tour code: amtt- 210 duration: 13 days / 12 nights / by surface destination: north addis/add- bahir...

8/3/2019 Tour code: AMTT- 210 Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights / by surface Destination: North Addis/ADD- Bahir Dar /BJR- Gon

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Amran Ethiopia Tour and Travel

The place where history becomes alive

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Tour code: AMTT- 210Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights / by surfaceDestination: NorthAddis/ADD- Bahir Dar /BJR- Gondar/GDQ- Axum- Mekele-Lalibella/LLI Kombolcaha- Harar +Awash National park -Addis/ADD

Ethiopia Historic Route is one of The Great treasures of Ethiopia. Itencompasses the history of Ethiopia from its early beginnings to

modern day. A history that stretches back to the time of prehistoricman; to the 3,000 year old history of Axum; the famous 12th centuryrock-hewn churches of Lalibela, and the Medieval castles of Gondar,which is Known as Africas Camelot. A boat cruise over Lake Tana isarranged to visit old monasteries on the islands. With some distancedrive from Bahir Dar, Blue Nile Falls will be visited.

DAY01: Addis/ADD - Bahir Dar /BJR

Drive from Addis Ababa-Bahir Dar to Debre Markos visiting theremarkable Blue Nile Gorge that is comparable in scale with the American GrandCanyon, and the largest monastery in Ethiopia - Debre Libanos Monastery(13thCentury AD) where you can visit the mosaics by the most famous Ethiopian ArtistAfework Tekle. Bahir Dar is a Small but fast growing town on the southern shore ofLake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. It has long attracted religious men and thearea contains numerous churches and monasteries, many of them on the thirty or soislands of Lake Tana. O/n Bahir Dar in a chosen hotel.

DAY02:Bahir Dar /BJR

Excursion to Blue Nile Falls, and boat trip on Lake Tana. Perhaps to enjoy theRemarkable birdlife in the area, but most people will probably want to take Theexcursion by boat on the lake to visit some of the monasteries. The Nearest one, the15th century Kebrane Gabriel is forbidden to women, butUra-Kidanemereth, on a peninsular jutting out into the lake, is open to all.Under the thatched roof are some distinctive colorful paintings of religious scenes,

and an impressive display of illuminated bibles written in Ge'ez, the religious languagefrom which Amharic is derived. O/n Bahar Dar in a chosen hotel.


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DAY03: Bahir Dar /BJR- Gondar/GDQ

Drive 185 Km North of Bahir Dar to the 17th Centurycapital of Ethiopia - Gondar. We experience typically in anEthiopian African landscape as we drive from Bahir Dar toGondar- 180 kms over wide grazing land, hilly mountainswith numerous farmlands. The rest of the Historic route dayvisit attractions in Gondar. The attractions that you visit inGondar includes: Castles of Gondar- are included in theWorld Heritage List, the royal Fasiledes Bath and the Churchof Debre Berhan Selassie with its unique murals and AwraAmba village. In the afternoon visits the castles and churchDebre Birhane Sellasie which is found in Gondar. O/n Gondarin a chosen hotel.

DAY 04: Gondar/GDQ - Axum

In the morning drive to Axum. Gondar Axum through theSemien Mountains, reach Axum. O/n at the chosen hotel.

DAY 05:Axum

Visit the church of Tsoin Mariam Church According to tradition, Menelik hidThe Arkof the Covenant in his mothers palace, which is about three kilometers From thecentre of Aksum. This hiding place is Tsoin Mariam Church. O/n at the chosen hotel.

DAY06:Axum/AXU- Mekele/MQX

Visit earliest known capital, Yeha, is less than two hours' drive from Axum throughsome dramatic highland scenery. As the birthplace of the country's earliest highCivilization, it is well worth visiting. To get there, head east for twenty kilometers (is


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a town 12 miles) to Adwa. Continue along themain road towards Adigrat for another

twenty-four kilometer (15 miles) and then turnNorth on to a short dirt track, where you willsee the imposing ruins of Yeha's Temple of themoon about four kilometers (2.5 miles) to theright of the track.

Also visit Damo is unique and unforgettablealthough, as with most Ethiopian monasteries,

women are not allowed to enter it. Even so, there is adaunting obstacle to the monastery: the only means ofaccess is a climb of twenty-five meters up a sheer cliff.

Monks lower a safety rope which visitors tie around theirwaists. Then they use a second, thicker rope to climbwith. Some may reflect, as they make their way to thetop, that because of this arduous, dangerous ascent theart treasures of Debra Damo have remained intact throughthe monastery-s 1,400 tumultuous years of history. O/n atthe hotel.

DAY07:Mekele/MQX - Lalibella/LLI

Drive to Mekele to Lalibela witnessing one of the 12th century rock hewen church,which built a half cut stone( semi monolithic church) Yemhrahane kirstose.

Yemrehanna Kristos is believed to pre-date Lalibelas churches by some 80 years the

blueprint of greatness. The tiny church in its cave shows many of the features later

hewn from rock in Lalibela. The wooden windows are cruciform, like Lalibelas. The

church is rectangular in shape, and is divided in three naves, like some of the smaller

churches at Lalibela. Most of the interior is carved, and both religious and geometric

paintings remain. O/n in the chosen hotel.

DAY08:Lalibella/LLI

Full day sightseeing tour of Lalibela: Lalibela, famous for its rock hewn churchesdating back 800 years. There are no less than 1000 churches in the Lasta Region ofLalibela, some hidden in enormous caves, but it's exceptional to find 11 churches ofSuch master craftsmanship in one locale. These brilliant feats of engineering and. O/nLalibella in a chosen hotel.


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DAY09:Lalibella/LLI- Kombolcaha

After breakfast, start driving to Kombolcha. Visit thestunning and the Flourishing point of a thickly woodedpeninsula Houses the Male-only 9th century Monasteryof Hayk Istafanos, which became the most PowerfulReligious centre in Ethiopia under the influence ofIyasus Moa, a 13th century monk whose busy dailyRoutine included kissing the ground a full 10,000times. Hoarded away in the treasury are severalremarkableAntiquities, ranging from a heavy Stonecross) that Belonged to Iyasu Moa to hollow Sacrificial

stones confirming legends that the site served as apagan shrine prior to its monastic. O/n Kombolcha in achosen hotel.

DAY 10: Kombolcaha -Awash National park

Lying in the lowlands to the east of Addis Ababa andastride the Awash River, the Awash National Park isone of the finest reserves in Ethiopia.

The Awash River, one of the major rivers of the hornof Africa, waters important agricultural lands in thenorth of Ethiopia and eventually flows into thewilderness of the Danakil Depression. The dramaticAwash Falls, as the river tumbles into its gorge, is thesight not to be missed in the national park. Awashnational park, surrounding the dormant volcano of Fantale, is a reserve of arid andsemi-arid woodland and savannah; with rive rain forests along the Awash River.

Forty-six species of animals have been identified here, including beisa Oryx andSwaynes hartebeest. The bird life is prolific especially along the river and in the

nearby lake Basaka and there are fine endemic ones amongst the 392 Speciesrecorded. A special attraction is the beautiful clear Pools of the Filwoha hot springs.Access to the park is best from the main Addis Assab highway. Here is a caravan

lodge Kereyu Lodge at the edge of the gorge. Overnight stay at kereyu lodge.


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DAY 11: Awash National park - Harar

Harar is located in the eastern part of the country and partof the historic circuits. The walled city of Harar is an ancientcity with rich and colorful history. Harar is 523 Kilometerseast of Addis Ababa, the capital. The most dominant featureof Harar is its strong encircling wall, which embraces thetown, its exciting market places, and Its99 mosques. Harar is the fourth holiestcity after Makka, Madina and Jerusalem.O/n at the chosen hotel.

DAY 12:Harar

Muslim Capital of Ethiopia which isregarded by many as the fourth holy cityof Islam next to Mecca,Medina, and Jerusalem.On your way, you willcross the Mountains, andvisit the people of

Hararghe Oromo at theirvillages.After lunch at Harar,

have a city tour to visitthe walls and gates ofHarar, the multiculturalmarket of the people ofAmhara, Oromo, andAdere (Harari), the houseof the famous 19thCentury French poet Arthur

Rimbaud, and in the evening drive to one of the gatesof Harar to visit the Hyena Man when he feeds wildhyenas by hand. O/n Harar.

DAY 13: Harar Addis Ababa /ADD+ departure

tour code: amtt- 210 duration: 13 days / 12 nights / by surface destination: north addis/add- bahir...

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