Sitting at an altitude of 2438 metres, Addis Ababa is a modern African city which is far more developed than you might imagine. Barely more than a century old it is home to some elegant buildings set along wide streets, dispersed with plenty of green space.

This afternoon, after time to freshen up, we will head out on a city tour to include the landmark that is the Church of Holy Trinity and the Ethnological Museum. This museum is said to be one of the finest in Africa, and is the ideal place to start understanding the many cultures that come together within one country and how history has defined present day Ethiopia.

This morning we will begin our journey with a drive to Debre Markos, via Debre Libanos. At Debre Libanos, founded by Saint Tekle Haymanot who Christianised much of present day Ethiopia and is today one of the country's most revered saints, the current church is impressively set beneath a cliff on the edge of a gorge; a peaceful place to wander. It is believed that in a nearby cave Tekle Haymanot stood on one leg to pray for seven years, surviving on just one seed a year that was fed to him by a bird and as a result of this habit his leg withered away and fell off!

From here we'll continue on the long drive to the city of Debre Markos, stopping a few times along the route for a picnic lunch and to stretch our legs.

The Blue Nile begins its journey in the Ethiopian highlands, from the waters of Lake Tana itself and from there continues its epic odyssey, joining forces with the White Nile at Khartoum, before finally reaching its end at the Mediterranean, some 2,750 miles away. Situated on the shores of Lake Tana, our destination this afternoon is Bahar Dar, the capital of the Amhara region and an important centre for trade and commerce. Over the centuries it's been the sight of a number of temporary capitals for Ethiopian kings and its setting on the shores of the lake makes it an attractive town to base ourselves as we explore more of the surrounding area.

Later this afternoon we visit Tississat Falls, Amharic for 'water that smokes' located about 30km south of Bahar Dar. After crossing a 16th century Portuguese built bridge, we plan to walk up the hillside on an easy path to a viewpoint (approximately 45 minutes each way). From here we hope to see the falls, measuring some 400m across and dropping 45m into a deep chasm (viewing of the falls is subject to local authorities allowing water to flow from the Blue Nile dam).

We spend this morning aboard a boat on Lake Tana visiting some of the historical places which have been used for refuge over the centuries. These secure lush islands have protected Christian emperors and their riches during times of upheaval and invasion, and might even have played host to the Ark of the Covenant. Small well-protected churches still contain religious treasures within their sanctuaries, including crowns and chalices. We hope to include visits to Ura Kidane Mehret and Azwa Mariam on the Zeghie Peninsula, dating back to medieval times and containing valuable manuscripts.

After some time to enjoy lunch, this afternoon we will continue our journey to Gondar and should arrive in the early evening.

Located on the high plateau, Gondar was once the imperial capital of Ethiopia for 200 years and is home to exceptionally well-preserved 17th century castles; the largest and best-kept is that of King Fasilidas. Featuring round turrets and wooden balconies, the entire complex of buildings is unique in Ethiopia and unlike anything found elsewhere in Africa. As well as a visit to the castle ruins, we'll also visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church which is famed for its ceiling frescoes of many faces.

This afternoon is free to further explore the extensive castle complexes or relax by the pool.

We have an early departure this morning as we drive to Debark in the Simien Mountains. This range lies north of Gondar and many of the peaks rise above 4000m, with the highest peak of Mt. Ras Dashen at 4543m being the fifth highest on the African continent. On the way, there may be the opportunity to visit a Falasha village. The Falasha Jews are thought to have arrived in Ethiopia 3,000 years ago at the time of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, but their history is shrouded in mystery. Translating to 'exiled' in Amharic, the Falasha claim to be descendents of Moses.

This afternoon we'll take a short hike for a couple of hours to enjoy the wilderness of this mountain region, and here both gelada monkeys and lammergeier can often be spotted. The mountains are marked with tracks worn out by the local people travelling from village to village or moving their animals to fresh pastures. The combination of these tracks and the spectacular scenery make for excellent walking.

Although the roads are rough and dusty, the views in this remote part of Ethiopia are simply spectacular. The drive today affords some excellent photo opportunities of the jagged Simien Mountains and the Tekeze Valley. The route is dotted with intermittent mountain hamlets and huge baobab trees that add to the splendour of the scenery. There will be scheduled stops to break up the journey, walk around and to get a cool drink.

The drive brings us to the sacred city of Axum in the Tigrayan region, that was the capital of the Ethiopian empire between the 1st and 10th centuries AD. As the birthplace of Christianity within the country, it was also a bustling commercial centre. We hope to arrive in time to enjoy a well-deserved sundowner.

We have a full day exploring Axum by bus and on foot with our local guide. Evidence of its former importance now lies in several places in or near the town. Ruined fortresses, palaces and churches, plus an abundance of giant obelisks, or 'stelae', stand as mute reminders of its former glory. We clamber down numerous steps into dark tombs, one of which is believed to be that of King Balthazar, one of the Three Wise Men; whilst we also visit Axum Cathedral, the chandelier here a gift from Queen Elizabeth in the 1960s.

Axum claims to be the final resting place of the sacred Ark of the Covenant, but while its local guardians continue to celebrate the legend, the object of their veneration is kept strictly under wraps. There may be some free time at the end of the day to take a stroll through the town visiting the large market square and browsing the shops.

Today we head east from Axum to Yeha, said to be Ethiopia's oldest settlement, probably dating back almost 3,000 years. A large temple, dedicated to the moon god Ilmuqah, is related to other pagan temples to the same god in Yemen, indicating connections across the Red Sea from the earliest times. The temple was later converted into a church in the 6th century, but still has wonderful friezes of ibex carved into the façade. Before continuing on to Adigrat, we'll also visit the important town of Adwa, set amidst rugged mountains, it was at Adwa that the Ethiopians became the first African nation to repel a colonial power, when they defeated the Italian army in 1896. Since then, Ethiopia has been a symbol of African independence, free from European control.

Today we head into the Tigray region to discover the remarkable rock-cut churches. These architectural gems were created prior to the 16th century and were unknown to the outside world until the 1960s. About 150 are now known to be in existence with all but a handful still in active use by the orthodox Christian community. We'll visit two examples of the rock-cut churches, many of which are older than what we'll see in Lalibela, including Atsbeha and the sandstone church of Chirkos at Wukro, which features cruciform pillars and barrel vaulted ceiling. We will also make a visit to the Negash Mosque and tombs which is the most important Islamic site in Ethiopia and the oldest mosque outside of Arabia!

We'll arrive into Mekele in the early evening with time to wander around the town or visit the colourful market.

A full days drive today takes us to the south, between the mountains to the west and the stark landscape of the Danakil Depression to the east, via the town of Woldiya, to arrive at the remarkable archaeological site of Lalibela, our home for the next 3 nights.

We spend today exploring one of the world's most remarkable historic sites and it's 11 rock-carved churches. Although churches carved in rock are found in other parts of the world, those found in Ethiopia are particularly interesting. Generally, they were excavated on all sides of a rectangle, leaving a large block of stone isolated in the centre. This rock was then shaped and formed both inside and out and the carvings show extremely skillful workmanship. Lalibela, the 'New Jerusalem', is thought to have been constructed some 800 years ago by King Lalibela. Once his capital city, this former bustling city is today a small village, virtually cut off from the outside world.

We'll be joined by a guide both this morning and this afternoon to learn about the area's fascinating history. The exploring will include a certain amount of scrambling between rocks and through tunnels. The churches stand in two main groups on either side of a stream, known locally as 'The River Jordan' and between them are considered to be one of the great wonders of the world. Most of the churches now have a permanent roof built over them to preserve them and are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Overlooking the mountain of Abune Yosef, the tallest mountain in Lasta, this morning we drive towards one of Ethiopia's best-preserved late Axumite churches. Named after the 12th century Zagwe priest-king and saint, the church of Yemrehanna Kristos is built of stone and wood inside a cave. We'll make a ten minute walk uphill through a forest of juniper trees to the entrance. As well as it's wondrous setting, behind the church lies a pile of mummified bodies said to be that of pilgrims and holy men. Legend has it that a door found inside this church was given as a gift by the Caliph Saladin himself during the time of the crusaders.

In the afternoon, we may have the opportunity to attend a coffee ceremony which is very much part of the social and cultural life of many Ethiopians, before an afternoon to relax and wander around the dusty, traditional town of Lalibela.

We'll take an early afternoon flight back to Addis where the tour ends.