6-Day Historical and Cultural Tour of North Ethiopia with Gheralta

• Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
• Addis Ababa is the third-highest capital city in the world. Located at 2,400 meters above sea level in one of the highest parts of the Entoto mountain chain, the altitude may make you feel tired, so it is best to take it easy today.
• After a few hours of rest, you will explore Addis Ababa by visiting the National Museum, home to the remains of the famous hominid fossil "Lucy," Entoto Mountain, and Africa's largest open-air market, Merkato.
• Enjoy a colourful mix of modern and traditional city life.

• In the morning, you will take a flight to the ancient town of Axum in the far north of Ethiopia. It was the original capital city and the epicentre of the Axumite Empire, once a formidable global power. The relics that remain from that era rest in Axum, and visiting the city is like journeying through time and gaining insight into a long-lost civilization.
• Axum is home to the ancient Axumite Empire, the Queen of Sheba, and the Ark of the Covenant. Visit the Archaeological Museum, the tombs, the stelae field, and the Maryam Zion Church.

• Drive to Hawzien via Adwa, the historic battlefield where the victory over the Italians took place in 1895. Visit the ruins of the Yeha Temple and the ancient cliff-top monastery of Debre Damo along the way.
• Continue to Adigrat, an important junction linking Ethiopia and Eritrea, and finally reach Hawzien for an overnight stay.

Hiking: 2 hours

• Today, you will hike to the highest point of Gheralta, which is 2,700 meters above sea level, to enjoy views across the four corners of the remarkable Gheralta Mountains.
• Beneath the striking sandstone peaks that rise steeply into the sky, an irregular patchwork of semi-desert stretches to the horizon - the Hawzen Plain.
• This is an area of dramatic scenery, ancient history, vast skies, and unforgettable sunsets - a place that makes you breathe deeply. There are about 35 rock-cut churches in the Gheralta Mountains, the largest density of such churches in all of Ethiopia.
• At the top of the mountain, continue trekking to visit the churches of Mariam Korkor and Daniel Korkor. After visiting these churches and enjoying the fantastic views, descend and drive back to Hawzien.

Hiking: 4 hours

• After an early breakfast, start trekking to the main churches of the Gheralta region, including the rock-hewn church of Abune Yemata Guh, probably the most spectacular church in the area.
• The entrance is reached via a steep climb using handholds and footholds in the rock.
• Visitors must cross a natural stone bridge with a steep drop of around 250 meters on both sides, followed by a final walk along a narrow stone ledge to the church entrance. You should not be afraid of heights.
• Abune Yemata Guh is known not only for its location, but also for its remarkable domes, architecture, and wall paintings from the 5th century.
• After an unforgettable visit, you will drive to Mekele and fly back to Addis Ababa.
• In the evening before departure, you will be invited to a farewell dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants in Addis, where you will taste a variety of Ethiopian meals and watch folkloric dancers representing the peoples of Ethiopia. Then transfer to Bole, Addis Ababa airport for your flight back home.
• Or you can connect the tour with any other parts of Ethiopia.

Hiking/climbing: 2.5 hours

• In the morning, you will visit a local market before heading to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa. The remainder of the day is at leisure or can be spent according to your interests.
• In the evening before departure, you will be invited to a farewell dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants in Addis, where you will taste a variety of Ethiopian meals and watch folkloric dancers representing the peoples of Ethiopia. Then transfer to Bole, Addis Ababa airport for your flight back home.
• Or you can connect the tour with any other parts of Ethiopia.