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Please see Holiday Information Sheet for this holidays individual departures itinerary (located under View Departures & Book tab)
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Day 1
We depart from London on our overnight flight with Ethiopian Airlines. If you are booking your own flight, it is important to fly internationally with Ethiopian Airlines otherwise you will be charged a supplement for internal flights locally.
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Day 2
After an early morning arrival into Addis Ababa (2400 metres above sea level), our local guide will transfer us to the hotel. The rest of the morning is free to wash, sleep and enjoy breakfast. Addis Ababa is the gateway to the rest of the country. Visitors sometimes bypass the contradictions of this complex city but we know where to go and its attractions set the scene for modern Ethiopia, before we explore the older parts.
This afternoon we’ll visit the Ethnological Museum, set within Emperor Haile Selassie’s former palace and surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of the university's main campus. The museum has a wealth of fascinating displays which delve into the culture and customs of Ethiopia’s ethnic groups and tribes. The city is infamous for its heavy traffic problems so expect to travel to a cacophony of horns and brightly coloured cars.
Accommodation: Addis Regency Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
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Day 3
We drive out of the city for an hour, following the snaking road towards Mount Entoto (2600-3100 metres above sea level), the highest peak of the Entoto Mountains where we are rewarded with panoramic views over Addis Ababa. This historic area was where Emperor Menelik II resided before founding Addis Ababa and we’ll visit the old palace. Jumping at the chance to stretch our legs, we enjoy a leisurely 20-minute walk down the mountain through eucalyptus trees.
In the afternoon, we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the National Museum of Ethiopia, home to the remains of ‘Lucy’, Ethiopia's most famous ancestor who roamed this country some 3.2 million years ago. The museum helps put into perspective the importance of Ethiopia’s history.
Our introduction into Ethiopia's heritage continues with a guided visit to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, one of the most important places of worship in Ethiopia and home to the remains of the last emperor, Haile Selassie.
Accommodation: Addis Regency Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
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Day 4
This morning we fly to Bahir Dar where we enjoy a one hour guided walk to familiarise ourselves with the city, followed by a one hour walk around a section of Lake Tana. This is the largest lake in Ethiopia, located in a depression of the northwest plateau, 6,000 feet (1,800 metres) above sea level.
We then set sail across Lake Tana to explore the remote islands, visit some of the regions famous churches and monasteries and hopefully encounter some of the lake’s famous hippos! We’ll visit Ura Kidane Mehret, arguably the most beautiful church in the Tana region where we have approximately 30-40 minutes’ walk time. This monastery dates to the 14th century and its inner walls are covered with hundreds of restored paintings that depict every face of Ethiopian ecclesiastical life.
Accommodation: Homeland Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
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Day 5
This morning you can choose to do an optional excursion to the Blue Nile Falls. This is one of Ethiopia’s most popular attractions and you’ll understand why when you stand beneath the 42m-high cliff, watching the water cascade over it. There is a short walk to the waterfall and back along uneven surfaces, and down to the waterfall itself. Worth noting that the journey will take approximately 1 hour each way along an extremely bumpy road; it is not for the faint hearted but the view at the end is worth it. Anyone choosing to stay behind will enjoy free time.
This afternoon we have a leisurely guided walking tour of Bahir Dar market, churches and monasteries, plus panoramic views of the Blue Nile River.
Accommodation: Homeland Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
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Day 6
Departing Bahir Dar, we drive approximately four hours north to Gondar, the former capital of Ethiopia. Our hotel is perfectly positioned on a cliff top with wonderful views looking over the city.
We head out on a guided tour to explore castles, built in the 17th and 18th centuries by several generations of Ethiopian kings. We also visit Debre Birhan Selassie church with its sensational angelic ceiling, and the bathhouse of Fasillades, where thousands of Ethiopians celebrate Timkat Festival every January.
Accommodation: Gondar Hills Resort
Meals: Breakfast and hotel dinner
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Day 7
Leaving city life behind, we transfer by road (3 hours approx.) to the remote Simien Mountains National Park for breath-taking views that give the Grand Canyon a run for its money. Known as ‘the Roof of Africa’, the park is home to some rare species, many of which we will hopefully spot during our time walking in the mountains.
On arrival in Debark (3250 metres above sea level), we’ll begin trekking to our first overnight at Sankaber Camp. While hiking through the national park, we may encounter Simien Fox (the Ethiopian Wolf) in the shadow of the Ras Dashen mountain, the highest in Ethiopia.
This evening will be the first of our three nights camping in the Simien Mountains. Most equipment is provided and transported for you each night, plus camp will be set up and taken down for you. The exception being a day pack and trekking poles which you will carry yourself. Please note that temperatures drop at night so you will need to bring warm clothing and a four-season sleeping bag.
Accommodation: Wild camping (basic in nature)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Distance: 9 kms / 5.6 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Total ascent: 320m
Total descent: 320m
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Day 8
Today will be our first full day trekking in the Simien Mountains. Along the scenic route to our next camp, we’ll stop and enjoy the incredible Jinbar Waterfall as it cascades down a sheer cliff on the other side of the valley. Throughout the day we will slowly gain in altitude, stopping along the way to take in the majestic views and catch our breath. Keep your eyes out for Gelada monkeys which are commonly spotted along the way.
Life in camp is simple and relaxing. We will stay in designated campsites, but services range from basic, to non-existent. This is one of the realities of hiking in such a remote corner of the world, but it enables us to achieve such magnificent views. Meals are cooked for you allowing you free time to stroll or simply relax and admire the views.
Accommodation: Wild camping (basic in nature)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Distance: 12 Kms / 7.45 miles
Duration: 7 hours
Total ascent: 350m
Total descent: 250m
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Day 9
After breakfast we’ll head out for another incredible full day of walking as we make our way to Chennek, our final camp. The trek today takes in one of the finest walks in the Simien Mountains, the view from Imet Gogo point is considered the best view of the Simien range. We should have a good chance of Gelada monkey viewing today.
Accommodation: Wild camping (basic in nature)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Distance: 13 Kms / 8 miles
Duration: 7 hrs
Total ascent: 650m
Total descent: 570m
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Day 10
Today we’ll have an exhilarating trek from Chennek Camp to Mount Bwahit, where we are rewarded with yet more spectacular views before boarding the coach back to Gondar (3 hours). We’ll return to our hotel in Gondar for a relaxing evening and enjoy dinner together in one of our favourite restaurants in Ethiopia – The Four Sisters Restaurant.
Accommodation: Gondar Hills Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Distance: 5 kms / 3.1 miles
Duration: 5 hours
Total ascent: 830m
Total descent: 830m
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Day 11
We fly to the ancient city of Axum for two nights and visit the famous monolithic stelae of Axum; the tallest remaining one is over 21 metres and the greatest one of them all, once 34 metres high, now lies toppled on the ground. The subterranean tombs, stone inscriptions of ancient Axumite kings, plus a small archaeological museum, are living witness to its ancient Axumite history.
In the afternoon we’ll visit the ruins at Dungur, as well as the Palace of the Queen of Sheba, who is said to have given birth to Menelik the First, fathered by King Solomon, the founder of Ethiopia's ruling family until the late Emperor Haile Selassie.
Accommodation: Sabean Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
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Day 12
In the morning, we’ll drive to Yeha through the spectacular Adwa Mountains where we visit the Pre-Christian Great Temple of Yeha from around 700BC, the oldest standing structure in Ethiopia. The Temple of Yeha consists of large smoothly polished stone blocks, some as much as three metres long, neatly placed one above the other, without using any mortar. The roof and one side of the wall are missing but several square holes in the remaining walls indicate where a partition, probably of wood, once stood
Axum is the origin of Christianity in Ethiopia and claims to house the original Ark of the Covenant. In the afternoon we will visit the old church of Our Lady Mary of Zion - the first church to be built in Sub-Saharan Africa around 30CE. We then have a free afternoon so everyone can enjoy Axum at their own pace.
Accommodation: Sabean Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
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Day 13
A short 30-minute flight takes us from Axum to Lalibela. As we have a guided tour tomorrow, today is either a free day or our tour leader will take the group on a walk into the mountains for views back across Lalibela. The duration will change depending on conditions.
Accommodation: Harbe hotel
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
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Day 14
Today we’ll enjoy a full day exploring Lalibela’s famous rock-hewn churches, designated one of UNESCO’s original 12 World Heritage Sites in 1978.
We begin by exploring the northern group containing seven churches, a tomb, a chapel and a sunken chapel. At the centre of the group is Bet Medhane Alem, measuring 33.5 metres by 23.5 metres and said to be the largest rock-hewn church in the world. A tunnel connects three of the churches in a courtyard to the east, whilst another tunnel connects two other churches to the west of Bet Medhane Alem. However, it is the Church of Saint George, carved in the form of a Greek cross and lying slightly apart from the main northern cluster, that is the most famous.
In the afternoon, we will visit the eastern group of five churches. Here is Bet Abba Libanos, unique among Lalibela’s churches because the roof and floor remains attached to the strata rock.
Accommodation: Harbe hotel
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
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Day 15
We take a flight back to Addis Ababa and visit the oldest coffee shop in Ethiopia, Tomoca. By now, one thing that should have become evident is that Ethiopian’s know how to make a great coffee. In fact, coffee was discovered in Ethiopia in the 9th century and cultivated by the Arabs in the 15th century. Tonight we enjoy our final dinner together at a local restaurant.
Please note, clients who opted for the Danakil Depression extension will leave us this morning.
Accommodation: Addis Regency Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
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Day 16
We take an early afternoon flight back to the UK, landing back into London Heathrow that evening.
Meals: Breakfast