Historical Tour

Arrive at Addis Ababa (meaning “new flower”) where you will be met and driven to your hotel.  From here, you will set out for an afternoon of exploring the fascinating city of Addis Ababa with a local guide.  The following day, head out to Mount Entoto just to the north of Addis at 9,000ft (2,740m), and visit the place where Emperor Menelik established his permanent camp.

This morning you will board a flight to Axum. Axum is Ethiopia’s most ancient city,capital of the Axumite Empire which flourished between 100 – 900 AD through trading between India and the Roman Empire. Explore this incredible city, highlights include St Mary of Zion, the holiest church in Ethiopia and the graves of King Kaleb and Queen of Sheba.

After breakfast you will be met at the hotel and transferred to the airport to board a flight to Lalibela.  At Lalibela, you will be met by a knowledgeable local guide and taken to see several of the amazing churches that have been hewn out of the rock. You will get to explore inside these wonderful edifices.

Take a short flight in the morning to Gondar.  The city itself is a mixture of Gondarine architecture and Art Deco, which can be explained as it was created during the Italian occupation.  Here you may hear Azmari music performed by a singer and a masingo player.  Visit the Royal Enclosure, that provides an insight into royal life during the 17th to 19th centuries, when Gondar was the imperial capital.

Today, you will drive from Gondar to the imposing Simien Mountains.  Here, you will come across the gelada or bleeding heart monkey.  The home of the extremely rare and endangered Ethiopian wolves that you may be lucky enough to see.  Drives and walks admiring the flora and fauna will be arranged for your second day in the mountains, and why not take a picnic to sit and enjoy the amazing surroundings.

Today, drive down from the mountains and back to Gondar.  Spend the night in Gondar, and enjoy some of the local Ethiopian foods, such as endura and tibs, and try some of that famous Ethiopian coffee, that can be roasted and brewed right before your eyes.  Take a scenic drive along the banks of the Blue Nile to Lake Tana, the river’s source and Ethiopia’s largest lake.  It is also the highest at 6,000ft (1,800m).  The Blue Nile contributes more than half of the Nile’s water and meets the White Nile at Khartoum.  There will be an evening lake-shore cruise, which will appeal to birding enthusiasts.

After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to start the journey home. You will be driven from Lake Tana directly to Addis Ababa’s International Airport where you will board your return flight to London.