Ethiopia · UNESCO Heritage Sites

9-Day Northern Ethiopia Heritage Tour with Lalibela and Simien

9 Days Round trip from Addis Ababa Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Discover the awe-inspiring rock-hewn churches of Lalibela
02 Hike to Asheton St. Maryam Monastery for breathtaking 360º panoramic views
03 Cruise Lake Tana to visit Ura Kidane Mihret Monastery
04 Marvel at the breathtaking Blue Nile Falls
05 Explore Gondar's imperial castles, palaces, and sacred churches
06 Trek through the dramatic landscapes of Simien National Park

Explore the cultural treasures of Ethiopia on this immersive 9-day journey from Addis Ababa to Lalibela, Bahir Dar, Gondar, and Simien National Park. Discover Lalibela's ancient rock-hewn churches, including Biete Medhane Alem and Biete Giyorgis, cruise across Lake Tana to Ura Kidane Mihret Monastery, and marvel at the Blue Nile Falls. The tour also reveals Gondar's imperial history through its castles and churches, before ending with a scenic trek through the dramatic landscapes of Simien National Park.

This enormous monolithic temple was shaped like a cross to honour the country's patron saint, St. George.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Addis Ababa, Gondar, Bahir Dar, Lalibela, Simien Mountains National Park, Debarq

Languages English, German, Italian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Upon landing at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, we will be waiting to give you a warm welcome to this beautiful country before heading to your Addis Ababa hotel for our first night.

Day 02

Fly to Lalibela and Explore the Rock-Hewn Churches

We will begin the day with a hearty breakfast before heading back to the airport to catch our flight to Lalibela.
During our visit, we will explore several sacred churches, including Biete Medhane Alem, Biete Maryam, and Biete Meskel.

Day 03

Yemrehana Krestos and More Churches of Lalibela

We will start the day with the most important meal before heading towards Yemrehana Krestos. We will visit Biete Gabriel-Rufael, Biete Merkorios, Biete Amanuel, and Biete Abba Libanos.
Finally, we will visit the most well-known of all the churches, Biete Giyorgis. This enormous monolithic temple was shaped like a cross to honour the country's patron saint, St. George.

Day 04

Hike to Asheton St. Maryam Monastery

After breakfast, we will begin with a 2-hour hike to reach Asheton St. Maryam Monastery. Then, we will continue the hike for another 1.5 hours to reach Hudad Lalibela Eco-Lodge, where you can enjoy a breathtaking 360º panoramic view.

Day 05

Drive from Lalibela to Bahir Dar

Right after breakfast, we will drive from Lalibela to Bahir Dar, a journey of 6-7 hours.

Day 06

Lake Tana, Ura Kidane Mihret, and Blue Nile Falls

Welcome to Bahir Dar! After breakfast, we will take a boat ride on Lake Tana to visit Ura Kidane Mihret Monastery. If we're lucky, we may even see hippos in Lake Tana. After some free time for lunch, we will visit the Blue Nile Falls.
Then, we will return to Bahir Dar to visit the local market, where you can purchase artisanal goods such as jewellery and embroidered fabrics.

Day 07

Discover the Imperial Heritage of Gondar

After a 3-hour car ride, we will arrive in Gondar. The ruins also encompass other notable structures such as the Library of Emperor Yohannes I, the majestic Emperor Bakaffa Salon, and the King's Wife's Palace. Additionally, at this iconic site, we will also see Kuskuam Palace, Empress Mentewab's Palace, and Quskuam Mariam Church, built in honour of the Virgin Mary. We will also see the elaborate Debre Birhan Selassie Church murals, considered some of the most important in Ethiopia. We will understand why as we listen to the legends tied to this sacred temple.

Day 08

Journey to Simien National Park

We will reach Debark, a small city on the border of Simien National Park. After a brief stop, we will head south within the park to Sankaber, situated at an elevation of 3,100 meters (10,170 feet) above sea level.

Day 09

Return to Addis Ababa

On our final day, we will have breakfast and head to Gondar Airport to catch a flight back to Addis Ababa.

Where this trip takes you

Biete Medhane Alem, Lake Tana, Blue Nile Falls, Simien National Park

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Addis Ababa 6 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

All churches and attraction fees
A private English-speaking guide to all sites
Scout fees
Boat trip to the Lake Tana monastery
All road transport by a private air-conditioned car, including fuel and driver allowance
Airport transfers and city transfers
Accommodation, including breakfast for 8 days
Domestic flight tickets
Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony
Attending early church services at the biggest church of Lalibela
Packed water during your journey
All government taxes and fees

What's Not Included

Meals
Alcoholic drinks
Tips and personal expenses
Camera and video fees

What to bring

All that clients need

Know before you go

Clients are expected to respect the culture of the local community. In Lalibela, during historical and religious sightseeing, clients are advised to dress properly and wear scarves inside the churches.

Logistics