

HOSTED BY:
ANNA TESHU, Ethiopia Traditions
OVERVIEW
LEGENDARY ETHIOPIA : Sacred Abyssinian Highlands
The perfect blend of History and Nature
Ethiopia has always been a distant and mysterious land full of myths
and legends from the Queen of Sheba to the source of the Nile or the mythic kingdom of Prester John.
The historical and natural sights along this loop north of Addis Ababa are monumental both in scale and detail. We'll visit the Black Jerusalem with its astounding rock-cut churches that have poignantly
frozen 12th and 13th century Ethiopia in stone.
The Simien mountains National Park, Africa's rooftop, with its far-reaching views and deep precipices offering you an encounter with the endemic Geladas baboon troops. You will explore local communities and be able to discover more about their unique and well preserved traditions - like the coffee ceremony, traditional cooking classes and much more......
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ITINERARY
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Day 1 Addis Abeba, the "new flower"
Arrival at Addis Abeba airport. Meet with your guide and transfer to hotel. Sightseeing day of the booming capital Addis Abeba between traditions and modernity. Visit of National Museum to see our ancestor Skeleton Lucy, visit to Trinity Church where the emperor Hailé Sélassié rests. In the afternoon, enjoy a panorama over the city from Entoto mountains and visit to ancient palace of Menelik and museum.
Overnight Addis Abeba, Monarch Park view Hotel or similar.
Day 2 Lake Tana and its monastery islands
Transfer to airport for flight to Bahir Dar, capital of the Amhara region. Enjoy a stroll by the lake Tana, biggest lake of the country and along Palm trees lined avenues. Boat tour on Tana Lake watching birds, hippos and local fishermen on their tankwas (traditional papyrus boat) until Zegué peninsula.
Visit to thatched roofed Ura Kidane Meret Monastery and its cross collection dating back to the 14th century.Walk through the coffee and mango trees until we arrive at Azua Mariam Church. Return by boat. In the evening, enjoy an Azmari Bet, a traditional club where minstrels still perform.
Overnight Bahir Dar, Lake Avenue hotel or similar.
Day 3 Blue Nile Falls and Tiss Abay village
Drive through countryside to Tiss Abay village. After crossing the Blue Nile by an old Portuguese bridge of the 16th century, walking along a path to a superb viewpoint overlooking the falls (400 m long and 45 m high) waterfall after crossing a beautiful suspended bridge. Return by boat on Nile river.
Visit to the village and experience a coffee ceremony in a local home.
Overnight Bahir Dar, Lake Avenue hotel or similar.
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Day 4 Gonder, the Imperial City
Depart for Gonder by a scenic road following the eastern shore of Tana Lake.
Founded by Emperor Fasilidas, Gonder still preserves within its walled Royal Enclosure several very medieval-looking castles, dating from as early as 1650.
The castles are unusual in the Horn Of Africa, deriving their architectural style from the Moors and the Portuguese.
Visit to Debre Berhan Selassie Church with its impressive interior covered with paintings
Overnight Gonder, Maleyko lodge or similar.
Day 5 Simien National Park - Geladas Baboon Trek
Drive to Simien Mountains and registration with park authorities. Transfer to Sankaber.
Walk: Sankaber (3250m) - Jinbar - Sankaber (3250m)
Walking time: about 1h 30
Panoramic walk (about 1h30)along the escarpment on the ridge line trail with magnificent views of the valley below and the surrounding peaks to the great Jinbar waterfall.
Observation of Gelada baboons colony, great apes of the Ethiopian Highlands. These baboons are vegetarian and live in groups of 200-300 with a dominant male. They spend their time grazing the grass and scrubbing themselves. Females have a red breast.
If discussed in advance, there is a possibility to make a longer walk (about 4h).
Overnight in tent at Sankaber Camp in Simien National Park.
Day 6 Simien National Park - Panoramas and Wildlife
Massive erosion over the years has formed one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world on the Ethiopian plateau with peaks, valleys and precipices up to 1500m deep.
TREK: Ambaras (3700m) - Inatye (4020m) - Ambaras (3700m)
Hiking time: about 4 hours.
Gradual climb on the vast plateau across Afro-alpine meadow with giant lobelias to the top of Inatye - a splendid belvedere offering exceptional view of the cliffs, deep valleys and smaller plateaus below..Wildlife observation: walia, ibex, colonies of baboon gelada, Lammergeyers vultures and maybe the rare, endangered Abyssinian wolf. Return to Ambaras. Overnight Gonder, Maleyko lodge/similar.
Day 7 Through Abyssinian highlands.
Drive today through the fertile land of Gojam, producing the local
endemic cereal called teff. Visit Awra Amba. This little Ethiopian village is a model not only for the surrounding villages, but also
internationally. The community of 500 people has universal education, complete gender equality, and elder care.
Continue driving until the highlands of Wollo. Arrival at Lalibela, the Ethiopian Christians holy city, listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. At 2500 m high, the little town of Lalibela is an important centre for pilgrimages.
Overnight Lalibela. Tukul Village Lodge or similar.
Day 8 LALIBELA - the Black Jerusalem
Lalibela is famous for its rock-hewn churches which are literally carved out of the surrounding stone. Dating back to the 12th century, different churches in the complex are connected by a system of galleries and tunnels.
In the evening, go to “Tejbet”, local place selling Tej, the king’s drink (a sweet honey wine). The tradition and recipe dates back from the time of the Queen of Sheba. As the meaning of Lalibela is the « King of Bees », honey wine from Lalibela is particularly famous.
Overnight Lalibela. Tukul Village Lodge or similar.
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Day 9 Wollo Highlands and local communities
Today explore the bustling weekly market that attracts all the farmers of the highland.
Walk on the edge of the plateau and enjoy amazing views over Sekota Valley and the Wollo Highlands, with mountain villages and rural activities in the fields.
Discover more about traditional Ethiopian cuisine through a cooking class and give baking a try - the famous Ethiopian injera.
Overnight Lalibela. Tukul Village Lodge or similar.
Day 10 Lalibela - Addis Abeba
In the early morning, depending on the lithurgic calendar, there is a possibility to attend service celebrated in one of the UNESCO churches. Faithful participants are draped in their traditional white togas for going to the church in the early morning mist.
Be transported to the early age of Christianity with priests singing and making music with their sistrum. Even if you are not a believer, you are welcome to join, as religion is very important in Ethiopian
daily life.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Addis Abeba.
Free afternoon for shopping in Addis Abeba.
Transfer to airport for your onward travel.
Optional night in Addis Abeba.
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WHAT’S INCLUDED:
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• Domestic flights*
• Private car with driver
• Accommodation in hotel with breakfast (single room)
• All meals with non alcoholic drinks
• Local English speaking guide
• Entrance fees and activities as per the program
• Boat tour on Tana Lake
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WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
• Visa fees
• International flight
• Tips, photo or video fees
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* Note: If not travelling internationally with Ethiopian Airlines, domestic flight supplement of 110 USD/pax applies.








What our guests say:
"We have just returned from a wonderful stay in Ethiopia organized by Ethiopia Tradition Travel. It is the first time that we go with a local agency and we do not regret it. We particularly appreciated the" family "side of this agency, which did not welcome us as customers but as guests.
Before departure, Anna was very available to inquire about our travel plan and offer us a program adapted to our wishes. She was also very responsive to answer our questions and was able to adapt the program to our requests. During the trip,we were looked after by Teshu's family and by local guides very keen to make us discover Ethiopian culture as well as possible.
We hope to have the opportunity to return to visit other regions of Ethiopia and will leave without hesitation with this agency." Elodie, France 2018


