DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1, Saturday - arrive Addis Ababa
Arrive in Addis Ababa airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Welcome dinner.
D Hilton Addis Ababa
Day 2, Sunday - Addis Ababa
City tour of Addis, which includes the National and Ethnological
museums, the largest open air market in Africa ( Mercato ), and Mount
Entoto for a view of the city.
BLD Hilton Addis Ababa
Day 3, Monday - Addis Ababa/Bahir Dar
Morning flight Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar (50min). Bahir Dar, is a
pleasant city located at 1,800 metres above sea level on the shores of
lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. Today, we visit the Blue Nile
Falls, known locally as the Tisisat Falls: 100 metres wide, the water
plunges 45 metres, giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows. In the
afternoon, we have a city tour in Bahir Dar including the Market and the
Bezawit Palace.
BLD Tana Hotel Day 4, Tuesday- Bahir Dar/ Lake Tana / Gorgora / Gondar
This day is dedicated to a boat cruise on Lake Tana. There are 37
islands on lake Tana and 30 of them have churches and monasteries of
considerable historical and cultural interest. We will visit the
monastery churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret, Azoa Mariam, Narga Silasie and
Daga Stifanos. Later arrive on the north shore of Lake Tana at the town
of Gorgora where we will collect our vehicle and drive to Gondar
BLD Goha Hotel
Day 5, Wednesday- Gondar
Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire, which began
in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. In Gondar, there are a dozen
castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city
seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences. In
the afternoon, we visit the palaces, residences and baths of Fasilidas;
afterwards, we visit the Quskuam church and the church of Debre Berham
Selassie (Light of the Trinity), which is located at the summit of a
hill and surrounded by fortified walls. The interior is decorated with
beautiful frescos. Dinner and overnight stay are in a hotel with a
splendid panoramic garden.
BLD Goha Hotel 
Day 6, Thursday - Gondar/Lalibela
Today we will take a flight from Gondar to Lalibela. Lalibela is
located at an altitude of 2,600 metres above sea level. The city
contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the twelfth century
and are carved out of the pink granite rock. They have been classified
as one of the wonders of the world. Each church has a unique
architectural style; all are superbly carved and most of them are
decorated with well-preserved paintings. The entire city may be
described as a sculpture dedicated to the glory of God. The day is
spent visiting the first group of churches and the city itself. In the
evening we will attend a show featuring traditional dance.
BLD Roha Hotel
Day 7, Friday - Lalibela
In the morning we go on foot or riding on mules to visit some
rock-churches outside the city (about a 3-hour walk). In the afternoon,
we visit the second group of churches in Lalibela.
BLD Roha Hotel
 Day 8, Saturday - Lalibela/Axum
Today we will take a flight from Lalibela to Axum. The legends narrated
in the Kebre Nagast (‘Book of Kings’) recount how the city of Axum as
early as the 10th century B.C was already the city in which the Queen
of Sheba resided. It is recounted that the son of the Queen of Sheba
and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Axum where it is
believed to reside to this day, preserved in a sanctuary. Famous long
before the time of Christ, Axum was the capital of the Axumite reign,
one of the oldest African empires, and represented a crucial
connecting-point between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years. A
visit is organised to the steles, which are granite monoliths dating
from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. In
ancient times, there were seven steles, the last, having resided in
Rome since the Second World War, is now back in Axum. There is also a
visit to the church of Saint Mary of Zion, which contains the crowns of
Ethiopian kings and other treasures.
BLD Yeha Hotel
Day 9, Sunday - Axum/Yeha/Axum
By way of a beautiful panoramic road, we drive to Yeha, where we visit
the Temple of the Moon (dating from pre-Christian times). A little
further along the road we find the monastery of Debre Damo, the oldest
church in Ethiopia (dating from the Axumite epoch). Only men are allowed
visit the church and it is necessary to climb up to it with the aid of a
rope. Later we will return to Axum.
BLD Yeha Hotel
Day 10, Monday - Axum/Addis Ababa
We will fly from Axum to Addis Ababa. This afternoon is free to explore
the city or relax at your hotel. In the evening we dine in one of the
capital’s restaurants.
BLD Hilton Addis Ababa
Day 11, Tuesday - Addis Ababa/Arba Minch
Drive by 4 x4 from Addis to Arba Minch: Passing though the rift valley
lakes and the wonderful panoramic landscape of the Wolayita People. En
route we will visit a Dorze village. The Dorze are famous for their fine
woven cotton cloth as well as their unique beehive-shaped dwellings.
Arrive in Arba Minch in the late afternoon.
BLD Swaynes Hotel
Day 12, Wednesday - Arba Minch/Jinka/Mago
Drive Arba Minch - Jinka - Mursi - Mago. Mago National Park is located
on the east bank of the river Omo and ranges in altitude from 450 to
2,528 metres above sea level. After about 2 hours of rough road, we
arrive at the camp where we spend the night in tents. The campsite is in
a beautiful clearing among towering trees, which provide shade, and
near the river Neri. We visit the Mursi village, whose women have the
custom of expanding their lower lips using disks that gradually get
larger and larger. These are people who farm the land and breed
livestock; they live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the
world. We return to the camp; there are not many animals visible during
the day in the park, but by night we are surrounded by thousands of
sounds, among which is the trumpeting of elephants.
BLD Camping Day 13, Thursday - Mago/Caro/Murile
From here on, there is no real track any more. Instead, we travel
through the savannah in a typically African landscape, frequently
meeting herds of Oryx and gazelle. We arrive at Murile Lodge, which
consists of bungalows and a campsite right on the river Omo, surrounded
by huge trees. This is the land of the Caro tribe and it is possible to
meet them along the river.
 BLD Camping
Day 14, Friday - Murile/Omo Rate/Turmi
We continue through the savannah along tracks that are barely visible,
passing through a vast meadowland with shrubs and umbellifers
(‘umbrella’ acacia trees). We pass through the Omo River. We encounter
the Galeb people in the street; in the river people bathe and wash
their clothes. Afterwards continue on to Turmi where every Monday there
is a spectacular Hamer market. The Hamer is one of the most beautiful
and dignified people of the Omo basin. The women colour their hair with
red earth and butter, and wear elegant leather skirts festooned with
tiny pearls. We will spend the afternoon at the market before heading
to our campsite for the evening.
BLD Evangadi Lodge & Campsite, Turmi
Day 15, Saturday - Turmi/Konso/Arba Minch
This morning we depart the Lower Omo Valley. Our route today continues
into the savannah, running alongside the mountains of Men, then raises
up into the Karkerte Mountains – providing splendid panoramic views –
until it reaches the soft, terraced hills of Konso. The people of Konso
are known for their terraced agriculture and wooden totems
commemorating their ancestors. Afterwards we commence our return
northwards, towards the lakes of the Rift Valley. The Rift Valley is a
deep fission that extends for over 6,000 km from the Middle East to
Mozambique – testimony to the (most recent) violent and massive
shifting of the earth’s tectonic plates. The rift contains a marvellous
series of lakes, which are teeming with fish and provide a habitat for
hundreds of species of birds. We travel along the side of lake Chamo
and arrive at Arba Minch towards lunchtime. In the afternoon, we visit
the park of Nech Sar, located between lakes Chamo and Abaya, where one
can see gazelles and zebras.
BLD Swaynes Hotel Day 16, Sunday - Arba Minch / Awasa
In the morning take a boat trip on Lake Chamo, which is populated by
crocodiles and hippos. Later, we will travel back up the Rift Valley,
crossing fertile land planted with bananas, cereal and tobacco, and
inhabited first by the Oromo people and then by the Sidamo. We can find
many types of fruit sold along the roadside. Lake Awasa is surrounded
by mountains and populated by countless species of birds. There is a
beautiful track running along the lakeside, perfect for a walk.
Overnight stay in an Eco-Lodge built in the local style.
BLD Aregash LodgeDay 17, Monday -Awasa/Langano/Addis Ababa
Crossing a fertile area cultivated with many kinds of tropical fruit,
we reach the hot springs of Wondo Genet, where there is also a charming
swimming pool. The site is an ancient and inactive crater, surrounded
by a fine wooded area populated by baboons. After a relaxing stay in
Wondo Genet we continue to Lake Langano. Langano is a holiday resort
noted for its splendid beach and pinkish volcanic water ideal for
swimming. Afterwards visit the nearby park around both Lakes Abyata and
Shala. The park provides beautiful vistas over the two lakes and the
valley which is covered in acacia trees. Numerous birds live on the
shores, one of which is the pink flamingo. We will continue driving to
Addis Ababa, arriving late in the afternoon. This evening we will enjoy
a farewell dinner and traditional show.
BLD Hilton Addis Ababa Day 18, Tuesday - Addis Ababa/home city
Day at leisure until you are transferred to the airport for your flight home
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