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Tour Summary:
This is a historical tour of Ethiopia visiting various places including Churches and monasteries.
Tour Starts From:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Season Rates and Dates
The season dates and rates for this tour package are available on request
Tour Length: 15 Nights
Itinerary:
Day 1:
Arrive Addis Ababa ? Ethiopia’s political and economic capital as well as its social nerve-center . Addis aabba means ?new flower? and was founded by Menelik II in 1887 . Transfer to your hotel for overnight stay.
Overnight Ghion or Desalege Hotel.
Day 2:
Drive from Addis to Debre Markos. The drive takes you throuygh spectacular scenery , throug the neormous blue Nile Gorge. Also known as Mankorar, Debre Markos is located 300 kmnorthwest of Addis Ababa and borrows its name from its primary church, which is dedicated to St. Mark and constructed in the late 19th century. The town’s significance lays in its history ? the site in which some 1400 Italian troupe surrendered to a mere 300 troop of the combined Ethiopian allied army. The former capital of the now defunct Gojjam province ’s key attraction would have to be the impressively decorated church for which it is named.
Overnight Sheble hotel
Day 3:
This morning, drive from Debre Markos to Bahir Dar - a city in Western Ethiopia is distinctly known for its wide avenues lined with palm trees and a variety of colorful flowers. In 2002, Bahir Dar was awarded UNESCO Cities for Peace Prize for managing to address the challenges of rapid urbanization
Overnight Tana or Papyrus
Day 4:
Visit the Blue Nile Falls or Tis issat (Amharic for smoking water) estimated to be between 37 and 45 meters high. The falls consist of of four streams that can go up to 400 meters wide in the rainy season. A hydro-electric station has now taken much of the flow out of the falls, but such widths can be still witnessed during the rainy season. Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Tana which is said to have upto 37 small islands, most of them sheltering monasteries and churches some dating as far back as the 13th century. It is a beautiful lake with many special birds and other wildlife. Overnight at Tana or Papyrus.
Day 5:
Drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar - a city in Ethiopia founded by Emperor Fasilidas. The town is 500 kilometers north of Addis Ababa, 35 kilometers from Lake Tana, and in the foothills of the Simien mountains. The city was part was part of the Abyssinian empire and in the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortress-city of Fasil Ghebbi was the residence of the Ethiopian emperor Fasilides and his successors. Surrounded by a 900-m-long wall, the city contains palaces, churches, monasteries and unique public and private buildings marked by Hindu and Arab influences.
Overnight at Goha or Embassy hotel
Day 6:
Drive from Gondar to Axum - Once the seat of the kingdom of Aksum, the town is now a tourist town and religious centre that features tall granite obelisks, which stand (or lie broken) in the central square. Some of the obelisks are nearly plain slabs, while others are intricately inscribed with door- and window-like shapes carved into some of the pillars, giving them the appearance of slender buildings. Evidence of adoption of Christianity by a 4th century king is born on the most recent of the obelisks . Overnight at Yeha or Rehmia hotel
Day 7:
A full day to enjoy the sights and sounds of Axum. The Kingdom is believed to have started its decline around the 7th century:reasons for this include contests over trade routes hence the kingdom was cut off from its key markets in Alexandria, Byzantium and Southern Europe and lost its trade share to Arab traders of the era. The fall can halos be attributed to religious quarrels with Islamic groups.Overnight at Yeha or Rehmia hotel
Day 8:
Drive from Axum to Adigrate ? a city in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and boasts of attractions like the remnants of two castles from the Zemene Mesafint , the Catholic Cathedral , Italian War cemetery a market, and a newly constructed community park. On this day, you will also visist Debre Damo, a flat-topped mountain atop which lies 6th century monastery. The history of Debre Damo is centred on the "Nine Saints" who came to Ethiopia from Syria to spread Christianity in the Tigray region - one of whom was Saint Aregawi who settled on the mountain of Debre Damo.
Overnight Woldusebagadis Hotel.
Day 9:
Drive from Adigrat to Mekele - the capital of the Tigray Region and home to the headquarters of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea ? some some 650 kilometers north of Addis Ababa. Here lies the TPLF monument (Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front) commemorating the struggle against and overthrow of the Derg. Another key attraction in Mekele is The Palace of Yohannes IV , built at the Emperor’s command by Giacomo Naretti and completed in 1884. The Emperor?s throne, royal bed, ceremonial dress, rifles and other hositorical valuables can be seen in this complex which now serves as a museum.Overnight Axum or Hill top hotel
Day 10:
Drive from Mekele to Lalibela - one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities lying North in Ethiopia’s Lasta Mountains. Constructed In the 12th century by King Lalibela,the town attracts pilgrims from all over the world. The 12th century king envisioned a second Jerusalem so that Ethiopian Christians would not have to brave the Nubian Desert and its Muslim armies and oversaw the construction of a dozen churches carved in the rocky soil.
Overnight at Roha or Jerusalem Hotel
Day 11:
Your day will be spent the visiting the churches of Lalibela - The masterpiece hbeing the monolithic King Georges - the most well known and last built of the churches and has been referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". he Northern Group: Bete Medhane Alem, home to the Lalibela Cross and believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, probably a copy of St Mary of Zion in Aksum. It is linked to Bete Maryam (possibly the oldest of the churches), Bete Golgotha (known for its arts and said to contain the tomb of King Lalibela), the Selassie Chapel and the Tomb of Adam. Other churches include Bete Giyorgis, said to be the most finely executed and best preserved church to the west, Bete Amanuel, Bete Merkorios , Bete Abba Libanos and Bete Gabriel-Rufael as part of the Easter group while farther afield lies the monastery of Ashetan Maryam and Yimrehane Kristos church .Overnight at Roha or Jerusalem Hotel
Day 12:
Drive from Lalibela to Dessie ? a city in north-central Ethiopia located along the the paved Addis Ababa - Asmara highway . Famous churches in this area include Haiq Estifanos that lies north of Dessie,Gishen Mariam built in a marvelous cross shaped landscape located west of Dessie and Meqdela. Overnight Fasika hotel.
Day 13:
Drive from Dessie to Addis ababa, with overnight stay at Ghion or Lalibela Hotel.
Day 14 :
Fly to Dire Dawa and drive to Harar. Harar old town is home to 110 mosques and many more shrines, centered on Feres Magala square. Medhane Alem Cathedral, the house of Ras Mekonnen, the house of Arthur Rimbaud, and the sixteenth century Jami Mosque are the notable buildings. A tradition of feeding meat to hyenas developed in the 1960s has now turned into an impressive night show for tourists. Overnight at Belayneh or Ras Hotel.
Day 15 :
Fly back to Addis Ababa. O/N Ghion or Desalenge Hotel
Day 16:
Transfer to the airport for departure flight
Remarks:
Price includes
* Hotel accommodation on the bases of Twin room sharing
* Breakfast only in Addis but full board elsewhere.
* All ground transportation with fuel and with all insurance and driver costs
* Domestic Air fare with Embarkation fee.
* All transfer in, out and city tour Services
* All entrance fees at museums, churches and etc.
* Professional English speaking Tour Guide accompanying throughout the trip with all his costs.
* Government taxes and service charge.
Price does not include: -
* Lunch and dinner in Addis
* International Air fare.
* Alcoholic drinks
* Tips
* Other expenses of personal nature like laundry, souvenirs, etc
* All what is not included in the list above
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