HARAR AND DIRE DAWA BY AIR
Tour Code No : ATT 2019
Duration : 2 Nights/3 Days
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Dire Dawa. The flight will take 40 – 45 minutes and transfer to the hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon, drive 54km from Dire Dawa to Harar up the escarpment of the Rift Valley which is a memorable experience. On your way, you pass through lakes Adele and Alemaya. Then you travel through the rich and green farmland and the colorful Chat market of Awedai. Late in the afternoon, sight-seeing in Harar including the museum and the mosques. There are 99 mosques. Harar is considered to be the 4th most holy city of Islam.
Visit the wall of Harar which has got Five Gates. Late at night, the Hyena man will be visited. Dinner and overnight in Harar.
After breakfast, on the second day, depart for sight-seeing of Harar including the palace of Ras Mekonen, Rimbaud’s House, named after the French poet who chose Harar as his city of exile from French intolerance. Then see the market area which is very colorful. Afternoon, drive in Dire Dawa and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at Dire Dawa. On the last day, leave the hotel for sight-seeing of Dire Dawa including Afeteissa and the Chat Market. The Market place is frequented by camel-herding Oromos, Somalis, Issas and Afars. Visit some caves near the town with prehistoric cave paintings. Lunch in Dire Dawa. Late in the afternoon, transfer to the airport for a flight to Addis Ababa.
VI. HISTORIC NORTH
HISTORIC ROUTE TO AXUM, LALIBELLA, GONDAR AND BAHIRDAR(By Air)
Tour Code No : ATT 2020
Duration : 5 Nights/6 Days
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Bahirdar. The flight takes 40 – 45 minutes. Lunch at Bahirdar. Afternoon, sight-seeing tour of Bahirdar including the market, the palace of the former Emperor Haile Selassie(Bezawit Palace), small scale cottage industry where craftsmen specialize in making boats from papyrus reed for fishing. Dinner and overnight, Bahirdar. After an early breakfast the 2nd day, drive 32kms South East of Bahirdar and walk up some distance and then proceed to visit the thundering “Tiss-Issat” Falls which means Smoking Water in Amharic. Drive back to your hotel. Lunch at your hotel.
Afternoon, a half day boat trip on Lake Tana to visit Ura Kidane Mihret on Zeghie Peninsula and Kibran Gabriel(allowed for men only). Dinner and overnight at Bahirdar.
On the third day, transfer to the airport for a flight to Gondar. Lunch in Gondar. Afternoon, sight-seeing of Gondar town including the castles of King Fasilledas, the open-air bath, the monasteries of Qusquom and Debre Berhan Selassie church with its 16th century paintings. Dinner and overnight in Gondar. On the fourth day, transfer to the airport for a flight to Lalibella. Lunch in Lalibella.
Afternoon, tour of the famous eleven rock-hewn churches of 12th century. Dinner and overnight in Lalibella. On the fifth day after an early breakfast, transfer to Airport for a flight to Axum, the holy city of Ethiopia, dating to 2000 years back and cradle of Ethiopian civilization with the Axumite Kingdom. Transfer to your hotel and rest the morning at leisure. Lunch there. Afternoon visit of Axum which includes the tomb of King Ezana, the pedestals of Maishum(the bath of Queen Sheba), the park of stale the new and old Saint Mary Churches of Zion. Legend has it that the tablet of the Holy Ark of the covenant rests there. Dinner and overnight in Axum. On the last day, transfer to airport for a flight to Addis Ababa.
HISTORIC ROUTE TO AXUM, LALIBELLA, GONDAR AND BAHIRDAR(By Road)
Tour Code No : ATT 2021
Duration : 11 Nights/12 Days
After breakfast, leave Addis on Gojam Road. Some stopover at Debre Libanos Monastery. Continue to Bahirdar. Dinner and overnight in Bahirdar.
On the second day, sight-seeing tour of Bahirdar including the market, the palace of the former Emperor Haile(Bezawit palace), small scale cottage industry where craftsmen specialize in making boats from papyrus reed for fishing.
The same day, drive 32kms South East of Bahirdar and walk up some distance and then proceed to visit the thundering “Tiss-Issat” Falls which means Smoking Water in Amharic. Drive back to your hotel. Afternoon, four hour boat excursion on Lake Tana to visit Ura Kidane Mihret on Zeghie Peninsula and Kibran Gabriel(allowed for men only). Dinner and overnight at Bahirdar.
On the third day, drive for Gondar – the 17th century Ethiopian capital. Lunch en route. Afternoon, sight-seeing of Gondar town including the castles of King Fasilledas, the open-air bath, the monasteries of Qusquom and Debre Berhan Selassie church with its 16th century paintings and Frescoes. Return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Gondar.
On the fourth day, drive to Semien N. Park. Enjoy the Semien N. Park, the whole of the fifth day too and spend the night there. There will be sight-seeing and some trekking in the park. Meals and overnight will be in Semien Lodge.
On the sixth day of the tour, drive for Axum, the holy city of Ethiopia, dating back 2000 years and cradle of Ethiopian civilization with the Axumite Kingdom. On the seventh day, rest the morning at leisure. Afternoon, visit of Axum which includes the tomb of King Ezana, the pedestals of Maishum(the bath of Queen Sheba), the park of stale the old and new St. Mary Churches of Zion. Legend has it that the table of the Holy Ark of the covenant rests there. Overnight and dinner in Axum.
On the eighth day of the tour, depart for Mekelle. En route visit the Debre Damo Monastery. Afternoon, sight-seeing in Mekelle which includes the old castle of Emperor Yohannes and the museum. On the ninth day of the tour, drive to Lalibella, lunch en route. Dinner and overnight in Lalibella.
On the tenth day of the tour, visit the famous eleven rock-hewn churches and the village named after the King who initiated the construction of these churches in the 12th century. Dinner and overnight in Lalibella.
On the eleventh day of the tour, drive to Dessie, the capital of Wollo province. Lunch en route. Late in the afternoon, visit the monastery of St. Estifanos on the Island of Haik, which has very long and rich legends. Dinner and overnight in Kombolcha.
On the twelfth day, drive to Addis Ababa. Lunch will be en route.
VII. THE SOUTH AND WEST
THE DEEP SOUTH
Tour Code No : ATT 2022(The Deep South)
Duration : 9 Nights/10 Days
On the first day, drive due South through the lake region of Ethiopia passing the towns of Debre Zeit, Mojjo, Zeway, Shashemene to spend the night in Awassa. Lunch en route and overnight Awassa town.
Day two will start with the visit of Awassa and then continue to Arbaminch. Lunch en route. Take a detour to Chencha town renowned for its unique huts known as “elephant tusk”. Overnight Arbaminch.
The third day will be spent around Arbaminch. In the morning, the Nech Sar National Park will be visit. After lunch at the hotel, we take you to Lake Chamo for a view of the huge Nile Crocodiles and hippos at a place called “Crocodile Market”.
Dinner will be at your hotel in Arbaminch.
The fourth day is the day when the real journey to the Deep South starts. We drive to Jinka which is the capital of the region. On the way, we will have a chance to see as many ethnic tribes as possible. Lunch will be en route. Dinner in Jinka town.
Day five will be a visit to the unique Mursi tribe where their women are known for their clay lips. You will take a lunch box and come back to Jinka and your hotel for dinner.
On day six, we depart for Turmi and drive through Dimeka to reach there. Lunch and dinner will be in Turmi where you will be lodged in one of the many lodges.
Day seven, you will go deeper into the heart of the Omo tribes on your way to visit Omorate and the Karo village. This will give you a chance to visit more tribes of this part of the country. You will be well off with a lunch box. Dinner in Turmi at your lodge.
The eighth day will be the day to start the journey back from the Omo Valley. You will drive through Konso and spend the night in Yabello. Lunch will be in Konso and dinner will be in Yabello.
On the ninth day, it would be time to drive due North towards Addis. Lunch will be en route and dinner will be in Wondogenet.
The last day of the tour will be driving via Zeway, Butagira and come to Addis from the Western direction.
A dinner at a traditional restaurant with live music will culminate this unforgettable tour.
THE WEST AND SOUTH WEST
Tour Code No : ATT 2023
Duration : 6 Days/5 Nights
The West and South West is where we have rainforest and the coffee plantations. Kafa is said to be the origin of coffee.
Our first day drive will take as to Jima. Capital of the coffee region. Lunch en route. Dinner at your hotel in Jima.
On the second day, we push deep towards Gambella with its own unique tribes. Lunch en route. Dinner in Gambella town.
Pigndo found 110kms South of Gambella town. It is as far as we can go in one day and see the real village life of Agnuwaks and Nuwers – the major tribes in that part of the country. A day trip on the third day to Pigndo and back from Gambella with a lunch box is an unforgettable experience. Dinner at your hotel.
On the fourth day, it will be worthwhile to visit Etang which gives us a different prospective from what we have seen on the drive to Pigndo. A lunch box will be a good idea. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Gambella town. Gambella is a lowland area with a temperature ranging in the 30th oC.
On the fifth day, we will drive up into the highlands of Western Oromia and make our night stop at Nekemte. Lunch will be en route. Dinner and overnight Nekemte.
On the six and last day of this tour, we drive through the rolling beautiful country of West Ethiopia and reach Addis late in the afternoon. Lunch will be en route. Dinner and overnight in Addis.
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