GROUP TRIP: NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
Why Travel with Go Addis Tours?
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Go Addis Tours’ has won the Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor for the last four years in a row and we’re the #1 ranked tour company in the country. We have more than 375 reviews attesting to our excellent service and ability to create experiences that no other tour company provides.
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Our guides are the best in the country and on our group trips you’ll be paired with an escorted guide from Addis for the whole trip.
- At each leg of the journey the group will also be accompanied by an expert local guide, which will add depth and give you a richer understanding of Ethiopia and the places you visit.
- We’re detailed obsessed AND live and breathe hospitality.
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We arrange it all: guides, entrance fees, hotels, transportation and transfers.
- Between the two founders of Go Addis Tours we’ve got 25 years of combined experience in hospitality and our partners on the ground have been working in tourism for the last 10 years.
- We practice responsible tourism, working closely to grow the capacity of our partners and the communities we work in to be able to showcase to the world what Ethiopia has to offer.
Credit to @handzaround
TRIP DEPARTURES (2019)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Spend two days visiting the ancient rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the crown jewel of Ethiopia’s attractions. There are 11 churches and you will visit these over the course of two days.
- Visit the castles of Gondar and see the Blue Nile falls.
- Take a boat ride on Lake Tana, the largest source of water for the Nile, and have a chance to spot hippos.
- Travel through the Ethiopian countryside and get a feel for what rural life is like with stops along the way to visit local communities.
- Spend time hiking in the beautiful Simien Mountains National Park, a Natural World Heritage Site, and look for the elegant and critically endangered Ethiopian Wolf (endemic).
- Explore the historic city of Axum and learn about the Axumite Empire.
- Travel to Gheralta, an otherworldly landscape, and visit Abuna Yemata Guh, which is one of the most uniquely situated churches in the world.
- Get to know the lovely, chaotic and always moving capital city, Addis Ababa. As the sun comes up you’ll visit the largest produce market in East Africa. You’ll also eat like kings and queens on our famous Food Tour.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive to Addis Ababa - Food Tour and Get to Know the Group
- International flight arrivals.
- Experience our famous 4pm Food Tour (linked here) and eat like kings and queens! You’ll get to taste a variety of Ethiopian
cuisine at three restaurants, try a fresh made juice/smoothie of local fruits, drink as many beers as
you want and take part in a mini coffee ceremony where you can try your hand at roasting coffee.- This will be a great time to meet everyone else on the group and to start
Day 2: Addis Ababa - Exploring Addis to Experience it to the Fullest
- Sunrise Market Tour from 5:30am to 9:30am to visit the largest produce market in East Africa as the
sun comes up. Get a boost of energy with a strong cup of To.mo.ca coffee and enjoy breakfast at
the same restaurant that we took Anthony Bourdain and Marcus Samuelson to on their trip to
Ethiopia while flming CNN’s TV show Part’s Unknown.- Sunrise Market Tour (linked here)
- Breakfast included.
- 1/2 Day Highlight Tour with Go Addis from 9:30am to roughly 3:30pm.
- This is something we recommend everyone do at the beginning of their trip as it is a great introduction to the country, it’s history and culture and will give context for the rest of your trip.
- 1/2 Day Highlight Tour (linked here)
- Break from 3:30pm to 7pm to recharge at the hotel or explore on your own.
- Early evening review of the trip followed by group dinner nearby (included)
- Early to bed as day will start very early tomorrow!
Day 3: Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar - Driving Through Ethiopian Countryside
- Breakfast (included).
- Early morning departure from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar. Drive will take approximately 8 to 10 hours.
We’ll stop for lunch along the way and also stop to visit some small towns, to get a feel for what life
is like in the Ethiopian countryside. Group dinner in Bahir Dar upon checking in. - Lunch & dinner (not included).
Day 4: Bahir Dar - Lake Tana, Ancient Monasteries and the Blue Nile Falls
- Early morning visit to the fsh market.
- Breakfast (included).
- Visit to “Tis Abay” (Blue Nile Falls) for a short 1-hour hike and to be blessed by the holy water.
- Early lunch in town with our guide on the lake (included).
- Mid-day boat trip and monastery visit with our local guide. This is a half day trip out on the lake
where you’ll visit 3 monasteries, which includes some short hikes. - Evening relaxing and exploring.
- Local dinner out (not included) and option for a cultural house visit.
Day 5: Bahir Dar to Gondar - Timket in Gondar, Ethiopian Epiphany Festivities
- Breakfast (included).
- Leisurely departure from Bahir Dar to Gondar. Drive is approximately 3 hours .
- Spend the rest of the day celebrating Timket and learning more about the importance of Orthodox Christianity to Ethiopian history and culture. Today the replica of the “ark of the covenant” is marched from the church to the baptism site in the city. Gondar is the place to be for these celebrations and crowds swell to tens of thousands of people.
- Lunch & dinner (not included).
Day 6: Gondar - Timket Celebrations, Enjoy!!
- Breakfast (included).
- Full day from early morning to take part of the holiday. Ethiopian Epiphany is one of the most sacred
holidays in Ethiopia. You will see people rejoicing in celebration of the epiphany, known as Timket. Be
ready for tens of thousands of Ethiopians on a pilgrimage for this celebration. - Evening beers in the city of Dashen beer, brewed in Gondar (not included).
- Lunch & dinner (not included).
Day 7: Gondar to Simiens - Ethiopia’s Natural World Heritage Site
- Breakfast (included).
- Early morning departure to Simien Mountains National Park (2 hour drive to park HQ)
- Afernoon exploring and hiking around Sankaber, which is where the community lodge is situated.
- Lunch (not included).
- Dinner (included).
Day 8: Simien Mountains - Dramatic Views & Majestic Landscapes
- Breakfast (included).
- Drive to starting point for all-day hike. Full day exploring the park. See the dramatic views while hiking
around the park. - Afternoon community village visit.
- Campfire dinner (included)
Day 9: Simiens to Axum - Experience the Origin of the Axumite Empire
- Breakfast (included) with the some of the most stunning views in Ethiopia.
- Morning departure by car to Axum (about 6-hour drive). Packed lunch (included).
- Afternoon city tour in Axum, one of the most historic cities in Africa. Explore the archeological obelisks
and see from outside the location where the ark of the covenant is thought to be located. - Lunch & dinner (not included).
Day 10: Axum to Gheralta - Climb the Surreal Churches Built in the Cliffs
- Breakfast (included).
- Early morning departure for Gheralta (about 3.5 hours).
- Visit to Abune Yemata Guh, a church built into the mountain side and which you climb to visit!
- Visit to Maryam Korkor, another holy site and again spectacular natural setting.
- Lunch & dinner included. Enjoy views from the lodge.
Day 11: Gheralta to Lalibela - Driving Through the Ethiopian Countryside
- Early Breakfast (included).
- Early morning depart for a long-day driving (9 to 11-hours driving). Packed lunch from lodge. (included)
- Head to the Ben Abeba Restaurant for sunset/dinner to unwind from the long day in the car. It’s the
crazy shaped restaurant down the street from Panoramic View. Dinner (not included). - Option for evening drinks at Torpedo Tej house, a true Ethiopian cultural house with great honey wine.
Day 12: Lalibela - Lalibela Full Day, Ethiopia’s Crown Jewel!
- Breakfast (included)
- Morning go see the frst cluster of churches of Lalibela with our local guide. Lalibela is the crown jewel
of Ethiopia’s Northern Circuit and is a stunning place. Afernoon hike to Asheton Maryam. - Dinner (not included).
Day 13: Lalibela to Addis - Morning Exploring the Majestic Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
- Sunrise church visit to the second cluster of churches.
- This is a great time to see the churches as the light is beautiful and there are usually no other
tourists and sometimes services going on at the churches.
- This is a great time to see the churches as the light is beautiful and there are usually no other
- Breakfast (included)
- Airport transfer by Panoramic View Hotel.
- 12:10 fight from Lalibelia to Addis Ababa (1-hour)
- Arrive in Addis at 1:15pm. Beers and lunch to conclude the end to an incredible 13-day trip!
- Program fnished by 3pm. International fights out. OR option for Southern Trip Extension.
Go Addis Group Travel
- Meet discerning likeminded travelers looking to have fun and experience Ethiopia to the fullest.
- Travel for less and save your money to experience more of the country (or to keep money in the bank)!
- Groups will be kept intimate with our average group size at eight travelers and groups will never be larger than a group of 12.
- Amazing local guides throughout to give you a diverse perspective. And, you’ll have a head guide traveling with the group throughout the trip to help make everything smooth and fun!
- All travelers must be 16 years or older.
- Trips will run with a minimum of five confirmed clients.
