Historical and Natural
Tour Code: TABT-006
Lake Tana called Tsana is the largest lake in Ethiopia, situated in Amhara Region, north of the beautiful town of Bahir Dar. Tana is the source from where the Blue Nile starts its long journey to Khartoum in Sudan, the lake is approximately 85 km long and 70 km wide, an elevation of 1840 meters. Lake Tana is unique as the home of thirty seven scattered islands, twenty of which are home to monasteries.
Remains of ancient Ethiopian emperors and treasures of the Ethiopian Church are kept in the isolated island monasteries. The monasteries are earlier religious sites and include the fourteenth century Debre Maryam, the eighteenth century Narga Selassie. Tana Qirqos island have been a spiritual retreat long before Christianity was established in Ethiopia, Tana Qirqos once housed the Ark of the Covenant for 800 years, before it was moved to Axum. All of the islands churches are the main tourist attractions, the churches are
Day 1 Arrive at Addis Ababa
Welcoming by the representatives of Balehageru tours and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a city tour in Addis Ababa. (Overnight in a hotel)
Day 2 Drive to Bahirdar
You will start your journey to the beautiful city Bahir dar. On the way you will visit the Debrelebanos monastery which was founded in the 16th century by St.Teklehaimanot. (Overnight in a hotel)
Day 3 Bahir dar
In the morning we will have a boat trip on lake Tana, the biggest lake in Africa and the source of blue Nile ,then you will visit the island of monastery : kibran Gebral ,uran kidane mihiret , azwa maraim and after lunch drive to Blue Nile falls 35 km away from the city. (Overnight in a hotel)
Day 4 Drive to drive to Gonder 180 km asphalted road
We will visit Gonder castle that was built by emperor fasiledes in 1636 and the palace of empress mintiwab and visit the amazing Ethiopian ancient painting debre birhan sielassie church (the light of mountain trinity) and the bath of emperor fassiledes, at night you can relax on traditional music that is called Azmari Bet. (Overnight in a hotel)
Day 5 Drive to Debark (Semein mountain national park)
The roof of Africa and beautiful land escape of the national park where the Walia ibex, Simien red wolf and Gelada baboon - all endemic to Ethiopia are found here. You will have a chance to trek a long distance in the mountain. (Overnight in a hotel)
Day 6 Debark to Axum
Drive to Axum to visit the great obelisk of Axum and Saint Merry Zion church.
Day 7 Axum
Axum was built in the 4th century during the reign of king Ezana who converted the aksumite kingdom to Christianity and reserved the original arc of covenant or tabot
Day 8 Axum to Mekele
Drive to Mekelle on the way we will visit the Tigray rock hewn churchs like abraha wo astba, the first rock hewn church in Ethiopia and visit wokro cherkos over night Mekelle hotel.
Day 9 Mekele to Dalol
We will start our journey early in the morning to see the beautiful and colorful salt place dalol
Day 10 Dalol to Mekele
Today we will get back to Mekele
Day 11 Mekele to Lalibela
We will drive to the historical city Lalibela today. Lalibela is named after one of the famous kings of the dynasty who carved out the 11monolithic, semi monolithic and carved rock hewn churches from the living rock.
Day 12 Lalibela
We will visit the 11 rock hewn church all 1st and 2nd group of rock hewn church that are symbolized by earthly Jerusalem and heavenly Jerusalem. After launch at 2:00 we will visit the amazing and the only 3rd group of rock hewn church and the symbolized of arc of Noah that is called St. Gorge.
Day 13 Lalibela to Kombolcha
We will start our journey early in the morning to Kombolcha. If it is a market day you will get the chance to see the biggest and most beautiful Bati market.
Day 14 Kombolcha to Addis Ababa
Early in the morning we will start our journey back to Addis Ababa. On the way you will enjoy looking the beautiful scenery of landscapes of the northern part of Ethiopia. END OF THE TOUR