transfer to the Hilton hotel.

Day 2:

Sightseeing of Addis Ababa

Full day excursion in Addis Ababa for the visit of National and Ethnological Museum, Entoto hills, Trinity cathedral church, St. Gorge Church and Merkato.
Stay overnight in Addis Ababa Hilton hotel

Day 3:

Fly to Bahir Dar, Boat trip on Lake Tana and Blue Nile falls.

Early morning flight to Bahir Dar, and transfer to Summerland Hotel, after short break at the hotel for coffee set out for Boat excursion to Lake Tana and visit two or three of its beautiful and interesting islands with their medieval monasteries and churches. Covering over 3500sq km, Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake and is famous as the home of the monasteries established on some 20 of its 37 islands. Most churches in the monasteries have interesting paintings and contain a collection of church treasures and beautiful old manuscripts. Back to the hotel for lunch and afternoon drive to the waterfalls of the Blue Nile named Tis Isat (meaning water that smokes), Previously it was one of the most spectacular falls in Africa, 400m wide during the rainy season and dropping over a sheer chasm more than 45m deep, the thunderous noise could be heard long before arrival and the spray that is thrown up could be felt up to a kilometer away. Unfortunately, since a Hydro Electric dam has been built upstream, the waterfall is been reduced somewhat but still interesting to see. You will also enjoy nature and bird life while walking to the waterfall. Keep an eye out for parrots, bee-eaters, lovebirds and Turacos. You may also see velvet monkeys. Stay overnight in Summerland Hotel.

Day 4:

Drive to Gondar and sight seeing

Early in the morning after breakfast drive along the shores of Lake Tana to Gondar for a visit to the Royal Enclosure that is surrounded by high stone walls containing the ruins of 17th century palaces of King Fasiladas, King Lyasu and Queen Mentewab and different other buildings. The castles are a mixture of Ethiopian, European and probably also Indian styles. According to descriptions of 17th century travellers, the interior of the castle of King Fasiladas was extremely luxurious, decorated with gold, ivory and precious stones.
If enough time is left, you can also visit Fasiladas’ Pools. It’s peaceful, shady and beautiful spot, and well worth a visit. The ancient bath is filled with water for the important Timkat (epiphany) ceremony once a year in January. The ceremony replicates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, and is seen as an important renewal of faith.

Stay overnight in Goha Hotel on a mountain top in Gondar.

Day 5:

Drive to Simien Mountains National Park

Drive to Simien Mountain National Park though beautiful landscape and views of Simien Mountain Chain. A Short stop at Debark for coffee and paying entrance fee to the national park where the ticket office is located, then proceed to Buyit Ras where the Simien Lodge is located. On the way before getting to the lodge a short trek along the Simien Massif escarpments, ranges with beautiful views. You are likely to spot the Gelada baboon which is endemic mammal and a lot different kind of birds. Stay overnight in the Simien Lodge. The Simien Lodge is one of the best eco-lodges in the country.

Day 6:

Excursion to Chennek and drive back to Gondar

In the morning after breakfast make an excursion to Chennek where you can spot the Walia ibex, one of the endemic mammals who can only be found in the Simiens. A Short walk to the impressive Jin Bar Waterfalls then begin the return journey back to Gondar. Stopping for lunch in Debark.
Stay overnight in Goha Hotel on a mountain top in Gondar.

Day 7:

Fly to Axum and sight seeing

Fly to Axum and transfer to Rehamai Hotel. After short break for coffee and leave out for excursion in the town to visit Axum’s famous. 2000 years old stelae. They are striking for their huge size, their incredible pristine and sculpted from single pieces of granite to look like multi storied buildings of which the biggest is the Great stelae measuring a massive 33m. It is believed to be the largest single blocks of stone that humans have ever attempted to erect. This stelae has fallen down and lies broken in different pieces on the ground. The biggest still standing stelae measures 23 m. At the stelae site you can also see the tomb of the false door, Compound of St.Mary of Zion church and Archeological Museum.
As the story tells, in the old St. Mary of Zion church the original “Ark of the Covenant”, made by Moses, the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are kept. The Ark was taken from Jerusalem in 900 B.C. by Menelik, the son of King Solomon of Israel and Queen of Sheba from Ethiopia. Nobody has ever been allowed to see the Ark, except a priest who is its guardian. When this priest gets old God reveals to him who will be his successor. Many stories of its magnificent power are told in Axum.

Other sites in Axum are the ruins of the Dungur (Queen of Sheba) palace and Gudit Stelae Field. The palace was probably the most impressive palace ever built in Axum, consisting of more than 50 rooms, and boasting an elaborate drainage system. The Gudit Stelae are thought to be older, dating perhaps to the first half of the millennium AD. Roughly and irregularly hewn, they slightly resemble the menhirs that Asterix and Obelix used to toss around; they may mark the graves of lesser noble.

Stay overnight in Rehamai hotel.

Day 8:

Fly to Lalibela and do sightseeing.

Fly to Lalibela and transfer to Roha Hotel as the flights arrive to Lalibela around lunch time have lunch at the hotel and afternoon excursion to Lalibela’s rock hewn churches. Lalibela is also known as “Africa’s Petra”, Lalibela and its rock-hewn church are thought, to date from the 12th and 13th century during King Lalibela reign. The churches are remarkable since they are entirely freed and cut out from the rock, so refined and so numerous within a small area. A Portuguese writer Alvares described them as “edifices, the like of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world”.
The churches are divided into two main groups –one to the north and the other to the south of a stream known as the Jordan River. The northern cluster consists of six churches including; Bet Medhane Alem, the largest of all the Lalibela churches. Taking the form of a Greek temple, it is unusual in being entirely surrounded by square-shaped columns, with a further forest of twenty-eight massive rectangular columns supporting the roof inside. A few minutes’ walk from Bet Medhane Alem is Bet Maryam dedicated to Mary, the mother of the Christ. It has a deep square pool in the courtyard which is said to have miraculous properties, and infertile women dip themselves in the algae-covered waters at certain times of the year, particularly at Christmas. Other churches in this group are Bet Meskal, Bet Danaghel, and the inter-connected churches of Bet Golgotha and Bet Mika’el with the Selassie Chapel and the Tomb of Adam, form the most mysterious complex in Lalibela.

Back to the hotel and stay overnight in Roha Hotel.

Day 9:

Sightseeing in Lalibela

In the morning visit the southern group has four churches including; Bet Emanuel the finest of the group, its elaborate exterior much praised by art historians, Bet Merkorios, is thought to have originally served a secular purpose- perhaps that of a house of justice, as amongst the secular objects found in recently excavated trenches were shackles for the ankles of prisoners. Bet Abba Libanos, which is separated from the surrounding land on only three sides, is a structure of great charm, and a good example of a cave church. And the last but not the least is Bet Gabriel-Rufa’el. There is one isolated but remarkable church of Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela structures. Back to the hotel for lunch and afternoon free to walk around the local village, the guide will organize a coffee ceremony at a local’s house.

Stay overnight in Roha Hotel.

Day 10:

Fly back to Addis Ababa

In the morning after breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight back to Addis. If the time permits visit the remaining sights of Addis Ababa and shopping at souvenirs shops.

Stay overnight in Hilton Hotel

Day 11:

Departure.

Our Aim is your satisfaction, joy and happiness. So our itinerary is flexible based on your desire and time you have, for more detail don’t hesitate to contact us.

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