Historic Route with Simien Mountains, Danakil Depression and Omo Valley Tour
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Tour name: Historic Route, Simien Mountains, Tigray Churches, Danakil Depression and Omo Valley Tour
Tour code: HSTDOTR-117
Destinations: Addis, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Simien Mountains (Buyit Ras, Sankaber, Jinbar Valley/Waterfall, Chennek, Ras Bwahit), Lalibela, Axum, Yeha Temple, Teka Tesfay (Medhani Alem Adi Kosho, Michael Melhay Zengi), Gheralta (Abune Yemata Guh/Maryam & Daniel Korkor), Atsbi (Michael Imba, Michael Debre Selam), Danakil Depression (Dallol Lake Asale/Karum, Salt Mountains/Canyons, Sulphur Lake/Yellow Ponds, Camel Caravans & Local Salt Mining), Omo Valley (Jinka, Tirmi, Omorate, Mursi)
Duration: 17 days/16 nights
Starting point: Addis Ababa
Ending point: Jinka
Day 1. Addis
– You will be welcomed by your guide/a member of Magma Flow Team at Bole International airport Addis and transfer to your hotel/resort. If your arrival is early morning, city tour of Addis Ababa will be arranged.
Meal plan: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Zola/Guzara International hotel (3*) Addis
Day 2. Addis – Bahir Dar
– Morning, fly to Bahir Dar, pick up from airport and check-in your hotel/lodge.
– Take a boat trip on Lake Tana.
Visit:
- ZegePenninsula
- AzuwaMaryam
- UraKidaneMehret
- DebreMaryam
– Afternoon, visit Blue Nile Falls & walk around to enjoy the beautiful views of the area.
– Sunset on the best viewpoint of the Lake.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Jacaranda hotel (3*) Bahir Dar
Day 3. Bahir Dar – Gondar
– Morning, drive to Gondar.
– Afternoon, visit sites in Gondar:
- The Royal Enclosure
- Fasilidass Pool, still used for Timket celebrations
- Ras Gimb Palace Museum
- Debre Birhan Selassie church
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: AG/Ruth hotel (3*) Gondar
Day 4. Gondar – Simien Mountains (Buyit Ras – Sankaber)
– Morning, drive to Buyit Ras via Debark.
– Trek (2-3h) from Buyit Ras to Sankaber. En route, visit:
- The wonderful scenario of the landscapes
- Endemic Gelada Baboons
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner
Overnight: Camping at Sankaber
Day 5. Simien Mountains [Sankaber – Jinbar Valley – Chennek
– Trek (3h) from Sankaber to Jinbar Valley. En route, visit:
- The place where the Jinbar Waterfall plunges into Geech Abyss.
- Jinbar Waterfall & its adorable landscape.
- Endemic Gelada Baboons
– Car picks us up from Jinbar Valley and drive to Chennek.
– Trek (0.5-1h) around Chennek to visit villages and local people.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner
Overnight: Camping at Chennek
Day 6. Simien Mountains (Chennek – Ras Bwahit) – Gondar
– Drive from Chennek to Bwahit Pass and ascend (3h) to Ras Bwahit (4,430m) the second highest mountain in Simien, enjoy watching the wonderful views of the landscapes.
– Afterwards, descend back to Bwahit Pass, meet our car and drive back to Gondar.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: AG/Ruth hotel (3*) Bahir Dar
Day 7. Gondar – Lalibela
– Fly to Lalibela, pick up from airport and check-in your lodge.
– Afternoon, visit best of the best churches in Ethiopia, Yemrahanna Kristos.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Lal hotel Lalibela
Day 8. Lalibela
– Morning, visit half of the 11 rock-hewn churches (Northwestern cluster):
- BetMedhaneAlem
- BetMaryam
- BetMeskel
- BetDanaghel
- BetMikael
- BetGolgotha (entry not permitted for women).
– Afternoon, visit the rest half (Southeastern cluster):
- BetGabriel-Rufael
- BetMerkorios
- BetAmanual
- BetAbbaLibanos
- BetGiyorgis until the sunset (the most famous of all)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Lal hotel Lalibela
Day 9. Lalibela – Axum
– Morning, fly to Axum, pick up from airport and check-in your hotel.
– Afternoon, visit sites in Axum (all if time permits):
- The famous Obelisks
- Archeological museum
- Queen of Shebas Bath
- Ezanas enscription
- King Kalebs tomb
- King Bazens tomb
- Queen of Shebas Palace
- Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Armah/Ethiopis hotel (3*) Axum
Day 10. Axum – Yeha – Teka Tesfay – Hawzen
– Morning, drive to Hawzen. En route, visit:
- Ruins of Yeha Temple (if interested)
- Medhane Alem AdiKosho: Requires 1h easy trekking
- Mikael MelhayZengi: Requires 1h easy trekking
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Vision hotel Hawzen
Day 11. Hawzen – Gheralta – Hawzen
– Morning, visit Abune Yemata Guh (Requires 2h challenging trekking and climbing – not recommended if you have height phobia) or Maryam & Daniel Korkor (Requires 2.5h challenging trekking).
– Afternoon, visit Maryam Papaseit (Requires 1h easy trekking).
– Afterwards, return to Hawzen.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Vision hotel Hawzen
Day 12. Hawzen – Atsbi – Mekelle
– Morning, drive to Atsbi to visit:
- Mikael Imba: Requires 0.75 easy trekking and climbing on a 2m tall ladder
- Mikael DebreSelam: Requires 2h easy trekking
– Afterwards, drive to Mekelle.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Parrot Guest House Mekelle
Day 13. Mekelle – Danakil Depression (Dallol)
– Morning, drive to the Northern part of the Danakil Depression (Dallol area).
– Afternoon, visit:
- Camel caravans heading back from the salt mining area to HamadEla & highlands (if available)
- Sunset on Lake Asale/Karum.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner
Overnight: Outside under the stars in HamadEla
Day 14. Danakil Depression (Dallol) – Mekelle/Addis
– In the morning, visit:
- Dallol Volcano
- Salt Mountains (Canyons)
- Sulfur Lake/Yellow Ponds
- Camel Caravans & Local Salt Mining (if available)
– Afterwards, drive to Mekelle.
Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight: Parrot Guest House Mekelle/Zola international hotel (3*) Addis
Day 15. Mekelle/Addis – Jinka – Turmi
– Pick up from Jinka airport, drive to Turmi and visit Turmi village.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Overnight:
Option #1. Camping in Turmi village which would allow you to take as many photos as you want without people nagging you. This also makes the trip less touristy and enable you to see something natural, without people posing and going about their day to day life.
Optipon #2. Mango lodge Turmi
Day 16. Turmi – Omorate (Dassenech Tribe) – Turmi – Jinka
– Morning, cross Omo River by a Local Boat to Dassenech Village and visit the Dassenech Tribe.
– Afterwards, return to Turmi, attend Turmi market (biggest market in Omo Valley) and drive to Jinka.
– Walk around the village to visit Ari Tribe, if time permits.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Overnight: NASA Pension Jinka
Day 17. Jinka – Mursi – Jinka
– Morning, drive through Mago National Park and visit Mursi Tribe.
– After visit, return to Jinka and transfer to Jinka airport to catch your flight back to Addis.
Meal plan: Breakfast