29 Days Grand Tour of Northern, Eastern and Southern Ethiopia

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. After refreshing, begin your sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa with a drive up to Mount Entoto for a panoramic view of the city. Descend and drive to the National Museum where you will have a chance to see the famous 3.2-million-year-old fossil of Lucy. Continue to Holy Trinity Cathedral, built during World War II and the burial place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Proceed to the Ethnographic Museum, which used to be the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. To conclude the day, visit Mercato, the largest open-air market in East Africa.
Overnight in Addis Ababa

After an early breakfast, drive to Bahir Dar passing through the mountainous landscape and forests around Mount Entoto. After about two hours, you will reach the historic monastery of Debre Libanos, founded in the 13th century by Saint Tekle Haymanot. Visit the church and museum which contain ancient religious manuscripts and crosses. Later continue your journey across the scenic Blue Nile Gorge. After lunch in Dejen, continue driving to Bahir Dar.
Overnight in Bahir Dar

After breakfast, take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th-century monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret, the most famous of the Zege Peninsula monasteries. The monastery is known for its colorful wall paintings and ancient manuscripts. In the afternoon, drive to the village of Tis Issat to visit the Blue Nile Falls. (Note: the volume of water may vary depending on the dam operations.)
Overnight in Bahir Dar

After breakfast, drive to Gondar, the former royal capital of Ethiopia founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasilides. In the afternoon, visit the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring castles and palaces built by several emperors. Continue to Debre Birhan Selassie Church, famous for its beautiful murals and ceiling decorated with angel faces.
Overnight in Gondar

Today you will drive to Buyit Ras in the Simien Mountains. This area offers some of the most dramatic landscapes in Ethiopia with deep valleys and towering cliffs. The Simien Mountains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to endemic wildlife including the gelada baboon and Walia ibex.
Overnight in Debarq

After an early breakfast, drive to Axum, a city with more than 2,500 years of history and once the center of the powerful Axumite Empire. Upon arrival, begin a city tour including Stelae Park, the tombs of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskel, Ezana’s Inscription, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath, and St. Mary of Zion Church where the Ark of the Covenant is believed to be housed.
Overnight in Axum

After breakfast, drive toward Hawzen. On the way visit the ancient Temple of Yeha, one of the oldest standing structures in Ethiopia dating back to the 8th century BC. Continue to visit one of the famous rock-hewn churches of Tigray such as Abreha We Atsbeha or Wukro Cherkos.
Overnight in Hawzen or Gheralta

After breakfast, visit the spectacular rock church of Abune Yemata, a 5th-century church located high on a cliff in the Gheralta Mountains. After exploring the church and enjoying the incredible views, continue driving to Mekelle.
Overnight in Mekelle

Drive from Mekelle to Dodom at the base of Erta Ale Volcano. The journey takes several hours through lava fields, desert landscapes, and small Afar villages. In the evening, trek to the summit of Erta Ale volcano where you will witness the dramatic lava lake, one of the few permanent lava lakes in the world.
Overnight camping near the volcano

Descend from Erta Ale in the morning and return to Dodom for breakfast. After resting, drive to Hamedela village located in the Danakil Depression.
Overnight camping in Hamedela

Early morning excursion to Ragad where local Afar people mine salt. Watch the traditional method of cutting salt blocks and loading them onto camel caravans. Continue to visit the colorful geothermal landscape of Dallol and Lake Assale before driving back to Mekelle.
Overnight in Mekelle

After breakfast, drive to Lalibela enjoying the scenic landscapes of the Tigray and Amhara regions. Stop at Alamata to visit the local markets and later at Weldiya for lunch before continuing to Lalibela.
Overnight in Lalibela

Visit the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, carved directly into the rock during the 12th century. These churches are considered one of the greatest architectural achievements in the world.
Overnight in Lalibela

In the morning, visit Yimrehane Kristos Church located in a cave in the mountains. The church is a masterpiece of Axumite architecture built from wood and stone. In the afternoon visit additional churches including Bete Gabriel, Bete Merkorios, Bete Emmanuel, and Bete Abba Libanos.
Overnight in Lalibela

After breakfast drive to Awash National Park via Mile Serdo Wildlife Reserve. Along the way you may see antelopes, ostriches, wild donkeys, and many bird species. Later arrive at your lodge in Awash and relax near the natural hot springs.
Overnight at Awash Doho Lodge

After breakfast enjoy game viewing before driving to the historic city of Harar. In the evening watch the famous hyena feeding tradition outside the city walls.
Overnight in Harar

After breakfast explore Harar including traditional Harari houses, museums, colorful markets, Arthur Rimbaud’s house, and ancient mosques. In the afternoon drive to Dire Dawa.
Overnight in Dire Dawa

After breakfast drive back toward Awash and stay overnight at Awash Falls Lodge.
Overnight Awash Falls Lodge

Drive to Bale Mountains National Park. In the afternoon explore the park headquarters area around Dinsho where you may see endemic animals such as Mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck.
Overnight in Dinsho

Today you will drive to the Sanetti Plateau, the highest plateau in Africa, where you may see the rare Ethiopian Wolf. Continue to the lush Harenna Forest, one of the largest forests in Ethiopia.
Overnight in Dinsho

After breakfast drive to Awassa via Shashemene. In the afternoon enjoy a relaxing walk along Lake Awassa and watch the sunset.
Overnight in Awassa

Visit the fish market of Lake Awassa in the morning. Then drive to Arba Minch visiting the Dorze village in Chencha known for weaving and unique elephant-shaped houses.
Overnight in Arba Minch

Take a boat cruise on Lake Chamo where you may see crocodiles, hippos, and many bird species. Continue to Konso village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its terraced hillsides and cultural traditions. Later drive to Jinka.
Overnight in Jinka

Excursion to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe. The women are known for their large clay lip plates. After lunch drive to Turmi where the Hamer people live.
Overnight in Turmi

Drive to Murulle to visit the Karo tribe who are famous for their elaborate body painting and decoration. Continue to visit the Nyangatom people who live near the Omo River.
Overnight in Turmi

Drive to Omorate near the Kenyan border to visit the Dassanech tribe who live along the banks of the Omo River. Later return to Turmi and visit the local tribal market if available.
Overnight in Turmi

Drive to Konso village and explore the cultural landscape and terraced agriculture of this UNESCO-recognized community before continuing to Arba Minch.
Overnight in Konso

After breakfast drive back to Addis Ababa. On the way stop at Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its mysterious ancient stone stelae.
Overnight in Addis Ababa

Today you will have time for shopping in Addis Ababa. In the evening enjoy a farewell cultural dinner featuring traditional Ethiopian cuisine, music, and dance. Later you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure.