Yama Ethiopia Tours is always ready to plan and escort your trip to such diverse tourist attraction sites that will be visited within a nine-day journey from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar, the Simien Mountains, Lalibela, and Gondar along Ethiopia's Northern Historic Route. Explore Addis Ababa's museums, the highland waters of Lake Tana and the thundering Blue Nile Falls, the legendary castles of Gondar, a multi-day trek through the afro-alpine wilderness of Simien Mountains National Park in search of Gelada Baboons and the endemic Walia Ibex, and the awe-inspiring rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.
Itinerary
| Day | Day Activities | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Day 01 | Arrival in Addis Ababa & Sightseeing Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be met by your Yama Ethiopia Tours representative and transferred to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a city tour of Addis Ababa, including the National Museum (home of the famous 'Lucy' fossil skeleton), Trinity Cathedral Church, the Ethnological Museum, and Entoto Hills. | Hyatt Regency — Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 02 | Fly to Bahir Dar & Sightseeing (Lake Tana & Blue Nile Falls) Catch a morning flight to Bahir Dar and transfer to your reserved lodge/hotel. After check-in and breakfast, start your journey with a boat cruise on beautiful Lake Tana, visiting a beautifully decorated thatched-roof monastery known for its distinctive colorful frescoes of religious scenes and old manuscripts. After a lunch break, take a scenic drive to the little town of Tis Abay to visit the famous Blue Nile Falls, then drive back to Bahir Dar for overnight. | Kuriftu Lodge — Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 03 | Drive to Gondar & Sightseeing Head to the legendary city and world heritage site of Gondar, known as the 'Camelot of Africa.' It was the 17th and 18th century capital city of Ethiopia and home to a number of emperors, warlords, and kings who built several castles within one compound. Visit the royal enclosure surrounded by high stone walls (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Also visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church, meaning 'Trinity at the Mount of Light,' with its rectangular structure, ceilings decorated with winged angels, walls depicting biblical scenes, and the Bathing Pool of King Fasiledes (used during Ethiopian Epiphany). | Gondar Hill Resort — Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 04 | Drive to Sankaber (Trek for 2 Hours) Morning drive to Simien Mountains National Park, stopping at Debarq for the ticket fee. After arranging the scout, head to Sankaber campsite. On the way, take a two-hour walk from Buitras through beautiful views, gaining your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region — enjoying the endemic Gelada Baboons and the sight of the bone-breaker giant bird, the Lammergeyer, soaring overhead. | Camping — Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 05 | Trek to Geech Walk from Sankaber to Geech, taking between 5–6 hours. After about an hour and a half you'll reach the Jinbar River and falls, which you'll cross later in the day. After crossing the river, ascend for about two hours to Geech, an area full of Giant Lobelias. The scenery is wonderful, and calls of the endemic Gelada Baboon can be heard along the way. | Camping — Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 06 | More Trek to Chenek & Drive Back to Gondar Trek to Chenek, walking through Giant Lobelia trees, home to the common African field rat. After a picnic lunch, walk along the edge of the Elate escarpments (4,000m above sea level) — another breathtaking viewpoint in the park — before descending to Chenek, the best place to spot the endemic Walia Ibex and more Gelada Baboons. Drive back to Gondar in the late afternoon for an overnight stay. | Gondar Hill Resort — Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 07 | Fly to Lalibela & Sightseeing In the morning, transfer to the airport and fly to Lalibela, then transfer to your hotel. After some rest, set out to visit the first group of the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, carved from living volcanic tuff with unmatched architectural skill. UNESCO registers these churches as World Heritage. Among this group, Bete Medhane Alem (House of the Redeemer) is the largest, with 5 aisles, 72 pillars, a vaulted dome, and molded decoration. | Mezena/Sora Lodge — Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 08 | More Excursions in Lalibela Take a further excursion to Yemrehanna Kristos cave church outside Lalibela through beautiful mountainous landscape. Return to the hotel for lunch, then in the afternoon visit the second group of rock-hewn churches: Bete Emanuel (House of Emanuel), the most architecturally refined, and Bete Giyorgis (House of St. George), considered the finest of all Lalibela's churches — carved last, once the masons had perfected their craft. | Mezena/Sora Lodge — Bed & Breakfast |
| Day 09 | Fly Back to Addis Ababa & Departure In the morning, transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis Ababa. Enjoy any remaining sightseeing and final shopping at a souvenir shop, followed by an evening farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant with folkloric dance. Finally, transfer to the airport to fly back home. | Departure — Breakfast with Farewell Dinner |