"15-Day Northern Ethiopia: A Journey Through Time"

01: Addis Ababa. Visit Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Tour the Ethnographic Museum, a great introduction to Ethiopian culture and history. Make a short drive to Entoto Hills for a view of the city and visit Maryam Church. En route, stop at the Sheromeda traditional cloth market. Visit the Mercato or the Sholla Market, two of Addis Ababa's main markets

Take a boat tour on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, and tour ancient monasteries on the Zege Peninsula. We will visit two of the following monasteries: Ura Kidane Mehiret, Azwa Maryam, Mehal Zege Giorgis, and Bete Maryam. End the day with a sunset visit to Bezawit Hills overlooking the Nile River.

Through the countryside to Gondar. After lunch, tour the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five castles built by a succession of Ethiopian kings beginning in the early 17th century. Having survived several wars, including air raids during World War 2, the castles are a testament to the resilience of this once mighty African empire. Visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie, famous for its religious art and especially its iconic ceiling depicting angels. Tour the baths of King Fasilides, which still serves as a baptismal pool during Timkat (Epiphany celebrated every January in the Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical calendar).

Meet the scout, mountain guide, and others on the trekking team. Continue driving to Sankabar (31 km from Debark) and the first campsite of the National Park. On this drive you will gain your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region, possibly spotting wildlife such as the endemic Gelada Baboons and the “bone breaker” bird Lammergeyer. Camp at Sankabar (3200 m.)

After one and a half hours, see the Jinnbar River and falls, which you will cross later in the day. After crossing the river, ascend for about 2 hours to Geech. The scenery is wonderful, and a herd of Gelada Baboons can be seen on the journey. Camp at Geech (3600 m.)

Trek to some of the best viewpoints in the National Park. Imet Gogo boasts spectacular views in every direction. Possible wildlife sightings on this 4-5 hour trek include the Simien Wolf, the Walia Ibex, and Klipspringers.

Walia Ibex and Gelada Baboons are routinely spotted.Overnight

Buhit (4,430m); cross the Mesheha River before reaching Ambiquo.

Early morning departure to the summit of Ras Dashen, at 4,543 meters, Africa’s fourth highest peak. Trek up the valley from your campsite to the small village of Mizma. From here, a steep climb brings you to an impressive amphitheater made up of three major buttresses of expanded rock. It is then an easy scramble to the summit. To reach the summit can take up to 6 hrs. Return to Ambiquo camp

Buhit on the return. Overnight Camping

Simien Mountains National Park - Gondar. Meet with vehicles and return to Gondar. Relax and recover from the trek.

Early moring fly to lalibela On Ethiopian Airlines. Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group of eleven monolithic and semi-monolithic structures was carved directly into the stone of the mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings. In the late afternoon, enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony and learn the process for baking injera (a staple food for much of Ethiopia)

Early in the morning, we had breakfast at 8:00 am and drove 5 km from the town of Lalibela to visit the Na'akuto La'ab Monastery, one of a collection of ancient churches and monasteries found in the highlands that encircle Lalibela. We spent 3 hours there during our visit and later drove to Nakuto Làabe for a panoramic view, taking a walk for 5 minutes to refresh.

Visit the new and impressive archaeological museum. See St. Mary Tsion Church, which houses the Ark of the Covenant according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (no one is allowed to see the Ark). Visit other tombs and archaeological sites as time permits

Visit the National Museum, home of the 3 million-year-old skeleton “Lucy.” Optional souvenir shopping. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country's many ethnic groups. Transfer to the airport for a late-night departure if needed.