Ethiopia’s Northern Historical Route – 10 Days

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Addis Ababa, arrival and city tour

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport you will be met by a Ruba Tours representative and be taken to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options:

Mount Entoto with the best views over the capital.
Institute of Ethiopian Studies, where you can see a variety of artifacts from all the different regions reflecting the history and culture of the country
National Museum which among other exhibits the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy.
Saint-George Cathedral, where paintings by the famous Ethiopian artist Afework Tekele and other ecclesiastical wealth and cultural heritage of the past are displayed.
Trinity Cathedral: this is the burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots; the cathedral is the most magnificent of its kind in the country, ornamented with carvings, mosaics and other artistic works.
The Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa
Unity Park, located within the National Palace of Ethiopia , embodies generational legacy of Ethiopia And Ethiopians.Prime minster Dr Abiy has announced that The park will be open to the public as of October 11, following the October 10th launchThe National Palace was Built under Emperor Menelik II over a century ago, the Palace rests on 40,000Sqm of land. For generations, it has been viewed as the epicenter of political power, where the most powerful family in the land resides. The renovated compound incorporates several sights of interest to visitors, including an arena, a playground, a zoo,three churches,House of Royals and an imperial banquet hall.

Arrival in Addis Ababa and completion of the entry formalities. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation in the rooms. Then you’ll have time for a city tour. If interested, we can visit a project, which is supported by our local tour operator. In the evening we have dinner together.

Day 2: Flight Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar, visit Blue Nile Falls

Domestic flight to Bahir Dar and drive to the Blue Nile Falls. Directly at the waterfalls, we undertake a two-hour hike and thus have the opportunity to experience the falls from different perspectives, cross over two bridges bridge, then the Blue Nile by boat and see sugar cane plantations. In the evening again common dinner and overnight in a hotel.

Overnight at AVANTI BLUE NILE RESORT

Day 3: Bahir Dar, Visit Lake Tana

Today we undertake a full day exploration on a boat trip to Lake Tana and visit a selection of the remote island monasteries. In addition, the interesting fauna of the lake can be observed in this trip (mainly hippos and different types of birds). The nearly full-day boat trip ends up in the afternoon and we get back to the hotel for the second night there.

Overnight AVANTI BLUE NILE RESORT

Day 4: Drive Bahir Dar – Gondar, visit castle and church.

Transfer by private vehicle to Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until 1855, where the ancient emperor’s palace with churches and baths is situated. The castle from the 17th century, called Fasil Ghebbi, is located in the palace district which has been declared to be a UNESCO cultural world heritage site. We also visit the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie with its iconic ceiling of painted angels.

Overnight at GOHA HOTEL.

Day 5: Drive Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park

In the morning we drive along a newly built tarmac road from Gondar to the park headquarters in Debark, the 100 km journey take around 2 hours. At the headquarters, we arrange our permits to the park and pick up our scout/park ranger. Then we keep driving for other 1-2 hours to the most interesting spots of the national park. From time to time we stretch our legs and take short walks (depending on your interest) which will allow us impressive views over the dramatic mountain range. In the afternoon, we return to the Simien Lodge, the highest hotel in Africa.

Overnight. SIMIEN MOUNTAIN LODGE.

Day 6: Drive Simien Lodge – Gondar

After a short excursion around the lodge , we drive back to Gonder but we will stop in the small Felasha village of Weleka.

Wolleka (Ge’ez: ወለቃ) is a village in Ethiopia, near Gondar, with a latitude and longitude of 12°38′N 37°29′E. The village is located in the Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region.

Wolleka is the main centre of the Beta Israel – Ethiopian Jews. Although its population has declined, it is still known for its synagogue, its Jewish cemetery, and for pottery. The Central Statistical Agency has not published an estimate for its 2005 population.

Wolleka (Falasha Village)

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Around 3km north of Gonder, several craft stalls with ‘Stars of David’ and ‘Falasha Village’ signs signal what’s really the former Falasha village of Wolleka. Once home to a thriving population of Falashas (Ethiopian Jews), most were airlifted to Israel in the 1980s and today none remain. There are a few original houses with interesting artwork on their fronts and the small synagogue; for Birr10 you can look inside, but be prepared for an entourage of persistent sales kids.

After the adoption of Christianity as the state religion, Falashas had their land confiscated for refusing to convert. To survive, many became skilled craftspeople. Research suggests Falashas may have provided the labour for the construction and decoration of Gonder’s castles. Sadly, the pottery for which they were once famous has mostly degenerated into half-hearted art, though the figurine trinkets do make cool souvenirs. Project Ploughshare Women’s Crafts Training Centeris helping disadvantaged women rekindle this craft, along with traditional Amhara weaving and basketry. You can watch the women working Monday to Saturday and buy the high-quality pottery every day.

Overnight GOHA HOTEL.

Day 7: Drive from Gondar to Lalibela

During this all day drive, we will stop for lunch in the ancient city of Debre Tabor.

Debre Tabor (Amharic: ደብረ ታቦር, lit. “Mount Tabor”) is a town and woreda in north-central Ethiopia. Located in the Debub Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, about 100 kilometers southeast of Gondar and 50 kilometers east of Lake Tana, this historic town has a latitude and longitude of 11°51′N 38°1′E with an elevation of 2,706 metres (8,878 ft) above sea level. The presence of at least 48 springs in the area contributed to the development of Debre Tabor.

In the afternoon we will drive through the Ethiopian Highlands and arrive in the Holy City of Lalibela before sunset.

Overnight MARIBELA HOTEL

Day 8: Lalibela visit.

In the morning and afternoon , we will visit all 3 groups of the Rock Hewn Churches.

Lalibela (Amharic: ላሊበላ) is a town in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Lasta district and North Wollo Zone, it is a tourist site for its famous rock-cut monolithic churches. The whole of Lalibela is a large and important site for the antiquity, medieval, and post-medieval civilization of Ethiopia. To Christians, Lalibela is one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities, and a center of pilgrimage.

Ethiopia was one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity in the first half of the 4th century, and its historical roots date to the time of the Apostles. The churches themselves date from the 7th to 13th centuries, and are traditionally dated to the reign of the Zagwe (Agaw) king Gebre Mesqel Lalibela (r. ca. 1181–1221).

The layout and names of the major buildings in Lalibela are widely accepted, especially by local clergy, to be a symbolic representation of Jerusalem.^[3] This has led some experts to date the current church construction to the years following the capture of Jerusalem in 1187 by the Muslim leader Saladin.

Lalibela is roughly 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) above sea level. It is the main town in Lasta, which was formerly part of the Bugna district. The rock-hewn churches were declared a World Heritage Site in 1978.

Day 9: Lalibela visit

Today we visit a rock church too, but a special one: we first visit Asheten Maryam (Amharic for St. Mary’s perfume), a still active mountain monastery with a cave church. After lunch in the town, in the afternoon there’s the possibility to visit the other group of churches or simply to enjoy the time at the local market.

We will have lunch at a Traditional Ethiopian Restaurant and in the afternoon we will visit in the outskirts of town the cave church of NEAKUTO LEAB.

Na’akueto La’ab was King of Zagwe dynasty. According to Taddesse Tamrat, he was the son of Kedus Harbe. Richard Pankhurst credits him with the creation of the church located in a cave a half-day’s journey from the town of Lalibela. According to a manuscript Pedro Páez and Manuel de Almeida saw at Axum, Na’akueto La’ab ruled for 40 years, a suspiciously round number.

Monastero Neakuto Leab:Croce regalo di re Lalibela e Nakutola - Picture of Caravan Travel and Tour, Addis Ababa - Tripadvisor

Monastery Neakuto Leab Near Lalibela in Ethiopia Editorial Stock Image - Image of holding, church: 161745259

Day 10: Fly from Lalibela to Addis Ababa

Transfer to the Lalibela airport in the morning and flight to Addis Ababa. If there is enough time before your departure, we visit a market or shops in Addis Ababa to buy souvenirs. Finally, there is a joint traditional Ethiopian dinner with music and dance performance. End of the trip and departure depending on flight times.

Included

Airfare

Local transportation

Professional Guide

Not Included

Uncategorized

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