15 Days Ethiopia Historic Routes Awash National Park Harar & Babile Markets

Day 1: Arrival – Sightseeing Addis (The new Flower)

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Refresh and begin your sightseeing of Addis with a drive up to mount Entoto for a panoramic view of Addis. Descend down and drive to the National museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of ‘Lucy’ fossil. Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during WWII. Then proceed to the Ethnographic museum, which use to be the palace of Emperor Hailesellase. To wrap up you drive to merkato, the biggest market in East Africa.

Day 2: Drive Addis – Bahir Dar

After breakfast passing through the wonderful chain mountains and densely tree forest of Mount Entoto then after a two hours driving we will be arriving at one of the respected monasteries of Ethiopia Debre Libanos is a monastery in Ethiopia which is lying northwest of Addis Ababa and it was founded in the 13th century by Saint Tekle Haymanot we will visit the museums that have a lot of ancient bible books collection with religious crosses later we will see the internal parts of the church then we will be passing the wonderful landscapes of Blue Nile George we will have a stopover at Debre Markos later after lunch we will keep our driving to the next stop of lake Zengena.

Day 3: Bahir Dar (Lakeside Town)

After breakfast, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th-century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries. Afternoon, you will drive to the village of Tis Isat to see the Blue Nile falls ((Note that the volume of the water could be minimal because of the construction of the new dam.)

Day 4: Drive Bahir Dar – Gondar (The Camelot of Africa)

After having your breakfast, you will begin your journey to Gondar. The Royal Capital of Ethiopia, Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fassiladas. In the afternoon you will visit the city of Gondar with the drive to the Castles and Churches built by Emperor Fassiladas and his descendants.  Proceed to the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie (The Enlightening of Trinity) with Wonderful murals art, Qusquam Church.

 Day 5: Gondar – Excursion to Semien Mountains (122 km 4 – 5 hrs  drive)

Today you will drive to Buyit Ras a segment of the Semien Mountain. This is a sight, which is termed as the wildest and magnificent view of all Ethiopian landscapes. The Semien Mountains National park is the only place in Ethiopia registered by UNESCO as natural beauty.

Day 6: Debarq Axum (Mysterious Monolithes)

After an early breakfast, we will be driving to  Axum. A city more than 2500 years of history, once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization, home of the original Ark of covenants, Axum is the prime historical site in the north of Ethiopia. Take a city tour that include the St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the ‘Ark of covenant’, the coronation yard, Stelae Park, Tomb of Kaleb and his son Gebre Meskel, Ezana’s Inscriptions, Queen of Sheba’s Bath, Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins and Axum Museum.

 Day 7: Axum – Mekele

 This day after breakfast we will be driving to Hawzen on the way we will stop at the temple of Yeha and the Rock Hewan Churches Of Tigray (Adikisho Medhanyalem, Wukero Cherkos, and Abrha Wasba) then we will be staying the night at the town of Mekelle.

 Day 8: Meklle – Alamata – Lalibela

 This day after breakfast we will be driving to the town of Lalibela on the way you will see the beautiful landscapes of Tigray region and you will have a stopover at Alamata to see the markets of the wello and Tigray people later we will be stopping at Weldya for lunch and we will continue our driving to Lalibela.

 Day 9: Lalibela (The Eighth Wonder of the World)  

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. Be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. ‘Eighth wonder of world Heritage’ Lalibela is famous for its underground rock-hewn cathedrals.  In the afternoon you will visit top attractions of Lalibela that will simply stagger you.

 Day 10: Excursion to Yimrehane Kristos

Morning you will take an excursion to visit Yimrehane Kirstos, located in a mountain ridge, in the peak of Abuna Yosep. This exquisite church, a masterpiece of Axumite wood and stone construction and renewed for its interior decoration. The walls are subdivided vertically with recessions and projections. In the afternoon you will visit the remaining churches: Bete Gabriel, Bete Marqorios, Bete Emmanuel, and Bete Aba Libanos.

Day 11: Lalibela – Kombolcha

After breakfast we will be driving to the town of Desse on the way we will stop at one of the lakeside monasteries of Hayq Estifanos which was built around the 13^th c by St Abune Moa later drive to Desse passing throught the amazing landscapes of Wello then we will stop for late lunch at Desse then we will continue our journey to our night stay town of Kmobolcha.

Day 12: Kombolcha – Awash National Park

We will be driving to you Awash National park with its southern boundary along the Awash River and the park covers 756 square kilometers of acacia woodland and grassland. In the south of the park, the Awash River gorge has amazing waterfalls. In the upper Kudu Valley at Filwoha are hot springs amid groves of palm trees. In the evening you will have a chance to do a short game drive to see the local wildlife, such as oryx, baboons, greater and lesser kudu, warthogs, gazelles, Columbus monkeys.  Additionally, you’d be very lucky to see leopards, lions, and other cats. The landscapes in the park are beautiful, looking over the Awash Gorge. Today you can drive deep into the park, near the hot springs.

Day 13: Awash NP – Dire Dawa – Harar

Early in the morning drive to Dire Dawa where you will be met upon arrival and drive to Harar. Harar is a labyrinth of small streets surrounded by old city walls is the fourth holiest city for the Muslim people next to Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. Its architecture reflects a strong Islamic influence. The sightseeing of Harar will include the market, the French poet –Rimbaud house, the Harari museum and the tomb of Emir Nur who built the Harar walls known Jugol. Tonight we will attain the hyena-man show.

 Day 14: Excursion to Babible (Dates Must Be Monday or Thursday) – Babile Valley Of Marvels

This day you will have an excursion to Babile to see the biggest camel market in Ethiopia. Visit and drive back to Harar. After having your lunch visit  Dakhata Valley (better known as the Valley of Marvels), tall rocks have been sculpted into strange, often phallic shapes by the elements.you will continue the remaining sights in Harar; the Harari museum and the tomb of Emir Nur who built the Harar walls known Jugol.

Day 15: Drive Harar – Dire Dawa – Fly Addis – Departure

This day you will drive to Dire Dawa passing through Aweday chat market. Upon arrival in Dire Dawa you will catch your flight back to Addis. Be met upon arrival and transfer to your hotel for day use. In the evening attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The traditional coffee ceremony will also be served.  Later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.