Historic Route: 13 days

Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis

On arrival in Addis Ababa you will be met by our representatives and transferred to Ghion Hotel. In the afternoon, city tour of Addis Ababa. O/n Ghion Hotel

Day 2: Fly Bahir Dar. Morning - Blue Nile Falls, afternoon - city tour of Bahir Dar

After breakfast fly to Bahar Dar. After check into the Hotel and refreshment, we take a boat trip on Lake
Tana to visit ancient monasteries. We will visit two of the most accessible and representative of the
monasteries, still serving their original function, Ura Kidane Mehret, and Azwa Maryam. In the afternoon
make a city tour of Bahir Dar, that includes a visit of the colorful market where some one could find the
baskets, pottery, traditional hand-made woven clothes, etc. and Mount Bezawit where the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie is gracefully situated. This hilltop is the best place for view and birding. Overnight Tana Hotel
Day 3: Boat cross of Lake Tana and visit 4 monasteries then drive to Gondar. Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and the largest lake in Ethiopia. On the Lake are thirty-seven Islands; thirty of them have Churches and Monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery church of Azwa Mariam and Ura Kidanemheret at Zege Peninsula, Dek Estifanos on Dek island and Debre Sina Mariam at Gorgora Peninsula. Meet vehicles at Gorgora and then drive to Gondar for an Overnight stay at Goha Hotel

Day 4: Tour of Gondar

The attractions that we visit in Gondar includes: Castles of Gondar are included in the World Heritage List. the royal Fasiledes Bath and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its unique murals. Overnight Goha Hotel

Day 5: Drive Simien Mountains

After breakfast departure for Debark town (100 Kms from Gondar), where the head quarter of Simien Mountains National Park is found. Here we pay the entrance fees and a scout and a local guide will accompany us. Then we continue driving to the gravel road to Buyit Ras, the first campsite of the National Park and your lodge for the night. On this drive you will gain your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region, the extraordinary scenery, enjoying the endemic Gelada Baboons and the bone breaker giant bird Lammergeyer roaring around. O/n Simien Mountain Loge - (3200 m)

Day 6: Drive Axum

On this day, you drive long (280kms) but enjoying very beautiful and spectacular landscape along the Simien Mountains and Tekeze Gorge. The road descends from 3100 metres through hairpin bends down the mountain side to 1400 metres in just 40kms! The drive down and back up to Adi Arkay showcases not only the immensely beautiful Simien Mountain massifs but also the people who eke out an existence in this unforgiving countryside. The drive continues through the Tekeze valley, crossing the Tekeze River, and onto Askum in the far north. Overnight Remhay Hotel

Day 7: Tour in Axum

After breakfast sightseeing tour of Axum that includes: St. Mary church where the original Arc of the covenant housed in, Archeological Museum, Stelaes, tombs, and palace. The ancient city of Aksum is found close to Ethiopia's northern border. It marks the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the Kingdom of Aksum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. Overnight Remehay Hotel

Day 8: Fly Lalibela

We take a short flight to Lalibela then drive 23kms to the town where all the 11 monolithic Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela are situated. Today we visit the first group of six churches lie in rock cradles one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mika'el, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel and Bet Medhane Alem. Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one, is built like a Greek Temple and its stone floor is so polished by the countless numbers of visitors that it reflects shafts of light from apertures in the walls high above. In a corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Overnight Roha or Jerusalem hotel

Day 9: In Lalibela

After breakfast a mule ride to the 13th century rock hewn monastery of Asheten Mariam. The church is situated on atop a mountain at an altitude of 3150 metres. This will take about 4 hours. We return back to the town for lunch.In the afternoon, visit of the other groups of Rock churches of Lalibela Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches, lies somewhat isolated in the southwest part of the village on a sloping rock terrace. It can only be reached through a tunnel. The group of four, south of the Jordan River, comprise of Bet Emanuel, Bet Mercurios, Bet Abba Libanos and Bet Gabriel-Rufa'el. Bet Emanuel's elaborate exterior is much praised by art historians. Overnight Roha or Jerusalem hotel

Day 10: Fly to Addis Ababa

After breakfast you will check in to the Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. O/n Ghion Hotel

Day 11: Fly from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa and drive to Harer

After breakfast fly to Dire Dawa, the second largest city of Ethiopia. Upon arrival drive 55kms to the Walled city of Harar. After check in to Belyneh hotel, will visit the city wall, the gates and the narrow streets lined with traditional Harari Gegar houses; visit the Harari museum, Rimbaud House, a fine
traditional house dating from the period when the French poet Rimbaud lived in Harar. As evening falls
local men attract wild hyenas to the city in a bizarre spectacle as they bravely feed these dangerous
scavengers. In the evening you will visit this "Hyena Man". Overnight Belayneh hotel

Day 12: In Harer

After breakfast Full day visits the colorful Muslim Christian markets (known for basketry) and one
traditional Hararie house within the famous walled city. Overnight Belayneh hotel

Day 13: Fly Back to Addis

After breakfast drive to Dire Dawa where you will have a short stay then transfer to the airport and fly to
Addis Ababa. En route we stop at the town of Awaday to see the biggest "Chat market in the country". "Chat" is a stimulant leaf which people chew to be excited. Upon arrival transfer to hotel for shower, the rest of the day shopping. In the evening a fare well dinner party in one of the traditional Ethiopian Restaurants with the dancing from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the Airport for Departure.

Note:
Make sure you read the travel related documents: Terms and Conditions, Pre-Departure Info, Things to Consider first.

13 days: Historic Route & Harer by air & surface
`TOUR CODE`	`DURATION`	`SITE`	`TRANSPORT`
AAT-HT-003	13 DAYS/12 nights	BAHIR DAR, GONDAR, LALIBELA, AXUM & HARAR	SURFACE and AIR
Itineraries Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis On arrival in Addis Ababa you will be met by our representatives and transferred to Ghion Hotel. In the afternoon, city tour of Addis Ababa. O/n Ghion Hotel Day 2: Fly Bahir Dar. Morning - Blue Nile Falls, afternoon - city tour of Bahir Dar After breakfast fly to Bahar Dar. After check into the Hotel and refreshment, we take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit ancient monasteries. We will visit two of the most accessible and representative of the monasteries, still serving their original function, Ura Kidane Mehret, and Azwa Maryam. In the afternoon make a city tour of Bahir Dar, that includes a visit of the colorful market where some one could find the baskets, pottery, traditional hand-made woven clothes, etc. and Mount Bezawit where the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie is gracefully situated. This hilltop is the best place for view and birding. Overnight Tana Hotel Day 3: Boat cross of Lake Tana and visit 4 monasteries then drive to Gondar. Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and the largest lake in Ethiopia. On the Lake are thirty-seven Islands; thirty of them have Churches and Monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery church of Azwa Mariam and Ura Kidanemheret at Zege Peninsula, Dek Estifanos on Dek island and Debre Sina Mariam at Gorgora Peninsula. Meet vehicles at Gorgora and then drive to Gondar for an Overnight stay at Goha Hotel Day 4: Tour of Gondar The attractions that we visit in Gondar includes: Castles of Gondar are included in the World Heritage List. the royal Fasiledes Bath and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its unique murals. Overnight Goha Hotel Day 5: Drive Simien Mountains After breakfast departure for Debark town (100 Kms from Gondar), where the head quarter of Simien Mountains National Park is found. Here we pay the entrance fees and a scout and a local guide will accompany us. Then we continue driving to the gravel road to Buyit Ras, the first campsite of the National Park and your lodge for the night. On this drive you will gain your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region, the extraordinary scenery, enjoying the endemic Gelada Baboons and the bone breaker giant bird Lammergeyer roaring around. O/n Simien Mountain Loge - (3200 m) Day 6: Drive Axum On this day, you drive long (280kms) but enjoying very beautiful and spectacular landscape along the Simien Mountains and Tekeze Gorge. The road descends from 3100 metres through hairpin bends down the mountain side to 1400 metres in just 40kms! The drive down and back up to Adi Arkay showcases not only the immensely beautiful Simien Mountain massifs but also the people who eke out an existence in this unforgiving countryside. The drive continues through the Tekeze valley, crossing the Tekeze River, and onto Askum in the far north. Overnight Remhay Hotel Day 7: Tour in Axum After breakfast sightseeing tour of Axum that includes: St. Mary church where the original Arc of the covenant housed in, Archeological Museum, Stelaes, tombs, and palace. The ancient city of Aksum is found close to Ethiopia's northern border. It marks the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the Kingdom of Aksum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. Overnight Remehay Hotel Day 8: Fly Lalibela We take a short flight to Lalibela then drive 23kms to the town where all the 11 monolithic Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela are situated. Today we visit the first group of six churches lie in rock cradles one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mika'el, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel and Bet Medhane Alem. Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one, is built like a Greek Temple and its stone floor is so polished by the countless numbers of visitors that it reflects shafts of light from apertures in the walls high above. In a corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Overnight Roha or Jerusalem hotel Day 9: In Lalibela After breakfast a mule ride to the 13th century rock hewn monastery of Asheten Mariam. The church is situated on atop a mountain at an altitude of 3150 metres. This will take about 4 hours. We return back to the town for lunch.In the afternoon, visit of the other groups of Rock churches of Lalibela Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches, lies somewhat isolated in the southwest part of the village on a sloping rock terrace. It can only be reached through a tunnel. The group of four, south of the Jordan River, comprise of Bet Emanuel, Bet Mercurios, Bet Abba Libanos and Bet Gabriel-Rufa'el. Bet Emanuel's elaborate exterior is much praised by art historians. Overnight Roha or Jerusalem hotel Day 10: Fly to Addis Ababa After breakfast you will check in to the Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. O/n Ghion Hotel Day 11: Fly from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa and drive to Harer After breakfast fly to Dire Dawa, the second largest city of Ethiopia. Upon arrival drive 55kms to the Walled city of Harar. After check in to Belyneh hotel, will visit the city wall, the gates and the narrow streets lined with traditional Harari Gegar houses; visit the Harari museum, Rimbaud House, a fine traditional house dating from the period when the French poet Rimbaud lived in Harar. As evening falls local men attract wild hyenas to the city in a bizarre spectacle as they bravely feed these dangerous scavengers. In the evening you will visit this "Hyena Man". Overnight Belayneh hotel Day 12: In Harer After breakfast Full day visits the colorful Muslim Christian markets (known for basketry) and one traditional Hararie house within the famous walled city. Overnight Belayneh hotel Day 13: Fly Back to Addis After breakfast drive to Dire Dawa where you will have a short stay then transfer to the airport and fly to Addis Ababa. En route we stop at the town of Awaday to see the biggest "Chat market in the country". "Chat" is a stimulant leaf which people chew to be excited. Upon arrival transfer to hotel for shower, the rest of the day shopping. In the evening a fare well dinner party in one of the traditional Ethiopian Restaurants with the dancing from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the Airport for Departure. Book this trip Note: Make sure you read the travel related documents: Terms and Conditions, Pre-Departure Info, Things to Consider first.

Itineraries