Ethiopia Grand Tour – 19 Days, driving
Price per person starting at US $3270 per person. Single room supplement: US $380.
Includes visits to key historical sites as well as time spent learning about the landscape and the local cultures as you visit a variety of villages en route to the historical sites.
Day 1: Arrive at Bole International airport (Addis Ababa) and transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at Sheraton or Hilton Addis Ababa Hotel.
Day 2: Drive through Debre Zeyt crater Lakes to Awash National park, game viewing and sightseeing in the park. Overnight Genet or Meridian Hotel.
Day 3: After an early breakfast, enjoy game viewing and sightseeing en route to Harar- a “city with in a city”. Harar is considered the 4th Islamic holiest city in the world. Visit the “Hyena Men” in the evening. Overnight Belayneh or Ras Hotel.
Day 4: After an early breakfast, take a city tour of Harar that includes: Marvelous encircled wall, Harari house, Museums, colorful market, Arthur Rambau’d house, and ancient mosques. In the late afternoon drive to Dire Dawa for overnight Ras Hotel. (World Heritage Site)
Day 5: After breakfast, drive through the beautiful scenery en route to Awash Sebat. Overnight Genet or Meridian Hotel.
Day 6: After breakfast drive to Kembolcha through Ethiopian Great Rift Valley region and visit the Afar tribal village. If the day is Monday you will visit the colorful Bati Market to encounter the Amhara, Oromo and Afar tribal groups. Ovrenight Tekle hotel.
Day 7: After breakfast drive to Lalibela with a stop along the way at Hayk to visit the 13th century monastery of Hayk Istifanos. Continue driving to Lalibela for overnight at Roha Jerusalem Hotel.
Day 8: Visit the eleven remarkable rock- hewn churches in the area of Lalibela. Overnight at Roha or Jerusalem Hotel. (World Heritage Site)
Day 9: After breakfast, optional excursion to one of the churches outside the town of Lalibela the rock-hewn cave churches of Nakuto Le’ab, Yimrehane Kiristos or semi- hewn church of Asheton Mariam. Overnight Roha or Jerusalem Hotel.
Day 10: After breakfast drive to Mekele through the very beautiful landscape stop at Zengena Lake, great for birdwatching. Overnight Axum or Hilltop Hotel.
Day 11: After breakfast drive to Adigrat. Visiting the rock churches of Tigray. Overnight Weldusabgadis or Hohoma hotel.
Day 12: After breakfast drive to Debre Damo (accessible to men only by a climbing rope) to visit the 6th century AD monastery and continue driving to Yeha to visit the 5th century B.C. unique Temple. Proceed to Axum through Adwa mountain region, which was a major battle field in 1896 during the fight against the Italians. O/n Yeha or Remhai Hotel. (World Heritage Site)
Day 13: Today enjoy a sightseeing tour of Axum that includes: St. Mary church where the original Arc of the Covenant is said to be housed, Archeological Museum, Stelaes, tombs, and ruined palace of Queen of Sheba. Overnight Yeha or Remhai Hotel.
Day 14: After breakfast drive through the spectacular scenery along the Semien Mountains to Gondar-the 17th and 18th century capital of Ethiopia known for its magnificent castles. Overnight at Goha or Embassy Hotel.
Day 15: Spend today on a sightseeing tour of Gondar that includes: Castles compound, Fasilades bath, Quskuam monastery and the icon-rich church of Debre Berhan Silassie. Overnight Goha or Embassy Hotel.
Day 16: After breakfast drive to Bahir Dar. After checking in to the hotel, take an afternoon boat excursion on Lake Tana to visit the ancient monastery of Ura-Kidanemehret & Azewa Mariam at Zege Peninsula. Overnight Tana, Summer Land or Papyrus Hotel.
Day 17: Early morning drive 35 kms south east of the town to visit the majestic Blue Nile falls. After lunch visit of the Bahir Dar town’s most popular open-air market and the viewpoint by the late emperor’s palace. Overnight Tana, Summer Land or Papyrus Hotel.
Day 18: After breakfast drive through the spectacular Blue Nile Gorge, which has been called even more spectacular than the Grand Canyon in USA. Stop at Debre Libanos to visit the 13th century monastery and the 17th century Portuguese Bridge. Continue driving to Addis Ababa for overnight at Sheraton or Hilton Addis Ababa Hotel.
Day 19: Spend your last day in Ethiopia on a sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa and in the evening gather for a farewell dinner party with cultural entertainment. Transfer to airport for departure back to home.
*Please contact us for information on pricing for single travelers.
