7-Day Ethiopia Cultural Tour with Lalibela and Lake Tana

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore Addis Ababa's culture and history at the Ethnographic Museum
• 02 Cruise Lake Tana to uncover ancient churches and wildlife from Bahir Dar
• 03 Marvel at Gondar's architectural wonders in the Royal Enclosure and Fasilidas Bath
• 04 Unravel Axum's ancient mysteries at sites like the stelae and Maryam of Tsion churches
• 05 Discover Lalibela's rock-hewn churches, dating back to the 12th century

Explore Ethiopia's historic and spiritual heartlands on a 7-day journey from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar, Gondar, Axum, and Lalibela. Discover the capital's museums, cathedral, and bustling Mercato, cruise Lake Tana to visit beautiful island churches and the source of the Blue Nile, and visit Gondar's Royal Enclosure and Fasilidas Bath. Follow the legends of Axum through its spectacular stelae and Maryam of Tsion churches before spending time among Lalibela's remarkable 12th-century rock-hewn churches. The journey ends back in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian food, traditional music, and dance.

Before we head back to Bahir Dar, the boat takes us to the source of the Blue Nile, where we find many water birds and maybe a hippo.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

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

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival and City Tour of Addis Ababa

• We will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in.
• The first day will be spent in the country's fascinating capital, Addis Ababa.
• Depending on your time of arrival, we will take you on a half-day or full-day city tour.
• During the tour, you can visit some sites of your choice, such as the Ethnographic Museum, National Museum, Trinity Cathedral, Mercato (the largest market in Africa), or the Entoto Hills just outside Addis Ababa.

2

Day 02

Lake Tana Churches and Bahir Dar Excursion

• An early morning flight will take us to Bahir Dar.
• After check-in at our hotel, we embark on a boat trip on Lake Tana to explore some of the beautiful churches.
• It is about one hour by boat to reach Zeghe Peninsula, where we visit the most famous church, Uhre Kidane Mehret.
• We enjoy a walk on the forested peninsula to the other churches and might meet monkeys and beautiful birds on the way.
• At the other side of the peninsula, the boat is waiting and takes us to Kibran Gabriel Island (unfortunately, women are not allowed).
• Before we head back to Bahir Dar, the boat takes us to the source of the Blue Nile, where we find many water birds and maybe a hippo.
• If time is still available, we can visit the Blue Nile Falls, situated about an hour's drive from Bahir Dar. Otherwise, we visit Bezawit Hill to enjoy the panoramic view and sunset from there.

3

Day 03

Gondar's Royal Enclosure and Sacred Sites

• This morning, we proceed to our next destination: Gondar.
• We will spend the afternoon visiting the highlights of Gondar:
  • The Royal Enclosure
  • Fasilidas Bath
  • Debre Birhan Selassie, the church with the angel faces painted on the ceiling.

4

Day 04

Ancient Axum and the Queen of Sheba Legends

• Axum is the place where facts and legends meet. Is the Ark of the Covenant found in Axum?
• We take you in the footsteps of the famous Queen of Sheba and Ezana, the emperor who converted to Christianity.
• You will see the spectacular stelae of Axum and visit the Maryam of Tsion churches. (Unfortunately, the old church is not open for women).
• Many more sites are available to visit, but our time is limited.

5

Day 05

Arrival in Lalibela and First Church Visits

• A short flight takes us in the morning to the highlight of your visit to Ethiopia: Lalibela.
• The 12th-century rock-hewn churches are the legacy of King Lalibela. It is said his visit to Jerusalem inspired him to build the 11 churches.
• A full day is necessary to get a good impression of these truly amazing places of worship.
• After lunch, we start with our exploration of Lalibela.

6

Day 06

More of Lalibela and Optional Village Experiences

• On our second day in Lalibela, we need about half a day to visit the remaining churches in the village.
• There are quite a few options to spend the rest of our time.
• For example, a visit to the Yemrehane Kristos church or a hike to the Asheton Maryam church.
• On Saturday, there is the weekly market in town.
• Maybe you want to have some time at leisure too.
• It is possible to add additional days to explore more of Lalibela and the surrounding area; excellent hiking opportunities are available.

7

Day 07

Return to Addis Ababa and Cultural Farewell

• After a remarkable visit to Lalibela, we are flying back to Addis Ababa.
• The last day of your unforgettable visit to Ethiopia brings us back to Addis Ababa.
• A hotel room for day use is available.
• We say goodbye to dear friends with a visit to a cultural restaurant, enjoying the great Ethiopian food together with traditional music and dance from all over this fascinating country.
• After dinner, we take you to the airport for your flight back home.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Domestic flight
• Bed and breakfast
• Overland transport
• Local guide
• Entrance fee

What's Not Included

• International flight
• Lunch and dinner
• Alcoholic beverages

What to bring

• Light clothing, as well as something for the evening, as it gets cooler.
• Sunglasses and sandals.
• Walking shoes.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tour start

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.