NORTH & SOUTH 16 DAYS/ 15 NIGHTS

Early in the morning, depart on early flight for Bahir Dar (After arrival, go to the check in hotel and have breakfast and if necessary and take our car to lake tana after we reach their site see in lake tana and start tour by take boat to visit a selection of the monasteries hidden on the islands and shores of this sacred lake.  Visit the Zege Penninsula and the monasteries of Azuwa Maryam and Ura Kidane Mehret and if the time enough we visit the island monastery of Debre Maryam near the outlet of the Blue Nile River.

 In the afternoon, after lunch drive out to the Blue Nile Falls for a short hike in the area.  Finish the day with the sunset over the lake.

Lunch and dinner in hotel

 Overnight in Bahir Dar Avanti hotel.

After breakfast, we start drive to continue north to Gondar.   On the way we will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture.  After briefly settling in your hotel, explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings.  Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool or swimming pool of fasil, still used for Timket celebrations today, Ras Gimb Palace Museum and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia.

 At night have dinner in cultural restaurant in Gonder with beautiful cultural dance.

Lunch &Dinner in Gonder hotels

Overnight in Gondar Goha hotel

Drive to semian mountain drive directly to through Debark to Sankaber, on impressive landscape we will most certainly see encounter troops of endemic Gelada Baboons which is only found in Ethiopia, for the sack of altitude acclimatization is, the driver will drop us and trek in the park and visit the nature of the park and have lunch in semen park lodge then we  can have2-3 hrs walk, not only to get used to the altitude but also to enjoy both the view and the endemic wild animals of Gelada Baboons then back to your hotel

Overnight: semien park semian lodge

Morning from visit Sankaber the path to Geech will stretch for. The initial stages of this path lead through extensive areas of highland grasslands and heather forests. This path offers some of the most impressive views of the escarpment.  If the time allowed trek up to one of the best views is the Jinbar Wenz waterfall which plummets down the Geech Abyss.

Overnight: semien park semian lodge

Early morning drive to Axum through LimaLimo road.  At lunch time you reach Axum and lunch in arrival to Axum, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.  After check in hotel we will be a full day visiting the sites of Axum, A city with more than 3000 years of history Axum was once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization. Axum is exclusively known for being home of the original Ark of the Covenant. The sightseeing of this ancient city includes St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository for ‘Ark of the covenant’, the coronation yard, the Stelae Park, Tombs of Kaleb and his son Gebre Meskel, Ezana’s inscriptions and ruins of Queen of Sheba’s.  Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept.  

Overnight in Axum Yared Zema or similar standard.

Depart on an early morning flight to Lalibela (08:00), the most famous of all of the Ethiopian historical sites.  After lunch, start your tour of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches – Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, and Bet Mikael.

   
Overnight in Lalibela Maribela hotel (hotel).

In the morning, take a trip to visit the church of Yimrehanne Kristos.  The most popular of the churches outside of Lalibela, this church is built with layers of wood and granite, set in the entrance to a large cavern.  After the visit, return to Lalibela for lunch and, in the afternoon, visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos.  Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – Saint George.   

Overnight in Lalibela (hotel).

In the morning, proceed to the airport for the return flight back to Addis Ababa (09:00).  After arrival, depart south from Addis Ababa to Awassa.  On the way, you will stop at Lake Ziway to visit the vibrant birdlife.

 Overnight in Awassa Haile Resort

In the morning after breakfast, visit the fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa and then proceed driving to Dorze, set in the highlands above Arba Minch.  The Dorze people are known for their tall beehive-like houses and their fine cotton weaving.  We will visit the village and learn about the daily lives of these industrious people.  If today is market day (in Dorze village on Monday and Thursday and in nearby Chencha on Tuesday and Saturday), that will be visited.  And drive to Ariba Minch

Overnight Ariba Minch Haile resort

Morning after breakfast drive to Nech sare national park.  In the afternoon, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market” and the local hippos. On boat ride along the western shore of Lake Chamo to watch African Crocodiles, Hippopotamus and a large variety of wetland birds.

  After lunch, drive to Turmi.  On the way we will pass through the village of Weyto (market day Saturday), which is home to the Tsemai tribe. Continue through the Weyto Valley to Erbore,).  Finally, proceed to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribe.  

 Overnight in Paradisie lodge Turmi

In the morning, take a day trip to Omorate to visit the Dassenech tribe.  Here you will cross the Omo River by local boat and enter a Dassenech village.  Afterwards, return to Turmi (Monday is market day) for a visit to a local Hamer village.  If there is jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer coming-of-age ceremony that will be visited and if there is at night at night, we can see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer tribe, known as evangadi.

Overnight in Paradisie lodge Turmi

Morning after breakfast drive to Jinka, via Dimeka and Key Afar. Tuesdays and Saturdays are market                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   days in Dimeka, which is one of the most colorful markets in the area and is visited by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna and Karo.  Afterwards, continue to Jinka.  After noon jinka visit the city and the living style of the jinka people.

Overnight in Jinka Eco omo lodge

In the morning, drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe.  The Mursi are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates and the mago national park which have different.  In the afternoon, after returning to Jinka, we can visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center to learn more about the local tribes.  Alternatively, take a hike in the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village.  

Overnight in in Jinka Eco omo lodge

After breakfast, depart from Jinka to Konso, via Key Afar.  Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where we will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods.  This is another very popular market in the region.  After the visit, proceed to Konso (market days are Mondays and Thursdays).  The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing.  Today we will have the opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues.  Time permitting, we can also visit the “natural New York Village”, named after the tall sand formations resembling skyscrapers.  

Overnight in Haile Resort Arbaminch

After breakfast, from Arba Minch drive to Lake Langano.  On the way we will visit the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary, which was established to protect the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest.  Continue to Lake Langano

 Overnight: – African Vacation or Savana lodge

Morning if you interest a swim in the lake, after breakfast depart north to Addis Ababa on the way we can visit if the time is allowed

–    Tiya – ancient stelae field and UNESCO World Heritage site

–    Melka Kunture – pre-historic tool-making site

Overnight: Hotel in Addis or flighty back to home  

 – Ethiopian Airlines Passengers – Discounted Rate: $ 255 Per Person (Subjected to change)

– Other Airlines Passengers – Regular Rate: $ 520 Per Person (Subjected to change)