HISTORIC ROUTE ETHIOPIA with ERITREA, 23 days

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the chosen hotel. Have a free morning. Afternoon (1400 hrs from the hotel) tour of the capital: visit Entoto Mountain with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church and the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Meals free. ON (overnight) hotel

Day 2: Drive to Kombolcha. Being Sunday admire on route the very colorful Afar & Oromo people market at Senbete village. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel

Day 3: MON. Drive to admire the other very colorful Afar & Oromo people market at Bati village. Proceed then to Woldya. Lunch box on the way; dinner & ON hotel

Day 4: Drive to Lalibela. On the way visit the cave church of Naktuleab. Afternoon visit the first group of the 12 rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, defined as the 8^th wonder. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel 

Day 5: Morning excursion to one church out of town. We propose Genete Mariam (by car) or Asheten Mariam church (to reach by foot or mules). Back for lunch at your hotel. Afternoon visit the second group of churches in Lalibela town. And then take part of the coffee ceremony in the hotel or a traditional house (the coffee ceremony in an important part of Ethiopian culture). Dinner and ON hotel

Day 6: Morning drive to visit the very nice Yemerehenna Kristos church. Then proceed your drive to Mekele, admiring spectacular views through Sekota. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel

Day 7: Visit the Tigray rock churches, as Degum Selassie, Abreha We Atsbeha & Wikro Cherkos (or Medhanealem Adikesho, Michael MahalZenghie & Petros Paulos). Lunch on the way; dinner & ON Wikro lodge or Gheralta lodge

Day 8: Drive to Asmara, the UNESCO heritage capital of Eritrea, admiring very nice views. Lunch on the way; dinner and ON hotel

Day 9: Full day guided tour of the city of Asmara, will be visited the Catholic and Coptic cathedrals, the mosque, the market, the Caravanserraglio, the Italian cemetery, the National Museum. Meals & ON hotel

Day 10: Excursion on board the legendary train, pulled by locomotives “Mallet” (subject to availability). In the afternoon drive to the lively city of Keren (1,392 Mt. high), crossroad between the highland and the lowland and well-known for its silver filigree works. Visit the silver market and the very nice town. Lunch box (or in Asmara); dinner & ON hotel in Keren

Day 11 & 12 Departure to Massawa and start a cruise  boarding  a fast boat, for next three days. You will settle a home camp in one of the island, and will visit one or teo more island every day. Lot of time free at leisure at the beach, snorkelling, fishing. Overnight stay in mobile tented camp, full board including 4 pcs local drinks per pax per day.

Day 13: After swimming and visiting the island, return to Massawa in the afternoon and after a short visit of Massawa proceed to Asmara.Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel

Day 14: Excursion to Dekamerè and Segheneyti (Sycamores Valley), where we could appreciate the extraordinary dimensions of secular sycamores that lop up in the valley, we will come up till  Adi Keyh and Kohaito, where we’ll admire the ruins of the ancient Axumite cities of Coloe and the prehistoric graffiti of Cutublè Galbà Senafè (city remains axumita of Metara). Return to Asmara in the late afternoon. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel

Day 15: Drive to Adi Ugri, Adi Quala and Daaro Khonat (sightseeing tour of the city, Enda Mariam Tzion Coptic church, among the best church in Eritrea, Saint Rita catholic church in Adi Quala in which is located the plaque in memory of the dead of Nova Scotia, the Memorial to the Adua Fallen, from which you enjoys a splendid view of  Mareb valley). Return to Asmara in the late afternoon. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel

Day 16: Drive back to Ethiopia and proceed to Axum. Afternoon visit of Axum: the steles, St Mary of Tsion church (where legend says is deposited the Ark of Covenant), the bath and the palace of Queen of Sheba. Meals & ON hotel

Day 17: Drive to Debark, crossing very nice views over the Semien Mountains. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel in Debark or lodge in the park

Day 18: A full day for walks and admiring spectacular views over the Semien mountains. Walk to the Ginbar falls and to Geech (or to Buhawit) to a particular flora and fauna, and with the chance to spot the endemic Walya Ibex, the Gelada baboons and the Lammergeyer. Lunch at the Semien mountains; back for dinner & ON hotel

Day 19: Drive to Gondar and visit the castle’s compound & King Fasiladas bath, the Debre Birhan Sellasie church (light of Trinity) with wonderful murals and Empress Mentewab palace, Falashia (Ethiopian Jew) village, & more. Meals & ON hotel

Day 20:  Drive to Gorgora. Meet your boat and cross lake Tana. Admire on the way the very colorful monasteries over the lake’s island, as Narga Selassie on Dek island, Ura Kidane Mehret and Asua Mariam. Reach late afternoon Bahirdar. Have your lunch on the way; check-in, dinner & ON hotel

Day 21: Morning drive to admire the Blue Nile falls. Then drive to DebreMarkos. ON hotel

Day 22: Cross the Blue Nile gorge and proceed to DebreLibanos monastery. Visit the monastery and very nice views around Jema river gorge. Spot the endemic Gelada baboons. And the old Portuguese bridge. Then proceed back to Addis Ababa. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel

Day 23: Remaining visits in Addis Ababa as the Ethnographic museum, the Trinity church and the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Dinner traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Evening departure

Please note: The above program can be adjusted according to your time, Budget and interest. 

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