Addis Ababa city tours and day trip to Debre Libanos Monastery

Day 01: Addis Ababa City Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, begin your sightseeing of Addis Ababa with a drive up to Mount Entoto for a panoramic view of the city. Descend and drive to the National Museum, where you will have the chance to see the famous Lucy fossil. Continue to St. George Church, then proceed to the Ethnographic Museum, which was the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie until 1960. Finally, drive to Merkato, the largest market in East Africa, established by the Italians around 1937. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with live traditional music, dances, and a variety of national dishes.

Overnight: ………..

Day 02: Day Trip to Debre Libanos and Portuguese Bridge

After breakfast at the hotel, drive from Addis Ababa to Debre Libanos Monastery and Portuguese Bridge, located 105 km northwest of Addis Ababa. The scenic drive takes about two and a half hours. The monastery, founded in the 13th century by Saint Tekle Haymanot, is one of the most respected in Ethiopia. First, visit the museums, which house ancient Bible collections, religious crosses, clothing, and traditional materials used in the monastery. Then, explore the church’s interior, including the tomb of the monastery’s founder and beautiful stained glass windows. Later, visit the Portuguese Bridge, built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, set against a stunning landscape and home to the endemic Gelada monkey. Enjoy lunch in front of the beautiful Jemma River Gorge. After lunch, return to Addis Ababa, with opportunities to see birds, traditional Ethiopian huts, and farmlands along the way.