(with domestic flights)Â 9days/8nights
Tour code:WET01
A journey into the history and traditions of Coptic Ethiopia, visiting churches, castles and palaces that narrate a thousand-year-old culture: the rock churches of Tigrai, the steles of Axum, the islands with their monasteries of Lake Tana and Lalibela, the Jerusalem of Africa with its eleven monolithic churches carved into the rock. The journey develops on the plateau at an altitude of 1850-3200 meters above sea level. The trip is aimed at experienced travelers, people who do not consider comfort a priority but who seek cultural deepening, contact with uncontaminated nature and ancient cultures.
TRAVEL PROGRAM
Day 1 FridayADDIS ABABA
Arrival in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, meeting with the local staff and transfer to the hotel. Free time at your disposal.
Visit the city, located at 2400 meters above sea level in a valley surrounded by mountains. Addis Ababa is a cosmopolitan metropolis of over 5.5 million inhabitants, seat of the African Union and characterized by the coexistence of different ethnic groups and religious communities (Christian, Jewish and Muslim). The city preserves historical evidence of the imperial period, the Italian occupation, the socialist regime and, at the same time, is constantly evolving with its numerous construction sites. We will explore the most significant places, including the Ethnographic Museum, located in the residence of the last emperor Haile Selassie, which exhibits a rich collection of artifacts offering an extraordinary cultural diversity of the Ethiopian people and the National Museum, known for the finds of the Sabaean civilization and the skeleton of Lucy, a hominid from 3.5 million years ago. Dinner and overnight at Saromaria or similar
Day 2 Saturday
ADDIS ABABA – MEKELE (flight) – HAWZIEN
The day begins with a transfer to the airport for a flight to Mekele, the dynamic capital of Tigray. From here, a short drive (100 km) leads to Hawzien, an ideal starting point for exploring the Gheralta region.
Along the way, a detour allows you to admire one of the most significant and easily accessible churches in Amba Gheralta: the underground church of Abreha Atsbeha. This structure, dating back to a period between the 7th and 11th centuries, is distinguished by its large cross-shaped plan and fine architectural details, such as cruciform columns and stepped capitals. The well-preserved frescoes, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, and the numerous ancient artifacts testify to the rich history of this sacred place, dedicated to the rulers Ezana and Sezana, key figures in the spread of Christianity in Ethiopia. Tradition has it that the cross belonging to Frumentius, the first bishop of the Ethiopian church, is kept here.
The journey continues with a stop at the picturesque Freweyni market, an opportunity to immerse yourself in the lively local atmosphere and discover the typical products of the region.
Once in Gheralta, we will settle into a lodge that offers a panoramic view of the imposing Amba Gheralta, a mountain massif characterized by spires, peaks and towers of red sandstone that rise majestically in the northern Tembièn.
From here, it will be possible to explore the surroundings, including the church of Mariam Papaseyti, located in a picturesque valley full of ancient sycamores. The church, reachable with a pleasant walk of about an hour and a half, is immersed in an original forest, protected for its sacredness. The structure, built in the shadow of a mountain, is composed of three rooms. The central room, adjacent to the sanctuary, preserves valuable mural paintings, many of which are still in excellent condition. Dinner and overnight stay at the Gheralta Lodge
Day 3 Sunday
HAWZIEN – AXUM
After breakfast, depart for Axum, crossing the Tigrai region, with stops at scenic spots along the way that includes Yeha and Adua. The Tigrai landscape is characterized by rugged mountain massifs with flat peaks and vertical walls, called Ambe. Axum, the cradle of Ethiopian Christianity, is located in this region: tradition has it that nine saints from Syria or the Middle East after the Council of Chalcedon spread Christianity south from Axum.
The morning includes a visit to the Temple of the Moon in Yeha, an example of pre-Christian Axumite architecture, and the church dedicated to Abba Aftse, one of the nine saints, located next to the pagan temple. Arrival and hotel accommodation.
Afternoon dedicated to visiting the most significant places and monuments of Axum, ancient capital of the Axumite kingdoms and birthplace of ancient Ethiopia over two thousand years ago: The stele park, monoliths used as tombstones, bears witness to a glorious past, while the archaeological museum exhibits 2500-year-old finds, Axumite coins and decorated pottery. We continue with the baths of the Queen of Sheba, the tombs of Kings Caleb and Gebre Meskel, the church of St. Mary of Zion, which houses the Ark of the Covenant, and the museum that exhibits imperial crowns and ancient crosses. Dinner and overnight at the Sabean Hotel or similar
Day 4 and Day 5 Monday and Tuesday
AXUM – LALIBELA (flight)
Transfer to the airport and flight to Lalibela. In the afternoon, we will immerse ourselves in the thousand-year history of Lalibela, exploring the first group of rock churches, an extraordinary architectural work that testifies to the deep faith of the Ethiopian people.
The following day, after a 40 km journey through a suggestive landscape, we will reach the church of Yemrahana Kristos with a short climb of about 20 minutes, a jewel of wood and stone set in a cave. After this excursion, we will return to Lalibela to complete the visit of the second group of churches. Lalibela is a complex of eleven monolithic churches, some of which are connected by an intricate system of underground tunnels. These churches, carved into the volcanic rock over the course of 24 years, are divided into two groups, representing the “earthly Jerusalem” and the “heavenly Jerusalem”. A seasonal riverbed, dug and carved into the rock, symbol of the Jordan, separates the two groups of churches. Detached from these, the sumptuous church of St. George stands out, a monolithic and underground cruciform structure that enchants with its beauty and grandeur. Inside the churches, you can admire ancient religious panels and, in the church of Bete Mariam, frescoes that bear witness to the ancient figurative art of Byzantine inspiration. In Lalibela, we will have the opportunity to live a unique experience, coming into contact with an archaic and authentic Christianity, still deeply rooted in the highlands of Ethiopia. Dinner and overnight at Harbe Hotel or similar.
Day 6 Wednesday
LALIBELA – GONDAR (flight) – SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Transfer to the airport and departure with the flight to Gondar. Continue to the Simien National Park, through picturesque undulating landscapes where large herds graze. The Simien territory is the most important mountainous area in Ethiopia, with peaks of over 4000 meters, a natural sanctuary today protected for its landscapes (deep gorges, cliffs and vertiginous cliffs, canyons), dotted with unique Afroalpine vegetation with many endemic plants. In addition, the park is home to a particular and unique fauna, for example the Walia ibex, the Gelada baboon, the Ethiopian wolf (the rarest canid in the world). Today’s route is about 120 km. Arrival and accommodation in a lodge at 3260 meters above sea level. Packed lunch. Dinner and overnight stay at Simien Lodge or similar.
Day 7 Thursday
SIMIEN – GONDAR
We will take an excursion inside the park with panoramic stops and the possibility of spotting, sometimes in large groups, the famous Gelada baboons, also known as “lion monkeys” for the very thick mane of the male. The flora, like the fauna, thanks to the isolation of the territory, has such particular characteristics that it is considered among the most interesting in the world.
Route towards the city of Gondar, which stands at 2100 meters above sea level in a beautiful geographical position, enjoys a mild climate all year round and offers visitors the strangeness of an ancient walled city in perfect medieval Portuguese style in the heart of the Ethiopian plateau. Its walls enclose the castles built by various emperors, the Fasilidas baths, the residence of Queen Mentiwab, the Debre Birhan Sellase church, an example of Ethiopian figurative art of the seventeenth century. Dinner and overnight stay at the Goha Hotel or similar
Day 8 Friday
GONDAR – BAHIR DAR
We leave Gondar, following the road that winds along the eastern shore of Lake Tana, and reach Bahir Dar, nestled on the southern shore (180 km). The afternoon is dedicated to discovering the wonders of Lake Tana, through a suggestive navigation. The shores and islands of the lake are home to about twenty monastic churches, most of which date back to the fourteenth century, evidence of a profound religious devotion. The excursion includes a visit to the monasteries located on the Zeghie peninsula: Ura Kidane Miret and Azwa Mariam. We will then land in Zeghie, where a short walk through lush tropical vegetation and coffee plantations will lead us to Ura Kidane Miret, considered one of the most valuable churches in the entire area. Its internal walls are embellished with an extraordinary collection of frescoes, made between one hundred and two hundred and fifty years ago, which narrate sacred stories in bright colors. In the sixteenth century, harassed by Muslim incursions, the Coptic monks took refuge on the islands of Lake Tana, transforming them into treasure chests of art and spirituality. These isolated and protected places became safe havens to preserve sacred texts and religious traditions, which would otherwise have been lost. Return to Bahir Dar in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Kuriftu or similar structure.
Day 9 Saturday
BAHIR DAR – ADDIS (flight)
In the morning visit to the Afaf market and return to Bahirdar for lunch. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and board the flight that will take us to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival, you will have time to dedicate yourself to shopping. To guarantee you a moment of relaxation, we have provided Day Use rooms (one room for every four people). Dinner in a typical restaurant with traditional songs and dances. Transfer to the airport for the international flight back to Italy.
END OF PROGRAM