Day 1:(TUE) ADDIS ABABA
Flight to Addis and arrival. In the afternoon, you will have a city tour of Addis that includes the National Museum, Merkato (the largest open air market in Africa) and Entoto Mountain for the panoramic view of the city.
Day 2:(WED) ADDIS ABABA – DEBRE MARKOS
Drive from Addis to Debre Markos visiting the 13th century monastery of Debre Libanos and the Blue Nile Gorge.
Day 3:(THU)DEBRE MARKOS – BAHIR DAR
Drive from Debre Markos to Bahir Dar and in the afternoon excursion to Blue Nile Falls.
Day 4:(FRI) BAHIR DAR – GONDAR
Early morning boat trip on Lake Tana to see Ura Kidane Mihret Monastery and then drive Bahir Dar to Gondar. Upon arrival in Gondar, depending on time, visit the 17th century castles of Emperor Fasiledes.
Day 5:(SAT)GONDAR – SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
After breakfast, visit the Bath of Fasiledes and Debre Birhan Silassie Church. Then drive from Gondar to the Simien Mountains National Park up to Sankaber (the first campsite of the park) to see the extraordinary scenery of the mountains. Walk around Sankaber enjoying the endemic Gelada Baboons and the bone breaker giant bird – Lammergeyer.
Day 6:(SUN) SIMIEN MOUNTAINS - AXUM
After an early morning short walk in the park drive from Simien Mountains NP or Debark to Axum through the breathtaking scenic land of the Simien Mountains. The drive will further take you down the Limalimo mountain belt to the Tekeze lowlands where you will see the Simien Mountains upwards to admire the gifts of nature. Arrival Axum and overnight.
Day 7:(MON)AXUM
After breakfast start the full day tour of the sights with
the small but excellent museum and continue to the palace and tomb of King Caleb (06th C, AD), the extraordinary stele field (World Heritage Site) and tomb of King Remhay (01st to 04th C, AD), followed by a trip to the church of St Mary of Tsion, (17th C, AD) in which the Ark of Covenant is deposited and end the day wandering at the palace of the Queen of Sheba (date unknown, some say 07th C, AD, others 10th C, BC).
Day 8:(TUE)AXUM - MEKELE
Start today’s adventure, after breakfast, by driving from Axum to Mekele with a stop at Yeha to visit the 5th C. BC Moon Temple and adjacent to it the 6th C. Church of Aba Aftse. Continue driving southwards for a brief stop at Negash Mosque – the first settlement of Muslims in Ethiopia reach; and proceed to visit the 4th C. AD Wukro Cherkos church, the Wukro Museum and Meqabir Ga’ewa archeological site.
Day 9:(WED)MEKELE – LALIBELA
After breakfast drive from Mekele to Lalibela enjoying the scenery of the Lasta Mountains.
Day 10:(THU) LALIBELA
In the morning visit the first and second clusters of the 12th and 13th century rock - hewn churches of Lalibela and in the afternoon visit the third cluster of the churches.
Day 11:(FRI) LALIBELA – DESSIE
While leaving Lalibela, visit the cave church of Ne’akuto Le’ab and continue driving to Dessie through the scenic land across the Lasta and Wollo mountains and also by Lake Hayk.
Day 12:(SAT)DESSIE - ADDIS
Drive from Dessie to Addis crossing the Tarma Ber tunnel and viewing the Rift valley downwards. In the evening, you will be invited to a traditional restaurant for an Ethiopian dinner with folkloric dances and coffee ceremony. After dinner, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Day 13:(SUN) ADDIS ABABA – AWASSA
Drive from Addis to Awassa visiting the Rift Valley lake of Bishoftu at Debre Zeit and Lake Ziway to admire the different species of birds. After check in to your hotel enjoy walking along the shores of Lake Awassa to enjoy more of the aquatic birds and the natural beauty of the area on top of the unforgettable sunset at the end of the day.
Day 14:(MON) AWASSA – LANGANO
Drive from Awassa to Lake Langano visiting the Abijata – Shalla Lakes National park for an interesting bird watching experience. In Langano enjoy swimming in the lake and leisure time the rest of the day.
Day 15:(TUE)LANGANO – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
After taking some time in the attractive area of Langano, drive back to Addis. Rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Day 13:(THU)LALIBELA – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly from Lalibela to Addis and have the rest of the day at Leisure. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Day 13:(SUN)ADDIS ABABA – AWASH
Drive from Addis to Awash National Park visiting the Rift Valley Lake of Bishoftu at Debre Zeit. After check in to your hotel drive in the park for some game viewing and also to visit the famous Awash River Falls.
Day 14:(MON)AWASH – HARAR
Drive from Awash to Harar through the scenic Haraghe Mountains looking at the coffee and chat plantations left and right of the road. In the evening go to one of the gates of the Harar wall to see the Hyena Man feeding his hyena friends.
Day 15:(TUE)HARAR – DIRE DAWA
Full day visit of Harar which includes the colorful Islam Market, the national and Harari Museums, the house of Ras Mekonen (father of Haile Silassie) and a typical Harari house and the 16th century wall of Harar and the house of the renowned poet Arthur Rimbaud. Around the end of the day, drive from Harar to Dire Dawa for overnight.
Day 16:(WED)DIRE DAWA – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Drive or fly from Dire Dawa to Addis. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.