EET Special (27 Days / 26 Nights)

Arrival   Bole International Airport

 Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours will meet all clients arriving at the airport regardless of arrival time.  For morning flight arrivals you may begin your tour after checking into your hotel.  For afternoon or evening arrivals, you may begin your tour the following day. 

Day 01   Addis Ababa

Visit the Ethnographic Museum, a great introduction to Ethiopian culture and history.  Tour the Mercato, one of Africa’s largest outdoor markets, and Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Overnight Jupiter Hotel, Addis Ababa   

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 02   Addis Ababa – Bahar Dar

Fly to Bahar Dar on Ethiopian Airlines.  Visit the marketplace in Bahar Dar.  Take a boat tour on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile and tour ancient island monasteries.

Overnight Abay Minch Lodge, Bahir Dar  

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 03   Bahar Dar – Gondar

Drive through the countryside to Gondar.  Tour the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five castles built by a succession of Ethiopian kings beginning in the early 17th century.  Having survived several wars, including air raids during World War 2, the castles are a testament to the resilience of this once mighty empire.  Visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie, famous for its religious art and especially its iconic ceiling depicting angels.

Overnight, Goha  Hotel, Gondar  

Meals  (B, L, D)

Day 04   Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park

Drive to Sankabar the gateway to the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy an easy hike (2 – 3 hours) to take in the spectacular scenery and spot wildlife such as the endemic Gelada Baboons.

Overnight Simien Lodge, SMNP

Meals  (B, L, D)

Day 05   Simien Mountains National Park – Axum

Take a scenic drive to Axum, capital of the ancient Axumite Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Frequent stops at viewpoints along the way. Arrive in Axum late afternoon.

Overnight Sabean Hotel, Axum  

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 06   Axum

Tour the ancient stelae fields, standing for 2000 years. Visit the new and impressive Archeological Museum. Visit other tombs and archeological sites as time permits. 

Overnight Sabean Hotel, Axum 

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 07   Axum – Hawzein

Drive to the Hawzein passing the Adwa battlefield, site of Emperor Menelik II’s 1895 victory over the invading Italians. Visit the 2,500 year old ruins of Yeha, an ancient moon temple.  Continue past Adigrat and visit Aba Gerima and Petros Paulos, two of the Tigray regions oldest and finest rock churches.

Overnight Ghiralta Lodge, Hawzein  

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 08   Hawzein – Mekele

Visit more of Tigray’s remote and ancient rock-hewn churches:  Abraha Atsbeha, dating from the 10th century; the beautiful Wukro Chirkos; and  Medhane Alem Kesho.  Drive to Mekele.

Overnight Axum Hotel, Mekele

Meals  (B, L, D)

Day 09   Mekele – Ahmedela

Meet support vehicles and drive to Ahmedela via Berhaile. Make camp, and see camel caravans passing against a backdrop of dramatic sunsets.

Overnight  Camping, Ahmedela

Meals  (B, L, D)

Day 10   Lake Asale and Dalol Excursion

Visit Lake Asale and watch the salt workers as they cut bricks of salt from the lake bed. The bricks are then sold on the market and loaded on camel caravans for transport to the highlands. Proceed to Dalol and view the dramatic and colorful geological formations caused by the hot springs rich in sulfur, potash, and salt.

Overnight Camping, Dalol

Meals  (B, L, D)

Day 11   Trek to Erta Alle

Drive to Dodom. Trek 15 kilometers to the Erta Alle volcano lake, 613 meters above sea level. Arrive at Erta Alle around midnight and walk to see the spectacular volcanic eruption. Set up camp and rest.

Overnight Camping, Erta Alle

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 12   Return to Mekele

Return trek to Dodom. Drive to Mekele.

Overnight Axum Hotel, Mekele  

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 13   Mekele – Lalibela

Drive on a scenic road to Lalibela. Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the sunset from the terrace.

Overnight Roha Hotel,Lalibela

Meals  (B, L, D)

Day 14   Lalibela

Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group of eleven monolithic and semi- monolithic structures were carved directly into the stone of the mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings.

Overnight Roha Hotel,Lalibela

Meals  (B, L, D)

Day 15   Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Dire Dawa

Fly to Dire Dawa via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines.  Visit Dire Dawe’s massive outdoor market.

Overnight Samarat Hotel , Dire Dawa

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 16   Harar

Drive from Dire Dawa to Harar stopping at Ethiopia’s largest “chat” market enroute.  Stroll through the 16th century walled city of Harar, the fourth most important city in the Islamic World. See the home of Arthur Rimbuad, renowned French poet who worked and lived in Harar as a “gun-runner” during the 19th century. Visit the National and Harari museums; the house of Ras Mekonnen (father of Haile Selassie); and a traditional Harari home. In the evening see the “Hyena Man” feeding the hyenas that gather nightly outside the town.

Overnight Belayneh Hotel, Harar

Meals  (B, L, D)

Day 17   Harar – Awash National Park

Drive to Awash National Park. Visit the Awash Falls. Take an evening game drive in Awash National Park and visit an area frequented by hyenas.

Overnight Awash falls Lodge

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 18   Awash National Park – Lake Langano

Following an early morning game drive, continue to Langano, one of the Rift Valley Lakes for relaxation at the Sabana Lodge. Lake Langano is Bilharzia free and safe for swimming and has fantastic birdlife.

Overnight Sabana Lodge

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 19   Lake Langano – Arba Minch

Drive to Arba Minch, one of the main towns in Southern Ethiopia. On the way, visit a Dorze Village in the Guge Mountains. The Dorze are known for their tall, beehive-shaped bamboo houses. If the base becomes infested with termites, the entire house can be lifted and moved to another location.

Overnight Paradise Lodge

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 20   Arba Minch – Jinka

Take a boat trip on Lake Chamo and view some of the largest crocodiles in the world sunning on the banks of the lake. Hippopotami and birdlife are also abundant. Drive to Jinka visiting various peoples such as the Gamo and Derashe. Stop at Key Afar’s weekly market (if on a Thursday) and wander among the various tribes such as the Benna and Ari that have gathered to barter their goods.

Overnight Eco Emo  Lodge

Meals   (B, L, D)

Day 21   Mago National Park Excursion

Early morning drive to the Mago National Park to visit the Mursi people. The Mursi women are known for the clay plates they insert into their lower lips. Time permitting, visit the Omo Valley Museum in Jinka.

Overnight Eco Emo Lodge

Meals   (B, L, D)

Day 22   Jinka – Turmi

Drive to Turmi to visit the Hamer people who are well known for the scarring of their bodies, using clay to shape their hairstyles, and the unique practice of “bull-jumping” which every young man must accomplish prior to marriage. En route to Turmi, visit the Benna and Ari people.

Overnight Buska Lodge, Turmi

Meals   (B, L, D)

Day 23   Omorate Excursion

Excursion to Omorate to visit the Dassanech people, known for their elaborate body-painting.  Cross the famous Omo River by canoe.  Return to Turmi for the evening.

Overnight Buska Lodge, Turmi

Meals   (B, L, D)

Day 24   Turmi – Konso

Drive to Konso, recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A highland people, the Konso are known for the ancient and intricate terraces that encircle their well-planned villages.

Overnight Kanta Lodge, Konso

Meals   (B, L, D)

Day 25   Konso – Hawassa

Drive to the lakeside town of Hawassa. Relax and recover from your journey at one of Hawassa’s fine resorts.

 Overnight Haile  Resort, Hawassa

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 26 Hawassa –  Bale Mountains

Visit the Hawassa fish market in the morning. Drive to the Bale Mountains National Park arriving in the afternoon.  Take a leisurely afternoon hike spotting some of the park’s endemic mammals and birds.

Overnight Abadma  Hotel

Meals (B, L, D)

Day 27   Bale – Addis Ababa

Drive to Addis Ababa via the Arsi/Bale region, home to many of Ethiopia’s famous distance runners. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure if needed.

Meals (B, L, D)

                                                   ….End of Tour