10 Days – Northern Ethiopia & Simien Mountains

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa

• Meet at Bole International Airport.
• Addis city tour: National Museum (Lucy), Holy Trinity Cathedral, Ethnographic Museum.
• Overnight: Addis Ababa.

Day 2: Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar (Lake Tana & Blue Nile Falls)

• Morning flight to Bahir Dar.
• Boat trip on Lake Tana to visit island monasteries (Ura Kidane Mihret, Azwa Mariam).
• Afternoon visit to the Blue Nile Falls.
• Overnight: Bahir Dar.

Day 3: Bahir Dar – Gondar

• Drive to Gondar (approx. 3–4 hrs).
• Visit the Royal Enclosure (Fasil Ghebbi), Fasilides Bath, and Debre Birhan Selassie Church.
• Overnight: Gondar.

Day 4: Gondar – Simien Mountains

• Drive to Debark, the gateway to Simien Mountains National Park.
• Short hike on escarpments with panoramic views.
• Overnight: Lodge or campsite inside park.

Day 5: Simien Mountains Exploration

• Full-day trekking in the park.
• Wildlife: Gelada baboons, Walia ibex, klipspringer, and Ethiopian wolf (rare).
• Overnight: Lodge or campsite.

Day 6: Simien Mountains – Axum

• Drive to Axum, the ancient capital of Ethiopia.
• Overnight: Axum.

Day 7: Axum City Tour

• Visit the Stelae Field, Queen of Sheba’s Palace ruins, and St. Mary of Zion Church (believed to house the Ark of the Covenant).
• Overnight: Axum.

Day 8: Axum – Lalibela

• Flight to Lalibela.
• Visit the first cluster of rock-hewn churches, including Bete Medhane Alem and Bete Maryam.
• Overnight: Lalibela.

Day 9: Lalibela – Second Cluster & St. George

• Explore the southern cluster of churches, including Bete Amanuel, Bete Gabriel-Rufael.
• Visit Bete Giyorgis (St. George’s Church), the iconic cross-shaped church.
• Evening traditional coffee ceremony or cultural show.
• Overnight: Lalibela.

Day 10: Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Departure

• Optional morning hike to Asheton Maryam Monastery.
• Fly back to Addis Ababa.
• Farewell dinner with cultural performance.
• Transfer to airport for departure.