15-Days Historical & Danakil Adventure Tour
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa
Arrival and city tour: panoramic view from Mount Entoto, National Museum (home of Lucy), Holy Trinity Cathedral, Ethnographic Museum, and Merkato Market.
Overnight: Addis Ababa
Day 2: Bahir Dar – Lake Tana & Blue Nile Falls
Morning boat cruise to Ura Kidane Mihret Monastery. Afternoon visit to Blue Nile Falls and nearby rural landscapes.
Overnight: Bahir Dar
Day 3: Drive Bahir Dar – Gondar
Visit Gondar’s royal castles, Fasil’s Bath, and Debre Birhan Selassie Church with its famed ceiling murals.
Overnight: Gondar
Day 4: Gondar – Simien Mountains
Drive to Sanqaber in Simien Mountains National Park. Scenic views and wildlife including Gelada baboons.
Overnight: Near Simien Mountains Park
Day 5: Drive to Axum
Travel through the dramatic landscapes of Limalimo and the Tekeze Gorge. Arrive in Axum by late afternoon.
Overnight: Axum
Day 6: Explore Axum
Visit ancient stelae, Queen of Sheba’s palace, tombs of Kaleb and Gebre Meskel, and St. Mary of Zion (believed to house the Ark of the Covenant).
Overnight: Axum
Day 7: Axum – Hawzen
Drive to Hawzen via Yeha Temple (Ethiopia’s oldest structure). Visit Gheralta region churches such as St. Daniel.
Overnight: Hawzen (home stay)
Day 8: Hawzen – Mekele
Morning climb to Abune Yemata Guh (perched on a cliff). Afternoon visit Wukro Cherkos and Abraha We Atsbeha churches en route to Mekele.
Overnight: Mekele
Day 9: Mekele – Dodom – Erta Ale
Drive to Dodom and begin 3-hour evening trek to Erta Ale volcano. Camp on the crater rim to witness the active lava lake.
Overnight: Camping
Day 10: Erta Ale – Hamedela
Descend from the volcano and drive to Hamedela, passing volcanic landscapes and desert oases.
Overnight: Camping in Hamedela
Day 11: Dallol & Salt Flats – Return to Mekele
Visit colorful Dallol hydrothermal fields, Lake Assal, and salt caravans in Ragad. Interact with Afar communities before returning to Mekele.
Overnight: Mekele
Day 12: Drive Mekele – Lalibela
Full-day scenic drive to Lalibela through Sokota.
Overnight: Lalibela
Day 13: Explore Lalibela Churches
Visit the northern cluster of Lalibela’s iconic rock-hewn churches including Bete Giorgis.
Overnight: Lalibela
Day 14: Excursion to Yimrehane Kristos
Morning excursion to the Axumite-style cave church of Yimrehane Kristos. Afternoon visit remaining churches.
Overnight: Lalibela (home stay)
Day 15: Fly to Addis – Departure
Fly back to Addis Ababa. Evening farewell cultural dinner with traditional music and Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Transfer to airport for departure.