10 DAYS TO TOUR TO NORTH CHRISTMASS AT LALIBELA
Day 01: (Jan. 01/2014) Arrival of Addis Ababa and Sight seeing
Arrival Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time make sightseeing in Addis. The sightseeing includes the national museum (where you can see the Lucy fossil skeleton found) the Ethnological museum, Trinity cathedral church, Entoto hills and Merkato. O/N HOTEL
Day 02: (Jan. 02) Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar (Flight)
Early morning fly to Bahir dar after short break leave out for boat trip on Lake Tana and visit two or three of its beautiful and interesting islands with their medieval period monasteries. Covering over 3500sq km, Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake and is famous as the home of the monasteries established on some 20 of its 37 islands. Most churches in the monasteries have interesting paintings and contain a collection of church treasures and beautiful old manuscripts back to the hotel for lunch and short break.
In afternoon drive to Tis Isat (smoking of Fire) waterfall, Previous it was one of the most spectacular falls in Africa, 400m wide when in flood and dropping over a sheer chasm more than 45m deep, the thunderous noise could be heard long before arrival and the spray that is thrown up could be felt up to a kilo meters away. But since a dam has been built upstream, the waterfall is reduced and has lost some of its former splendor but specially now in the rain time, it is still impressive. And also the walk to the waterfall is nice and you can enjoy nature and watch birds. Keep an eye out for parrots, bee-eaters, lovebirds and turacos. O/N HOTEL
Day. 03: (Jan. 03) Drive to Gondar and sight seeing
Morning after drive to Gondar through the beautiful and fertile countryside on the Lake Tana side on new and Check in hotel.
PM our visiting the city will begin from Fasiladas Gibi, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences. We will visit Fasiladas’ Palace that is probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one, too! We continue on to the bath of Fasiladas. Then we continue to visit the Church Of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of this is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berhan Selassie is rumoured to once have been the proposed final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. O/N iHOTEL
Day. 04: (Jan. 04) Drive – Gondar / Simien Mountains National park
Today we drive to the jagged panorama of the Simien Mountains National Park, famed for its exclusive landscape, afro-alpine vegetation, and unique wildlife, where you may spot the endemic Wallia Ibex, Gelada Baboon troops, Bushbuck, Klipspringer. However, as we stay for one night we will enjoy the dramatic scenery and a troop friendly Gelada Baboon at very close distance and Birds such as Chestnut-napped Francolin, Mountain Thrush, Thick-billed Raven, Lammergeyer, White-collared Pigeon and Ankober Serin just to name a few. Arrive to the lodge check in, have lunch, after short rest, for those who interest in hike/Trek we will trek for about 2-3 hrs on the edge and beautiful escarpment to view the beautiful and green valley, wondering the long day eating and grooming of Gelada Baboon families and then trace back to the Lodge
O/N HOTEL or Lodge
Day. 05:(Jan. 05) Drive to Gondar – Simien Mountains – Gondar
Spend the whole morning in an amazing the Simien Mountains National Park: the incredible mountain scenery is breathtaking. Hike along mountain trails enjoying the endless unique flora and fauna of this elevated region (Giant Lobelia). Drive to Chenek and trek see Wallia a unique species indigenous to Ethiopia and the Simien Mountains. Return to Gondar.
Day. 06: (Jan. 06) Drive – Gondar Gonder Lalibela
Morning after breakfast drive to Lalibela through Worita and also visit Awramba Community.
Evening attend Ethiopian Christmas ceremony. O/N HOTEL
Day. 07: (Jun. 07 Full day in Lalibela visiting the churches and Chirstamass ceremony
Early in the morning attained the Christmas Ceremony. After noon excursion to visit the first group of the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which are carved out of living volcanic tuff with super architectural skill that the world has never seen, yet elsewhere. UNESCO registers these churches as world heritage. Among churches of this group Bete Medahine Alem (house of the redeemer) is the largest with 5 aisles, 72 pillars, vaulted dome and molding decoration. Bete Mariam (house of St. Marry) is the most decorated among the rock hewn churches. O/N HOTEL
Day. 08: (Jan. 08) More Excursions in Lalibela
In the morning excursion to Yemerhane Kirstos cave church out side of Lalibela through beautiful mountainous land scape of last region. Back to the hotel for lunch and after noon visit the second group of the rock-hewn churches; Bete Emanuel (house of Emanuel) is architecturally the finest. Bete Giorgis (the house of George) is the finest of all the churches in Lalibela for which reason art historians conclude that this church is carved at the end of the cluster, after the masons have developed their skill to carve the church in such extraordinary perfection. O/N HOTEL
Day. 09: (Jan. 09) Fly Lalibela – Axum
A flight further north takes you to the oldest city in Ethiopia, Axum. Eight Km drive to the Town check in hotel. This afternoon explore the city. Visit the interesting museum in stelae field, the impressive Stelae Fields and also the grounds of the 16th-century Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion, home of the original Ark of the Covenant, Queen of Sheba ruin palace and Tomb of Kaleb and Gebre Meskel at certain place will be dropped for souvenir and stretching your legs to the hotel. O/N HOTEL
Day. 10: (Jun. 10) Fly back to Addis Ababa
Fly back to Addis Ababa. Evening fair well dinner and transfer to airport fly back home.