Grand Historic Route Including Semien Mountain

Depart from your country flight to Addis flight and arrive at Bole International airport, meet our company representative and transfer to hotel. Then start Addis Ababa city tour including a drive to Mount Entoto for panoramic view of the city, national Museum which is the resting place of our ancestor LUCY, Ethnological museum to see the different tribe’s culture, Merkato the biggest open Market in Africa, Museum.
Overnight Caravan hotel 3*.

Morning drive to Bahirdar on the way visiting monastery Debre Libanos, Portuguese bridge and Blue Nile Gorge. You will cross many Amhara people village and there is great chance to see their culture, village.
Overnight Jacaranda hotel.

Morning boat excursion over Lake Tana to the Zeghie peninsula to visit the beautifully painted churches that are found hidden in the small forest: Ura Kidane Miheret, on the way you will have the chance to over view Kibran Gebriel and Entos Monastery and the outlet of the Blue Nile river. P.M drive 70KM round trip to visit Tississat named after the water falls of the Blue Nile River (the life blood for the Sudanese and Egyptians). You have the chance to meet the real country side of Ethiopia and enjoy the people way of life. Be informed that clients will walk about 20 minutes to arrive near to the water falls on Blue Nile. For those who don’t want to walk, we use boat both ways to arrive at the water falls.
Overnight Jacaranda hotel.

Morning drive to Gonder. On the way visit the Guzara castle, admire the wonderful landscape and view. Afternoon hotel you will be taken to visit the castle compound where you can see the medieval castle of king Fasilidas, King Yohannes, King Eyasu, King Dawit, King Bakafa and Queen Mentewab further visit of the churches of Debre Birhan Selassie with awesome wall paintings and the bath of King Fasilidas.
Overnight Goha hotel.

Morning drive to Semien Mountain. Five kms from Gonder you will visit the previous black Jewish village. In Semien Mountain visit the marvelous scenery of the Semien Mountain, the endemic animals of Walya Ibex, Chilada Baboon and birds.
Overnight Sona hotel at Debark.

After breakfast, drive to Sankaber and walk around. Sankaber lies within the Park and found at an altitude of 3825msl. It is the place to see troops of Gelada Baboon on the way. They are very attractive and so taking picture of them is unforgettable. These are a different primates found only in Ethiopia and live on vegetables and soft roots. Walk to the wonderful viewpoints around Sankaber. Lunch box will be taken on the site/view point. Later, drive to Chenek and walk around to see the scenic mountains and views in the surrounding. Chenek lies at an altitude of 3800 m ASL in the valley at the bottom of the second highest pick called Buahit 4000 m ASL. It is the ideal place to see one of the endemic mammals found in the park, the Walia Ibex. They adapt living in the gigantic cliff age and high altitude. This adaptation comes from habitat loose because in the past they used to live at around 2500 m ASL. The males are big in size while the females are smaller. With such a colossal horn curved to the back, the males are easily spotted sleeping on the rock or standing near the giant lobelia. They are very solitary, the female are very close to each other and the family is organized by the dominant mother. It is very common to see one of the high altitude plant called giant Lobelia. When it grows fully, it reaches a height of 9 to 12 meters with a flowering part on the top. For this plant it is quite a struggle to grow at such high altitude where the weather is very difficult. But nature has it all in it.
Overnight Sona hotel at Debark.

Morning view of the beautiful scenery of the Semien from Debark and drive to Axum Enjoying the western side of the dramatic Simien Mountain, Pass Limalimo, the most challenging road in Ethiopia but awesome landscape, cross the Tekeze Valley and arrive in Axum. Here you will see the Tigray people way of life and their culture. Visit some small villages.
Overnight Yared Zema International hotel.

Morning start to visit the historical sites of Axum including the St. Mary church (where the Arc of the covenant is said to be kept) and the stele park, the ruins of the former palace of Queen of Sheba (Dungur Palace) the ruins of the former tombs of King Kaleb and his successor King Gebre Meskel.
Overnight Yared Zema International hotel.

After breakfast, we will depart to Gheralta. On our way, we will visit the Adwa Mountains which was the battle place where the Ethiopians defeated the Italians in 1896, pre-Axumite Temple of Yeha, which is the first civilization of Ethiopia started before Axum, some of the tigray rock hewn church.
Overnight Geralta Lodge.

Today we will visit the Gheralta village, clime to Abune Yemata church (The climb to Abune Yemata is tough and you will be ready for this trip. The view is awesome and amazing. Optional visit to the less challenging churches of the Tigray if Abune Yemata is challenging for our clients. The other option will be Mariay Korkur. As there are many churches our guide will take you as per your interest and ability to walk/climb.
Overnight Geralta Lodge.

Morning visit the Geralta Rock hewn churches of , Abreha Atsbeha and Wukro chirkos . Further drive to Mekele.
Overnight Axum hotel for breakfast and dinner.

After breakfast you will visit the salt market in Mekele and then we will drive to Lalibela through Ambalage Chains of Mountain. Picnic Lunch en-route, arrive in Lalibela.
Overnight top 12 hotel.

Morning start to visit the 1st group churches which are included Bieta Medhanialem (Chapel of Holy Savior) which is the biggest and Bieta Mariam (Chapel of Mary): three aisled with mural paintings and a covered pillar containing inscriptions about the end of the world according to the gadl (act) of saintly king. Further visit of Bieta Denagel (Chapel of the Virgins), Bieta Meskel (Chapel of the cross) and finally, the “double – church” of Debre Sina and Bieta Golghotha (women are not allowed in the latter since it’s where the remains of King Lalibela are and also because it contains the tabernacle of the Holy Trinity). PM Visit of the second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, Bieta Merquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style and the Bieta Abaa Libanos (said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort Meskal Kebra and visit the Bieta Ghiorghis which is the cruciform chapel of St. George.
Overnight top 12 hotel.

In Lalibela you will have optional mule excursion to Asheten Mariam church situated at a very hill top, to see the town of Lalibela and the surrounding attraction. In the afternoon, you'll be driven to the charming semi–cave church of Neakutoleab, a church of the early 13th century. Overnight top 12 hotel.
Second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, Bieta Merquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style and the Bieta Abaa Libanos (said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort Meskal Kebra and visit the Bieta Ghiorghis which is the cruciform chapel of St. George. Overnight top 12 hotel.
N.B- We assure you that we do at most to make your trip more enjoyable and memorable.

After breakfast transfer to airport for the flight back to Addis. Have city tour and evening attend farewell dinner in the traditional restaurant. Depart to airport for the night flight and end of the trip.

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