Northern Historic Route
Tour Code : NHR-2
Duration : 10 days, 9 nights
~ Arrival to Addis Ababa Bole International airport, greet and welcome. Transfer to a hotel for a check-in and a quick break. Before lunch, visit Merkato (the biggest open market in Africa). In the afternoon, visit the National museum and Entoto Park. Overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ Early morning, drive to Debre Markos (300kms) and visit on the way the monastery of Debre Libanos. On the way, there is a chance of viewing the Blue Nile gorge as river Nile crosses by. Overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ Drive to Bahir Dar (260kms), visiting on the way Lake Zengena and some handicrafts made out of bamboo by the Agew people. Overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ In the morning, take a boat for an excursion trip on Lake Tana, to visit two oldest monasteries of the Ethiopian Orthodox church which dates back to the 14th century. In the afternoon, drive to the village of Tisisat (32kms) and visit the Blue Nile falls. Drive back to the city, and overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ Drive to Gondar admiring on the way the scenery and making some exciting photographic stops. In the afternoon, visit the 17th/18th centuries Castles built by the Gondar Kings, the bath of King Fasiladas, and the church of Debre Birhan Selassie. Overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ A morning drive to Debark (100kms), where the headquarter of the Simien Mountains National Park is located. Then proceed on drive to the park and spend a couple of hours on a trekking activity, with breathtaking views over the majestic high rising mountains. Drive back to Gondar, and overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ A whole day drive to Lalibela (360kms), passing through the beautiful Amhara villages and magnificent landscapes not to miss on the way. Overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ A whole day visiting the rock-hewn churches carved out of a giant basaltic rock during the 12th century, by King Lalibela. Overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ An early morning drive out of town (42kms), to visit an inside cave built-in monastery of Yimrehane Kirstos, sometimes during the end of the 11th century and beginning of the 12th century. Drive back for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the monastery of Na'akuto La'ab, 8kms out of town and dating back to the 13th century. Overnight in a suggested hotel.
~ Take a morning flight back to Addis Ababa. Spend the day visiting the Holy Trinity cathedral and some souvenirs shop. A farewell dinner at a cultural restaurant marks the end of the tour.



