Live the Journey » Ethiopia : The Mystery and Splendour of the Historical Route

Ethiopia : The Mystery and Splendour of the Historical Route

historic

Expert tour leader:
Famous travel writer and African expert, Mike Copeland will be the tour leader. Mike has published four travel guides – Cape to Cairo, Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana – and is the author of numerous magazine articles on his African travels. With a particular love for Ethiopia, its people and culture he has visited the country many times and can’t get enough of this undiscovered destination.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Tuesday, 12 Oct 2010 Depart for Addis

Plan your travel arrangements to arrive at OR Tambo Airport by 11:00.
Proceed to the Ethiopian Airline check-in counter to check-in for your flight to Addis.
Arrive in Addis.
You will be met and transferred to your hotel.
O/N Addis city hotel

Day 2: Wednesday, 13 Oct 2010 Debre Libanos Monastery / Bahar Dar

Breakfast and check-out.
Depart for the DebreLibanos monastery. Admire the wonderful views of the monastery as well as the Jemma gorge and the Old Portuguese bridge. Be on the look-out for the endemic gelada baboons.
Late afternoon return to Addis.
Proceed to the airport and check-in for evening flight to Bahardar.
Arrive at the airport and transfer to hotel.
O/N Lake Tana Hotel (full board)

Day 3: Thursday, 14 Oct 2010 Blue Nile and Lake Tana

Breakfast and depart for the Blue Nile Falls. In Ethiopia they call these falls “Tisissat”, which means “water that smokes”. The falls drop over a sheer chasm more than 150 feet to the valley below.
Return to Bahardar for lunch.
Enjoy an afternoon boat trip on Lake Tana. Admire the beautiful monastery of is Ura Kidane Mehret on one of the islands.
O/N Bahardar (full board)

Day 4: Friday, 15 Oct 2010 Gondar

Breakfast and proceed to Gondar the Camelot of Africa. Still-standing castles and palaces in Gondar hint at the grandeur of days gone by. During the afternoon visit
the Debre Birhan Sellasie church (Light of Trinity). It has spellbinding ceiling murals.
Also visit the King Fasiladas bath, the focus point of Timkat festivities during January.
Dinner at the hotel.
O/N Gondar (full board)

Day 5: Saturday, 16 Oct 2010 Gondar

Breakfast and then proceed to visit the Castle Compound. Step back in time and imagine the days of grandeur when strolling through the palaces, ballrooms, spa etc.
Afternoon to explore the markets and town.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 6: Sunday, 17 Oct 2010 Axum

Breakfast and check-out. Proceed to the airport for a morning flight to Axum.
Met at the airport and transfer to hotel.
Axum is said to be the last resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. It is also believed that it was the capital city of the Queen of Sheba in the 10th century BC.
Visit the monolithic stelae for which Axum is well-known form.
O/N Axum (full board)
O/N Gondar (full board)

Day 7: Monday, 18 Oct 2010 Axum

Breakfast and rest of the day to explore Axum.
Visit the Palace of the Queen of Sheba and Church of Saint Mary of Zion. According to tradition the latter was built when Christianity became the state religion in the 4th century. Rest of the day to explore the other treasures in Axum.
Dinner at the hotel.
O/N Axum (full board)

Day 8: Tuesday, 19 Oct 2010 Lalibela

Breakfast, check-out and proceed to the airport for a morning flight to Lalibela.
Lalibela is known as the eighth wonder of the world. Depending on time of arrival visit the Nakutolab Cave church pre or post checking in at the hotel. The airport is about 30 km from the town that is nestles in the high mountains.
Dinner at the hotel.
O/N Yemereha Hotel, Lalibela (full board)

Day 9: Wednesday, 20 Oct 2010 Lalibela

Breakfast at the hotel.
Spent the morning visiting the first group of rock-hewn churches.
Lunch at the hotel.
Spent the afternoon visiting the second group of rock-hewn churches. Today you will take of and put on your shoes at least 11 times.
Dinner at the hotel.
O/N Yemereha Hotel, Lalibela (full board)

Day 10: Thursday, 21 Oct 2010 Addis Ababa

Breakfast, check-out and transfer to the airport for your flight to Addis.
Met at the airport and transfer to hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure.
O/N Addis (breakfast)

Day 11: Friday, 22 Oct 2010 Addis Ababa

Breakfast and proceed on a full day city sightseeing tour. Visit the Entoto Mountains to admire the view of the capital city from there. Also visit the National Museum, St George church and the Merkato – biggest open-air market in Africa.
Enjoy a traditional dinner with folkloristic dances.
O/N Hotel in Addis Ababa (breakfast and dinner)

Day 12: Saturday, 23 Oct 2010 Return

Breakfast and early transfer to the airport to check-in for return flight.

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TOUR DETAILS

Tour cost:

Land arrangements in Ethiopia based on 6 people sharing: US$2190.00 per person
Single supplement : US$ 260.00 per person
Domestic flights in Ethiopia : US$ 450.00 per person
Flight from Johannesburg / Addis / Johannesburg (approximately): R6 000.00 pp