6-Day Ethiopia Historic Cities Tour with Lalibela and Lake Tana

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Tour Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, with its museums and vast Merkato market
• 02 Explore Lalibela's remarkable 12th-century rock-hewn churches
• 03 Visit Aksum's Archaeological Museum, Zion Cathedral, and Stele Park
• 04 Discover Gondar's imperial castles and the church of Debre Berhan Selassie
• 05 See the dramatic Blue Nile Falls near Bahir Dar
• 06 Cruise on Lake Tana to visit historic island monasteries on the Zege Peninsula

Start your 6-day tour in Ethiopia's cultural hub, Addis Ababa, and continue to the incredible rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Visit the Zion Cathedral in Aksum, see the Archaeological Museum, the Bath of Queen Sheba, and other historic attractions, then explore Gondar, the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire. Travel on to Bahir Dar for the Blue Nile Falls and finish with a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit its historic island monasteries.

There are 37 islands on the lake, and 30 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Addis Ababa, Gondar, Bahir Dar, Aksum, Lalibela, Mount Entoto

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Addis Ababa

• You will be picked up by our guide from the airport and transferred to the hotel.
• Start the tour of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, which means "new flower" in the local language. Addis is located at 2,500 meters above sea level in one of the highest parts of the Entoto mountain chain and was founded in 1886 by Menelik II. It enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25ºC. Addis is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacaranda trees, interesting museums, and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, known as the "Merkato".

2

Day 02

Fly to Lalibela and Visit the Rock-Hewn Churches

• In the morning, take a flight to Lalibela, located at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level, which was called Roha until the end of the 12th century. Visit the remarkably excavated 12th-century eleven rock-hewn churches that are registered as one of the world's wonders.
• Once you have checked into your hotel, take some rest. In the evening, start visiting the first group, consisting of 6 churches, of the incredibly hewn-out churches, which symbolize the New Jerusalem and the city itself.

3

Day 03

Aksum's Sacred and Archaeological Treasures

• Early in the morning, you will have the option to attend the daily mass that takes place from 6:00 am to 7:00 am in the church.
• Return to the hotel for breakfast and then take a flight to Aksum city.
• When you reach the city, visit the Archaeological Museum and the Zion Cathedral, where you can find the original Ark of the Covenant.
• Visit Stele Park, where magnificent single blocks of stone were erected in the 3rd century. The ruined palace, the Bath of Queen Sheba, who was the mother of King Menelik I in 950 BC, and the tombs of the early-century kings are some of the other attractions in Aksum.

4

Day 04

Explore the Imperial City of Gondar

• Visit Gondar, the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire. There are a dozen castles built by various emperors over 236 years.
• In the afternoon, visit the palaces, residences, and baths of Fasilides.
• In the evening, visit the church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity), which is located at the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. The interior is amazingly decorated with beautiful frescos.

5

Day 05

Drive to Bahir Dar and Visit the Blue Nile Falls

• After breakfast, depart for a three-hour drive to Bahir Dar, the beautiful lakeside city of Ethiopia. The journey will take you through rural villages and across mountain passes with stunning vistas. Here, you can get your first glimpse of the impressive city of Bahir Dar.
• In the afternoon, drive to the Blue Nile Falls, which are approximately 100 m wide. The water plunges for 45 meters, giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows.

6

Day 06

Lake Tana Monasteries and Return to Addis Ababa

• In the morning, head out to Lake Tana and the Zege Peninsula to visit its famous monasteries. There are 37 islands on the lake, and 30 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest.
• Board a boat trip on the lake to explore some of the islands. You can join one of the many organized walks, from Ura Kidanemihret and Kibran Gabriel to Azewa Mariam, to see mural paintings, crowns, crosses, and more.
• On the way back to Bahir Dar, see the place where the Blue Nile River and Lake Tana meet.
• In the afternoon, visit the market and the palace of former Emperor Haile Selassie. Then, take a flight back to Addis Ababa.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• All accommodations are based on twin sharing.
• All ground transportation with fuel, using the newest model air-conditioned 4WD, minibus, or coaster bus.
• Private vehicles with driver, including road tax, vehicle and driver insurance, driver's accommodation, and allowance.
• The services of an escort guide, qualified in English, during the whole trip.
• Services of local guides during site visits.
• Meals: breakfast.
• Airport transfers.
• City transfers.
• All entrance fees as per the program.
• Boat trip on Lake Tana.
• Mule riding.
• Scouts.
• Government tax.

What's Not Included

• International airfare.
• Domestic flight.
• Any alcoholic drinks.
• Single accommodation (available on request).
• Personal expenses such as souvenirs and laundry.
• Meals: lunch and dinner.
• Tips.
• Visa expenses.
• Video or photography fees, or tips at different sites.
• Any personal item expenses.
• Any expense not stated in the "Included List" above.

Know before you go

• Essential equipment and clothing
• Clothing: Daytime temperatures are mainly warm and comfortable, but evenings in the highlands can be cold. We recommend a thick jumper or warm fleece and lightweight windproof/waterproof clothing. Carry a sun hat.
• Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes with ankle support are strongly recommended, as well as comfortable sandals.
• Daypack
• Light jacket or fleece
• Good walking footwear/boots
• Walking stick if you normally use one
• Insect spray
• Sunhat
• Sun cream
• Sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Wet wipes
• Anti-bacterial hand gel
• Torch and spare batteries

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tour start

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.