Ethiopia: Cradle of Civilisation

Dating from the very dawn of civilisation, Ethiopia is a remarkable, and as yet largely undiscovered country. It offers a fascinating mix of historical sights, a rich and unique religious and cultural heritage, and spectacular landscapes from the highlands to the Rift Valley.

We begin in the capital, Addis Ababa, with its archaeological museum housing the three million-year-old bones of 'Lucy', the Holy Trinity and St. George's Cathedrals, and the old Imperial compound on Mount Ento. We then move to Axum to explore the legacy of its ancient civilisations in the compound of the Mariamtsion Church, the Stelae Park and the 1st century villa known locally as the 'Palace of the Queen of Sheba'. We also visit the 2,700-year-old ruined city of Yeha. Continuing to Lalibela, the ‘New Jerusalem’, we visit its astonishing rock-hewn churches before visiting the former Imperial capital of Gondar with its well-preserved castle compound. We then travel high into the spectacular landscape of the Simien Mountains before ending this remarkable journey on Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile.

Day 1: Saturday, 17th November

London / Addis Ababa

Depart London Heathrow on an evening Ethiopian Airlines overnight flight to Addis Ababa.

Day 2: Sunday, 18th November

Addis Ababa

On arrival, transfer to the centrally located Hilton Hotel, where two nights are spent. Morning at leisure.

Lunch under own arrangements. Afternoon tour of the city including the fascinating Archaeological Museum which houses exhibits ranging from the three million-year-old bones of ‘Lucy’ through to the Axumite and Gondarene periods and the 19th century monarchs. Continue with a drive up Mount Entoto, briefly the site of the 19th century capital, which has panoramic views over the city and surrounding countryside. Dinner at the Top View Restaurant.

Day 3: Monday, 19th November

Addis Ababa

Continue the tour of the city with the fascinating Ethnographic Museum, which is housed in a former palace of Haile Selassie and has numerous artefacts relating to most of the ethnic groups in Ethiopia.

Lunch under own arrangements. Visit the lavishly decorated Holy Trinity Cathedral, last resting place of Haile Selassie, and St. George’s Cathedral which is the oldest of Addis Ababa’s churches, originally built to commemorate the victory over Italy in the battle of Adwa in 1896. Dinner under own arrangements.

Day 4: Tuesday, 20th November

Addis Ababa / Axum

Transfer to Addis Ababa airport for an early flight to Axum, the early centre of civilization. On arrival transfer to the Yeha Hotel, situated on a hill overlooking Axum, where two nights are spent.

Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon tour of the city, which for some 900 years from 200BC to 700AD was the capital of a sophisticated and widespread empire, the legacy of which is evident in the city’s sights today. Visits include the compound of the Mariamtsion (St. Mary of Zion) Church; the Treasury; the Stelae Park, which has the largest single pieces of erected stone in the world; the ‘Pool of the Queen of Sheba’, and the ruins of a 1st century villa that is known locally as the ‘Palace of the Queen of Sheba’. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5: Wednesday, 21st November

Axum

Travel outside the city to visit the 2,700-year-old ruined city of Yeha with its rock-hewn tombs and remarkable, well-preserved 12-metre high stone temple.

Picnic lunch. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 6: Thursday, 22nd November

Axum / Lalibela

Transfer to Axum airport for a morning flight to Lalibela, high in the Lasta Mountains. On arrival transfer to the comfortable Mountain View Hotel where two nights are spent, situated about on the edge of the town with breath taking views.

Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon tour of the city, which was built ‘with the help of angels’ by King Lalibela as the ‘New Jerusalem’ in the 12th and 13th centuries. Today it is a World Heritage Site comprising eleven remarkable rock-hewn churches. Explore the first group of these, each architecturally unique, some with beautiful frescoes, and a network of narrow passageways and tunnels linking them. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 7: Friday, 23rd November

Lalibela

Visit the second group of these unique rock-hewn sanctuaries.

Lunch at the hotel. Drive to Yimrehanne Kristos Cave Church, predecessor of Lalibela. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 8: Saturday, 24th November

Lalibela / Gondar

Transfer to Lalibela airport for a lunchtime flight to Gondar, which was the first settled Imperial capital from the 17th to mid-19th century. On arrival, transfer to the Goha Hotel, which is set on a hill with excellent views over the city and its monuments, where two nights are spent.

Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon introductory city tour of Gondar visiting the ruined Palace of Queen Mentuab at Kusquam and the church of Debre Berhan Selassie, with its unique murals and ‘Ceiling of Angels’. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 9: Sunday, 25th November

Gondar

Continue exploring Gondar by visiting the well-preserved Imperial compound of Emperor Fasiladas and his descendants with its castles and the ‘Bath of King Fasiladas’, a pilgrimage site filled by diverting a river nearby.

Lunch at the hotel followed by an afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 10: Monday, 26th November

Gondar / Buyit Ras

Drive to Buyit Ras in the Simien Mountains, considered by many to be the most beautiful mountain range in Africa. Two nights are spent at the Simien Mountain Lodge, the highest lodge in Africa, designed in local style with spectacular panoramic views and an excellent restaurant.

After lunch at the lodge spend the afternoon exploring the extraordinary natural beauty of the Simien Mountains, with their high plateaux, deep gorges and plunging waterfalls, and their rugged pinnacles and peaks swirling in cloud. The mountains are home to remote villages and a variety of indigenous wildlife including over 50 bird species. Dinner at the lodge.

Day 11: Tuesday, 27th November

Buyit Ras / Gondar

This morning explore further into the Simien Mountains and their aweinspiring landscape.

Following lunch at the lodge drive to Gondar, returning to the Goha Hotel for one night. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 12: Wednesday, 28th November

Gondar / Bahar Dar, Lake Tana

This morning drive to Bahar Dar, to stay for two nights at the newly opened Kuriftu Resort and Spa Hotel, on the shores of Lake Tana. Stay in rustic bungalows with views of the lake surrounded by tropical gardens.

After lunch at the hotel, visit the spectacular Tissisat Falls (Blue Nile Falls), from where the Blue Nile plunges down a sheer rock face and begins its long journey to the Mediterranean. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 13: Thursday, 29th November

Bahar Dar, Lake Tana

This morning take a boat trip on Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile, some 4900km² in size and dotted with islands, many with churches and monasteries. Reach the Zeghie Peninsula and visit the monastic complex of Oura-Kidanemehret with its 14th century round grass-roofed churches and exquisite murals.

Lunch at the hotel. Tour of Bahar Dar, an attractive town with tree-lined avenues. See the Blue Nile, enjoy views from Emperor Haile Selassie’s former palace and visit the interesting market. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 14: Friday, 30th November

Bahar Dar, Lake Tana / Addis Ababa / London

Lunch at the hotel. Transfer to Bahar Dar airport for a morning flight back to Addis Ababa. Day rooms have been arranged at the Hilton Hotel.

Lunch under own arrangements and an afternoon at leisure. Farewell dinner at the hotel. After dinner transfer to the airport for an Ethiopian Airlines flight back to London, departing after midnight.