Ethiopia Tour Packages – Opulent Routes

The Historical Route

Opulent Routes — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:49:56 +0000

Ethiopia has preserved a distinct form of Orthodox Christianity. We will see its extraordinary pageantry and unique variations of church architecture, as well as traditional lifestyles in the countryside, where ancient agriculture and pastoral nomadism continue.

Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Addis Ababa / Addis Ababa – Bahirdar (By Flight)
Arrival in Addis Ababa. Domestic flight Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar. Meet and greet at Bahir Dar airport. Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit a selection of the monasteries hidden on the islands and shores of this sacred lake. Visit the Zege Penninsula and the monasteries of Azuwa Maryam and Ura Kidane Mehret as well as the outlet of the Blue Nile River, where hippos can sometimes be seen. Drive out to the Blue Nile Falls for a short hike in the area. The water levels in the falls can vary depending on the season and per use of the local power station. The walk is a pleasant one, where you are sure to get a look into the lives of the local residents. You will cross the Blue Nile River by boat. Overnight in Bahirdar .

Day 02 Bahir Dar – Gondar (By Road) (174 kms / 3 hrs appx.)
Proceed to Gondar will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture. Explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today, Ras Gimb Palace Museum and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia. Overnight in Gondar.

Day 03 Gondar – Axum (By Road) (6 kms / 18 mins appx.)
Proceed to Axum. Today will be a full day visiting the sites of Axum, including the famous obelisks (one that was recently erected after being returned from Italy) and the archeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), Ezana’s enscription, King Kaleb’s tomb, King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You will also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to visit the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. Time permitting, you may also visit the Church of Arbuta Ensessa. Overnight in Axum,

Day 04 Axum – Lalibela (By Flight)
Proceed to Visit the Northwestern Cluster of churches – Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha (entry not permitted for women). Overnight in Lalibela

Day 05 Lalibela
Proceed to Visit the church of Yimrehane Kristos, about 45km from Lalibela town. This is the most popular church in the surrounding region. Created in the late-Axumite style, this church is set in the entrance to a cave with a skeleton graveyard in the back of devout pilgrims who visited this church. Visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – Saint George. Overnight in Lalibela,

Day 06 Lalibella – Addis Ababa (By Flight) / Depart Addis Ababa
Departure transfer to onward destination.

***********TOUR ENDS********

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Bahar Dar	01	Kuriftu Resort
Gondar	01	Goha Hotel
Axum	01	Sabem Hotel
Lalibela	02	Tukul Hotel

Includes

Accommodation as per the program
Meal Plan – Half Board basis (i.e. breakfast & dinner)
Entrance fees.
Air Ticket from Axum – Lalibela.
Local English speaking guide.
All transfers, sightseeing, excursions.
All taxes

Excludes

Personal Expenses.
Other Domestic Flight
Camera / Video Camera Fees.
Medical Aid.
Tips.
Travel Insurance.
Visa (If any).

Important

– Accommodation in good hotels.

– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.

– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost. – Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.

– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.

– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.

– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.

– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.

– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.

– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.

– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.

Discover Ethiopia

Opulent Routes — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 06:57:14 +0000

Ethiopia is a multicultural, multifaceted destination where the art of hospitality is alive and well visitors are typically greeted with a steaming cup of coffee, which was first discovered in this very country.Ethiopia’s excellent network of national parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other tourist attractions can be explored along several well-established routes.

Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Addis Ababa
Arrive in Addis Ababa, Transfer to Hotel. Today we will have full day sightseeing tour of the capital which includes the Ethnological Museum in the former palace of King Haile silassie, the National (Archaeological) Museum, the superb Holy Trinity Cathedral, the various historical monuments of Addis Ababa; and Merkato largest open air market in Africa.
Overnight in Addis .

Day 02 Addis Ababa – Bahirdar (By Flight)
In the morning fly to Bahirdar and after check in drive 32 km southwest of Bahir Dar to the small town of Tiss Abay to visit the Blue Nile Falls. We will walk some distances to the Falls and visit some of the villages around there. In the afternoon we will have a boat excursion in Ethiopia’s largest water body, Lake Tana (3,600 sq km) to visit the monasteries of Ura Kidane Mihret and Azwa Mariam which are found on the largest peninsula of the lake.

These monasteries are known for the colorful frescoes of religious scenes, different ancient types of crosses, paintings, murals and an impressive display of illuminated Bibles written in Ge’ez, Ethiopia’s oldest language.
Overnight in Bahirdar.

Day 03 Bahirdar – Gondar (By Road) (174 kms / 3 hrs 30 mins appx)
Early Morning drive to Gondar Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of King Fasilledes. In Gondar there are dozens of castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years.

Gondar visit includes the palaces, residences and open air baths of King Fasilledes; (World Heritage Site by UNESCO), the monasteries of Qusquom, the church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity) with its 16th century paintings and frescoes, which is located at the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls.
Overnight in Gondar,Ethiopia

Day 04 Gondar – Semien Mountain (By Road) (146 kms /2 hrs 48 mins appx.)
Today drive to the Semien Mountains National Park via Debark the gateway to the park and continue driving to reach to Sankaber 3230masl through a beautiful scenery and Ahmara people and villages. The Semien Mountains National Park is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and we will visit its exceptional natural beauty which includes superb scenery, endemic fauna and flora. Among other endemics it is here that the Gelada Baboon (bleeding heart Baboon) is found.
Overnight: Semien Mountain,

Day 05 Semien Mountain – Axum (By Road) (290 kms /6 hrs 48 mins appx)
Morning walk in the park to see the different endemic animals and continue drive to Axum seeing the Semien mountain National park with stunning landscape and the beautiful valley of Tekeze.
Overnight in Axum,

Day 06 Axum
Full day in Axum, Axum is Ethiopia’s oldest city, dating back some 2,000 years when it was the hub of the Axumite Empire. The Queen of Sheba made it her capital 1000 years before Christ. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was founded here in the 4th Century and Axum remains the holiest city of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

We will visit the Axum stele or obelisks; the largest single pieces of stone standing anywhere on the world (World Heritage Site by UNESCO), castles of former monarchs, the Axum Museum and Mariam tsion Church, built on the site of Ethiopia’s first church AD, and palace of Sheba and the Gundit stelae field, King Ezana’s inscriptions and the tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel. Overnight in Axum.

Day 07Axum – Gerhalta (By Road) (145 kms /3 hrs 15 mins appx.)
Early in the morning drive to Gerhalta, Hawzien has a 3,000 year history. Originally an old trading center, today the area is exclusively agricultural, en route visit Yeha Temple a pagan temple of the 5th C BC. Drive to Atsebe to visit Churches around Hawzen area, Mariam Qorkur Church.

The church of Our Lady Mary at Qorqor (Maryam Qorqor) is a fascinating rock cut church of the monastery founded by Abba Dane’el of Gar’alta (in Tegre) during the second half of the thirteenth century. Overnight in Gheralta.

Day 08 Gerhalta – Mekele (By Road) (105 km/ 2 hrs 15 mins appx)
In the morning we have the option to walk to Debre Tsion Abraham or Abune Yemata guh one of the most striking sites in Ethiopia. depending on the group preference. On the way visit some of the rock churches Such as AdikeshoMedhanealem, Wukro Cherkos and Abreha We Atsbeh. Overnight in Mekelle.

Day 09 Mekele – Lalibela (By Road) (290 kms /5 hrs 49 mins appx.)
Drive to Lalibella to tour the famous eleven rockhewn churches of 12th century. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each church (Bet) has a unique architectural style; all are superbly carved and most of them are decorated with wellpreserved paintings. Overnight in Lalibela.

Day 10 Lalibela
In the morning we will visit Lalibella rockhewn churches of 12th century. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We spend the rest of the day visiting fascinating churches within the town and countryside; some are made from the rock and dating back to around the twelfth century. We visit the first and second group of monolithic churches. Overnight in Lalibela,

Day 11 Lalibela
In the morning drive to the top of Asheten Mariam Monastery. This is very famous for its thcentury monastery church and beautiful view at 10,298 ft above sea level. We will walk/mule ride through dramatic highland scenery and which eventually ends in a beautiful serene agricultural hamlet. In the afternoon drive to Yimrahene Kirstos (let Christ Lead us) monastery church. Overnight in Lalibela.

Day 12 Lalibela – Addis Ababa – (By Flight) / Depart Addis Ababa
Fly to Addis. Today we will visit Mount Entoto for panoramic view point at the highest pick in Addis with an altitude of 3200 meters and St. Mary Church. This day you will be transferred to onward destination.

************TOUR ENDS**********

Hotels

City	Nights	Hotels
Addis Ababa	01	Radisson Blu Hotel
Bahar Dar	01	Kuriftu Resort
Gondar	01	Goha Hotel
Semien Mountain	02	Semien Lodge
Axum	01	Sabem Hotel
Gheralta	01	Gheralta Lodge
Mekelle	01	Planet Hotel Name
Lalibela	03	Tukul Hotel

Includes

Accommodation as per the program.
Meal Plan – Half Board basis (i.e. breakfast & dinner)
Entrance
Local English speaking guide.
All transfers, sightseeing, excursions.
All taxes.
Air Ticket from Addis Ababa – Bahirdar and Lalibela – Addis Ababa.

Excludes

Personal Expenses.
Camera / Video Camera Fees.
Medical Aid.
Tips.
Travel Insurance.
Visa (If any).