Ethiopia · UNESCO Heritage Sites

3-Day Northern Ethiopia Historical Tour with Lalibela and Lake Tana

3 Days Round trip from Addis Ababa Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Lalibela's magnificent rock-hewn churches, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
02 Visit Gondar's royal enclosure and castles in the "Camelot of Africa"
03 Cruise across highland Lake Tana to a monastery with colourful frescoes
04 See the famous Blue Nile Falls on a scenic visit to Tis Abay

Explore northern Ethiopia's remarkable UNESCO heritage on a 3-day journey from Addis Ababa to Lalibela, Gondar, and Bahir Dar. Discover Lalibela's magnificent rock-hewn churches, including Bete Medahine Alem and Bete Mariam, then continue to Gondar, the "Camelot of Africa," to visit its royal enclosure, Debre Berhan Selassie Church, and the historic Bathing Pool of King Fasiledes. Complete the experience with a boat cruise on Lake Tana to see ancient monasteries and a scenic visit to the famous Blue Nile Falls at Tis Abay.

These churches are carved out of living volcanic tuff with a super architectural skill that the world has never seen elsewhere.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Addis Ababa, Gondar, Bahir Dar, Lalibela

Languages English, French, German, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Addis Ababa and Flight to Lalibela

On arrival at Bole International Airport, you will meet the Ethiopian Photography Tours representatives and connect to your flight to Lalibela.
Transfer to the hotel and make an excursion to visit the first group of the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. These churches are carved out of living volcanic tuff with a super architectural skill that the world has never seen elsewhere. UNESCO has registered these churches as a World Heritage Site.

Among the churches of this group, Bete Medahine Alem (House of the Redeemer) is the largest, with five aisles, 72 pillars, a vaulted dome, and moulding decoration. Bete Mariam (House of St. Mary) is the most decorated among the rock-hewn churches.
Overnight: Hotel Lalibela

Day 02

Morning in Lalibela and Flight to Gondar

Early in the morning, you will visit the second cluster of churches in Lalibela: Bete Gebrieal, Bete Emanuel, Bete Merkorios, and Bete Aba Libanos.
Then, transfer to Lalibela Airport to catch a flight to Gondar. Gondar is known as the Camelot of Africa. It was the 17th- and 18th-century capital city of Ethiopia and was home to several emperors, warlords, and kings who built several castles in one compound.
Visit the royal enclosure, surrounded by high stone walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church, which means Trinity at the Mount of Light. It has a rectangular structure, ceilings decorated with beautiful winged angels, walls with impressive scenes depicting biblical events, and the Bathing Pool of King Fasiledes, now a baptism place during the Ethiopian Epiphany.

Overnight: Hotel Gondar

Day 03

Drive to Bahir Dar, Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls

In the early morning, drive to Bahir Dar and have breakfast.
Start your journey by boat on the beautiful highland Lake Tana and visit the beautifully decorated thatched-roof monastery, with its distinctive colourful frescoes of religious scenes and old manuscripts.
After lunch break, take a scenic drive to the little town of Tis Abay to visit the famous Blue Nile Falls.
Transfer to Bahir Dar Airport, return to Addis Ababa, and catch your international flight home.

Where this trip takes you

Lalibela rock-hewn churches, Fasil Ghebbi in Gondar, Lake Tana monasteries

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Addis Ababa 4 cities · 3 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Domestic flight
Private tour guide
Local guide
Entrance fees
Single-occupancy accommodation
Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner

What's Not Included

Alcoholic drinks
Private expenses
Tips for the service provider
Visa fee
International flight

What to bring

Camera
Comfortable shoes
School materials for a local charity

Know before you go

The magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are carved out of living volcanic tuff with a super architectural skill that the world has never seen elsewhere. UNESCO has registered these churches as a World Heritage Site. Among the churches of this group, Bete Medahine Alem (House of the Redeemer) is the largest, with five aisles, 72 pillars, a vaulted dome, and moulding decoration. Bete Mariam (House of St. Mary) is the most decorated among the rock-hewn churches.
Gondar, known as the Camelot of Africa, was the 17th- and 18th-century capital city of Ethiopia and was home to several emperors and kings who built several castles in one compound. Visit the royal enclosure, which is surrounded by high stone walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church, which means Trinity at the Mount of Light. It has a rectangular structure and ceilings decorated with beautiful winged angels, and its walls have impressive scenes depicting biblical events, as well as the Bathing Pool of King Fasiledes, now a baptism place during Ethiopian Epiphany.
Take a boat cruise on the beautiful highland Lake Tana and visit a beautifully decorated thatched-roof monastery with distinctive colourful frescoes of religious scenes and old manuscripts. After lunch break, take a scenic drive to the little town of Tis Abay to visit the famous Blue Nile Falls.

Logistics