Upon arrival in Ethiopia, a representative from Blessed Tours will be waiting to pick you up at the airport and take you to your Hotel, which is located just 5 km from the airport.

Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore the capital and visit sites like the National Museum (home of the world-famous human ancestor fossil Lucy), the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Ethnological Museum, which will give you an insight into the history and culture of Ethiopia. In the evening you will have the opportunity to sample the famous Ethiopian cuisine and see a cultural show at a restaurant in town before returning to your Hotel for the night.

In the morning you will be picked up at your Hotel and driven to Bole International Airport to catch your domestic flight to Bahir Dar.

Once in Bahir Dar you will carry on to the shores of Lake Tana. Lake Tana forms the main reservoir for the Blue Nile River and is the largest lake in Ethiopia. Its most notable features, however, are the historic monasteries and churches located on the shores of some of the lake’s 37 islands. A boat will take you around to some of these spectacular cultural landmarks.

Surrounded by a forest of coffee trees, Ura Kidane Mehret with its magnificent frescos is regarded as the most beautiful of the churches. It is located on Zegge Peninsula, a one-hour boat ride from Bahir Dar.

After lunch at a local restaurant in Bahir Dar, we carry on by car to the village Tiss Issat, and from there we continue on foot on a 2-hour walk to the Blue Nile Falls.

The trail is incredibly scenic, passing through pastoral scenes, giving you a first glimpse of rural life in Ethiopia. At the start of your walk, you will cross a beautiful old stone bridge that was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. From here the path ascends steeply, passing through a small settlement before reaching a viewpoint for the falls. Due to a dam put in place to provide electricity for the surrounding communities only about 10% of the former water volume now reaches the falls. To see the falls at their most dramatic it is best to do this walk in the rainy season (July-September).

On your descent to the foot of the falls, you will cross a small canyon by way of a modern Swiss-constructed bridge. As you approach the waterfall, be prepared to get a bit wet! The trail continues up to the Blue Nile River, where you will cross by boat and be picked up on the other side and driven back to Bahir Dar.

In the early morning, you will leave Bahir Dar and depart for the royal city of Gondar. The three-hour drive takes you through wonderful natural sites and rural villages, giving you a glimpse of the Amharic culture.

After checking in to your hotel in the outskirts of Gondar and having lunch at a local restaurant, you will begin a fascinating exploration of the royal and ancient city of Gondar.

First visit to the fortress city Fasil Ghebbi, also known as the Royal Enclosure. This 70,000-sq meter UNESCO World Heritage site was once the seat of emperor Fasiledes and his successors in the 16th and 17th centuries. The numerous castles and palaces that remain within the walls of the enclosure are a testament to the royal capital’s former splendor.

The cultural tour continues with a visit to Fasiledes’ Bath. Emperor Fasiledes built this rectangular pool to convince the people that he was a true believer of the Orthodox faith. Although the complex was used for bathing it was also used for religious celebrations, some of which carry on to this day. Once a year, during the Timkat festival, the pool is filled with blessed water and devotees are invited to swim and frolic in the pool in a ceremonial replication of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River.

Before heading back to the hotel in the late afternoon, you will visit the Debre Berhan Selassie church with its beautifully painted ceilings.

Simien Mountains N.P. is famous for its wild landscapes of deep gorges and soaring rock spires, interspersed with traditionally cultivated plateaus. It is also home to the fifth-highest mountain range in Africa, with the highest point being the summit of Ras Dashen at 4,543 meters.

These high-altitude landscapes are home to exotic wildlife unique to the area, such as the iconic Walia ibex, the Gelada baboon, several birds of prey and the extremely rare Ethiopian wolf, which has an estimated population of 50 in the Simien Mountains (out of 400 in the entire country). The rareness of the species residing in the Simien Mountains led to the formation of the National Park and its listing as a World Heritage site as early as 1978.

Early in the morning, you will set off to Debark, which is the nearest town to the Simien Mountains National Park and home to the park headquarters. The trailhead starts another 30 kilometers into the mountains.

Depending on your interests and fitness level, your hike can take from one to six hours. Along the way you will experience the beautiful landscapes of the Simien Mountains and most likely run into the endemic Gelada baboon. These baboons are pretty sociable so you will be able to get quite close to them. You will have your packed lunch (included) at one of the best viewpoints along the trail.

Today you will set off early for a long drive to Ethiopia’s holiest city, Axum. During the scenic trip toward the country’s northern border, you will pass through small villages and see dramatic landscapes of the Simien Mountains. 

If you are enthusiastic about archaeology, today will be one of the highlights of your trip.

The ruins of the ancient city of Axum are a testament to the city’s former historical and political significance. Located in the heart of ancient Ethiopia, the ruins are remnants of a time when the Kingdom of Axum was one of the most powerful empires in the world, equal to Rome and Persia.

The remaining structures, which date from between the 1st and 13th century A.D., include enormous stelae, monolithic obelisks, royal tombs, monasteries and the ruins of ancient palaces.

For foreign visitors, the main attraction is the giant stelae which were erected by the Axumite in the pre-Christian times, presumably for religious purposes. One of these granite structures, the Great Stelae, is the biggest monolith in the world, measuring over 33 meters. It fell over sometime in the 4th century while it was being erected and remains in pieces on the ground to this day.

This tour will also include stops at the Bath and Palace of the Queen of Sheba and the tombs of King Kaleb and King Bazen, which are thought to be some of the earliest discovered structures.

The legendary Ark of the Covenant believed to be kept in a chapel near the St. Mary of Zion Church. It is guarded by a priest who is responsible for its care and preservation for life and nobody else is allowed to see it. Men can walk up to the chapel, but women are unfortunately not allowed on the site.

After a day of visiting these incredible ruins, you will look forward to a bit of rest and a good meal at your hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel in the morning, you will catch a morning flight from Axum to Lalibela.

Lalibela is regarded as one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities (second only to Axum) and is an important center of pilgrimage. Religious rituals are central to the life of the town and there are often processions of priests and crowds of singing and dancing devotees. This in combination with Lalibela’s extraordinary history and architecture gives this small town a timeless and biblical atmosphere.

The most famous attractions in Lalibela are the monolithic rock-hewn churches, which are the biggest monolithic temples in the world, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The rest of today will be dedicated to exploring these architectural wonders. Nothing will prepare you for what you are about to see. Every individual church is unique in shape, size and perfectly carved and decorated by hand. Some of the churches you will see along your tour today are the historically interesting churches Bet Medhane Alem (the largest monolithic church in the world and home to the Lalibela Cross) and Bet Maryam (possibly the oldest of the churches).

The most iconic and visually spectacular of these churches is the Bet Giyorgis (St. George’s). The 15-meter high structure is carved out of the rock, excavated externally and internally into the shape of the Greek cross. This church is often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and is therefore a must-see on this trip! You will have a local guide showing you around who will be able to tell you everything you want to know about these historic buildings.

If you are lucky, you will be in Lalibela during one of the annual festivals or religious ceremonies of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. During ceremonies, which can last a whole day, you may witness hundreds of white-clad priests sing and dance to the rhythms of drums.

At the end of the day you will return to your hotel for some rest and a nice dinner.

There are several fascinating churches and monasteries carved into the landscape surrounding the town of Lalibela itself, and today we will go on an excursion to visit one of them. After breakfast, you will drive 50 km outside of Lalibela to the beautiful Yemerehana Christos Monastery, one of Ethiopia’s best-preserved late Aksumite churches. Be sure to go inside to look at the walls that have been painted with murals depicting scenes from the Bible.

You will have a packed lunch with you on the trip, which you can enjoy as you gaze at the incredible mountain views.

In the afternoon, you will return to Lalibela to experience a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This is one of the most important parts of the Ethiopian culture and therefore a must-do on your trip to the country. The ceremony will take you through all of the steps of preparing and brewing coffee. Be sure to savor the flavors of the coffee during your tasting. 

Today you will leave the north with its mythical castles and churches behind and turn your gaze toward southern Ethiopia. To get there you will first catch a domestic flight to Addis Ababa.

You will then continue your journey overland to Langano. Along the way you will be passing by a series of crater lakes scattered along the Great Rift Valley. The lakes are full of fish, such as Tilapia and Nile Perch, resulting in a rich birdlife above the surface. 
You will be able to stop at some of the lakes along the way like Koka, Ziway, Shala, Abijata and of course your destination for today, Lake Langano, where you will be staying for the night. 

After breakfast your journey will continue farther south to the Guge Mountains and the highland town of Chencha where you will get a chance to meet the people from the Dorze tribe.

The Dorze are famous for their cotton-weaving techniques and for their uniquely designed bee-hive shaped dwellings. Visiting the Dorze used to be one of the highlights of this region and part of our standard offering, but lately it has become very busy with tourists and a bit commercial. Despite this recent development, the village is in a beautiful location and you may enjoy this experience if you are interested in seeing how the Dorze live. You will also be able to sample some local food and drink.

Should you prefer to skip the Dorze tribe visit you can instead take a lovely walk in the forests nearby. Lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant in a very picturesque setting (not included).

After your visit to Chencha you will continue on to the city of Arba Minch (a 1-hour drive), where you will spend the night at Paradise Lodge.

After breakfast your journey will continue farther south to the Guge Mountains and the highland town of Chencha where you will get a chance to meet the people from the Dorze tribe.

The Dorze are famous for their cotton-weaving techniques and for their uniquely designed bee-hive shaped dwellings. Visiting the Dorze used to be one of the highlights of this region and part of our standard offering, but lately it has become very busy with tourists and a bit commercial. Despite this recent development, the village is in a beautiful location and you may enjoy this experience if you are interested in seeing how the Dorze live. You will also be able to sample some local food and drink.

Should you prefer to skip the Dorze tribe visit you can instead take a lovely walk in the forests nearby. Lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant in a very picturesque setting (not included).

After your visit to Chencha you will continue on to the city of Arba Minch (a 1-hour drive), where you will spend the night at Paradise Lodge.

Today you will visit one of the most famous tribes in the Omo Valley, the Mursi. On your way to the Mursi village, you will pass through Mago National Park with some chances of mammal and bird spotting. The landscape rolling by outside your window will be mostly dry savannah, interspersed with forested riverbeds. The main highlight of the day is experiencing the way of life of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi women are well-known for their lip-plate wearing tradition, and the men for their fierce stick fighting duels.

Today you will visit one of the most famous tribes in the Omo Valley, the Mursi. On your way to the Mursi village, you will pass through Mago National Park with some chances of mammal and bird spotting. The landscape rolling by outside your window will be mostly dry savannah, interspersed with forested riverbeds. The main highlight of the day is experiencing the way of life of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi women are well-known for their lip-plate wearing tradition, and the men for their fierce stick fighting duels.

The appearance and lifestyle of the Mursi have long been a fascination with the outside world and over time the tribe has become accustomed to posing for the tourist’s camera in exchange for a couple of Birrs. With the increase in tourism to the area, and the subsequent income opportunities that this has created for the Mursi, the environment in the Mursi village when tourists stop by can be experienced as rather frenzied.

Some visitors find it overwhelming and stay only for a short moment in the village, while others embrace the exchange and take the rare opportunity to photograph this very photogenic and fascinating tribe. In either case, be prepared for tribesmen and women to grab and pull you in their direction to get your attention. If you are not a keen photographer, also be aware that the Mursi now expect you to take photos and maybe a bit dismissive of you for attempting to have a more in-the-now experience.

Whether you venture out to visit the Mursi, or do any of the optional activities today lunch will be enjoyed in Jinka where there are plenty of things to explore. The town houses an Ethnographic Museum with an interesting exhibition on the various cultures and ways of life of the people living in and around Omo Valley. You can combine a visit to the museum with an afternoon walk through the village to observe the daily life of the Ari people who live there.

Today you will visit the Hamer who inhabit the lands east of the Omo River. The Hamer people are known for their elaborate hairstyles, dyed with ochre and adorned with feathers and other decorations. The women distinguish themselves by wearing leather skirts, decorated with shells, several copper bracelets around their arms and heavy iron necklaces around their necks. Around midday you will enjoy a packed lunch and spend the rest of the day visiting this fascinating tribe before returning to the lodge.

Optional activity: Bull jumping ceremony
Your visit with the Hamer tribe may coincide with a wedding or a coming of age ceremony. The latter is traditionally held when a father decides that his son is ready to become a man. During these ancient traditions men and women are tested on their strength and endurance.

Men have to take giant leaps over an impossibly long row of bulls – without falling. If completed successfully the men gain respect within the tribe and are allowed to marry and carry a weapon. During the ceremony, the women get their backs whipped by the men who have completed the bull jumping. Although this whipping is extremely painful and can break the skin, the women are not allowed to show that they feel the pain. Their scars are considered a sign of devotion to the men. This is an optional activity that depends on the timing of the event, and whether you are interested in witnessing this tradition.

In the early morning you will depart for Konso Karat. On the way, you will get the opportunity to see the Konso Cultural Landscape.

Walking among these fortified settlements, where the way of life is based on century-old traditions, is like stepping back in time. The communities who live here have adapted to the harsh, dry environment and you will be able to experience their traditions and customs during your visit.

In the afternoon you will continue to your lodge for the night, where you can enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding valleys.

After breakfast, you will start the journey north to Hawassa. On the way, we will stop for a visit to the Wolayta people. You will have the opportunity to visit one of the farms and see how they live. You will also stop for a local lunch along the way (not included).

Your accommodation for the night is at Haile Resort, which is set on the shores of Lake Hawassa. Here you can stroll along the lake enjoying the scenic lake views, take a dip in the pool or watch the sunset from the terrace.

Today, you will set off early in the morning for your return journey to Addis Ababa. The lakes scattered along the way will provide good rest stops and photo ops!

Depending on the departure of your international flight you may have time to visit several cultural highlights in the afternoon, for instance; the National Museum where the famous “Lucy” is exhibited, the palace of Emperor Menelik in the Entoto Mountains, and the Mercato, reputed to be the largest market in Africa and a go-to for souvenirs.
 

If you wish we can help arrange for a day room so that you can store your luggage and use shower facilities before your international flight.