Bahirdar - Gondar - semien mountain National park- Lalibela ( 7 days )

  After you check-in your international flight by connection flight directly to Bahir Dar. 

Once in Bahir Dar, we'll check in to the hotel, and the rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Until tomorrow!

      Overnight  ;- Jacaranda Hotel Bahir dar 

Day -2  Bahir Dar - Lake Tana - Ura Kidane Mehret - Blue Nile Falls

Welcome to Bahir Dar! We'll finish off breakfast and enjoy a boat ride through Lake Tana, bringing us to Ura Kidane Mihret Monastery. Located along the Zege Peninsula, this site is best known for its round churches dating back to the 14th century. You'll understand why as we see the straw roofs and stunning murals. They're an excellent example of ancient orthodox churches found in Ethiopia!

During our trajectory through the forested area home to the monastery, we'll watch for endemic fauna like monkeys and various bird species. With some luck, we may even see hippos in Lake Tana!

Then, after some free time for lunch, we'll visit the Blue Nile Falls, where the tranquil waters cascade down from a height of 45 meters (147 feet). As the afternoon comes to a close, we'll return to Bahir Dar for a visit to the local market, where you can purchase artisanal goods like jewelry and embroidered fabrics.

Lastly, we'll return to the hotel, closing out day  of our adventure.

          Overnight  :-  Jacaranda Hotel Bahir dar 

Day  -3   Bahir Dar - Gondar

We'll start our day headed toward Gondar after breakfast. After a 3-hour car ride, we'll arrive at the beautiful northern city to uncover its historic sites.

After   lunch   our day journey will lead us to the royal campus known as Fasil Ghebi, revealing the ruins of an ancient city-state from the 17th century. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic area boasts 6 castles and the renowned basin where the annual bathing blessing ceremony is held.

Looking out from the royal campus, we'll enjoy a view of the basalt stone palace of Emperor Fasilidas, the oldest structure within this complex. The ruins also encompass other notable structures like the Library of Emperor Yohannes I, the majestic Emperor Bakaffa Salon, and the King's Wife's Palace. Moreover, at this iconic site, we'll also see the Kuskuam Palace, Empress Mentewab's Palace, and Quskuam Mariam Church, built in honor of the Virgin Mary.

It's sure to be a day full of archeological education, but the fun doesn't stop there! We'll also see the elaborate Debre Birhan Selassie Church murals, considered some of the most important in Ethiopia. We'll understand why as we listen to the legends tied to the sacred castle 

From here, it's off to the hotel for a good rest for the evening. See you in the morning

      Overnight  ;- Gondar hill resort 

Day  -4       Gondar - Simien  mountain National Park  -  Gondar 

 In the morning at about 7 a.m the car picks us up at the hotel in Gondar and takes us 100 km north on the Ethiopian highland to Debark, a small town of about 35,000 inhabitants at the border to the famous Simien National Park. After a quick stop for the formalities at the head quarter offices of the national park and for collecting scouts we drive out on a rough road to the Sankaber area at about 3,100 m sea level from where we take a short walk of 2-3 hours to assist the acclimatization process. We get a first impressive view over the dramatic mountain range and see some typical plants of that area such as big Heather Trees (erica arborea), St.John swort (hypericum revulutm) or the Abissinian Wild Rose (rosa abissinica). This is also the area in which the largest number of Gelada Baboons (theorepticus gelada) can be found.

Driving through the small town of Debark The impressive mountain ranges while driving up the mountains

A male Gelada Baboon eating fresh grass Walking along the edge of the escarpment

The view from there on the 2000m deeper lowlands The Thick-billed Raven (Corvus crassirostris), endemic in East Africa 

 Late afternoon  drive back to Gondar 

        Overnight:-  Gondar hill resort 

Day -5 

After breakfast we will  drive to Gondar Airport for your flight to Lalibela. 

After lunch we will drive to sits where we find a concentration of some of Ethiopia most famous Rock hewn churches, mostly referred by many as " the living wonders of the world " this churches are they have been here for at list 900 years, an active christen shrine, spiritual center of the country religious life.

Then we will visit  Northwestern Clusters of churches this group contains, Bet Medhane Alem ,Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel , Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Golgotha

 In this afternoon, we will witness the Good Friday ceremony at Bete Mariam rock-hewn church. This is a special day for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and it is celebrated with great devotion and in a very ancient way.

On this day, the faithful who have been fasting the whole day without any food or water, dressed in their dazzling white cloths, walk to St. Mary’s Church to attend service. The devotion of the faithful and the special centuries-old practices for this day that remember the suffering of Jesus Christ when he was crucified is very emotional

            Overnight  ;- Harbe Hotel Lalibela 

 Day -6 

After breakfast trek   OR   drive to visit the monastery church of Asheton mary (3200m above  sea-level)The monastery located 2.5hr  walk from lalibela  and still Active

On the way to the monastery  you will explore the way of life the Ethiopian  highland  people.

we will  also visit Saturday Market special eve Easter Market

 After lunch, continue to visit the Southeastern Cluster of Lalibela churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos 

 In the evening, you will witness one of the most important ceremonies of Easter in one of the biggest rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Bete Medhani Alem.

In the evening, all the rock-hewn churches will be filled with people who have been fasting for 55 days. None of them have eaten anything at least for a day and half without any food and water. They are here to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There will be prayers and a candlelit ceremony accompanied by chanting and dancing of the priest until 3:00 in the morning. After the ceremony is over, everybody goes home to break the fast with the special Easter meal

Overnight:-   Harbe Hotel Lalibela 

Day -7 

After breakfast drive to Yimrehane Kirstos. The built-up cave church of Yimrhane Kirstos itself predates the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela by eighty years. This is one of the most beautiful built-up cave church, built from marvel, wood and beautifully decorated from inside and outside with untold skill architecture. In the back side of the cave, you will also see many mumm

ified bodies of pilgrims from centuries ago

After lunch we will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, a huge monolithic in the shape of a cross, and constructed in honor of St. George, the patron saint of Ethiopia 

         Overnight:- Harbe Hotel Lalibela 

Day -7 ( April  21 )

 After breakfast we will drive to Lalibela airport for your flight to Addis. 

For This  sample itinenary I will charge you 2200 USD and This package include 

    -  A private English speaking guide to all churches and atteractions 

    -  Fees for the churches and atteractions ( All fees included)

    -   All road transport by a private air-conditioned car including fuel and driver allowance 

    -   Airport transfer by a private air-conditioned car including fuel and driver allowance 

    -   Accommodation including breakfast for 6- Night 

    -   Escorted by armed guard in semien Mountain National park 

    -   Boat trip in Lake Tana 

    -    Domestic flights Tickets from Addis to Bahir Dar,  Gondar to Lalibela finally from Lalibela to Addis 

    -    Packed water in your journey 

    -     All government taxes 

              This package NOT include 

        -  Lunch and dinner 

        -  Tips 

        -  Expense not related in this package