Explore the intriguing historical sites of northern Ethiopia, flying between destinations and staying at comfortable lodges on this short Fly-In Ethiopia Tour.
From the contrasts of Addis Ababa, we fly into the Ethiopian Highlands to explore the monasteries of Lake Tana and see the Blue Nile Falls. Then we go to the city of Gondar to marvel at its old castles, palaces, and churches. Next, we fly to Lalibela to view the famous monolithic churches carved into the rock, before flying back to Addis Ababa.
An incredible historical and cultural journey to the treasured ancient sites and religious highlights of northern Ethiopia.
Welcome to the Horn of Africa and the ancient land of Ethiopia. Your guide meets you at the international airport in Addis Ababa at the start of this short Ethiopia Tour and transfers you to your hotel in the city.
Addis Ababa, located at the foot of the Entoto Mountains, is the capital of Ethiopia. Africa’s fourth-largest city, Addis was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menekil, and today serves as the diplomatic capital of the continent. Known locally as the "new flower", the city is dotted with Eucalyptus trees and surrounded by mountains. Addis is a regional hub with a relatively cosmopolitan feel, offering interesting sights and delicious Ethiopian cuisine.
Places of interest include the National Museum, Ethnological Museum, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Merkato, one of Africa's largest open-air markets. View the old colonial buildings dotting the city, visit the sights and head up Mount Entoto to look over the city and surrounds.
On day two of our Fly-In Ethiopia Tour, we fly from Addis to Bahir Dar. Rising early we transfer to the airport for our one-hour flight up to Bahir Dar, also called Bahar Dar - a city on the shores of Lake Tana in northwestern Ethiopia. Arriving in Bahir Dar, we drive to the impressive Blue Nile Falls about 35 km from the city. A short walk brings us to the falls. Known as Tis Abay in Amharic, meaning "great smoke", the Blue Nile Falls is about 45 meters (148 feet) tall.
After lunch, we embark on a boat trip to the ancient monasteries of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. We visit two monasteries dating back to the 14th Century AD - Ura Kidane Mehret and Azwa Mariam.
Ura Kidane Mehret is located on the Zege Peninsula on the far shores of Lake Tana and is considered one of the best examples of a traditional Orthodox Christian monastery in Ethiopia. Ura Kidane Mehret features colorful murals depicting biblical scenes on its interior walls and is known for its old manuscripts and ecclesiastical objects including gold and silver processional crosses and the crowns of emperors dating back to the 14th Century. The Azwa Mariam monastery is tucked away on one of the islands of Lake Tana and also features vivid murals on the interior walls and ceiling. A short walk brings us to this small, round church building housing some ancient religious relics. We may also see the colorfully clad monks of Azwa Mariam during our visit.
On our boat trip, we are sure to spot hippos, monkeys, and a variety of birds, as well as handcrafted tankwa sailing boats that resemble the traditional vessels of Ancient Egypt.
Wake for breakfast and drive north to the 17th Century capital of Ethiopia, Gondar city. Along the way, we pass through rural villages getting a glimpse of local Amhara life and the traditional farming methods used here.
This afternoon we visit the intriguing historical sights of Gondar, famous for its royal palace compound. We spend time exploring the Imperial Castle Compound of Gondar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, set in a royal enclosure that was once a walled fortress city named Fasil Ghebbi. Here we see the ruins of the Fasilides Emporers' palaces including Empress Mentewab's Palace and the church she built, called Quskuam Mariam.
During our tour, we visit the enclosed bath of Emperor Fasiladas which is still used for the Timket celebrations of Orthodox Christian pilgrims to this day. Our tour also takes us to the Debre Birhan Selassie church, originally built by Emperor Iyasu II in the 17th century. It is best known for its elaborate biblical murals and legend has it a swarm of bees protected the church from attack by Sudanese dervishes in the late 1800s leaving Debre Birhan Selassie as the only church standing in Gondar.
On day four of our Fly-In Ethiopia Tour, we have breakfast and head to the airport for our flight to Lalibela where some of Ethiopia's most famous historical sites are located. Home to historically significant rock-hewn churches and relics, Lalibela is referred to as the "New Jerusalem" by some.
This afternoon we begin exploring the famous stone churches of Lalibela. Each of the 11 rock-hewn churches of King Lalibela is carved from a single block of granite - an amazing feat of strength, vision, and skill. First, we usually visit the northern group of churches, including Bet Medhane Alem, arguably the biggest monolithic church in the world. Bet Golgotha which houses the tomb of King Lalibela and impressive artworks is also found here (women are not permitted to enter). Other churches we see in the northern cluster include Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, and Bet Mikael.
After breakfast, we take a muleback ride up to Asheton Maryam Monastery. This semi-monolithic church is set on a hilltop overlooking Lalibela. The small church is carved into the cliffside and dates back to the 13th Century AD. Our excursion to Asheton Maryam provides beautiful views and time to admire the wonderful setting of this ancient church, at an elevation of nearly 4000 meters.
This afternoon we usually visit the other groups of famous Lalibela churches. This includes the smaller southeastern group of churches, amongst them Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Visit the most famous church, Bet Giyorgis - a massive monolith dug into the earth in the shape of a Greek cross. Another historical highlight is Yimrehanne Kristos - the most popular church outside of Lalibela. This church was constructed almost a century before the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and is one of the most well-preserved late Axumite churches of Ethiopia today. Over the centuries pilgrims have journeyed to the cave to die, and have their mummified remains housed in the back of the cavern. The beautiful Yimrhane Kirstos church consists of a big natural cave with a layered wall of granite and wood as its front, intricately carved inside and out, with colorful murals adorning the interior walls.
This morning, after breakfast, you are transferred to the Lalibela airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa, officially Addis Abeba.
On the final afternoon of our Fly-In Ethiopia Tour, we set off on a city tour of Addis Ababa. Our half-day tour takes us to the National Archeological Museum of Addis Ababa, the largest open-air market in Africa, the Merkato, and to Mt. Entoto. We drive up Mount Entoto, standing 3 200 meters tall, to take in the panoramic views of the city.
This evening, we enjoy a buffet dinner at one of Addis's best traditional restaurants sampling a variety of tasty Ethiopian dishes and local drinks and watching folkloric dances. After our farewell dinner, you are transferred to the airport for your onward travels, bringing this intriguing Ethiopian journey to a close.
This tour does not take children.
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