Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Hit the streets of Ethiopia’s massive capital city for a closer look at this nation’s history. Begin your exploration of Addis Ababa at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, a monument to the country’s liberation from Italian colonization and occupation during World War II. Next, learn about Ethiopia’s rich cultural diversity at the Ethnographic Museum. Finish your day at the National Museum, seeing the authentic Lucy skeleton. Gather for a welcome dinner back at your hotel and get acquainted with your fellow travelers.
This morning, fly to Axum, a small town whose understated appearance used to be the seat of an empire extending across the Red Sea to Arabia. Begin unearthing Axum’s detailed past at Stelae Park, a field of 120 carved outcroppings ranging from small, roughly hewn stones to finely engraved obelisks towering 100 feet high. Continue on to get a glimpse of the advanced technologies that drove this empire at the Axum Museum. Next, tour the Cathedral of Maryam Tsion. Once a pagan shrine, the site was home to Ethiopia’s first church and is believed to have once housed the sacred Ark of the Covenant. Conclude your excursion at Dongar Palace; legend holds that the Queen of Sheba once held court in this, the grandest of Axum’s palaces.
Fly to Lalibela, a holy city and Ethiopian center of pilgrimage. Known as the “New Jerusalem,” this World Heritage Site is home to several monolithic rock-cut churches. Begin your exploration of this amazing area with a visit to Lalibela’s northwest cluster of six churches and Bet Giyorgis (also known as the Church of St. George), the largest rock-hewn church in the world.
After breakfast, head to the Monastery of Nakuta La’ab. Named after King Lalibela’s successor who commissioned it, this medieval monastery and simple church hewn from a shallow cave contains spring-fed holy pools, paintings, crosses and other sacred relics. Continue on to explore Lalibela’s southeast grouping of five churches. Older than the churches of the northwest, some of the structures predate the reign of King Lalibela by five centuries. According to legend, the southeastern church of Bet Abba Libanos was constructed by just one woman in only one night, along with some heavenly intervention from a group of angels. .
This morning, fly to Gondar. Continue on to the World Heritage Site of Debre Berhan Selassie Church to take in its stunningly painted scenes of biblical tale and medieval history. Continue overland to Simien Mountains National Park, a sprawling, diverse wilderness set in the heart of one of Africa’s largest mountain ranges. Pass in the shadows of towering peaks, some exceeding 13,000 feet. The range also boasts Ethiopia’s highest mountain, Ras Dashen, topping out at 14,928 feet. Home to some of Africa’s most striking wildlife, the park is inhabited by the gelada baboon, walia ibex and the exceedingly rare Ethiopian wolf. Settle into your lodge, and wathc a presentation focused on the advanced social behaviors of the gelada baboon over dinner.
Set out on a picturesque morning drive through the mountains, stopping in Chennek, a remote village perched 11,800 feet above sea level. Pause for a picnic overlooking the vast mountain landscape. Next, pass through some of Ethiopia’s most stunning mountain scenery, stopping to encounter a group of gelada baboons. Continue a short ways on foot, pausing to take in the spray of isolated waterfalls.
After breakfast, head out on a morning drive to Gondar, a town of medieval castles and churches. Calledd the “Camelot of Africa,” Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasiladas as the royal capital of Ethiopia. Settle in at your lodge, then step out to explore the town. Begin at Fasiladas Palace, believed to be the former home of legendary explorer James Bruce. Continue on to Fasiladas Pool, a bathing pool once used by the former emperor. Surrounded by towering stone walls and guarded by six turrets, the pool is still filled every January during ceremony.
In the morning, depart overland to Bahir Dar, a former Jesuit outpost known for its wide avenues lined with palms and flowers. After checking in to your hotel, embark on a leisurely cruise of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. Disembark on an island to explore two of the lake’s secluded monasteries, Ura Kidane Mihret and Azuwa Maryam.
Set out on an hour-long hike to the majestic Blue Nile Falls. The currents of the Blue Nile crash 140 feet to the rapids below, flowing on to its long journey out to the Mediterranean. After you take in the falls, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure.
Fly back to Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel dayroom. This evening, return to the airport for your international flight home.
