What to Expect

• Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. A BMI Tour representative will meet you and take you to your hotel. 

• Checkin to your hotel and have some time to relax after your journey.

• 3:00 Visit the National Museum, home of the 3 million year old skeleton “Lucy.” .

• In the evening, Enjoy a welcoming dinner. Traditional style Ethiopian Dinner with an authentic cultural show! 

Fly to Lalibela

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Early 8:00am flight to Lalibela
• Visit the famous cross shape church , St, George.
• Return and checkin to hotel.
• Have lunch at the Benn Abeba restaurant with a great view of the valley.
• In the afternoon, proceed our visit to the 2d group of churches that are inter connected by under ground tunnel. 
• Special candlelit opening ceremony for the group
• Spend the afternoon exploring this cluster of Rock Hewn Churches

Lalibela

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Drive to Yemrehanna Kristos, a beautiful church situated in a shallow cave that predates the churches of Lalibela.

• Enjoy a special chanting ceremony at the church conducted by the head priests

• The drive to Yemrehanna will also give you the opportunity to view the rural countryside and villages of the Ethiopian highlands.

• After our picnic lunch, continue our tour to Arbaitu Ensessat where the monks and nuns produce handy crafts and waiving products.

• Bilbala Giyorgis with it`s Holy honey. Walk in to the village with the kids. As time allows, visit Bilbala Chirkos 

Lalibela

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Morning visit the first cluster of churches. 
• We explore St.Mary's church and dig deeper into the energy of Mary.
• Afternoon, free time to explore any of the clusters and the town.

Lalibela

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Morning, drive to mount Asheton Mariam monastery with its 13th century rock-hewn monastery and great views of the town
• We arrive by walking a path cut into the side of a mountain and entering through a small crevasse in the rocks to the church which is set high on the mountain top. A breathtaking hike with amazing views!
•  Return to Lalibela for lunch at the Seven olives hotel.
• Late afternoon, observe Injera baking, that is a staple food of Ethiopians with an Authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
• Ethiopia is the birth place of coffee. 

Lalibela

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Excursion to Genet Mariam ( with the happiest priest we have ever encountered)
• We are welcomed with an amazing Chanting ceremony conducted by the head priests.
•  On return, visit Neakuteleb cave church with its holy water falling from the ceiling.
• Lunch
• Late afternoon we drive back at the hotel.

Fly to Gondar/ Simien Mountains

• Breakfast at Hotel
• !0:00am Flight too Gondar
• Take a spectacular drive to Sankabar, the gateway to the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Take an easy hike (2 - 3 hours) to take in the spectacular scenery and spot wildlife such as the endemic Gelada Baboons. 
•  Hotel in a modern Eco Lodge

Simien Mountains

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Full day exploration in the National Park. Take a short drive to Chenek the best part of the Simien Mountains for its magnificent view and for a chince to spot endemic animals like Walia Ibex and others.
• En-route, visit the Jimbar waterfalls.
• Picnic lunch
• Hotel in modern Eco Lodge 

Fly to Axum

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Fly to Axum on Ethiopian Airlines.
• Tour the ancient stelae fields, standing for 2000 years.
• Visit the new and impressive Archeological Museum. Visit other tombs and archeological sites
• .Visit the Tsion church where the Ark of the covenant is believed to be kept. 
• Lunch
• Hotel in Axum

Drive to Gheralta

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to the Gheralta Lodge passing the Adwa battlefield, site of Emperor Menelik II's 1895 victory over the invading Italians.
• Visit the 2,500 year old ruins of Yeha, a ancient moon temple dating back to the ancient capital of D'mt. The oldest standing structure in Ethiopia!
• Continue past Adigrat and visit Aba Gerima and Petros Paulos, two of the Tigray region's oldest and finest rock churches. 
• Lunch 
• Hotel at Gheralta Lodge. An amazing lodge that blends in with the community and landscapes of this area.

Gheralta

• Breakfast at hotel
• Excursion to Abune Yemata, a hike to the mountain which ends in a cliff climb to reach the monastery. 
• Continue your tour to Abraha Atsbeha church. This is tigray`s finest rock-hewn church.
• Late afternoon, observe Meskel ceremony celebration aounrd your lodge. Celebrating the finding of part of the cross Jesus was crucified on in Ethiopia.
• Hotel Gheralta Lodge

Gheralta

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Early morning, witness the meskel celebration.
• Excursion to Maryam Apaseiti ( Adam and Eve church).
• En-route stop at Giorgis Makudi church.
• Lunch
• Return to lodge for the night. 

Fly to Addis Ababa.

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Drive to Mekele through visiting Tigray`s remote churches like, Teklehaymont , Medhanealem Adi Kesho, and Wokro Cherkos.
• Fly back to Addis by the late afternoon flight.
• In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups.
• Hotel in Addis Ababa

Departure Day

• Breakfast at Hotel
• Transfer to airport for departure
• Option for an additional hotel night booked upon request (not included in package price) 
• End of Tour