20 days/19 nights Historic Route with Simien Mountains & Danakil Depression, Awash & Harar Tour

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: 

Overnight: Zola/Guzara International hotel 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

Overnight: Jacaranda hotel 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

Overnight: AG/Ruth hotel Gondar

Day 4. Gondar – Wolleka – Debark – Simien Mountains (Buyit Ras – Sankaber)

– Drive to Buyit Ras via Debark in route, Wolleka (Falasha village) can be visited, if interested.

– Trek (total 3-4 hours) from Buyit Ras to Sankaber in route, visit:

• The wonderful scenario of the landscapes
• Endemic Gelada Baboons

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Camping at Sankaber

Day 5. Simien Mountains [Sankaber – Jinbar Waterfall (Geech Abyss) – Geech]

– Trek (total 5-6 hours) from Sankaber to Geech in route, visit:

• The place where the Jinbar Waterfall plunges into Geech Abyss.
• Jinbar Waterfall & its adorable landscape.
• Endemic Gelada Baboons 

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Camping at Geech

Day 6. Simien Mountains (Geech – Imet Gogo – Ennatiye – Chennek)

– Trek (total 5 hours) from Geech to Chennek in route, ascend to:

• Imet Gogo (3,926m): To see the spectacular views over the Valleys.
• Ennatiye (4,070m): The perfect place to witness the beauty of the landscapes of the Simien Mountains. 

– Afterwards, descend to Chennek passing through Korbete Matia a solid rock wall on the way, spotting Lammergeiers (the long-winged bearded Vultures).

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Camping at Chennek 

Day 7. Simien Mountains (Chennek – Ras Bwahit – Chennek) – Gondar

– Trek (total 4-5 hours) from Chennek to Ras Bwahit and back to Chennek.

Ascend to: 

– Ras Bwahit peak (4,430m): To see the excellent views of the Simien Mountains and endemic animals [Walia Ibex, Ethiopian Wolf (Red Fox), Gelada Baboon (Red/Bleeding-Chested Baboon)…]

– Car picks us up from Chennek and drive to back to Gondar

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: AG/Ruth hotel Gondar

Day 8. 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

Overnight: Lal hotel Lalibela

Day 9. 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

Overnight: Lal hotel Lalibela

Day 10. 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

Overnight: Armah/Ethiopis hotel Axum

Day 11. 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

Overnight: Vision hotel Hawzen

Day 12. 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

Overnight: Vision hotel Hawzen

Day 13. Hawzen – Atsbi – Mekelle

– Morning, drive to Atsbi to visit:

• Michael Imba: Requires 0.75 easy trekking and climbing on a 2m tall ladder
• Michael DebreSelam: Requires 2h easy trekking

– Afterwards, drive to Mekelle.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Parrot Guest House Mekelle

Day 14. Mekelle – Danakil Depression (Dallol)

– In the morning, drive to the Northern part of the Danakil Depression (Dallol area) and visit:

• Sulfur Lake
• Camel Caravans & Local Salt Mining
• Sunset on Lake Asale/Karum

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Outside under the stars at HamadEla

Day 15. Danakil Depression (Dallol – Erta Ale)

– Morning, visit:

• Dallol Volcano
• Salt Mountains (Canyons)

– Afterwards, drive to the Southern part of the Danakil Depression (Erta Ale area).

– TREK (30-40min) to the top of Erta Ale Mountain.

– Visit Erta Ale Volcano (Lava Lake) during the night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Outside/inside local huts made up of lava rocks

Day 16. Danakil Depression (Erta Ale – Afdera) – Afdera – Semera

– Trek (30-40min) back, meet cars and drive to Afdera and visit Lake Afrera.

– Afterwards, proceed driving to Semera, pick up security and proceed driving to Alelopad an area known for its unique landscapes, colourful hydrothermal springs & mud volcanoes.

– After visit, return to Semera.

Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Ardi Ethiopia hotel Semera

Day 17. Semera – Awash

– Drive to Awash.

– Visit:

• The beautiful landscapes of the park around the Gorge.
• Wildlife in the park (Game Drive).

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Genet hotel Awash

Day 18. Awash – Harar

– Morning, visit & take a bath in Deho spring water.

– Afterwards, drive to Harar.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Ras hotel Harar 

Day 19. Harar

– Visit:

• The colourful markets of Harar
• The House of Rimbaud
• Ras Tafari’s House
• Ras Mekonnen’s Palace
• The Harari National Cultural Center
• The tomb of Emir Nur, who built the famous Jugol (The City Wall)
• A man feeding Hyenas

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Ras hotel Harar

Day 20. Harar – Dire Dawa

– Drive to Dire Dawa in route, visit:

• The old Train station
• Aweday Khat market

– Transfer to Dire airport to catch your flight back to Addis.

If it is possible for you to add one more day and/or it is fine to do a little bit fast visit, we can put visit of Babile in the itinerary.

Meal plan: Breakfast