Addis Ababa to Gondar - 21 Days
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Overview
Highlights
- Addis Ababa - start your journey in Ethiopia's bustling capital and head out to explore independently
- Danakil Depression - take an excursion into the hottest place in the world, where three tectonic plates converge
- Simien Mountains National Park - search for rare Ethiopian wolves and marvel at some of the finest scenery in Africa
- Bahir Dar - Enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Tana to see where the Blue Nile begins its journey and to visit an ancient monastery on the lake
- Blue Nile Falls - see the impressive falls known as 'Great Smoke' at Bahir Dar, which are one of Ethiopia's most popular attractions
- Lalibela - marvel at ancient rock-hewn churches including the UNESCO-listed Church of Saint George
- Gondar - enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Ethiopian Empire and take in highlights including Gondar Castle
- Axum - explore the former capital of the Axumite Empire including visits to the famous ruins of Stelae Field and the Palace of the Queen of Sheba
- Awra Amba - meet village elders and if we're lucky, the founder of this community where every member is treated equally
- Mekele - cross the Adwa Mountains and explore Ethiopia's most northern region, home to stunning scenery and fascinating churches
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Details
Destinations
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- 20 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners
- 16 nights in hotels / hostels / guesthouses
- 4 nights camping
- All necessary camping equipment (excluding sleeping bags)
- Transportation in an overland expedition vehicle
- Services of two crew (drivers/tour leaders) and local guides along the way
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Boat trip on Lake Tana
- Guided tour of Lalibela, Axum and Gondar
- Danakil Depression excursion
- 3 night Simien Mountains National Park excursion
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Itinerary
Welcome to Addis Ababa. On arrival in the Ethiopian capital, make your own way to our start hotel. There is a Welcome Meeting at 6:00pm during which you will meet your group and crew. The rest of the day is free to explore Addis Ababa however you like. Maybe head out to the vibrant Addis Ababa Mercato - one of the largest markets in Africa.
Addis Ababa - Debre Markos. Today we drive to the small town of Debre Markos. Travelling on one of Ethiopia's most dramatic stretches of road, we descend 1 kilometre to the bottom of the spectacular Blue Nile Gorge, before driving back up the other side. After our incredibly scenic drive, we arrive in Debre Markos where the evening is at leisure.
Debre Markos - Bahir Dar. Day 3 sees us reach the small town of Bahir Dar, which is located on the shore of Lake Tana. The lake is the source of the Blue Nile, one of the two main tributaries that feed the River Nile, which is so critical to life in swathes of North A...
Bahir Dar - Awra Amba. Today we leave Bahir Dar behind us and drive to the small village of Awra Amba. This village is different to most Ethiopian communities because everyone is valued as an equal member of the community. This is in stark contrast to traditional hier...
Awra Amba - Lalibela. Day 7 is a travel day as we make our way overland to Lalibela. Enjoy a guided tour of the town and its ancient churches the next day. Our guide will show us rock-hewn churches such as the UNESCO-listed Church of Saint George and will explain the ...
Lalibela - Mekele. Today we have a long drive through increasingly mountainous scenery to reach the town of Mekele. On arrival, the evening is free for you to head out and explore.
Mekele - Danakil Depression. Today we leave our overland truck behind and climb aboard 4X4 vehicles for our excursion into the Danakil Depression. Passing through beautiful Tigre villages, we can enjoy incredible views of the Great East African Rift Valley. We pass ca...
Danakil Depression - Mekele. Today we return to Mekele, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. We'll be reunited with our overland truck on arrival.
Mekele - Axum. On day 13 we continue our overland adventure through the foothills of the Simien Mountains, which we will be exploring in a few days. En route we stop to explore one of the famous rock-hewn churches of Tigray, Ethiopia's most northern region. Arriving i...
Axum - Debark. Today we have a long drive to the village of Debark, our base for exploring the Simien Mountains National Park. The scenery along our route is breathtaking. On arrival in Debark, we meet our local mountain guide for a briefing about the next few days in the Simiens. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Debark - Simien Mountains National Park. On day 16 we enter the Simien Mountains National Park. We spend three days in this incredible reserve, camping without facilities at the basic campsites within the park. During our stay here we plan to partake in numerous treks...
Simien Mountains National Park - Debark - Gondar. On day 19 we leave the staggering scenery of the Simien Mountains behind and make our way back to Debark. We then complete our overland adventure to Gondar. The city was formerly the capital of the Ethiopian Empire unt...
Today marks the end of your Ethiopian adventure. Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before making your way to the airport for your onward flight. Contact our team if you're interested in booking extra accommodation in order to further explore Gondar.
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights and visas
- Items of a personal nature, additional meals and drinks
- Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
- Sleeping bag and roll mat - please bring your own for camping
- Optional activities
- Local payment - $650pp, paid in USD
Accommodation
18 and over. No upper age limit but anyone over 70 needs to complete a tour suitability form.
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