Summer Holiday 20 Days

Addis Ababa – Danakil – Axum – SemienMNP and classical North

20 Days

Day 1. January 01. Fly  to Addis Ababa 

Day 2. January 02 Addis Ababa 

Early morning  arrive in Addis Ababa  transfer to the airport  meet the  guide and  the  driver  for  the  transfer  to the  hotel. If rooms are ready check in and some rest. Afternoon city tour of Addis Ababa including  historical monuments , Merkato and  walking in Entoto Park.Overnight  in hotel Addis Ababa.

Day 3. January 03 . Addis – Semera – Erteale

Transfer  to the  domestic airport for the flight to Semera. Up on arrival in Semera airport meet the  4WD land cruisers  then drive to Erteale. On the way stop at Afdera town to pick our police which travel with us through out our visit in Afar.

Then at Kuserwad local village To arrange another permit for visiting the sight seeings in Denakil. Continue drving to our open air campsite with  our logistics. Here bear in mind that we do have local militia and road guide apart from those who already with us. Late afternoon start walking up to Erteale which will take us from 30 to 45 minutes. Ertale is 613 meters ABSL, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century. After the night seeing back to our base camp have dinner.  Overnight at the camp.

Day 4. January 04.  Erteale - Amedela

Early  in the  morning walk once again to the  see the  volcano. To enjoy the sun rise with the volcano. Then we will be back to camp have breakfast and we will continue driving to Ahmed Ela. After arrival we'll drive to see lake Asaale, salt mining (the traditional way of extracting salt bar, which once used as a local currency) and to enjoy the sunset over the salt bed. Overnight open air camp Ahmed ela.

Day 5.  January 05. Amedala  - Dallo – Semera

Excursion to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) where  you are going to enjoy  the hydrothermal phenomenon with colourful sulphur fountains. Then drive back to Ahmed ela and drive back to Semera. Overnight Semera hotel.

Day 6. January 06. Semera – Lalibela

Full day drive to Lalibela via Chefra some  photo stops on the way lunch will be at Woldeya. Then continue driving to Lalibela. Overnight Hotel in Lalibela 

Day 7. January 07. Lalibela

Early in the morning  you will visit the Christmas festival in Bete Mariam church to enjoying the  colourful celebration . Then you will go back to the hotel to have Breakfast  and some rest. Later in Visit one of the famous  rock hewn churches of Lalibela called Bete Giorgis. Overnight  Hotel in Lalibela.

 Day 8 January 08 . Lalibela

Early drive to Yemrehane Kirstos 42 km(2hour) visit the marble churches called Yimrhanne kirstos, which predates the Lalibela churches and was built using a completely different style of construction involving marble and wood. The church is built inside a cave. Pass through different villages and learn about local crops on different plateaus, specular view till your reach the church back to Lalibela for  lunch . afternoon first group of the rock hewn churches , the earthly Jerusalem , carved out of rocks during the 13th century by king Lalibela which makes Lalibela to be considered as the holiest city of Ethiopia and the African Petra with the adjacent museum which has got a collection of treasures of this time. Overnight Hotel in Lalibela

Day 9. January 09. Lalibela

Breakfast. Take a morning drive to Mount  Asheton Mariam church incliding some hiking to reach to its top.

The11th century rock-hewn monastery called Asheton Mariam  and great views of the town. Back to Lalibela  in the  afternoon Afternoon visit the second  group of  Lalibela  churches , heavenly Jerusalem. Overnight hotel in Lalibela

Day 10.  January 10. Fly Lalibela – Mekele

Transfer  to Lalibela airport for the flight  to Mekele via Addis Ababa. Up on arrival in Mekele transfer to the hotel.  Excursion to  visit  4th C rock hewn church  namely Abreha We Atsbeha church and Wurkro mariam church .  Overnight Hotel in Mekele.

Day 11.January 11.  Mekele – Axum

Drive  to  Axum Admiring  the spectacular  view of  the landscape and  visit of  Yeha  temple  which is  believed to be  built  5th C BC. Overnight Hotel in Axum

Day 12. January 12 Axum

Full day city tour  in Axum , city of the kingdom of  civilisation  which includes the Stelae park, st . marry of  Tsion church , queen of shaba palace  etc . overnight in Yeha hotel.

Day 13. January 13  Fly Axum – Bahir Dar 

Transfer to the airport for the flight ot BahirDar via Addis Ababa arrival in Bahir Dar  meet  the  driver  to drive to the  hotel to check in and have lunch afternoon  City tour in Bahir Dar.  Overnight Hotel in Bahir Dar 

Day 14. January 14.  Bahir Dar

Morning excursion to the  blue Nile fall which is 30kms out of the town of  Bahir Dar  enjoy walking in the  countryside  and the fall although the  volume of the water fall decreases at this period of time. Back to Bahir Dar and afternoon boat trip on Lake tana to visit The 14th C churches with magnificent wall painting.

Day 15.January 15 Bahir Dar – Semein mountain national park.

Drive  to Semien Mountain National Park  admiring the amazing landscape which makes Ethiopia to be called the roof of Africa and some wild life like Gelada Baboon or bleeding heart baboon, clip springer, bush buck and birds. Enjoy  walking  for a couple of  hours  enjoying  the  breath-taking view of the land scape. Overnight Hotel in Semein

Day 16. January 16  Full day Semein mountains national park

Today  you are  going to enjoy  walking and  drive  deeper in the national park to spot some of the endemic animals  in the park , Waliya Ibex and Red fox.  Overnight in Hotel in Smein

Day 17. January 17. Semein mountains to Gondar 

Drive back to Gondar  afternoon city tour of Gondar  which includes   

·      the17th century castle compound where there are  six independent castles for each emperor

·      the church of Debrebirhan silase  for its wall and ceiling painting of the 17th century

·      the bath of Fasillades ( the first king of the Gondarean period and the founder of Gondar).

Overnight  Goha hotel or similar.

Day 18 January 18 . Gondar

Morning  you will be at  your leisure  then afternoon attend the  ceremony of Timket  this day all the covenants of the 44 churches which are found in Gondar will be taken in a colourful manner with chanting and dancing to the baptismal place  that is to bath of Fusillades. Overnight Hotel in Gondar.

Day 19. January 19. Gondar

Early in the morning go to the bath of Fasiladas to attend the baptismal ceremony. After it is finished back to Hotel. 

Day 20. January 20. Fly back to Addis Ababa .

 Today you will have day use room in Addis Ababa. evening  you will be invited to the traditional restaurant where you enjoy the folkloric dance too. Transfer to the airport for the flight back home. 

Service 

·      Transfer  in and out  to and  from the airport  during  in ternational as well as internal flights.

·      Accommodation in the  hotels  as specified  above on full board basis with one soft drink or water  during  each mean   and  camping  gears  and beds  during  the trip of  Danakil depression.

·      ½ L of  bottle of  water  during  the  drive  , 1  ½  L of  water  per day per person during  the  walking and  Denakil visit.

·      Well experienced  cook with all cooking material during  camping  days .

·      All entrance  ,Local guide at  each places , scout , embarkation , formal and informal taxes  though out  the  tour.

·      Professional and well experienced  English speaking  Guide  though out  the  tour

·      Excellent  condition 4X 4 Toyota land cruisers  for the  trip of Danakil depression  which can accommodate  4 pax per car  and  mini bus or  Bus  depending of  the number of pax for the  rest of  the  trip .

·      Apart  4X4 Jeep for  cook , cooking material , camping gears  . 

·      internal flight.

Service Excludes

·      International flight  

·      Alcoholic drinks