The Northern Circuit of Ethiopia is a cultural extravaganza, with numerous UNESCO world heritage sites to visit and photograph. It is readily serviced by flights from Addis Ababa and a hooper flight route that allows you to travel round to all the major points on the route.
In this itinerary we make use of the flights but also take a boat trip across Lake Tana which allows for visiting some of the island monasteries and also vehicle transfers which gives a better experience of the region and the amazing scenery on offer.
Highlights not to be missed include the rock hewn churches of Lalibela, the palaces of Gondar, the Blue Nile Falls south of Bahir Dah and Lake Tana not only the source of the Blue Nile but also home to some incredible isolated monasteries, if time permits a traditional coffee ceremony allows the chance to sample the incredible coffee grown in this region.
Arrive Addis Ababa – Overnight in the Ghion Hotel
Day 1 – Fly North to Bahir Dar, overnight Tana Hotel on the banks of Lake Tana.
Day 2 – Boat Trip across Lake Tana, complete road transfer to Gondar – Overnight Goha Hotel
Day 3 – Explore Gondar – Overnight Goha Hotel
Day 4 – Fly to Lalibela – Overnight Roha Hotel
Day 5 – Explore Lalibela – Overnight Roha Hotel
Day 6 – Fly to Axum – Overnight Yeha Hotel
Day 7 – Explore Axum – Overnight Yeha Hotel
Day 8 -Fly Back to Addis Ababa – either depart on international flight or overnight Ghion Hotel and combine with extension to Southern Omo Valley.
Whilst the above is a truly cultural tour if you would like to include some wildlife the Ethiopian highlands region offers some unique opportunities with the critically endangered Ethiopian Wolf and also the Gelada Baboons, plus some great endemic birds.
The Simien mountains National Park is approximately 4 hours drive from Gondar so can easily be included into the itinerary for a few extra days. It is home to the Ethiopian Wolf and also offers spectacular scenery including some impressive peaks – Ras Daschen at 4620 meters is the highest in the country and the fourth highest in Africa.
From Addis Ababa a three hour drive eastwards would bring you to Awash National Park one of the few locations in Africa to find the Hamadryas Baboon, which could be added to the end of the itinerary.
An opportunity to extend the trip further would be to travel onwards from Awash and a day driving would bring you to the Bale Mountains National Park, which would provide further opportunities to see the Ethiopian Wolf amongst other delights.
