5-Day Tour Bahir Dar, Gondar and Lalibela

A city tour of Addis Ababa offers a vibrant glimpse into Ethiopia's rich history and culture. You can explore key attractions such as the National Museum, home to the famous fossil "Lucy," and the Holy Trinity Cathedral, an architectural marvel. The bustling Merkato, one of Africa's largest open-air markets, provides a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and flavors. The Ethnological Museum, located in the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie, showcases Ethiopia's diverse cultures.

A short drive takes you to Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, where life revolves around the lake, and you will find the local fishermen at work in traditional papyrus reed boats. An afternoon hike takes you to the beautiful Tis Isat Falls, also known as the Blue Nile Falls.

You'll drive through wheat fields to the old mountain capital of Gondar. Gondar has a rich history. With its beautiful and strategic mountain setting, the 17th-century capital was once the crossroads of several major caravan routes, and was also occupied by the Italians during World War II. The Art Deco buildings surrounding the Royal Enclosure, with its medieval castles and churches, are a reminder of this heritage. This afternoon, you'll explore Gondar’s castles and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its iconic ceiling of painted angels.

UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lalibela —the Jerusalem of Ethiopia, and Africa’s own ‘Petra’. In a fitting finale to your Ethiopian adventure, explore the monolithic red-hued churches, incredibly carved into the rock. Your guide will lead you through the network of crevices and tunnels linking each of the churches. The churches are still in use today: step inside and you will see a robed priest going about his timeless business.

You'll have breakfast, and your guide takes you to the eastern group of rock-hewn churches: smaller in size, these are no less impressive, with intricate carvings and many dark tunnels to explore. You'll be back at your hotel. In the afternoon, you'll go back to Addis Ababa