TRAVEL TO THE DESIGNATED WORLD HERITAGE SITES OF NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

 Description about the Destinations

LALIBELA

Lalibela is located 642km from the capital, with daily flight by Ethiopian Airlines. Through not much more than a village now, Lalibela is internationally renowned for its Rock-Hewn Churches dating back to the 12^th century, which are sometimes called the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ and registered as a world Heritage Site UNESCO in September 1978. The town was originally known as Roha, but was renamed after King Lalibela who commissioned the churches. These amazing edifices were not of solid rock. With only hammers and chisels, the feat is so incredible that legend has it angels worked on the churches at night. Lalibela’s churches are divided into two clusters, separated by the Lalibela returned from Jerusalem. The northwest cluster comprises seven churches: Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael (Debre Sina), Bet Golgotha and Bet Selassie chapel. The southeast cluster consists of five churches: Bet Emanuel, Bet Mercurios, Bet Abba Libanos, Bet Lehem and Bet Gabriel-Rafael. One of the most spectacular churches is that of Bet Giyorgis which has been excavated 12 meters down, and stands discrete from the two main clusters.

GONDAR

Gondar is probably the most immediately impressive of Ethiopia’s major ex-capital. The city was founded in 1635 by Emperor Fasilidas (often abbreviated to Fasil). This fourth-largest city in Ethiopia, 740km far from Addis Ababa, It takes one and half days by car or there is availability of direct flight from Addis Ababa. Gondar’s most important tourist attraction is the Royal Enclosure, a walled compound of 17^th century castles and buildings lying in the city center. It is well preserved and definitely warrants a half day’s exploration. Also of interest in the castle is Fasilidas’s Bathing Pool. It registered as a world Heritage Site UNESCO in October 1979. Of several old churches dotted around Gondar, the most beautiful is the lavishly decorated Debre Brihan Selassie Church, 1km from the city center, and regarded by some experts to contain the finest art of its period anywhere in Ethiopia.

SEMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

The national park is situated about 100km north of Gondar.  The entire range was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in September 1978. The dramatic mountainous landscape of the Semien National Park is home to some of the rarest animals on earth, including the Semien Fox, the Gelada Baboon and the Walia Ibex. The jagged mountain reach a height of over 4,000m, plunging down into deep gorges and leveling off into grassy plateau where it is possible to catch sight of the lion-like gelada Baboon.

AXUM

Located 260km far from Semien Mountain National Park, Axum was the center of one of the world’s most powerful kingdoms from the 1^st to 7^th centuries AD, converting to Christianity in the 4^th century, had been served as a political and religious center of Ethiopia. Axum is widely identified and very popular with its famous monolithic stele. Axumite steles are the largest example of monolithic stone cutting known from ancient world. The granite obelisks, some of which once reared over 30m into the sky, represent huge tombstones. Some are also believed to have been used in ancient forms of pagan sun worship. The stele range from simply slabs to intricately carved and decorated the obelisks. It designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in September 1980. From the stele field you’ll probably move on the compound of the Cathedral of Tion Mariam (St. Mary Zion), where a church of that name was constructed above an old pagan sherine by King Ezana in the 4^th century. Ethiopia’s first church, the original Mariam Tion church, which consisted of 12 temples, has been destroyed, most probably by the 16^th century Muslim leader Ahmed Gragn. The oldest-functioning church in the compound today resembles the castle of Gondar – not surprising, as Gondar’s founder, Emperor Fasilidas, built it. There are some good paintings and musical instruments inside the church. Axum’s most famous religious artifacts, the Tabot or supposed Ark of the Covenant, are kept in a sanctified outbuilding within the compound. But there is not much chance of being allowed to see it and the entrance of the church is forbidden for women.

 Tour Code: RST/HIS/0013

Title: Travel to the designated World Heritage Sites of Northern Ethiopia
Mode of transport: Flight/Surface
Tour Duration: 7Day/6Night

Day 01: ADDIS ABABA

 Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to selected hotel.

 Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – LALIBELA

 Early in the morning pick you up from your hotel and transfer to airport. Fly to Lalibela and drive 22kms to arrive to the Town and check-in to your hotel. On this day, you will visit Rock-Hewn church of Lalibela. Visit the first group of Rock-Hewn churches. This group consists of seven churches Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael (Debre Sina), Bet Golgotha and the Selassie Chapel. Overnight: @ hotel

 Day 3: LALIBELA

 Early in the morning start visiting the other cluster consists of four churches (Bet Emanuel, Bet Mercurios, Bet Abba-Libanos and Bet Gabriel-Rafael) And after lunch drive 7 km to visit Neakuto leab, which is a built up cave church. Overnight @ Hotel

Day 4: LALIBELA — GONDAR

 Fly to Gondar and check-in to your hotel. Visit 17^th century capital of Ethiopia, famous Royal Enclosure (a walled compound of 16^th century’s castles and buildings), king Fasiledes bath and historically famous “Debre Birhan Selassie” church. Overnight: @ Hotel

Day 5: GONDAR – SEMIEN – GONDAR

Drive to Semien mountains national park which is 122kms from Gondar, up on arrival we try to explore the nearby gorges and escarpments  make a short walk around also to see one of the endemic mammals(Gelada baboon),then drive back to Gondar over night hotel.

 Day 6: GONDAR — AXUM

 Flight to Axum, upon arrival check-in to your hotel, after having some rest you will visit the extensive stelae field, stone tombs, several ruined palaces, and the Saint Mary of Zion church, where the true arc of the covenant kept, Overnight @ Hotel

 Day 7: AXUM – ADDIS ABABA

 Fly Back to Addis Ababa.Then visit National Museum (there is replica of Lucy, is estimated to have lived 3.2 million years ago. The specimen was discovered in 1974 at Hadar in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia's Afar Depression), Ethnography Museum in Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity church known in Amharic as ‘Kidist Selassie”, is the highest ranking Orthodox Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Then toy visit Merkato (biggest open market in Africa), Entoto St. Mary Church, Palace and Museum.

At night dinner invitation by our company Right Spot travel and Tour at a traditional restaurant, then transfer in to the Airport for your international departure

 

In order to book this experience, please contact us through the internal message system or contact Excursiopedia.com directly! 

1. Vehicle, fuel and driver allowance 2. Tour Guide Fee 3. All entrance fee and Boat hire 4. Local guide fee/Scout 5. Government tax 6. All accommodation

1. Alcoholic Drinks 2. Tips for service providers 3. Photography fee 4. And what is not included in the price included list.

For cancellation up to 3 days, a full refund will be given. For cancellation up to 1 days, 50% refund will be given.