12 Days Simien Mountain-lalibela-danakil-tigray Churches

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from Addis to Gondar

Stop At: Fasil Ghebbi, Gonder Ethiopia
We will fly from Addis to Gonder and Pick you at Gondar Airport. In the afternoon a city tour of Gondar
including a visit to the Royal Compound, where enchanting 17th century castles stand.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Debre Berhan Selassie Church, Gondar, Ethiopia, Gonder Ethiopia
Visit DebreBerhan Selassie Church meaning Trinity at the Mount of Light. Appealing as it is on the outside with its stone walls, arched doors and two-tiered thatch roof, it's the inner sanctuary of Debre Berhan Selassie, with its glorious frescos, that really shines. But it was very nearly destroyed like most of Gonder’s other churches.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel at Gondar

Day 2: Start Trekking Simien Mountains

Stop At: Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
Drive along a good paved road from Gondar to the park headquarters in Debark. The 100 km journey will take around two hours. At the headquarters we will arrange our permits to the park and pick up our scout. After that we will drive for another hour before we start our first day introductory walk. This first hike is an easy one along the northern edge of the escarpment with a nice view points over the foothills and plains of northern Ethiopia. You will encounter gelada baboon along this hike. Drive to Simien Mountains National Park.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Camping

Day 3: Simien Mountain Trekking

Stop At: Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
We follow the northern escarpment eastward, before we descend a little into the Kaba Valley. After that we climb up before we reach Gich Abyss and continue over a narrow ridge to a cliff where we have a spectacular view of the abyss towards the Simien foothills. We also find a large waterfall here, where the Jinbar River plunges 500 m into the abyss. We proceed for about two hours and have lunch at the Jinbar River. After lunch we walk through fields of barley before we arrive at the idyllic village of Gich. Here we can enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony in one of the huts and learn more about local farm life. From Gich village it is a short walk to Gich camp which is a good area to look for lammergeyer and thick billed raven. After a relaxing afternoon, we will take a short hike up to Kedadit to enjoy sunset plus the gorgeous shaded landscapes down to the cliff side towards to the eastern direction and return to the camp for dinner.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel in Gonder

Day 4: Simien Mountain Trekking and drive to Gondar

Stop At: Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
We follow the northern escarpment eastward, before we descend a little into the Kaba Valley. After that we climb up before we reach Gich Abyss and continue over a narrow ridge to a cliff where we have a spectacular view of the abyss towards the Simien foothills. We also find a large waterfall here, where the Jinbar River plunges 500 m into the abyss. We proceed for about two hours and have lunch at the Jinbar River. After lunch we walk through fields of barley before we arrive at the idyllic village of Gich. Here we can enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony in one of the huts and learn more about local farm life. From Gich village it is a short walk to Gich camp which is a good area to look for lammergeyer and thick billed raven. After a relaxing afternoon, we will take a short hike up to Kedadit to enjoy sunset plus the gorgeous shaded landscapes down to the cliff side towards to the eastern direction and return to Gonder.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel in Gondar

Day 5: Fly from Gondar – Lalibela

Stop At: Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Lalibela 1260 Ethiopia
We will visit the holy land of new Jerusalem-Lalibela, We will met you at the Airport in Lalibela and drive about 23 km to the small town of Lalibela for check in and refreshment, after you will visit the Northern Group: Bet Medhane Alem, home to the Lalibela Cross and believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, probably a copy of St Mary of Zion in Aksum. It is linked to Bete Maryam (possibly the oldest of the churches), Bete Golgotha (known for its arts and said to contain the tomb of King Lalibela), the Selassie Chapel and the Tomb of Adam after break proceed to visit the second group of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela called Western Group: Bete Giyorgis, said to be the most finely executed and best preserved church &the third group called The Eastern Group: Bete Amanuel (possibly the former royal chapel), Bete Merkorios (which may be a former prison), Bete Abba Libanos and Bete Gabriel-Rufael (possibly a former royal palace).
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel in Lalibela

Day 6: Drive to Mekele

Stop At: Mek'ele, Mek'ele, Tigray Region
The drive will take 8 hours
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel in Mekele

Day 7: Mekele – Hamede Ela

Stop At: Erta Ale, 6611 Ethiopia
We start early 9:00 AM, drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). This is may be one of the roughest roads in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs passing through changing the landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm-lined oasis. After passing several small hamlets scattered here and there in this deserted land, you will arrive at Dodom camping site, located about 17km from Erta Ale.
Dinner will be served around 17:00 o’clock. After a short break, 30 minutes trek up to Ertale. Camels will be transporting all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. You will spend the night on top of the mountain, at the rim of the Volcano.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Camping

Day 8: Hamd Ela – Dodom

Stop At: Danakil Depression, 0125 Ethiopia
Early morning you will rise with the sun with time to walk around pits and craters. The main pit-crater 613 meters above sea level/, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three-storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. You will leave around 7:00 to head back to Askoma for breakfast. You will reach the latest at 10:30 am at the camp and after some time to relax you will drive to Lake Afdera (optional may not be available during summertime) the mythical Lake Giulietti (or lake Afrera), a saltwater lake located more than100 meters below sea level, in one of the deepest depressions of the planet. Because of the picturesque landscape, it is interesting to visit the salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the water of the lake.on continue to Hamad Ela, a village with a total population of about 500 people.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight camping

Day 9: Danakil-Mekele

Stop At: Danakil Depression, 0125 Ethiopia
On this day you will visit the place where the salts are mined. Observe the breaking of the salt from the ground, cutting in to rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol (-130 m) and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal (-130 m) + camel caravans (No camel caravan on July, August, and early September). Excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel in Mekele

Day 10: Tigray churches day trip

Stop At: Gheralta Rock, Hawzen Mekele, Mek'ele Ethiopia
To visit Abuna Yemata Guh, walking for about an hour to commence a steep ascent up the side of the Gheralta massif. This steep ascent soon turns into a climb using footholds and handholds chipped into the sandstone rock by the passage of many hands and feet. The climb and the walk along very narrow ledges with sheer drops to the side is not one for the faint-hearted. The church itself can be reached by walking out on a ledge one meter wide and with a 200m drop to the left-hand side. At the entrance, there is a small cave and a wooden door built into the rock.

Of the three, Maryam Korkor is the most impressive architecturally. A huge, high ceiling is supported by 12 free-standing pillars. Looking at it you could not help but wonder how the architect managed to carve so high from the ground.

Drive to Mekele
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel at Hawzien

Day 11: Morning trek around rock churches of Tigray

Stop At: Gheralta Rock, Hawzen Mekele, Mek'ele Ethiopia
Morning trek around rock churches of Tigray. Then drive to Axum.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: The Ruins of Aksum, Axum Ethiopia
After Lunch we will visit the Northern Stelae field to see the 4th-century obelisks that lend the region its name. While all of the tombs excavated so far have been robbed centuries ago, more than 90% of the ancient burial sites remain unearthed! You'll then embark on a day of discovery as you explore the ruins of Dungur, better known as the Queen of Sheba's Palace, as well as the tombs of ancient figures such as King Kaleb, King Gebre Meskel, and more. You'll then proceed to St. Mary's of Zion Cathedral, fabled home of the Ark of the Covenant. Not only is this4th century church said to be home to the Biblical artifact, it is also where ancient Axum Emperors and Empresses were crowned. A visit to the archaeological museum will further enhance your knowledge of the ancient kingdom.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Branna Hotel

Day 12: Axum to Addis

Stop At: Mount Entoto, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Catch a morning flight from Mekele. We offer the city walking or car with driver/guide where you’ll meet the local and visit all the best sightseeing with coffee and lunch breaks on your way, which will lead by a tour guide, as an escort.

Start the day looking down on Addis Ababa from Entoto Mountain, the capital of Ethiopia before Addis Ababa. Here you will have panoramic views of the city with fresh air from the eucalyptus forests.
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Stop At: National Museum of Ethiopia, King George VI Street, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
After the Entoto Hill visit, proceed down to Addis Ababa via Shiro Meda, the city’s largest market for traditional clothes. Then proceed to National Museum. Top choice museum in Addis Ababa
Image by Andrew Bain / Getty Images

The collection on show at the National Museum is ranked among the most important in sub-Saharan Africa, but sadly many of its exhibits are poorly labelled, lit and displayed. Far and away the highlight is the palaeontological exhibition in the basement, the home of world-famous Lucy. Her 1974 discovery in the Afar region of northwestern Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins forever. This section is well labelled in English, so if your time is limited spend most of it here.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: National Museum of Ethiopia, King George VI Street, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Then you will continue with a visit to the National Museum, where Ethiopia’s oldest resident, Lucy, is housed. The collection on show at the National Museum is ranked among the most important in sub-Saharan Africa, but sadly many of its exhibits are poorly labelled, lit and displayed. Far and away the highlight is the palaeontological exhibition in the basement, the home of world-famous Lucy. Her 1974 discovery in the Afar region of northwestern Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins forever.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Merkato, Addis Mercato, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
You will have a chance to visit the largest market in Africa.
Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.