11 Days northern ethiopia tour
Day 1,
Today will be a full day visiting the sites of Axum, including the famous obelisks (one that was recently erected after being returned from Italy) and the archeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), Ezana’s enscription, King Kaleb’s tomb, King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. Overnight Axum.
Day 2,
After breakfast, drive to visit the ruins of Yeha, dating from the 8th to 5th centuries BC, and thought to be the capital of Ethiopian civilization before Axum. Afterwards, visit the Debre Damo monastery, where the men (sorry! No women allowed.) must climb up a 15-m rope to enter. Proceed through the state of Tigray, stopping en-route for a visit to the rock-hewn church of Medhane Alem Adi Kesho. Overnight Hawzen.
Day 3,
In the morning, visit either Abuna Yemata Guh or Maryam Korkor. Both churches involve an approximate one-hour hike but offer commanding views of the surrounding area.Afterwards, proceed driving to Axum overnight axum.
Day 4,
After breakfast, depart debarik , enjoying spectacular views of the tigray Mountains., proceed driving through the dramatic Tekeze Valley, offering some of the best landscapes in the country.After stopping for lunch in Adi Arkay then drivr to debarik.
We actually stop here to pick our guides, scout, permition and cooking materials for about 30 minutes then we drive to simien moutain to our fisrt camp site senakber. Before we heading to the camp sight we will trek for 2 hours to reach to the camp.
Day 5,
Trek Sankaber - Geech (3,600m elevation) which will take between 5-7 hours. After one and half hours, see the Jinnbar River and falls which you will cross later in the day. After crossing the river, ascend for about 2 hours to Geech. The scenery is wonderful and a herd of Gelada Baboons can be seen on the journey.Later you will drive to gondar over night gondar.
Day 6,
explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today, Ras Gimb Palace Museum and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia. Overnight in Gondar
Day 7, In the morning, take a boat trip on Lake Tana 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 the island monastery of Debre Maryam near the outlet of the Blue Nile River. In the afternoon, drive out to the Blue Nile Falls for a short hike in the area. Finish the day with the sunset over the lake. Overnight Bahir Dar
Day 8,
In the morning after an earley brekfast we will drive to the blue nile water falles this will take about an hour. Then Cross the river on a local boat then walked through the sugar cane fields and country side to the actual falls, after ward we start driving to lalibela ,The distance is 310 km this will take us approximately around 5-6 hours with Chinese new road with its beautiful scenery. over night lalibela
day 9,
In the morning after brekfast we start to visit the rock hewn churches of Lalibela.Lalibela is most famous for its churches. Visit the 12-13th centuryRock hewn churches called the ̎Eighth wonder of the world ̋ which arestill active places of worship and host many major religiousCeremonies. The churches are carved out of solid rock, and each has unique architectural features. Take a wander through the tunnels andstairways linking the churches together. After lunch will drive to the site where we find a concentration of some of Ethiopians most famous Rock Hewn churches, mostly referred by many as ʺthe living wonders of the worldʺ this churches are, they have been here for at list 900 years, an active christen shrine, the spiritual centre of the counters religious life. The monolithic churches where carved out of 2600-sq natural rock terrace in the twelve century AD by king lalibela. BeteMedhanialem, the largest monolithic Rock hewn churches of the world, Magers 37.7 ft in Height, covers an area of almost 2625 Square ft and has walls that are up to 6 feet thick. A plain building supported by 36 pillars on the inside and anther 38 pillars around the outside. Bête Medhanialem modeled on the original st.Merryzion church build by king Ezana in 4th century at axum.
The Rock hewn churchs that we will visit today before lunch will be the first group of churches included: BeteMedhanialem, Bete Mariam, BeteMeskel, BeteDenagl and BeteGolo gotaMichal. over night lalibela
Day 10,
After Having breakfast we will continue our journey in To Ethiopians long and marvellous past with a visit to other sent Lalibela Remarkable churches. There architecture and artistry must be seen to be believed.
The Rock Hewn Churches that we will visit this afternoon the second group of churches and St, Gorge it included: BeteGebral, BeteMerquros, BeteEmanule, Betelehiam ,Bete Aba Libanos and BeteGhiorgis . Once we finished visiting the second group of churches and we will walk to the village so the complex bewildering labyrinth of underground Tunnels to the monastery where the monks and nuns live.
After Lunch: Drive to YemrehaneKirstos(2hur) visit the marble churches called Yimrhannekirstos, which predates the Lalibela churches and was built using a completely different style of construction involving marble and wood. The church is built inside a cave. Pass through different villages and learn about local crops on different plateaus, specular view till your reach the church. return to Lalibela over night lalibela.
Day 11,
After brekfast will drop you to the airport for your flight to addis Ababa
NB: lalibela