ETHIOPIA
Visit Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela and Axum - 11 days
Price from $2,347.00 per person based on double plus airfare. Most meals included. 4 star hotels. Price valid from March through November.

Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world. Ethiopians developed a written language and a sophisticated culture based on a deep love of religion. Ethiopia's Orthodox Church predates the Vatican and is one of the oldest continuously Christian churches in the world. Ethiopia has a fascinating and rich history. Ethiopian legends claim that the Axumite Kingdom dates back to when the Queen of Sheba ruled the land, and that Ethiopia’s first king, Menelik I, was the son of this queen and King Solomon of Israel. Visit this wonderful world of great mysteries, A part of the world not often visited or spoken about and yet so full of history.
 
Day One - Addis Ababa:

• Welcome on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and transfer to your hotel (4 star) The best gateway to Abyssinia (Ethiopia is Addis Ababa, a city that is very young as compared to the country which has got a history dated back over 3000 years. In Amharic, the Federal language of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa means new flower.
  
  Founded in 1886 by Menelik II, Addis Ababa is located at 2,500 meters above sea level at the footstep of the highest parts of the Entoto Mountain chain (3,000 meters above sea level). Addis is also the seat of African Union (AU), which used to be said Organization of Africa Unity (OAU) since 1960’s and many International offices and over 100 Embassies. It enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 16 degrees c. Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacarandas, interesting museums and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, known as the Merkato.

Day Two - City Tour of Addis Ababa:

• After relaxing morning start visiting at National Museum for its multi-collections representing Ethiopia’s past and present image. Among the famous exhibits, the 3.5 million year old skeleton of “Lucy” is worth visiting.
  
  As soon as finished visiting the national museum, the second stop will be at Addis Ababa University campus, which was originally built for palace of Emperor Haile Selassie who later granted it to be main university of the country. Within the main campus, inside the Ethiopian Studies Institute you will visit the Ethnological museum for it’s extraordinarily collection of the priceless and varied ethnic medley. Afternoon drive to the mount (over 3000 meters) Entoto, the first seat of Emperor Menelik II before he established Addis Ababa as the capital of Ethiopia in 1886. The panorama from the peak of Entoto towards Addis is a breathtaking spectacle. Proceed to the west via the road leas to the Blue Nile Gorge you enter to Addis again along the Menelik square to visit the Grand open air market called Merkato.
  
  En route, along to all these inspiring places you will have a quick look at avenues, squares, obelisks and many places of interests.

Day Three - Bahir Dar:

• After early breakfast transfer to Bole International Airport to fly to Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara National Regional State. Upon arrival transfer 7 kms to the lakeside hotel called Tana.
  
  On this day, visit the beautifully situated city of Bahir Dar particularly for it’s:
  A- Colorful market where some one could find the baskets, pottery, traditional hand-made woven clothes, etc.
  B- The Woito Village where the local people make the papyrus boat, which is used for means of transportation to each island of Lake Tana and very useful for local fishermen.
  C- Mount Bezawit where the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie is gracefully situated. This hilltop is the best place for view and birding.

Day Four - Bahir Dar:

• After an early breakfast drive to the spectacular water falls called Blue Nile alls (30 kms from Bahir Dar). Tiss Abay is the small town where we take-off the vehicle and expected to walk the uphill for about 20-230 minutes to reach the best view point of the falls which as 45 meters deep and up to 400 meters wide during the rainy season (end June, July, August & September). Afternoon, boat trip on Ethiopia’s largest lake called Tana for its middle age island monasteries. Lake Tana is the source of the longest river in Africa, the Blue Nile. The lake is endowed with 37 islands out of which 20 of them have got monasteries to some of which female are not allowed to visit.
  
  Therefore, in this afternoon, you only visit the Zege peninsula for its famous 14th century monasteries of Ura Kidanemihret, Azewa Mariam and the island monastery of Kibran Gebriel (where only men are allowed) for their wonderful 16th century mural paintings, crowns, crosses and many old church treasures. On the way back to Bahir Dar you visit the mouth of the Blue Nile River where it begins its long journey.

Day Five - Gondar:

• After breakfast transfer to Bahir Dar Airport to fly to Gondar, 17th century capital of Ethiopia, however, it is now the zonal town of North Gondar. Upon arrival at Gondar Airport, drive 17kms to Goha hotel. On this day you visit the town embraced with the magnificent castle compound, the well decorated 18th century Debre Berhan Sellasie Church and the Bath (now baptismal place during Ethiopian Epiphany, January 19) of king Fasiledous who established Gondar in 1636.

Day Six - Gondar:

• After relaxing morning and a short excursion to Kossoye mountain faced towards to Tekezie and further to Sudan. Then drive to Gondar with some pictures stops. On the way back to Gondar, visit the Felasha (black Jews who are now taken to Israel in 1991). Overnight Goha Hotel.

Day Seven - Lalibela:

• After breakfast transfer to Gondar Airport to leave for Lalibela, the site of the world wonder. Upon arrival transfer 23 kms to Roha or Jerusalem hotel. En route, at the footstep of mount Asheten (over 3000 meters high) visit the 13th century built-up cave church of Na’akutola’ab. After lunch, you visit the first group of the remarkably excavated churches of Lalibela that represent the earthly Jerusalem.

Day Eight - Lalibela:

• After an early breakfast trek (half way mule or horse ride) to the 13thcentury rock hewn monastery of Asheten Mariam (over 3000 meters high). It is about 8 kms form Lalibela. The road is very steep and looks like a twisted rope hugged on the wall but very beautiful scenery and rewarding to experience it. On top, it looks like flying over the town of Lalibela and its surroundings. Inside the monastery you find the 13th century hand and processional crosses of king Na’akutola’ab who ruled Ethiopia for 40 years just after king Lalibela who is credited for their incredibly excavated rock hewn churches and their rock network of tunnels, passages ways and drainages. As the result, UNESCO registers this breathtaking site as one of the eighth wonders of the world and world heritage since 1978. Afternoon, visit the second group of churches, which represent the Heavenly Jerusalem. At last, visit the most beautiful and monolithic cruciform church of St. George. It is said to be the symbolization of Noah’s Arc.

Day Nine - Lalibela:

• Morning excursion drive to the very famous 13th century built-up cave church of Yemirehane Kirstos (Christ show us the way). It is 41 kms from the town of Lalibela and on the way you will visit the farmer’s village and even talk to them. Hope you will like it so much as the life style of this local people is different from the city people. Then drive back to Lalibela for lunch. Afternoon is free.

Day Ten - Axum:

• After breakfast transfer to Lalibela Airport and fly to Axum, the first capital of Ethiopia until the 9th century. Upon arrival, transfer to Yeha hotel. While in Axum you will visit the Archeological museum, the Zion Cathedral where the original Arc of the covenant is still found. However, except its one guardian (priest) no one is allowed to enter in to the Sanctuary where the Arc is stayed. Continuing your visit to the stele park where the magnificent single block of stones erected since the 3rd century. Finally, visit the ruin palace and Bath of Queen of Sheba who was the mother of king Menelik I of the 950 BC.

Day Eleven - Addis Ababa:

• After relaxing morning transfer to Axum Airport and fly to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival transfer to Ghion Hotel. Afternoon, shopping or at leisure. Evening transfer to the airport for your return home.