Ultimate North Ethiopia Adventure (21 Days)

Welcome to Gondar! The city was formerly the capital of the Ethiopian Empire until overthrown by a Marxist rebellion in 1974. Make your own way to our start hotel and join a 6:00 pm Welcome Meeting to meet your tour group and crew. The rest of your first day is free to head out and explore the city, which is famous for its numerous empire-era castles.

Today we enjoy a half-day guided tour of Gondar. Highlights of the tour include Gondar Castle, Debre Birhan Selassie Church, and the King Fasilides Baths. This palace sits in a now drained swimming pool that was built by Fasilides during his rule in the 17th century.

Gondar – Debark – Simien Mountains National Park. On day 3 we board our overland truck for the first time and travel to Debark. There’s a briefing from our mountain guide before we head into the breathtaking scenery of Simien Mountains National Park. We spend three days trekking through the majestic Simien Mountains, encountering unique wildlife and enjoying panoramic views from the high plateaus.

Simien Mountains National Park – Debark. Today we say goodbye to the Simien Mountains and head back to Debark. We spend the night in a local hotel and the evening is free to head out and explore.

Debark – Axum. Day 7 sees us back on the road as we continue our journey through the foothills of the Simien Mountains to Axum, once the capital of the Axumite Empire. This mighty empire once encompassed parts of modern-day Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan, and Yemen. We spend two days exploring Axum’s historical sites, including the famous stelae, the Queen of Sheba’s Palace, and St. Mary of Zion Church.

Axum – Mekele. Today we drive through the scenic Adwa Mountains to Tigray, the northernmost region of Ethiopia. We’ll visit one of the region’s famous rock-hewn churches, either Abraha Atsbeha or Wukro Chirkos. Both churches date back hundreds of years and are richly decorated with paintings. After our visit, we arrive in the city of Mekele.

Mekele – Danakil Depression. Today we leave our overland truck behind and climb aboard 4×4 vehicles for our excursion into the Danakil Depression. Passing through beautiful Tigre villages, we can enjoy incredible views of the Great East African Rift Valley. We pass camel caravans and colorful sulfur lakes and finally arrive at the surreal landscape of the Danakil Depression.

Danakil Depression – Mekele. Leaving the incredible Danakil Depression behind, we return to Mekele where the remainder of the day is at leisure. We’ll be reunited with our overland truck on arrival.

Mekele – Lalibela. Day 12 is a travel day as we make our way across Ethiopia to Lalibela. Enjoy a guided tour of the town the following day. Our guide will show us ancient rock-hewn churches such as the UNESCO-listed Church of Saint George and will explain the fascinating history behind these remarkable structures. Spend day 14 exploring the surrounding areas of Lalibela, immersing in the unique rural Ethiopian life.

Lalibela – Awra Amba. Today we’ll be visiting the small village of Awra Amba. This village is different from most Ethiopian communities because everyone is valued as an equal member of the community. This is in stark contrast to traditional hierarchical Ethiopian values. We’ll enjoy a tour of the settlement with a village elder and we may even get to meet the founder, Zumra Nuru.

Awra Amba – Bahir Dar. On day 16 we drive to the small town of Bahir Dar. The town is built on the shore of Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile, one of the two major tributaries of the mighty River Nile which is so crucial to life in East Africa. Spend the next two days exploring Bahir Dar and the surrounding areas, including a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the island monasteries and an excursion to the Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tiss Isat (“Water that Smokes”).

Bahir Dar – Debre Markos. Today we begin our journey south to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. We break up the journey with a stop for the night in the small town of Debre Markos.

Debre Markos – Addis Ababa. Today we complete our drive to Addis Ababa. En route we’ll take a detour to drive to the bottom of the Blue Nile Gorge, and up the other side. Arriving in the city, there’s free time to head out and explore.

Today our Ethiopian adventure comes to an end. Enjoy a final breakfast in the hotel before making your own way to the airport for your onward flight.