22 Days & 21 Nights Historical & Cultural Tour - FOOTPRINT Ethiopia Tours & Travel

Arrival at Bole International Airport and be transfer to hotel. Depends on your arrival time we start exploring the town of Addis Ababa that includes the National Museum (home of Lucy, hominid skeleton dating back 3.2 million years) and Holy Trinity Cathedrals and end Addis Ababa tour with Merkato Africa’s largest market of its kind .
Optional tour to Fistula Hospital is a remarkable place to visit, and is considered the best-run charity in the country
Overnight Jupiter International Hotel.

Drive to Bahir Dar via Debre Markos. On the way visit the Debre Libanos Monastery and the Portuguese Bridge, continue through the scenic Blue Nile Gorge to our destination. Overnight Tana Hotel.

Take a boat tour on Lake Tana to explore some of the monasteries hidden on the shores and islands of Lake Tana. In the afternoon, depart out of town to the Blue Nile Falls for an easy hike in the area. End the day with a sunset over Lake Tana from the top of Bezawit Hill, next to the former palace of Haile Selassie. Overnight Tana Hotel.

After breakfast, proceed driving north to Gondar. The drive will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture and the traditional agricultural methods still in use today. Afternoon will be spent exploring the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia. Overnight Goha Hotel.

Early in the morning, depart for the stunning Simien Mountains National Park. The jagged mountains and deep valleys lend spectacular views to these mountains, home to many of the endemic animal species of Ethiopia including the gelada baboon (guaranteed to be seen) as well as the rare Walia ibex and Ethiopian wolf. The afternoon will be available for hikes in the area surrounding the lodge. Overnight at the Simien Lodge.

After breakfast, continue to Axum, enjoying the final views of the Simien Mountains. After stopping for lunch at Adarky, proceed driving through the Tekeze Valley to Axum, home of the ancient Axumite Empire, the Queen of Sheba, and the Ark of the Covenant. Overnight Sabean Hotel.

Today is a full day visiting the sites in Axum. Sites to visit include the famous obelisks, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You will also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept, according to local Ethiopian tradition. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. Overnight Sabean Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to visit the ruins of Yeha, dating from the 8th to 5th centuries BC, and thought to be the capital of Ethiopian civilization before Axum. Afterwards, visit the Debre Damo monastery, where the men climb up a 15-m rope to enter the uphill situated monastery. Overnight Hawzien hotel.
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Explore the Geralta cluster rock churches of Tigrai with picnic lunch Mariam Korkor, AbuneYemataGue, YohanesMekudi and others then drive to Mekelle, overnight Axum hotel.

A full day Drive to Lalibela passing outstanding chains of Mountain and visit one of the Amhara traditional village, overnight Roha hotel.

The whole day exploring Lalibela the site of eleven remarkable rock hewn monolithic churches, believed to have been built by King Lalibela in the late 12th or 13th century. These notable structures are carved inside and outside of solid rock, and are considered among the wonders of the world. Overnight in Lalibela in Roha Hotel

Drive from Lalibela to Kombolcha on the way visit Haik Estefanos Monastery or Genet Mariam semi-monolithic churches. Overnight Sunny Side Hotel

Drive to Awash National Park the best game viewing reserve in Ethiopia. Overnight Genet Hotel

Morning game drive in Awash national park for wild life, birding and spectacular water fall and proceed to Harar passing the eastern green highlands, overnight hotel. After breakfast drive from Awash Sebat Killo to Harar. We will be driving through the Hararghe Mountains and we will see plenty of coffee and ‘chat’ fields. The region is well known in growing one of the best qualities of coffee in the country. Overnight Plaza hotel

Full day sightseeing of Harar the UNSCO registered walled city with more than 99 mosques, museums, the colorful Muslim and Christian markets (known for basketry, the traditional Harari house and In the evening visit the hyena man while he feeds the hungry hyenas (wonderful experience). overnight hotel.

Drive to Langano, on the way visit some of the rift valley lakes Lake Zieway
Overnight Sabana Hotel .

Drive to Ariba Minch via Shashemen spiritual home town for Ras Tefferian and detour to Dorze village to visit the Dorze famour bee hive home Overnight Paradise Lodge.

Drive to Turmi, en route visit the Konso people with colourfully costumed dress, impressive terracing farming Land and unusually engraved wooden totem used as grave markers can be seen. Further along the route crossing the Woito River, visit Tsemay village. Overnight Turmi Splendour Lodge.

Drive to Murule and visit the Karo People. You will be driving through the Hamer village, which is good opportunity to see the way of life of the Hamer people. The Karo Tribe is famous for body decoration, scaring and body painting. They reside by the side of the Omo River. Drive back to Turmi and in the afternoon visit one of the known Hamer village and attend Tribal dance and bull jumping ceremony which is occasionally coincides and optional. Overnight Turmi Splendour Lodge.

Drive to Jinka then Excursion drive to Mago National park to visit Mursi tribe known for inserting a lip plate (a clay disc) inserted into their cut and stretched lower lip known for their women lip plates and men for ritual stick fighting (donga).Overnight Jinka Resort Hotel.

Drive back to Ariba Minch and on the way visit Tsemai tribes at Key Afer, upon arrival boat trip on Lake Chamo, known for spotting hippos and crocodiles as well as for birding. Overnight Paradise Lodge.

Drive back to Addis Ababa via Shashemene via Butajirra, on the way visit Tiya Engraved Stelae field dated back 12th century and UNESCO’s world heritage site.

Early evening, we will have a coffee ceremony to our appreciation for touring with us, Foot prints and we dine a fair well dinner at one of the traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances. Then transfer to the airport for departure.