history, culture , wildlife & trekking

Day	*Historic Route by Road with visits to Markets - EET 1001.Sur*
1	Depart Europe.
2	Arrive Addis Ababa, City tour.
3	We set off early on the road north to arrive Kombolcha.
4	Early start for the Bati market, east of Dessie. We will leave Bati in the afternoon, to spend an overnight in Woldiya.
5	We leave for Lalibela and visit the churches in town.
6	Today we go by mule (or on foot if preferred) to the church of Ashetun Mariam, about a 4 hour round trip. Afternoon at leisure.
7	We leave Lalibela for Mekelle.
8	We visit Bait Yohannes and then leave for Axum, on route visiting Yeha.
9	Tour in Axum.
10	We leave for Gondar
11	Tour in and around Gondar.
12	We leave for Gorgora, at the northern end of Lake Tana. Late afternoon drive back to Gondar.
13	Leave to Bahir Dar.
14	We leave for the Blue Nile Falls and a boat trip to Zeghie Peninsula.
15	We start our journey back to Addis Ababa. Overnight in Dejen.
16	Drive back to Addis Ababa.
17	Transfer to Airport. Depart.

Day	*EET 1002. 13 days, Historic Route, with Rift Valley Lakes*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive, transfer to hotel, city tour.
3	Fly to Axum, tour of historical sites and Mariam Tsion church.
4	Fly to Lalibela, tour of churches in Lalibela itself.
5	Fly to Gondar, tour of castles and churches.
6	Drive to Bahir Dar, visit source of Nile and other sites.
7	Blue Nile Falls and boat trip to island monasteries.
8	Fly back to Addis Ababa.
9	Drive to Lake Langano for overnight..
10	Visit Lakes Shalla and Abiata, and proceed to Wondo Genet, o/n Wondo Genet Lodge.
11	Wondo Genet.
12	Back to Addis Ababa for o/n.
13	Depart.

Day	*EET 1003, 15 days: Gondar, Simien Mountains, Ras Dashen, with optional extension to Axum, Lalibela and Bahir Dar.*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour.
3	Fly to Gondar, tour of castles and churches.
4	Leave for Debark, and enter Simien National Park, camping at Michibi.
5	Trek from Michibi via Sankaber to Geech.
6	From Geech to Mount Imetgogo and back to Geech.
7	Trek from Geech to Chenek.
8	From Chenek to Hambiquo.
9	From Hambiquo climb Ras Dashen returning to Hambiquo.
10	From Hambiquo to Alquso.
11	From Alquso to Abergina.
12	From Abergina to Michibi.
13	From Michibi to Debark, met by vehicles, returning to Gondar.
14	Return to Addis Ababa.
15	Depart.
*Extension*
14	Drive to Bahir Dar, visit source of Nile and other sites.
15	Blue Nile Falls and island monasteries
16	Fly to Lalibela, tour or rock hewn churches inside the town.
17	Trip by mule or on foot to outlying churches.Fly from Lalibela to Axum, the obelisk park, the tombs and castles of Axumite Kings, the church of Mariam Tsion.
19	Fly from Axum to Addis Ababa.
20	Depart.

Day	*EET 1004. 14 days, Historic Route, 5 days trekking in the Simien*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour.
3	Fly to Bahir Dar, visit the source of Nile and other sites.
4	Blue Nile Falls and Zeghie Peninsula.
5	Drive to Gondar, tour of castles and churches.
6	Leave for Debark, enter park, camp at Michibi.
7	Trek from Michibi to Geech.
8	From Geech to Imetgogo and back to Geech.
9	From Geech to Miligebsa.
10	From Miligebsa to Debark, picked up by vehicles and proceed to Axum by road. Axum city tour- the obelisk park, the tombs and castles of Axumite Kings, the church of Mariam Tsion, Axum Museum.
12	Fly to Lalibela, tour of the rock hewn churches inside the town.
13	Fly back to Addis Ababa.
14	Depart.

Day	*EET 1005. 14 days, Tigray’s rock hewn churches, Debre Damo, Yeha and the Historic Route.*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour.
3	Fly to Mekelle, Tigray. Drive to Wukro, visit Wukro Cherkos. Proceed to Abreha and Atsbaha, picnic lunch. Trek to Dugum, o/n camping.
5	Visit church of Abune Abraham, am. pm rest or visit of Yohannes Ma’qudi. o/n camping at Dugum.
6	Drive to Megab, Mariam Korkor, am. pm rest of Abune Yemata. o/n camping at Megab.
7	Drive to Axum, via Adigrat, visit monastery of Debre Damo and pre-Axumite ruins of Yeha. Axum city tour- the obelisk park, the tombs and castles of Axumite kings, the church of Mariam Tsion, Axum Museum.
9	Fly to Lalibela, tour of rock hewn churches inside the town.
10	Fly to Gondar, tour of castles and churches.
11	Drive to Bahir Dar, visit source of Nile and other sites.
12	Bahir Dar, Blue Nile Falls and Zeghie Peninsula.
13	Return to Addis Ababa.
14	Depart

Day	*EET 1006. 14 days, Rift Valley Lakes, Arba Minch, Konso and Chencha, Awash National Park, Dire Dawa and Harar.*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour. Ghion Hotel. Drive south, past Lake Zwai and on the Lake Langano for overnight stay. Visit Lakes Shalla and Abiata (birdlife).
4	Continue south to Wondo Genet, hot mineral springs in lush mountain setting.
5	Drive south west to Arba Minch (40 springs), situated between lakes Chamo and Abaya.
6	Nech Sar National Park, and boat trip to Lake Chamo.
7	Drive to Konso, home to a small Ethiopian ethnic group, returning to Arba Mich.
8	Drive to Chencha, home to Dorze ethnic group, continuing to Lake Awassa for overnight stay.
9	Drive to Awash National Park.
10	Full day in Awash National Park, including a trip to Filoha hot springs.
11	From awash, drive to Harar.
12	Full day in Harar with city tour.
13	Transfer to Dire Dawa and fly back to Addis Ababa.
14	Depart.

Day	*EET 1007. 12 days, Rift Valley Lakes and trekking in the Bale National Park*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive, city tour. Drive south, past Lake Zwai and on to Lake Langano for overnight stay. Visit Lakes Shalla and Abiata (birdlife).
4	Continue south to Lake Awassa for overnight stay.
5	Drive to Dinsho, Park headquarters and start trekking.
6-8	Trekking though the park, passing crater lakes, trout filled streams, the highest mooreland in Africa, meeting up with the vehicles on day 8 and transfer to hotel in Goba.
9	Day trip to the amazing underwater cave of Sof Omar.
10	We drive from Goba to Wondo Genet, hot mineral springs in lush mountain setting.
11	Drive from Wondo Genet back to Addis Ababa.
12	Depart.

Day	*EET 1008. 15 days, Hosanna, Arba Minch, Omo Valley and Awassa*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour. We drive south, visit Neolithic site of Melka Kunture (1.5-1.8 million years old) and rock hewn church of Adadi Mariam, camping at Hosanna.
4	Early start for Arba Minch (40 springs). Visit Nech Sar Park.
5	Leave for Mago park, passing Konso and Jinka, camping in Mago Park HQ.
6	Drive through Mago, visiting Mursi villages ,on camping.
7	Visit Karo, Bume and Hamer villages, o/n camping by Omo River.
8	Drive south of Omorate, o/n camping.
9	Cross Omo river, into Omo National Park, o/n camping.
10	Leave Omo park, return to Omorate and cross river, proceed to Turmi.
11	Drive to Chew Bahir (Lake Stephanie) and on to Erbore, o/n camping.
12	From Erbore we drive to Arba Minch, visit to crocodile market.
13	We leave Arba Minch for Lake Awassa.
14	Drive back to Addis Ababa, passing Rift Valley Lakes.
15	Depart

Day	*EET 1009. 15 days, trekking on the west bank of the Omo, among the Surma*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour.
3	Fly to Tum, o/n camping or local hotel depending on weather.
4	Start trekking to Maji, passing Yekir Demoze mountain, 5-6 hours. o/n camping or local hotel.
5	Trek from Maji to Adikas, 4-5 hours, o/n camping.
6	Adikas to Kibish, 5 hours, camp at Lala Meru, near Kibish River.
7&8	Stay at camp, visit Surma villages.
9	Trek to Kormu, 3 hours, camp near chief’s house.
10	Trek from Kormu to Magalogne, 3 hours, camp near hot springs.
11	Start return to Tum, reaching Adikas.
12	Adikas to Maji
13	Maji to Tum.
14	Fly from Tum to Addis Ababa, souvenir shopping, farewell dinner.
15	Depart

Day	EET 1010. 8 days, Awash Park and Bishangari*
1	Depart (London, Frankfurt/Rome etc.) on Ethiopian Airlines.
2	Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour.
3	Leave for Awash National Park..
4	Full day in park, including visit to Filoha hot springs.
5	Leave for Rift Valley Lakes and Bishangari
6	Full day trekking in the forest by Bishangari camp.
7	Return to Addis Ababa..
8	Depart

* Bishangari is a tented camp situated on the east coast of Lake Langano, backing on to the Munessa Shashemene State Forest. More than 350 bird species and a variety of animals recorded. The camp is an eco-tourist project, run by Farm Africa and Munessa Shashemene State Forest, with proceeds going to forest protection and health and educational facilities for local communities. Extensions to this remote and peaceful camp can be arranged following trips to the north and elsewhere. Trekking programs up the escarpment can also be arranged.