Tour Ethiopia In Depth/ North - East & Southern Ethiopia

Guide

Knowledgeable Tour Guide and Tour Leader & All local guides are included

Meals

24 Break fast 3 Lunch and 2 dinners are included in the danakil

Transport

All Ground Transportation with AC Vehicles 4WD and Vans Boat Trip at Lake Tana and Lake Chamo is included

Accommodation

22 Days, at the standard Hotel and Lodges 2 Days Camping in the Danakil Depression

Hygieneprotocol

We will keep you safe during your travel in Ethiopia, as our guides are well trained and aware of the The World Travel & Tourism Council safety, health and security of travelers.

Not included:

Optional

Flights

Any International flights or domestic flight is not included, Please make sure to book the following domestic flights as per the itinerary. Day - 16 Lalibela - Addis Ababa flight number ET126 Day - 23 Arba Minch - Dire dawa Flight Number ET134 via ADD ET364 Day - 25 Dire Dawa - Addis Ababa Flight Number ET 363

Insurance

Others

International and Domestic air tickets, All Entrance fee Any meal which is not mentioned in the included part Alcohol beverages, Tourist Insurance, Video filming and photography fees, Tips and items of personal nature like laundry, souvenirs, etc All not mentioned in the included part

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa

Arrive at Addis Ababa Airport and transfer to your hotel.

For morning arrivals, optional visit to the Ethnographic Museum, a great introduction to Ethiopian culture and history. If time allows, visit the Mercato, one of Africa’s largest outdoor markets, and Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Overnight Hotel - Addis Ababa
Day 2 Day 2: Addis Ababa - Debre Libanos - Debre Markos
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Addis Ababa - Debre Libanos - Debre Markos

Early morning breakfast and start driving at around 9Am. After about 110 kms drive, we will arrive at Debre Libanos Monastery. We will visit the monastery and the 14th century Portuguese bridge later have lunch in the hotel close to the monastery. We will then drive further north to Debre Markos. En route, we will stop at and the great Nile George and Bridges. Overnight at Debre Markos. Total driving distance is 325 kilometers / 250 miles.
Day 3 Day 3: Debre Markos - Bahir Dar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Debre Markos - Bahir Dar

We will start with an early morning drive to Bahir Dar. We will arrive in Bahir Dar during lunch time and transfer to hotel. After a lunch by Lake Tana, we will do the Bahir Dar city tour including a visit to Bezawit Palace. Total driving distance is 200 kilometers / 140 miles.

Visitors should expect to see

• Colorful market with easy access to buy traditional baskets, pottery, handmade woven clothes, capes, scarves and etc

• The Woito village where the local people make the papyrus boat

• The MountBezawit where Emperor Haile Selassie’s palace of is gracefully situated. It also provides a magnificent scenery

Overnight Hotel - Bahir dar
Day 4 Day 4: Bahir Dar - Blue Nile Falls - Lake Tana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Bahir Dar - Blue Nile Falls - Lake Tana

After an early breakfast drive to the Water Falls of the Blue Nile which is 30kms from Bahir Dar. On arrival at the site, we will walk uphill for about 20-30 minutes to reach the best view point of the falls which is 45 meters deep and up to 400 meters wide during the rainy season of June, July, August and September. Depending on your interest we can descend to the base of the falls and climb back up the other side and cross the Nile by a papyrus boat which will take us about an hour. Afternoon, we will arrange a boat trip on Lake Tana known for its middle age island monasteries. Lake Tana is also the source of the Blue Nile and home for 37 islands. We will have the opportunity to 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. Dinner and overnight in Bahir Dar
Day 5 Day 5: Bahir Dar - Gondar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Bahir Dar - Gondar

After an early breakfast, we will start our journey to Gondar. En route we will visit the Awramba Village and taste the Woreta famous honey. We will also have a chance to see the Fogera Plane farmland. We will arrive in Gondar late afternoon and will visit the Trinity Church before heading to our hotel for an overnight stay. Depending on your preference, we can attend a traditional dancing show in one of the local restaurants in Gondar. Total driving distance is 200 kilometers / 140 miles.
Day 6 Day 6: Gondar - Debrak
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Gondar - Debrak

After an early breakfast, we will start our tour with the Medieval 16 century Gondar castles. The most famous buildings in this 16 century Royal Enclosure include Fasilides castle, Iyasu’s Palace, Dawit’s Hall, a banqueting hall, stables, Mentewab’s Castle, a chancellery, library and three churches. After the visit to the Palace, we will start our road to Debark, the gate to the Semine Mountains. En route we will stop at different locations to visit the endemic Chilada Babbon and the scenic Semine gorge. Overnight at Debark. Total driving distance is 125 kilometers / 80 miles.
Day 7 Day 7: Simien Mountain - Axum
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Simien Mountain - Axum

An early short trek to see the Semine Mountain massif in the morning followed by breakfast at Semine Hotel. We will then start driving to Axum passing the Lima Limo terrain. Overnight at Axum. Total driving distance is 325 kilometers / 250 miles.
Day 8 Day 8: Axum
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Axum

We will start our visit to the famous historical sites of Axum such as the Archeological museum, the Zion Cathedral where the original Arc of the covenant is said to be found, the stele park where a single block of stones standing since the 3rd century. Later in the day, we will have an opportunity to visit the ruined palace and Bath of Queen of Sheba. Dinner and overnight Axum
Day 9 Day 9: Axum - Tigray Church - Mekele
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Axum - Tigray Church - Mekele

By now you have got used to our morning drill=), breakfast at 8am and start the day drive at 9am. We will drive to Mekele and en route will make time to visit Yeha Debre Damo Monastery, the oldest known Ethiopian church (4th century). We will also visit the Yeha “Temple of the moon” that dates back to pre-Christian times. On our drive to Mekele, we will make a stop at Abrha Atsbha and the Wukro churches. Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Mekele.
Day 10 Day 10: Mekele - Hamedella - Dodom ( Danakil Depression )
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Mekele - Hamedella - Dodom ( Danakil Depression )

Depart from Mekele at 9:30am meet the support vehicle and Drive to Hamedela through berhal’e. Passing through the small town Berhal’e, where the camel caravan stops before passing to the Northern Highland. En route you will see many long camel caravans going to the salt mine and other coming out of Danakil with their salt loaded on the camel. ( 3-4 hrs drive from meke’le ). then drive to Askoma which is around 80 Km distance may take about 6hrs, because of the rocky solidified Lava, and sand. Stop at Askoma, Trek 9 Km from Askoma wich takes around 3 Hours Arive at Earta’le around late afternoon and Early dinner at around 17:00 and trek up to the new Erta Ale reach around 20:00. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food, sleeping . Camels transport all the camping materials and some food, sleeping materials, mattresses,and water, to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. New Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit. New Erta Ale is part of the world’s only permanent lava lake and you will spend an unforgettable night on the top of the mountain. The magma flow moved 3.5 km south from old Erta Aleto the New eruption site.
Day 11 Day 11: Erta’Le - Lake Afdera - Dalol
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Erta’Le - Lake Afdera - Dalol

Woke up early in the morning waching the Two Miraculaos things on Earth, The Sun rising and the Magma, Morning Trek back to Askoma where breakfast will be served, and asfter spending sometime at the campsite drive to Lake Afdera, The Lake is only Visisble during the Ethiopian rainy season, but we might have a little chance to see during the summer the mythical Lake Afdera, 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.
Day 12 Day 12: Dalol - Mekele
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Dalol - Mekele

Asebo is the place where the salts are mined. Observe the breaking of the salt from the ground, cutting into 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, Arive in Mekele Late afternoon overnight Mekele
Day 13 Day 13: Mekele - Lalibela
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Mekele - Lalibela

the whole day is required to cover this distance. It is 197mi / 317 km but mostly a gravel road that is steep at times. For a considerable stretch, the winding road follows the Tekeze river basin. We will have a chance to visit the newly built electric Dam. We will have a lunch stop at Woldaya before heading to Lalibela. Overnight stay at Lalibela.
Day 14 Day 14: Lalibela
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Lalibela

We will start our visit with the first group of churches and the city itself. We hope to cover 6 of the 12 rock hewn churches in the morning tour. In the afternoon, we will visit the second group of churches. We will finish touring all the churches around 5PM and head back to our hotel for an overnight stay
Day 15 Day 15: Excurssion From Lalibela – Asheton Mariam
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Excurssion From Lalibela – Asheton Mariam

Take the morning hike to Asheton Mariam, Asheton Mariam is a monastery located 10km from Lalibela. Hiking to asheton mariam will give a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding mountain, the monastery was founded in the 13th century and Legend has it that the rock church of Asheton mariam is belived to be the first work of King Lalibela.
Day 16 Day 16: Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Lake Langano
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Lake Langano

Fly to Addis Ababa and Meet the support vehicle and then drive to the Rift Valley Lake Langano. Relax at Lake Langano is safe for swimming. If time permits we will visit Abidjata Shalla Natonal Park where we can see different kinds of birds and wild life like, The Somali Ostrich, Gazzele, Warthog etc…

Total driving distance 154km / 96mi
Day 17 Day 17: Lake Langano – Arba Minch
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Lake Langano – Arba Minch

Drive to Arba Minch via Melka Kunture, a stone-age archeological site; Adadi Mariam, a 12th century rock-hewn church; and Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its mysterious stelae, thought to be grave markers, dating from the 12th century. Also visit a Dorze Village in the Guge Mountains. The Dorze are known for their tall, beehive-shaped bamboo houses. If the base becomes infested with termites, the entire house can be lifted and moved to another location.

Total driving distance 300km / 186mi
Day 18 Day 18: Arba Minch – Jinka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 18: Arba Minch – Jinka

Take a boat trip on Lake Chamo and view some of the largest crocodiles in the world sunning on the banks of the lake. Hippopotami and birdlife are also abundant. Drive to Jinka visiting various peoples such as the Gamo and Derashe. Stop at Key Afar’s weekly market (if on a Thursday) and wander among the various tribes such as the Benna and Ari that have gathered to barter their goods.

Total driving distance 250km / 155mi
Day 19 Day 19: Mago National Park Excursion
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 19: Mago National Park Excursion

Early morning drive to the Mago National Park to visit the Mursi people. The Mursi women are known for the clay plates they insert into their lower lips. Time permitting, visit the Omo Valley Museum in Jinka

Total driving distance 64km / 40mi
Day 20 Day 20: Jinka - Turmi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 20: Jinka - Turmi

Drive to Turmi to visit the Hamer people who are well known for the scarring of their bodies, using clay to shape their hairstyles, and the unique practice of "bull-jumping" which every young man must accomplish prior to marriage. En route to Turmi, visit the Benna and Ari people.  Overnight Lodge – Turmi

Total driving distance 128km / 80mi
Day 21 Day 21: Murele Excursion
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 21: Murele Excursion

Drive to Murele and visit the Karo people, known for their elaborate body-painting. Also visit a village of the Dassanech people. Return to Turmi for the evening. 

Total driving distance 248km / 154mi
Day 22 Day 22: Turmi – Konso –Arba Minch
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 22: Turmi – Konso –Arba Minch

Drive to Konso, recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A highland people, the Konso are known for the ancient and intricate terraces that encircle their well-planned villages. Drive from Konso to Arba Minch Overnight – Arba Minch

Total driving distance 270km / 168mi
Day 23 Day 23: Arba Minch – Dire Dawa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 23: Arba Minch – Dire Dawa

Have the whole morning for yourself and relax in Arba minch at 12:00 transfer to the airport. As there are no direct flight, fly from Arba minch to Diredawa via Addis Ababa and late afternoon arrival in dire dawa transfer to the hotel and evening visit around Dire Dawa
Day 24 Day 24: Dire Dawa – Harar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 24: Dire Dawa – Harar

Drive 50km from dire dawa to harar. Harar is a labyrinth of small streets surrounded by old city walls. Our tour of Harar will include some of these as well as some of the traditional old houses of Harar. The main sights are:- the city walls and gateways, the Friday Mosque, the Museum, the Ras Makonnen House, The 16th century house of a famous French Poet -Rimbaud. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. In this evening after dinner there is a visit to the hyena man (the man who feeds the hyenas). Overnight Harar
Day 25 Day 25: Harar – Dire Dawa – Addis Ababa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 25: Harar – Dire Dawa – Addis Ababa

After breakfast drive from harar to diredawa to catch the flight back to Addis, fly back to addis and arrive in the afternoon optional souvenir shopping, in the evening Enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure upon request.

Please inform us if additional hotel nights are needed

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25 days tour

Ethiopia In Depth/ North - East & Southern Ethiopia

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Ethiopia In Depth/ North - East & Southern Ethiopia

Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa

Day 2: Addis Ababa - Debre Libanos - Debre Markos

Day 3: Debre Markos - Bahir Dar

Day 4: Bahir Dar - Blue Nile Falls - Lake Tana

Day 5: Bahir Dar - Gondar

Day 6: Gondar - Debrak

Day 7: Simien Mountain - Axum

Day 8: Axum

Day 9: Axum - Tigray Church - Mekele

Day 10: Mekele - Hamedella - Dodom ( Danakil Depression )

Day 11: Erta’Le - Lake Afdera - Dalol

Day 12: Dalol - Mekele

Day 13: Mekele - Lalibela

Day 14: Lalibela

Day 15: Excurssion From Lalibela – Asheton Mariam

Day 16: Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Lake Langano

Day 17: Lake Langano – Arba Minch

Day 18: Arba Minch – Jinka

Day 19: Mago National Park Excursion

Day 20: Jinka - Turmi

Day 21: Murele Excursion

Day 22: Turmi – Konso –Arba Minch

Day 23: Arba Minch – Dire Dawa

Day 24: Dire Dawa – Harar

Day 25: Harar – Dire Dawa – Addis Ababa

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