Key Features
• Discover rock-cut churches and ancient obelisks
• Natural wonders of Tississat Falls and Simien mountains
• Explore the forbidden medieval town of Harar
Included
14nts hotel; 14 breakfasts included.
Transport
Internal flights/Bus/Boat/Mules.
Group Size
Approx. 12 to 16.
Tour Staff
Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s), boatmen, mule tenders and some local guides.
Blue Nile & Gondar Castles
From Addis Ababa we fly to Bahar Dar on the banks of Lake Tana. Close by is the source of the Blue Nile and the Tississat Falls, a 45m drop which is the start of a 1000 mile journey to Khartoum. In the lively market town of Gondar we'll visit 17th century castles, once the centre of a unique and powerful kingdom unlike anything else found in Africa. On the high plateau we discover the impressive scenery of the Simien range - home to the Gelada baboon and rare Simien fox.
Sacred Axum & Rock-Cut Churches
From spectacular sculpted mountains we arrive in the sacred city of Axum famed for its giant stelae (obelisks), palaces and churches. At Lalibela we discover one of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites. Buildings here are hewn from granite leaving rock-cut churches isolated from the surrounding strata, yet still part of it. We explore several of these 800 year-old works of art before taking a mule trek to a remote mountain church.
Exploring Medieval Harar
Finally, we fly to Dire Dawa and drive up to Harar. The people here are quite different from other parts of Ethiopia. We take a walk around the old town which has a North African flavour with Moorish gateways, ancient walls, narrow alleyways and jostling crowds. The market here is one of the most colourful in Ethiopia. We return to Addis via the stunning scenery and wildlife of Awash National Park.
Comment
Come prepared for poor roads and some simple accommodation, although the warm welcome more than compensates for any discomfort. Included walks around sites are easy with some optional longer walks in the mountains.