Ethiopia - Regular Departures To Historical Route

Tour Highlights of the Historical Route

The Historic route is one of the prominent tourist areas of the country. Nowhere else in the world can you find a collection of Tourist attractions in one area that could date back to a time of ancient civilization.

The well-trodden path through Ethiopia’s famous and fascinating historic sites takes you through a scenic, magnificent world of fairy-tale names such as Axum, Gondar, Bahir Dar and Lalibela.

Traveling the route will offer you a glimpse into a truly remarkable past. As well as many priceless historical relics, you will also see the castles at Gonder, the churches of Lalibela- hewn out of living Rock, the Mysterious giant stelae at Axum, the ruins of the Queen of Sheba’s palace.

Departure Dates for Historical Tour in 2010

Departure Code	Departure Month	Guaranteed Last Minutes of arrival based on local time (GMT+3)	Festival or Events	Availability
AET 045	04 – 15 February	6 February before 03:00 am	None	Closed
AET 045	21st March – 1st April	23 March before 03:00 am	Hosaena	Closed
AET 045	01 – 12 April	3 April before 03:00 am	Easter	closed
AET 045	06 – 17 May	8 May before 03:00 am	None	Yes
AET 045	15 – 26 September	17 September before 03:00 am	Meskal	Yes
AET 045	07 – 18 October	9 October before 03:00 am	None	Yes
AET 045	04 – 15 November	6 November before 03:00 am	Hidar Tsion	Yes
AET 045	02 – 13 December	12 December before 03:00 am	Peoples’ Day Not guaranteed	Yes

Explanation of some terms in the Above Table:

⇒ Guaranteed Last Minutes of arrival:- a person whose flight schedule doesn’t allow an arrival on the 1st and 2nd day of the tour; he/she can safely join the group if he/she arrives in Addis Ababa 2 hours before the group check- out from the hotel in Addis Ababa to fly to Bahirdar. Please find this last minutes information in the above table within the row of your chosen dates.

⇒ June, July and August are a rainy season for the historical route due this main reason we will not be operating the regular departure. If you are planning to make your trip during these months, please send us your request and we would reach you with a customized tour that safely run in these rainy months.

⇒ For detail itinerary please click the link bellow.

AET 045 Ethiopia: Regular Departure To Historic Route

Transportation: On surface and flight. Length: 12 days

Dates	Activities	Drive Distance	Flight Length	Activities Level
Day 01	⇒ Arrive in Addis Ababa meet and greet, get assisted for transfer. Panorama Hotel	Less than 10km to HTL	___	Very simple
Day 02	⇒ City tour of Addis Ababa ⇒ Briefing about the tour. Panorama Hotel	In town	Non flight day	Very simple
Day 03	⇒ Fly to Bahirdar ⇒ visit the Blue Nile Falls and Monasteries on the islands of Lake Tana. Blue Nile Hotel	35km to BN falls	1 hour	Moderate - tough 30 minuets walk depending on the route, walking shoes preferable
Day 04	⇒ Drive to Gonder ⇒ Visit the 16th century Royal enclosure famous for its many castles and Debre Birhan Selassie church. Bakafa Hotel	180km to Gonder	Non flight day	simple drive and walk, sandal shoes & shorts are preferable
Day 05	⇒ Drive to the Semien Mountains National Park ⇒ Spectacular mountain scenery ⇒ Spotting endemic mammals ⇒ Hiking on the escarpment. Semien Park Hotel	122km to the spot where we begin activities	Non flight day	Moderate to physical type hiking based on choice. walking shoes required
Day 06	⇒ Drive to Axum alongside the Semien Mountains range with spectacular scenery.The Ark Hotel	282km to Axum	Non flight day	Moderate drive on gravel road with some stops & leg stretch walk
Day 07	⇒ The archeological sites and ⇒ St’ Mary of Tsion (Zion) Church the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark Hotel	Sites and hotels are centrally located	Non flight day	Very simple, sandal shoes & shorts that reach your nee OK
Day 08	⇒ Drive to Mekele ⇒ Yeha temple (5th c) the oldest in Ethiopia ⇒ Nejash one of the oldest mosque and Muslim settlement ⇒ Wukro rock hewn church. Axum Hotel	245km;	Non flight day	Moderate drive most part is new asphalt road
Day 9	⇒ Drive to Lalibela ⇒ Beautiful mountain scenery ⇒ Meet the Amhara people, house and village visit. Alef Paradise Hotel	360km to Lalibela	+- 8 hrs	Tough drive on half gravel/asphalt road with some stops & leg stretch walk
Day 10	⇒ The Amazing rock churches of Lalibela rated as the eighth wonder of the world by many authors. Alef Paradise 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 11	⇒ Excursion to visit one of the famous rock churches in the surroundings of Lalibela and local villages. Alef Paradise Hotel	10-50km based on choice	Variable but short drives	Moderate to tough walking & drive based on interest
Day 12	⇒ Fly back to Addis Ababa ⇒ Retire the remaining day or optional activities and ⇒ Moreover in the evening Ethiopian traditional night. Departure	25km to Lalibela airport	based on the available flight 1-2:30 hrs	Simple & more of personal activities

Some Important Facts About This Tour

Group Size

♦ Minimum number for guaranteed departure is 2 persons

♦ Maximum: 8 persons

Tour Length:

♦ 12 days

Accommodation:

♦ Out of Addis Ababa: mixed (Basic to 3 star hotel)

♦ Basic: clean room, cold and hot shower, private toilette and satellite TV

Activity level: simple

♦ convenient for mixed age group

♦ The hiking in the Semien mountain is a moderate one and is optional as well

♦ Any one with difficulties walking on a bit bigger steps can hire local supporter at the site (only for few churches in Lalibela)

♦ The longest walk to reach the site after the car/boat parked takes 30 minutes for slow walker and.

Transportation:

♦ 2 – 4 persons well kept 4X4

♦ Above 4 pax new model minivan

Insurance:

♦ your own arrangement before arrival here

Pre-tour arrival:

♦ In the right side of this page read the information under Private Excursion

♦ please send us your request for arrangements with extra payments

Late departure:

♦ Please let us know before you depart your home town so that we can reach you with different advice.

Language:

♦ The tour is directed with English speaking Guide.

Vaccination:

♦ Bahirdar is the only Malaria reported place in the route. Please see the Ethiopia Travel Fact part at the bottom this page.

Money exchange:

♦ Banks are available through out the route (No credit Cards out of Addis Ababa).

How to book this tour:

♦ Please click the Itinerary button above and at the bottom of the detail itinerary click again Book AET 045 button, complete the form and hit submit.

How to send your query:

♦ Please follow this link to send your Query or Question Send Your Question Here.

Payment process:

♦ Paying 25% of the total amount is compulsory up on your confirmation through a wire transfer

♦ The remaining 75% before the commencement of the tour

♦ For more information on payment please see Terms & Conditions at the bottom of this page

Price Information

Price Range:

♦ Minimum (8 PAX): in US dollars. On request

♦ Maximum (2 PAX) in US dollars. On request

♦ Our price is not only set as minimum and maximum but it is a range of prices that gets smaller and smaller until the pax reaches its maximum.

♦ Please click Price to request for price list.

Price includes:

♦ Meet and greet at airport;

♦ All accommodation based on twin room occupancy;

♦ Meals in Addis, on bed & breakfast basis;

♦ Meals out of Addis, on full board basis;

♦ All entrance fees at sites, churches, parks and villages;

♦ All transfers and visits according to the itinerary;

♦ All Ground transportation including, fuel and all costs of the driver;

♦ Professional English speaking Tour Guide accompanying through out the trip;

♦ Local Guide and scout fees in parks and villages;

♦ Two sectors domestic flights, one Addis Ababa to Bahirdar the other is a return flight to Addis;

♦ Farewell dinner in Addis to enjoy traditional Ethiopian food (with soft drinks or bottled water) & Music; and

♦ A traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony at a convenient time in one of the local house in Lalibela.

♦ Government taxes.

Price doesn’t include:

♦ International flights

♦ Lunch and Dinner in Addis Ababa

♦ Alcoholic drinks

♦ Video filming and photography fees

♦ Incidental meals, snacks and drinks

♦ Tips and items of personal nature like laundry, souvenirs, etc, and

♦ All what is not included in the list above.

Back to Itinerary Page

Private Excursions and Extension Tours

If you either arrive earlier or depart later than the group you are joining, day Tours and a selection of Special Interest Tours or other tours of the various regions are also available as Private Excursions. Send us your request HERE