16-Day North & South Trip Including Danakil & Simien

Day 1

Arrive and City Tour of Addis Ababa

Morning: Visit Holy Trinity Cathedral, a significant religious site and historical landmark.

Late Morning: Tour the National Museum of Ethiopia, home to Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis) skeleton and other archaeological finds.

Afternoon: Explore the Ethnological Museum and Holy Savior Cathedral. Stroll through Meskel Square and enjoy local markets like Merkato.

Evening: Enjoy Ethiopian cuisine at a local restaurant.

Day 2

Fly Addis Ababa - Lalibela

Fly to Lalibela Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group of eleven monolithic and semi-monolithic structures were carved directly into the stone of the mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings.

Overnight Lalibela.

Day 3

Explore Lalibela curches

For the morning we have two choices: Take a morning hike with mules to Mount Asheton, with its 13th century rock-hewn monastery and great views of the town; or Visit Neakutolab Cave monastery – Following either option above continue with tour of Lalibela’s churches in the afternoon.

Day 4

Fly Lalibela - Gonder

At the morning after breakfast - you will be transfered to lalibela airport for your trip in Gonder. Check into accommodation.

Afternoon: Visit the Gonder Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site with castles and palaces.

Evening: Walk around the local markets and enjoy local cuisine.

Day 5

Gondar – Sankabar

Drive from Gondar to Debark. Here we obtain a permit from the Park headquarters and collect our obligatory scout before continuing to Sankabar (3250m ASL) for the first overnight camp. An early start is needed as the drive from Gondar takes 2-3 hours. The trek begins at Buytras (Simien Lodge), taking about 3 – 4 hours to walk to the Sankabar campsite is usually possible. During the walk, there’s a good chance of seeing your first Gelada baboons.

Overnight Camping.

Day 6

Sankabar – Geech

On this day, you will have a Game Drive at Simien Mountain National park. We will walk to Geech via the spectacular Jinbar waterfall. The trek will take approximately 5 – 7 hours. After descending down to the Jinbar Wenz (which feeds the waterfall) a short ascent remains to Geech village. A short distance beyond Geech village is the campsite. The campsite has great views of the mountains and is characterized by giant lobelia plants. The nearby Kedadit summit provides one of the best places to see the sunset. The campsite is situated at 3600m ASL.

Overnight Camping.

Day 7

Geech – Ambaras – Gondar- Addis Ababa

We trek from Geech to the Imet Gogo promontory, for one of the most spectacular views in the whole mountain range. This is a great day for seeing the magnificent Lammergeier vultures. From Imet Gogo we trek back to the road near a village called Ambaras and meet the car for the drive back to Gondar. Catch your flight to Addis Ababa.

Day 8

Addis Ababa – Jinka - Turmi

This day on arrival at Jinka airport Essence Ethiopia Tours team will be waiting you at the exit door of the airport then you will be driving to Key Afer local market, Benna and hammer, and tsemay peoples then proceed to the Turmi where the Hamer people lives.

Overnight: Turmi.

Day 9

Excursion to Dassanech Peoples

After having your breakfast, you will have an excursion to Omorate to visit the Dassanech people ‘people of the Delta’, who lives on the northern shore of Lake Turkana. Visit and drive back to Turmi for lunch then drive to Jinka on the way you will have a chance of attending the local market of Key Afer and you will see around 3 different ethnic groups in the markets then drive to jinka for overnight and you will see the Ari people, the largest population in the lower omo valley. The women wear skirts from the banana like tree, called Enset are expert in pottery.

Overnight: Emerald Lodge.

Day 10

Drive Jinka – Mago – Jinka – Departure

Drive Jinka – Mago – Jinka – Departure

Take a day excursion to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi village. The Mursi are one of the exotic ethnic groups in Ethiopia. They live in very low huts made of straw leaves. The women like to wear terra cotta on their enormously stretched lower lips and ear lobes. Drive back to Jinka Later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.

Day 11

Fly Addis Ababa - Semera

Addis Ababa – Semera – Afdera Volcano

This day we will meet you at the town of Semera airport then we will drive to Danakil depression. We start an early drive to Lake Afdera(a salt lake that is located in the heart of Danakil Depressions and in this lake you may have a chance at the natural hot springs then later you have to swim around this lake we will be driving to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale).

Day 12

Dallol & Erta Ale

This day after an early breakfast we will drive to HamadEla at 04:30, a better village with a total population of about 500 people. You will see lots of camel caravans and you will have the sunset look from the very shallow salt Lake Assale.

Overnight: Camping.

Day 13

Explore Dallol & Drive to Mekelle

Explore Dallol and drive back to Mekelle

This day you may have another chance to see the beauty of the sunrise in Dallol and drive to Mekelle. Enjoy the beautiful landscapes of mountains of Tigray regions. Mekelle is the capital city of Tigray region.

Overnight: Homeland Hotel at Mekelle.

Day 14

Explore Tigray Churches - Abune Yemata guh

Today after an early breakfast we drive to guralta cluster to visit the main three churches; we will leave from the hotel and visit the Tigray Churches of Abuna Yemata Guh; Maryam Korkor and Daniel Korkor. All of which are very different in style but stunningly beautiful in their own way.

To visit Abuna Yemata Guh, walking for about an hour to commence a steep ascent up the side of the Gheralta massif.

Day 15

Explore Axum

Today will be a full day visiting the sites of Axum, including the famous obelisks (one that was recently erected after being returned from Italy) and the archeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), Ezana’s enscription, King Kaleb’s tomb, King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept, over night Axum.

Day 16

Fly back to Addis & Departure

At the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Axum airport and catch the flight to return to Addis Ababa. As soon as you arrive in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, our driver will pick you and transfer to the hotel. You will have a free time for shopping.

End of the trip.