Ethiopia Cultural Adventure Tours – 14 Days
Day 1: Journey begins in Addis Ababa
Following your arrival and settling into the Monarch Hotel, your adventure begins looking down on Addis Ababa from Entoto Mountain, the capital of Ethiopia before Addis. You will enjoy panoramic views of the city, and the fresh scent from the surrounding eucalyptus forests. We then proceed with a tour of this liveliest of cities, including its Trinity Cathedral (the final resting place of Haile Selassie), the National Museum, where Ethiopia’s oldest resident, Lucy, is housed, and Shiro Media, the city’s largest market for traditional clothes. In the evening we will watch traditional musicians and dancers performing different tribal dances in a culture house, before dinner at a restaurant and a jazz club or two for any interested parties!adorned with winged cherubs. Time permitting, we may be able to take a short trip out of town, to the Ploughshare Women’s Training Centre, to see local women learning their trades, such as cotton spinning, weaving & pottery.
Day 2: Addis Ababa to Gondar
First thing this morning, we hop on a short 1hr national flight (not included in the cost of the holiday) to Gondar, famous for its walled palace and fortress compound, and 17th Century castles. We have a full day exploring the sites today, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure. Additionally, Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket (Epiphany) celebrations today, and Ras Gimb Palace Museum. We also enjoy the ruins of Kuskuam in the surrounding hills of Gondar, and the Debre Selassie church, with its famous ceiling, In the afternoon, drive to Chenek, where you might see the rare endemic Walia Ibex and the impressive lammergeiers soaring above.
Day 3: Drive to the Simien Mountains
Enjoy some light hiking near to the Simien Lodge where we are staying. The Simien Mountains are
arguably Ethiopia’s most dramatic range, and probably the most well known – almost like a onesided Grand Canyon: Sheer drops lead down
to rippling waves of lower mountains, dotted with foliage and a few green barley fields. Rocky pinnaclelike tabletop mountains or ‘ambas’, Ethiopia’s
impregnable natural fortresses, glisten in the sunshine, supported at their bases by the pale yellow fields of ‘teff’ grain that grow at the lower altitudes. Today we walk off the journey with 3 or 4 hours on foot.
Day 4: Short hike in Simien Mountains
Start your morning from Buyit Ras, for a 3-4 hour hike to Sankober, which passes close to the escarpment edge. Nearing Sankober, you will have beautiful views on both sides of the escarpment ridge, from where you will likely see the endemic Gelada Baboons. From here, continue to the Geech Abyss, where you will see a large waterfall where the Jinbar River plunges into the abyss. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way only are allowed to visit the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. Time permitting, you may also visit the Church of Arbuta Ensessa.
Day 5 – Drive to Axum
After breakfast we depart North for Axum, enjoying the spectacular views of the mountains, and pausing for photos, leg stretching and lunch with a view. We drive through the dramatic Tekeze Valley, offering some of the best landscapes in the country, and an opportunity to see life in the smaller villages of the country. We arrive for dinner in the pictures que city of Axum, home of the ancient Axumite Empire, the Queen of Sheba, and the Ark of the Covenant. Here is a good place to experience the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and the country’s delicious coffee.
Day 6: Tour of Axum
Today will be a full day visiting the sites of the ancient capital city of Axum, where we view its 4th Century, 24m tall granite stele (similar to an obelisk but without the pyramid top). There are a number of stele around Axum, with various degrees of engraving, and they are believed to have been markers for burial chambers. The Stele has a fascinating history, having been shipped to Italy as ‘war booty’ in 1937 and lived a while in Rome. It was finally returned to Ethiopia in 2005 costing Italy $7.7m as the transportation was so technically difficult that the runway at Axum airport had to be upgraded especially! Also not to be missed is the archeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), Ezana’s enscription, King Kaleb’s tomb, King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You will also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. MenThe reward is commanding views of the surrounding areas and visiting some of the most remote churches in the world in the most unsuspecting of places. The Gheralta region is absolutely beautiful and we can visit some local villages to try their injera – the savoury pancake made from ‘teff’ grain and try their ‘talla’ – homemade beer made from barley and millet.
Day 7: Gheralta Mountains & Yohannes Makudi Rock Church
It is a 3 hour journey by car from Axum to the stunning and remote Gheralta Mountains. We pause on our journey to visit the ruins of Yeha, dating from the 8th to 5th centuries BC, and thought to be the capital of Ethiopian civilization before Axum. Afterwards, we proceed through the state of Tigray to Hawzein to visit the church of Medhane Alem Adi Kesho. One of the finest and oldest of the rock churches found in the region, it’s also one of the biggest. The door has a unique mechanism which can be locked from the inside. Tonight we stay in beautifully-situated mountain lodge.
Day 8: Short hikes to stunning rock churches
In the morning, before the heat of the day rises, we visit either Abuna Yemata Guh or the exquisite Maryam Korkor (we will visit tomorrow, what we don’t see today!). Abuna Yemata, at 2580m, is not a climb for the faint heated, requiring simple ropes and a harness for one particular spot as you ascend the giant stalagmite. This being said, our guides are there to help you, and it is totally worth the experience. Both churches require a challenging 1-2 hour hike with steep gradients and uneven terrain, to reach, however, as with all our walking, it is done at a gentle pace, at a speed suitable for the group Chirkos. Enjoy a tour of the city of Mekele, exploring the charming cobblestone streets built by the Italians. Time permitting, you can visit the museum palace of Emperor Yohannes IV, who established his capital here since he believed he was conceived in the area. The people of Mekele are exceptionally friendly (in an already friendly country) so it is a great place to chat and get to know the local people.
Day 9:
Campfire under a beautiful sycamore tree Today we are again exploring on foot, to reach whichever church we didn’t see yesterday. Again, although steep in sections, it is not a long hike and we have all day to do it at our leisure. It really is worth your effort. Please refer to the later section on ‘Am I fit enough’ if you have questions about the walking. The views from the churches are staggering and we will enjoy a packed lunch before descending down to overnight at our favourite camping spot. This is the best of what camping in Ethiopia can offer: we have chosen you a wonderful spot beneath a giant sycamore tree where many of the local exotic birds flock to nest in it’s branches. The camping is fully supported; with your tents ready for you, and dinner cooked by our camp chef. Enjoy a campfire, dinner and local dancing and music.
Day 10: Tour of Mekele
On the way we will visit the easily-accessible churches of Abreha we Atsbeha and Wukro Chirkos. Enjoy a tour of the city of Mekele, exploring the charming cobblestone streets built by the Italians. Time permitting, you can visit the museum palace of Emperor Yohannes IV, who established his capital here since he believed he was conceived in the area. The people of Mekele are exceptionally friendly (in an already friendly country) so it is a great place to chat and get to know the local people.
Day 11: Drive to Lalibela
Early in the morning, we embark on a full day of driving to Lalibela. En route you will pass through several small villages, with typical sandstone
homes of the Tigray people. Proceed through this beautiful rural area with stops for viewing and lunch, before the stunning approach to the home of Ethiopia’s most prized destination – the historic town of Lalibela!
Day 12: Tour of Lalibela
This morning we begin our exploration of the ancient 13th Century rock-hewn churches, easily the most famous of all the monuments across this enormous country. Our professional local guide will lead us through the intricate system of underground passages that link the incredibly beautiful
eleven churches in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, starting with the North western Cluster, the South Eastern Cluster, and finally the most famous of all – Bet Giyorgis.It is constructed in honour of the patron saint of Ethiopia (Saint George), and is carved out of the mountain itself in the perfect shape of a cross.
Day 13: Fly to Addis Ababa
After a leisurely morning in Lalibela we will take the short national flight back to Addis Ababa with a rest in the afternoon before our final group dinner together in Addis’ best Italian (2nd generation!) restaurant, Castelli’s where Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt numberamong it’s celebrated clientele. There is the opportunity to further explore the city’s lively nightlife also.
Day 14: Fly out from Addis Ababa
Leaving the beauty of Ethiopia is going to feel all wrong but ‘normal life’ awaits you. We offer transfers out to Addis Ababa airport. Time to plan your next escape!
