| Dates |
Activities |
Drive Distance |
Drive & Activities Length |
Activities Level |
Day 01 |
⇒ Arrive in Addis Ababa meet and greet, get assisted for transfer. Hotel |
Less than 10 km to Htl |
Hotels are centrally located, not long drive |
Very simple day |
Day 02 |
⇒ City tour of Addis Ababa
⇒ Briefing about the tour. Hotel |
Sites for visit are centrally located |
Variable but short drives |
Very simple day |
Day 03 |
⇒ Drive to Debre Markos
⇒ The 13th c monastery of Debre Libanos
⇒ The Blue Nile Gorge which is compared to Grand Canyon in America
⇒ Meet the Oromo people, house and village visit
⇒ Optional birding en route. Hotel |
300km to Markos on asphalt road |
6 hours |
Moderate drive & activities, sandal shoes is OK |
Day 04 |
⇒ Drive to Bahirdar
⇒ Zengena crater lake
⇒ Walking in the forest around the lake, optional.
⇒ visit the Blue Nile Falls. Hotel
|
265km to Bahirdar plus 35 to BN falls |
5 + 1 hours |
Moderate 30 minuets walk to the falls, walking shoes preferable |
Day 05 |
⇒ AM boat trip on Lake Tana
⇒ 13th c Monasteries on the islands of Lake Tana
⇒ PM drive to Gonder. Hotel |
180km to Gonder |
3 hours |
Moderate 30 minuets walk one way to the church, walking shoes preferable |
Day 06 |
⇒ The 16th century Royal enclosure famous for its many castles
⇒ Debre Birhan Selassie church. Hotel |
sites for visit are centrally located |
variable but short drives |
Simple day |
Day 07 |
⇒ Drive to the Semien Mountains National Park
⇒ Spectacular mountain scenery
⇒ Spotting endemic mammals
⇒ Hiking on the escarpment. Semien Lodge |
122km to the Lodge |
+- 4 hours |
Moderate to tough optional hiking. 30 minuets – 2 hrs. walking shoes required |
Day 08 |
⇒ Drive to Axum alongside the Semien Mountains range with spectacular scenery. Hotel |
282km to Axum |
+- 7 hrs |
Moderate drive on gravel road with some stops & leg stretch walk |
Day 09 |
⇒ The archeological sites and
⇒ St’ Mary of Tsion (Zion) Church the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Hotel |
Sites for visit are centrally located |
Variable but short drives |
Simple, sandal shoes & shorts that reach nee are OK |
Day 10 |
⇒ Drive to Gere'alta
⇒ Yeha temple (5th c) the oldest in Ethiopia
⇒ Nejash one of the oldest mosque and Muslim settlement
⇒ Meet the Tigray people, house and village visit. Hotel |
195km to Geraltha |
+- 6 hrs |
Moderate, sandal shoes is good for the day |
Day 11 |
⇒ Drive to Mekele
⇒ Some of the famous rock churches of Tigray. Hotel |
90km to Mekele |
+- 3 hrs |
Simple, sandal shoes & extra sox are better |
Day 12 |
⇒ Drive to Lalibela
⇒ Beautiful mountain scenery
⇒ Meet the Amhara people, house and village visit. Hotel |
360km to Lalibela |
+- 8 hrs |
tough drive on gravel road & some leg stretch walk |
Day 13 |
⇒ The 11 amazing rock churches of Lalibela rated as the eighth wonder of the world by many authors. Hotel |
Sites for visit are centrally located |
short drives within the town |
Moderate walk, few big steps in the church. Sandal shoes with extra sox is better. |
Day 14 |
⇒ Excursion to visit one of the famous rock churches in the surroundings of Lalibela and local villages.Hotel |
10-50km based on choice |
Variable but short drives |
Moderate to tough based on interest |
Day 15 |
⇒ Drive to Dessie
⇒ Beautiful scenery and mountain ranges all along the way
⇒ Boat trip on Lake Hayek for the 13th c monastery on island. Hotel |
300km to Dessie |
6 hrs |
20 minutes tough walking to the cave church. The drive is mostly on asphalt road. Sandal shoes preferable |
Day 16 |
⇒ Drive back to Addis Ababa.
⇒ Before Debere Sina we stop for a top view of the Great Rift Valley Depression. Hotel |
400km to Addis |
+_ 7hrs |
Moderate long drive with some stops & leg stretch walk |
Day 17 |
⇒ Drive to Arbaminch via Hosaena
⇒ Tiya stelae field UNESCO world heritage site
⇒ Adadi Mariam, the only southerly rock hewn church
⇒ Gurage and Oromo people and their villages. Hotel |
432km the longest in the route |
8:00 am to 6:00pm with the activities |
Busy day with long drive and activities, Sandal shoes is good for the drive and sightseeing |
Day 18 |
⇒ Full day in Arbaminch
⇒ Nech Sar National Park game drive
⇒ Boat trip on Lake Chamo, birding and spotting hippos and crocs. Hotel |
70 –80 km round trip to the park. 12 km to the lake in the afternoon |
8:00am to 12:30pm for the park.
30 minuets to Lake Chamo |
Tough driving to the Park with moderate walking. walking shoes is preferable |
Day 19 |
⇒ Drive to Jinka
⇒ Tsemay, Bana and Ari people and their villages
⇒ Markets if this day coincides with market days. Hotel |
245km |
6hours |
Tough driving with simple walk, Sandal shoes is good for the drive and sightseeing |
Day 20 |
⇒ Excursion to Mago National Park
⇒ Mursi Tribe, their women are famous for Lip plates and men for ritual fighting with stick
⇒ Drive back to Jinka and continue to Turmi
⇒ On the way Ari and Bana People
⇒ Dimeka market (Saturday and Tuesday). Camping
|
300km |
Full day with activities |
Tough drive and busy day with activities. Walking shoes is better. The car parks at the site that needs only very short walking |
Day 21 |
⇒ Full day in Turmi
⇒ Excursion to Omorate for the Dasenech tribe
⇒ Turmi market (Thursday)
⇒ Boating on the Omo River
⇒ Hamer tribe and their villages
⇒ Tribal dance or Bull Jumping rite, occasional and optional. Camping |
70km to Omorate
38 km to Dimeka market |
2 hours to Omorate and 1 hour to the market |
Moderate walking within the market and to the villages. Walking shoes required |
Day 22 |
⇒ Drive back to Arbaminch
⇒ Visiting on the way Erbore and Konso tribes. Hotel |
285km |
6 - 7 hours |
Moderate, walking shoes is better |
Day 23 |
⇒ Drive to Awassa
⇒ Detour for Dorze people
⇒ Back to the road and head to Awassa. Hotel |
275km |
6 hours |
Moderate drive with simple activities |
Day 24 |
⇒ Fish Market at Awassa and birding
⇒ Drive back to Addis Ababa
⇒ Retire the remaining day or optional activities and
⇒ Moreover in the evening Ethiopian traditional night. Hotel |
275km |
5 hours |
Moderate drive with simple activities |