• Tour Addis Ababa, gateway city to a proud and ancient civilization.
• Travel the Historic Route to Gondar’s castles, Lalibela’s famous rock-hewn churches & the Queen of Sheba’s palace in Axum.
• Investigate the ancient island monasteries of Tana Lake, the largest lake in Ethiopia.
• Explore the dramatic nature of the Blue Nile, Tiss Issat Falls & the Simien Mountain range at the ‘Roof of Africa.’
• Easily arrange extensions to visit the Rift Valley lakes, or the desert Hyena Men & fascinating old walled-city of Harar.

Day 1: Depart USA
Your adventure begins with a direct flight from the USA to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Day 2: Arrive Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Welcome to Ethiopia, land of the legendary Queen of Sheba and a long line of emperors reaching back 3,000 years. You are met and transferred to your hotel. Later, take in the sights from the gilded St. George Cathedral to the largest open marketplace in Africa, where you’ll find everything from produce and crafts to intricate filigree jewelry. Ghion (D)

Day 3: Addis Ababa / Baher Dar
Board an early flight to Baher Dar that marks the beginning of your journey along Ethiopia’s grand Historic Route, which spans the northern part of the country. Baher Dar sits on the edge of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile and largest lake in the country. Eighty percent of the entire Nile River water originates from this lake. Visit the palace of former Emperor Haile Selassie, and take a cruise to one of the ancient island monasteries filled with medieval religious art. Tana (B,D)

Day 4: Baher Dar / Tiss Issat Falls / Gondar
Begin the day with an excursion to the thundering Tiss Issat Falls, where the Blue Nile begins its course with a 150-foot plunge into a rocky chasm. Hike up a grassy hillside for the best views. Return to town and fly to Gondar, the 17th-century capital at the base of the Simien Mountains. Goha (B,L,D)

Day 5: Gondar
Discover the castle capital of Africa! The Imperial Compound encloses the remnants of castles and churches with spellbinding frescoes and Moorish turrets, towers and domes. Venture into the countryside to the Simien Mountains, ascending to a breathtaking alpine summit at the ‘roof of Africa.’ The mountains offer spectacular views and a variety of wildlife, including baboons, Ethiopian wolves and birds of prey such as the rare lammergeyer, a huge vulture. Goha (B,D)

Day 6: Gondar / Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela, and set your sights on the amazing collection of eleven rock-hewn churches, painstakingly dug out of solid bedrock to heights of over 30 feet, and interconnected by a maze of tunnels. Learn about the lore behind the seemingly superhuman scale of these 13th-century creations. Roha (B,D)

Day 7: Lalibela
Visit Nakutoleab Monastery, hewn from a cave, then return to the subterranean churches to continue to explore the treasures of Lalibela. Roha (B,D)

Day 8: Lalibela / Axum
Fly over Simien Mountains to Axum, Ethiopia’s 3,000-year-old Holy City. Visit the Queen of Sheba’s palace, great granite obelisks and the cathedral where emperors were crowned. Yeha (B,D)

Day 9: Axum / Addis Ababa
After breakfast, fly back to Addis Ababa, where the afternoon is free to explore or shop on your own. Sheraton (B)

Day 10: Addis Ababa / Depart to USA
The day is at leisure with a day room until your evening transfer to the airport. Depart on a direct flight to the USA. (B)

Day 11: Arrive USA
Arrive in the USA and connect with your hometown flight.

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