10-Days Tour to UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Nor - 10 Days

Tour Code: 10-Days Tour to UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Northern Ethiopia
Attractions: History, Religion, Scenery & Wildlife
Duration: 10 Days & 9 Nights
Transportation: Surface drive, Flights & Boat ride

Day 1: Arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Air port
Meet and greet you FANOS Ethiopia Tours representative at exit of luggage claim and transfer you to the hotel.Overnight stay in Bole Ambassador hotel, Addis Ababa.

Day 2: Addis Ababa City Tour
You will have an early breakfast and your first visit in Addis Ababa will be the National Museum (pre historic, cultural, archaeological attractions), Ethnographic Museum of Addis Ababa University (culture, dressing style, traditional practices of over 80 ethnic groups, and collection of traditional musical instruments). Lunch at Lucy Restaurant.
Your visit also comprises tourist attraction sites like Emperor Minelik’s Palace, St. Raguel’s Church (after a drive to Entoto Mountain - 3000 meter above sea level), Merkato, (the largest open market in Africa).
After lunch you will visit Trinity Cathedral. It was constructed by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1947 (ornamented with carvings and mosaic and other artistic works such as paintings of saints and the apostles on the stained glass) and visit Merkato, the largest open market in Africa. In the evening, you will have dinner at the hotel and you will rest.Overnight stay in Bole Ambassador hotel, Addis Ababa.

Day 3: Fly to Bahir dar and Visit Lake Tana Island Monasteries & Blue Nile Falls
Early morning, a short flight will take you to Bahir dar. Upon arrival, you will be met by our tour guides, drive to a hotel where you will check and rest for few minutes.
Your first visit will be to Lake Tana on a boat ride where you will visit to the medieval period island monasteries (beautiful mural paintings, religious books & sacred) on Lake Tana such as: Kibran Gabriel (only for men), Entos and on the Zegien peninsula visit Ura Kidan Mehiret, Azuwa Mariam, Mahal Giorgis.
After lunch, you will drive (some 30 Km) and visit to the Blue Nile Falls. In the evening, you will have dinner and stay the night at the hotel.
Optional Excursion:Early in the evening, after dinner you will visit ‘Azmari Bet’ at Traditional Music Houses after which you will back to the hotel and stay there for the night. Overnight stay in Homeland hotel, Bahir Dar.

Day 4: Drive to Gondar and Visit the Fassiladas Castles
You will be driven to Gondar (185 Km) right after breakfast. Then you will check into a hotel and after a brief break, you will have lunch.
Then, you will visit to the Royal Castles & the Bath of Emperor Fasiledes (the bath is filled with water for the important Timkat (epiphany) ceremony once a year. You will continue your visit to Debre Birhan Selassie Church(Trinity at the Mount of Light), the Castle of Empress Mintewab, and Kuskwam Complex which is a royal compound built by the Empress Mentewab. Overnight stay in Goha hotel, Gonder.

Day 5: Drive to Simien Mountains National Park
You will have breakfast & drive to Debark (100 Km from Gonder) finish formalities at the Head Quarter of the park at Debarq and continue to drive another 20km then make a short walk/trekandspend the day visiting the Simien Mountains National Park (registered by UNESCO as a world heritage site, with endemic & mammals, birds, natural vegetation, & wonderful landscape).
Late in the afternoon drive back to lodge. You will check into a lodge and take a break. Dinner will be at the lodge.Overnight stay in Simien lodge, inside Simien Park.

Day 6: Drive to Axum
Right after breakfast, an early morning drive will take you to Axum (270 Km from Debark) through the Simien Mountains & magnificent topography & scenery, the Limalimo Gorge, Tekeze Valley. You will arrive in Axum late in the afternoon. You will check into a hotel and take a break. Dinner will be at the hotel.Overnight stay in Berhana or Sabean hotel, Axum.

Day 7: City Tour in Axum
You will have breakfast and will visit all day to the Steale of Axum, the Inscription of Ezana, Queen Sheba’s Palace, the famous St. Mary of Zion Church, ruins of ancient palaces (built until 4th century A.D.), with lunch break in between then outside Axum you can visit also the tombs of Kings Kaleb & Gebre Meskel dating to 6th century.
In the evening, you will get back to the hotel and spend the night there.Overnight stay in Berhana or Sabean hotel, Axum.


Day 8: Flight to Lalibela
After breakfast, a short flight will take you to Lalibela. Upon arrival, you will be met by our tour guides, drive by a minivan to a hotel where you will check and rest for few minutes.
Your first visit will be to the eleven Rock-hewn Monolithic (carved from a single rock) Churches of Lalibela (UNESCO World heritage site, with magnificent architecture & paintings inside the churches). In the evening you will get back to the hotel, rest, have dinner and relax. Overnight stay in Panoramic View hotel, Lalibela

Day 9: One more day to explore the Lalibela Rock-hewn Churches
Right after breakfast, an early morning drive will take you to historical churches around Lalibela like the Hill Church of Asheton Mariam, or Yimerhane Kirsotos.Overnight stay in Panoramic View hotel, Lalibela

Day 10: Flight back to Addis Ababa and departure back to home
After a relaxed breakfast, a short flight will bring you back to Addis Ababa. You will arrive in Addis Ababa midday/early afternoon where you will do some shopping for souvenirs.
Finally you will be taken to a farewell dinner to Ethiopian (Habesha 2000 or YOD Abyssinia) traditional restaurant where you will taste Ethiopian food & drinks and a live music & dance.
Then depending on your scheduled flight; you will be transferred out to Bole International Airport for return flight back home.