Ethiopia Historical Sightseeing Tours

Axum

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The top Ethiopia historical and heritage tours include Lalibela, Bahrdar, Gondar, Axum, and Harar. His-Cul Ethiopia Tour Operator provides an overview of historic Ethiopia. Sightseeing tour visits more than 12 sites including rock-hewn churches and monasteries which were established several hundred years back. Our history tours help you to explore Ethiopia’s birthplace, taking you behind the scenes to the places where other tours cannot venture. We invite you to take your time to stroll through the museums of Ethiopian history and also learn more about the top historic points of interest in Ethiopia such as but not limited to Lalibela, Gondar and Bahirdar.

ATTRACTIONS OF AXUM: Travelers’ Ethiopia tours will not be completed without Lalibela, Axum and Bahrdar sightseeing. Let’s briefly see what the attractions of Axum include.

In the small garden at the entrance to the town, a long inscription in three types of scrip, South Arabian, old-Ethiopian, and Greek, presents to a visitor a page from the history of Ethiopia. It tells of a campaign undertaken by King Ezana to bring his unstable or confused neighbors. Ezana is said to have been its Constantine, having introduced Christianity to Ethiopia.

Axum was once a capital city of one of the four most ancient kingdoms. The damages of time and men have profoundly altered its ancient face, but even so, to those who can see beyond the devastations, Axum reveals many of its secrets. One glance at the remaining monuments and the scattered ruins

suffices to gain an understanding of a past two thousand years old. There are at Axum monuments of the pre-Christian period; the most famous are the great sculptured steles. One of them 23 meters tall, stands in the center of the town. The biggest lies on the ground in pieces; it measured 33 meters. Four more steles are broken, lie on the ground a little to the north of others. All these steles are monoliths of granite, which abounds in the region. At the Axum steles, one can easily see doors, windows with frames, and beam heads. They are obviously reproductions of multi-storied buildings. Most reliable sources place the steles of Axum in the third century and the first part of the fourth century A.D.

Another important attraction of Axum is tombs of important persons of ancient times which are located some distance away on the hill which dominates the city to the northeast. Tradition recognizes among them the graves of kings of the sixth century, Kaleb and Gebe Maskal.

It is not without interest to note that the Church of St. Mary of Zion has itself been superimposed on the walls of an Axumite construction whose interior is fixed to a pillar on the right and beautiful paintings of uncertain date: a Madonna typical of the Ethiopian style.

The palace of the Queen of Sheba and the swimming pool Queen of Sheba had been using are also some of the most important attractions one can see while he is in Axum or in his Ethiopia tour. The sixth century temple of Yeha, one of the most famous sites of ancient Ethiopia and the cliff-top Monastery of Debre Damo also can be covered in a day trip either from Axum or in your way from Axum to Mekele or from Mekele to Axum.

Bahrdar

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BAHIR DAR: Bahir Dar is the best lakeside city of Ethiopia. The region is the home of the Amhara, whose language has become the lingua franca of Ethiopia. Bahir Dar with colorful flowers and wide and palm-lined streets is located at the extreme south of Lake Tana, the major source of the Blue Nile, the longest river of our planet.

Bahir Dar is located 578 km northwest of Addis Ababa, and its average altitude is 1,840m above sea level. Bahir Dar also enjoys a tropical type of climate, with an average temperature of 17.5 degree Celsius.

Christianity was probably first spread to Bahr Dar and its vicinity from Axum as early as the fifth century AD. However, the lake’s many monasteries did not begin to be built until the middle years of the fourteenth

fourteenth century during the reign of Emperor Amda Tsion who ruled Ethiopia 1314-1344.

A number of excellent historic and interested monasteries which were built in the fourteenth century have been sheltered on the islands and peninsulas of Lake Tana. The number of monasteries on Lake is 30. Church crosses, beautiful and well preserved ancient mural paintings, ancient illuminated manuscript and former kings’ clothes are some of the most important things one can see in his visit of the monasteries at Bahir Dar.

In addition to the ancient monasteries Bahir Dar has sheltered, the Blue Nile Falls, Ethiopia’s most magnificent waterfall is another attraction of the place.

Gondar

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THE 17th CENTURY CASTLES OF KING FASSILADA AT GONDAR :Emperor Fassiladas, one of Ethiopia’s rulers of the medieval period is remembered for the establishment of Gondar as his capital around 1636. His successors, Emperor Yohannes I (1667-1682), Emperor Eyassu I (1682-1706), Emperor Dawit III (1716-1721), Emperor Bakafa (1722-1730) and others after them found the new political center so agreeable that it remained a permanent seat of imperial power until the middle of the nineteenth century. Ethiopia thus came to have once again, after the mobile capitals of the medieval period, a fixed capital. Gondar was thus able to repeat the magnificence of its predecessors, Axum and Lalibela, in lasting architectural achievements.
Part of the attraction of Gondar was commercial. Years before its selection as a royal capital, the town had existed as a trading point on the long-distance trade linking the southern regions to Massawa on the

Red Sea coast and Matamma on the Sudan border. This commercial importance continued even more after 1636.

The Gondar market was a meeting point for people from the Lake Tana region and Wagara, who traded their cattle, honey, butter and grain for the urban product of the weavers, blacksmiths and goldsmiths. A place in the outskirts of Gondar city was reserved for the Falasha people who dominated the crafts.

It was during the reign of its first kings that Gondar experienced above all its period of glory and splendor. These kings were King Fassiladas, Emperor Yohannes I (r. 1667-1682), and Iyyasu I also known as Iyassu the Great (r. 1682-1706).

Empress Mentewwab, wife of King Bakafa (r. 1721-1730), continued the glorious Gondarine tradition of building beautiful palaces and churches.

Attractions in Gondar: Travelers can see the following attractions in Gondar on their Ethiopia tours to north Ethiopia.

The Castles of King Fassiladas: These castles were built by King Fassiladas around the mid of the seventeen century. The castle has 12 gates indicated in Roman numerals. The palace is a two-story building made up of Basalt stones. He used eggs and mortar instead of limestone to fasten the basalt stones. The swimming pool of King Fassiladas, his son’s library, Emperor Dawit II’s house of song and Emperor Bakafa’s banqueting hall and reception are some of the other attractions one can see near the ancient Castles of Gondar. One will have a chance to see many other Gonderine structures outside the city.

Qusqwam Palace and Church complex: The Qusqwam Palace and Qusqwam Monastery were built by Empress Mentewwab. The palace and the church complex is a good example of this architectural achievement. The churches in particular were famous for their beautiful paintings, crosses and other refined works of art.

Fallasha Village: The Fallasha village which is roughly located one kilometer out of the city is also another attraction. One can see there their villages and ruins of old synagogues. Fallashas are Judaic Ethiopians who practice Judaism.

Lalibela

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SIGHTSEEING OF LALIBELA: About the middle of the twelfth century, the Ethiopian state reappeared with its centre in what is today Lalibela. When the power of Axum declined in its northern Ethiopia provinces, it was among the Agaw that the state took shelter, maintaining its centre there for at least four centuries. The Agaw of this region had long been converted to Christianity and they continued the ancient Aksumite political traditions almost unbroken. They also encouraged trade from the coasts of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden through the Dahlaq Islands and the port of Zeila respectively. In addition to the introduction of several documents which were later translated into Ge’ez, they constructed many beautiful monolithic churches they were chiseled out of rock. Rock hewn churches were not new and there are many of them belonging to earlier periods in many parts of Tigray. But it was during the Zagwe period that this tradition attained its highest level of refinements;

the several levels where the churches in a group are set on, the trenches that serve as a drainage system and the roof’s ridge are some of the many examples that can prove the superior architectural knowledge of the architects of Lalibela. A good example for this is the construction of the 11- Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela that have been recognized by UNESCO as part of the World Cultural Heritage.

Lalibela is the most beloved sightseeing of many Ethiopia holidaymakers interested to see ancient historic places. The 11-Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela is one of the most harmoniously designed complexes of the ancient times as well.

The first group of the churches includes Beta Medhanealem, Beta Maryam, Beta Maqal, Beta Danagel, Beta Debrasina and Beta Golgota whereas the second group Beta Amanuel, Beta Marqorewos, Beta Abba Libanos, Beta Gabriel-Rufael and Beta Giyorgis. The name of the churches called Lalibela after their most famous king who is credited for their construction.

OTHER CHURCHES TO BE REACHED FROM LALIBELA

There are several rock churches in the surrounding area of Lalibela. Some of them are Yemrehanna Krestos (a built-up cave church in Axumite wood and stone construction), Arbatu Enssesa (a monolithic sanctuary which shows remains of old ornaments which were used to chisel capitals and doors in Axumite style), Bilbala Giyorgis (which a frieze with emblems of the vault decorates the facade), Makina Medhanealem (a built-up cave church in Axumite style) and Gennata Mariam monolithic rock church on a high plinth.

Detailed Itinerary Close

Ethiopia Historical Sightseeing Tour Packages

TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 0110 5 days/ 4 nights HARAR – LALIBELA AIR

Day 01: AARRIVAL IN ADDIS ABABA
Arrive Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, be met by our company representative and transferred to your hotel. O/N in a hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – HARAR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Dire Dawa. After arrival in Dire Dawa, take your vehicle and drive to Harar, one of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites to start your historical tours in Ethiopia. After lunch, visit the Wall of Harar where you will have a chance to more than 99 mosques concentrated in a single place. You will also visit ancient monuments, Arthur Rimbaud’s house, and other historical sites. In the evening, visit the hyena man who feeds hyenas every evening at the outskirt of the city. O/N in a hotel

Day 03: HARAR – ADDIS ABABA
In the morning, transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis Ababa. In the afternoon, do a half-day city tour of Addis Ababa which includes the most important historical points of interest of the city. O/N in a hotel

Day 04: ADDIS ABABA – LALIBELA
After early breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Lalibela, historical and religious town to explore the history of Ethiopia through its ancient historical sites. After arrival, visit the 12 th century churches of Lalibela the largest monolithic church in the world which were carved from a single stone 900 years back. O/N in a hotel

Day 05: LALIBELA – ADDIS ABABA – DEPARTURE
Take your morning flight and fly back to Addis Ababa. The balance of the ay would be dedicated to do your last minute shopping and refresh yourselves at your hotel. In the early hours of the evening, be transferred to the airport to catch your return flight back to home.



TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 009 5 Days/4 Nights AXUM – GONDAR – LALIBELA - BAHR DAR AIR

Day 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS – AXUM
Arrive Addis and transfer to your hotel accompanied by His-Cul Tour Operator and Travel Agency representative. In the morning of this same day, transfer to the airport and fly to Axum. After arrival, visit, the Obelisk of Axum of the pre-Christian period (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Queen of Sheba’s Palace, her swimming pool, and ruins of ancient palaces and tombs of the sixth century kings. O/N in hotel

Day 02: AXUM – GONDAR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Gondar to visit the Castles of King Fassilada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which were built 450 years back and had been used as a palace for more than 250 years for all kings who came to power after King Fassilladas. You will also visit the painted church of Debre Birihan Sellassie together with this activity. O/N in hotel

Day 03: GONDAR – LALIBELA
In the morning, you will take a short morning flight to Lalibela to see the 11-rock hewn churches (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), most beloved sightseeing of tourists who visit Ethiopia and where one can see the highest level of architectural achievement of its times--around the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th one. O/N in hotel

Day 04: LALIBELA – BAHR DAR
Again take short morning flight to Bahr Dar and see the Blue Nile Falls, and the ancient monasteries (more than 700 years old) situated in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Lake Tana. O/N in hotel

Day 05: BAHR DAR – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly back to Addis, do half-day sightseeing tour of Addis, and in the early hours of the evening, transfer to the airport to catch your evening return flight to home.



TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 010 9 Days/ 8 Nights BAHR DAR – GONDAR – AXUM – LALIBELA AIR & SURFACE

Day 01: ARRVAL ADDIS AND FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDIS
Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel accompanied by His-Cul Ethiopia Tour Operator representative. Then you will have a full day city tour of Addis which includes the modern and historic features of the city. O/N in hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – BAHR DAR
Pick up from your hotel is around 07:00am to head northwest of Addis to get Bahr Dar, the second largest city of Ethiopia, and home of historic sites. En-route, you will visit Africa’s largest canyon, a 200 years old bridge and other attractions that are of interest. O/N in hotel

Day 03: FULL-DAY IN AND AROUND BAHR DAR
Full-day visit Bahr Dar which includes the Blue Nile Falls, and the fourteenth century monasteries, the premier attraction in its place that are situated in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Lake Tana. O/N in hotel

Day 04: BAHR DAR – GONDAR
Drive to Gondar, Ethiopia’s major ex-capitals through the spectacular mountain views in between. Upon arrival, visit the Castles of King Fassiladas (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an important castle of the medieval period which were built in the 17th century and had been used as a palace for more than 250 years for all kings who came to power after King Fassilladas. You will also visit the decorated church of Debre Birihan Sellassie together with this activity. O/N in hotel

Day 05: GONDAR – SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, drive to Simien Mountains National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage) whose entire landscapes have spectacular views. Mammals endemic to it are also additional attraction to this place. O/N in lodge

Day 06: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – AXUM
Today you drive to Axum, which has sheltered several pre-Christian era edifices. On your way, visit gorges and admire some rural villages of north Ethiopia.

Day 07: FULL-DAY IN AXUM
You will have a full-day visit of the most important sightseeing in Axum which includes the steles of Axum (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the swimming pool of the Queen of Sheba and the ruins of palace she had been using while she was on power, and ruins of ancient palaces and tombs of the sixth century kings. O/N in hotel

Day 08: AXUM – LALIBELA
Transfer to the airport and take your morning short fly to Lalibela. After arrival, visit the 11-rock hewn churches, which readily identified with Ethiopia as is the Great Wall with China. O/N in hotel

Day 09: LALIBELA – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly back to Addis, do your last minute shopping, and finally transfer to the airport in the late evening for your return flight to home.



Detailed Itinerary Close

Ethiopia Historical Sightseeing Tour Packages

TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 0110 5 days/ 4 nights HARAR – LALIBELA AIR

Day 01: AARRIVAL IN ADDIS ABABA
Arrive Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, be met by our company representative and transferred to your hotel. O/N in a hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – HARAR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Dire Dawa. After arrival in Dire Dawa, take your vehicle and drive to Harar, one of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites to start your historical tours in Ethiopia. After lunch, visit the Wall of Harar where you will have a chance to more than 99 mosques concentrated in a single place. You will also visit ancient monuments, Arthur Rimbaud’s house, and other historical sites. In the evening, visit the hyena man who feeds hyenas every evening at the outskirt of the city. O/N in a hotel

Day 03: HARAR – ADDIS ABABA
In the morning, transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis Ababa. In the afternoon, do a half-day city tour of Addis Ababa which includes the most important historical points of interest of the city. O/N in a hotel

Day 04: ADDIS ABABA – LALIBELA
After early breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Lalibela, historical and religious town to explore the history of Ethiopia through its ancient historical sites. After arrival, visit the 12 th century churches of Lalibela the largest monolithic church in the world which were carved from a single stone 900 years back. O/N in a hotel

Day 05: LALIBELA – ADDIS ABABA – DEPARTURE
Take your morning flight and fly back to Addis Ababa. The balance of the ay would be dedicated to do your last minute shopping and refresh yourselves at your hotel. In the early hours of the evening, be transferred to the airport to catch your return flight back to home.



TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 009 5 Days/4 Nights AXUM – GONDAR – LALIBELA - BAHR DAR AIR

Day 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS – AXUM
Arrive Addis and transfer to your hotel accompanied by His-Cul Tour Operator and Travel Agency representative. In the morning of this same day, transfer to the airport and fly to Axum. After arrival, visit, the Obelisk of Axum of the pre-Christian period (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Queen of Sheba’s Palace, her swimming pool, and ruins of ancient palaces and tombs of the sixth century kings. O/N in hotel

Day 02: AXUM – GONDAR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Gondar to visit the Castles of King Fassilada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which were built 450 years back and had been used as a palace for more than 250 years for all kings who came to power after King Fassilladas. You will also visit the painted church of Debre Birihan Sellassie together with this activity. O/N in hotel

Day 03: GONDAR – LALIBELA
In the morning, you will take a short morning flight to Lalibela to see the 11-rock hewn churches (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), most beloved sightseeing of tourists who visit Ethiopia and where one can see the highest level of architectural achievement of its times--around the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th one. O/N in hotel

Day 04: LALIBELA – BAHR DAR
Again take short morning flight to Bahr Dar and see the Blue Nile Falls, and the ancient monasteries (more than 700 years old) situated in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Lake Tana. O/N in hotel

Day 05: BAHR DAR – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly back to Addis, do half-day sightseeing tour of Addis, and in the early hours of the evening, transfer to the airport to catch your evening return flight to home.



TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 010 9 Days/ 8 Nights BAHR DAR – GONDAR – AXUM – LALIBELA AIR & SURFACE

Day 01: ARRVAL ADDIS AND FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDIS
Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel accompanied by His-Cul Ethiopia Tour Operator representative. Then you will have a full day city tour of Addis which includes the modern and historic features of the city. O/N in hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – BAHR DAR
Pick up from your hotel is around 07:00am to head northwest of Addis to get Bahr Dar, the second largest city of Ethiopia, and home of historic sites. En-route, you will visit Africa’s largest canyon, a 200 years old bridge and other attractions that are of interest. O/N in hotel

Day 03: FULL-DAY IN AND AROUND BAHR DAR
Full-day visit Bahr Dar which includes the Blue Nile Falls, and the fourteenth century monasteries, the premier attraction in its place that are situated in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Lake Tana. O/N in hotel

Day 04: BAHR DAR – GONDAR
Drive to Gondar, Ethiopia’s major ex-capitals through the spectacular mountain views in between. Upon arrival, visit the Castles of King Fassiladas (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an important castle of the medieval period which were built in the 17th century and had been used as a palace for more than 250 years for all kings who came to power after King Fassilladas. You will also visit the decorated church of Debre Birihan Sellassie together with this activity. O/N in hotel

Day 05: GONDAR – SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, drive to Simien Mountains National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage) whose entire landscapes have spectacular views. Mammals endemic to it are also additional attraction to this place. O/N in lodge

Day 06: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – AXUM
Today you drive to Axum, which has sheltered several pre-Christian era edifices. On your way, visit gorges and admire some rural villages of north Ethiopia.

Day 07: FULL-DAY IN AXUM
You will have a full-day visit of the most important sightseeing in Axum which includes the steles of Axum (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the swimming pool of the Queen of Sheba and the ruins of palace she had been using while she was on power, and ruins of ancient palaces and tombs of the sixth century kings. O/N in hotel

Day 08: AXUM – LALIBELA
Transfer to the airport and take your morning short fly to Lalibela. After arrival, visit the 11-rock hewn churches, which readily identified with Ethiopia as is the Great Wall with China. O/N in hotel

Day 09: LALIBELA – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly back to Addis, do your last minute shopping, and finally transfer to the airport in the late evening for your return flight to home.



Detailed Itinerary Close

Ethiopia Historical Sightseeing Tour Packages

TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 0110 5 days/ 4 nights HARAR – LALIBELA AIR

Day 01: AARRIVAL IN ADDIS ABABA
Arrive Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, be met by our company representative and transferred to your hotel. O/N in a hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – HARAR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Dire Dawa. After arrival in Dire Dawa, take your vehicle and drive to Harar, one of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites to start your historical tours in Ethiopia. After lunch, visit the Wall of Harar where you will have a chance to more than 99 mosques concentrated in a single place. You will also visit ancient monuments, Arthur Rimbaud’s house, and other historical sites. In the evening, visit the hyena man who feeds hyenas every evening at the outskirt of the city. O/N in a hotel

Day 03: HARAR – ADDIS ABABA
In the morning, transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis Ababa. In the afternoon, do a half-day city tour of Addis Ababa which includes the most important historical points of interest of the city. O/N in a hotel

Day 04: ADDIS ABABA – LALIBELA
After early breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Lalibela, historical and religious town to explore the history of Ethiopia through its ancient historical sites. After arrival, visit the 12 th century churches of Lalibela the largest monolithic church in the world which were carved from a single stone 900 years back. O/N in a hotel

Day 05: LALIBELA – ADDIS ABABA – DEPARTURE
Take your morning flight and fly back to Addis Ababa. The balance of the ay would be dedicated to do your last minute shopping and refresh yourselves at your hotel. In the early hours of the evening, be transferred to the airport to catch your return flight back to home.



TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 009 5 Days/4 Nights AXUM – GONDAR – LALIBELA - BAHR DAR AIR

Day 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS – AXUM
Arrive Addis and transfer to your hotel accompanied by His-Cul Tour Operator and Travel Agency representative. In the morning of this same day, transfer to the airport and fly to Axum. After arrival, visit, the Obelisk of Axum of the pre-Christian period (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Queen of Sheba’s Palace, her swimming pool, and ruins of ancient palaces and tombs of the sixth century kings. O/N in hotel

Day 02: AXUM – GONDAR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Gondar to visit the Castles of King Fassilada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which were built 450 years back and had been used as a palace for more than 250 years for all kings who came to power after King Fassilladas. You will also visit the painted church of Debre Birihan Sellassie together with this activity. O/N in hotel

Day 03: GONDAR – LALIBELA
In the morning, you will take a short morning flight to Lalibela to see the 11-rock hewn churches (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), most beloved sightseeing of tourists who visit Ethiopia and where one can see the highest level of architectural achievement of its times--around the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th one. O/N in hotel

Day 04: LALIBELA – BAHR DAR
Again take short morning flight to Bahr Dar and see the Blue Nile Falls, and the ancient monasteries (more than 700 years old) situated in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Lake Tana. O/N in hotel

Day 05: BAHR DAR – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly back to Addis, do half-day sightseeing tour of Addis, and in the early hours of the evening, transfer to the airport to catch your evening return flight to home.



TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 010 9 Days/ 8 Nights BAHR DAR – GONDAR – AXUM – LALIBELA AIR & SURFACE

Day 01: ARRVAL ADDIS AND FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDIS
Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel accompanied by His-Cul Ethiopia Tour Operator representative. Then you will have a full day city tour of Addis which includes the modern and historic features of the city. O/N in hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – BAHR DAR
Pick up from your hotel is around 07:00am to head northwest of Addis to get Bahr Dar, the second largest city of Ethiopia, and home of historic sites. En-route, you will visit Africa’s largest canyon, a 200 years old bridge and other attractions that are of interest. O/N in hotel

Day 03: FULL-DAY IN AND AROUND BAHR DAR
Full-day visit Bahr Dar which includes the Blue Nile Falls, and the fourteenth century monasteries, the premier attraction in its place that are situated in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Lake Tana. O/N in hotel

Day 04: BAHR DAR – GONDAR
Drive to Gondar, Ethiopia’s major ex-capitals through the spectacular mountain views in between. Upon arrival, visit the Castles of King Fassiladas (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an important castle of the medieval period which were built in the 17th century and had been used as a palace for more than 250 years for all kings who came to power after King Fassilladas. You will also visit the decorated church of Debre Birihan Sellassie together with this activity. O/N in hotel

Day 05: GONDAR – SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, drive to Simien Mountains National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage) whose entire landscapes have spectacular views. Mammals endemic to it are also additional attraction to this place. O/N in lodge

Day 06: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – AXUM
Today you drive to Axum, which has sheltered several pre-Christian era edifices. On your way, visit gorges and admire some rural villages of north Ethiopia.

Day 07: FULL-DAY IN AXUM
You will have a full-day visit of the most important sightseeing in Axum which includes the steles of Axum (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the swimming pool of the Queen of Sheba and the ruins of palace she had been using while she was on power, and ruins of ancient palaces and tombs of the sixth century kings. O/N in hotel

Day 08: AXUM – LALIBELA
Transfer to the airport and take your morning short fly to Lalibela. After arrival, visit the 11-rock hewn churches, which readily identified with Ethiopia as is the Great Wall with China. O/N in hotel

Day 09: LALIBELA – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly back to Addis, do your last minute shopping, and finally transfer to the airport in the late evening for your return flight to home.



Detailed Itinerary Close

Ethiopia Historical Sightseeing Tour Packages

TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 0110 5 days/ 4 nights HARAR – LALIBELA AIR

Day 01: AARRIVAL IN ADDIS ABABA
Arrive Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, be met by our company representative and transferred to your hotel. O/N in a hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – HARAR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Dire Dawa. After arrival in Dire Dawa, take your vehicle and drive to Harar, one of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites to start your historical tours in Ethiopia. After lunch, visit the Wall of Harar where you will have a chance to more than 99 mosques concentrated in a single place. You will also visit ancient monuments, Arthur Rimbaud’s house, and other historical sites. In the evening, visit the hyena man who feeds hyenas every evening at the outskirt of the city. O/N in a hotel

Day 03: HARAR – ADDIS ABABA
In the morning, transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis Ababa. In the afternoon, do a half-day city tour of Addis Ababa which includes the most important historical points of interest of the city. O/N in a hotel

Day 04: ADDIS ABABA – LALIBELA
After early breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Lalibela, historical and religious town to explore the history of Ethiopia through its ancient historical sites. After arrival, visit the 12 th century churches of Lalibela the largest monolithic church in the world which were carved from a single stone 900 years back. O/N in a hotel

Day 05: LALIBELA – ADDIS ABABA – DEPARTURE
Take your morning flight and fly back to Addis Ababa. The balance of the ay would be dedicated to do your last minute shopping and refresh yourselves at your hotel. In the early hours of the evening, be transferred to the airport to catch your return flight back to home.



TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 009 5 Days/4 Nights AXUM – GONDAR – LALIBELA - BAHR DAR AIR

Day 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS – AXUM
Arrive Addis and transfer to your hotel accompanied by His-Cul Tour Operator and Travel Agency representative. In the morning of this same day, transfer to the airport and fly to Axum. After arrival, visit, the Obelisk of Axum of the pre-Christian period (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Queen of Sheba’s Palace, her swimming pool, and ruins of ancient palaces and tombs of the sixth century kings. O/N in hotel

Day 02: AXUM – GONDAR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Gondar to visit the Castles of King Fassilada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which were built 450 years back and had been used as a palace for more than 250 years for all kings who came to power after King Fassilladas. You will also visit the painted church of Debre Birihan Sellassie together with this activity. O/N in hotel

Day 03: GONDAR – LALIBELA
In the morning, you will take a short morning flight to Lalibela to see the 11-rock hewn churches (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), most beloved sightseeing of tourists who visit Ethiopia and where one can see the highest level of architectural achievement of its times--around the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th one. O/N in hotel

Day 04: LALIBELA – BAHR DAR
Again take short morning flight to Bahr Dar and see the Blue Nile Falls, and the ancient monasteries (more than 700 years old) situated in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Lake Tana. O/N in hotel

Day 05: BAHR DAR – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly back to Addis, do half-day sightseeing tour of Addis, and in the early hours of the evening, transfer to the airport to catch your evening return flight to home.



TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTHST 010 9 Days/ 8 Nights BAHR DAR – GONDAR – AXUM – LALIBELA AIR & SURFACE

Day 01: ARRVAL ADDIS AND FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDIS
Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel accompanied by His-Cul Ethiopia Tour Operator representative. Then you will have a full day city tour of Addis which includes the modern and historic features of the city. O/N in hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – BAHR DAR
Pick up from your hotel is around 07:00am to head northwest of Addis to get Bahr Dar, the second largest city of Ethiopia, and home of historic sites. En-route, you will visit Africa’s largest canyon, a 200 years old bridge and other attractions that are of interest. O/N in hotel

Day 03: FULL-DAY IN AND AROUND BAHR DAR
Full-day visit Bahr Dar which includes the Blue Nile Falls, and the fourteenth century monasteries, the premier attraction in its place that are situated in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Lake Tana. O/N in hotel

Day 04: BAHR DAR – GONDAR
Drive to Gondar, Ethiopia’s major ex-capitals through the spectacular mountain views in between. Upon arrival, visit the Castles of King Fassiladas (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an important castle of the medieval period which were built in the 17th century and had been used as a palace for more than 250 years for all kings who came to power after King Fassilladas. You will also visit the decorated church of Debre Birihan Sellassie together with this activity. O/N in hotel

Day 05: GONDAR – SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, drive to Simien Mountains National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage) whose entire landscapes have spectacular views. Mammals endemic to it are also additional attraction to this place. O/N in lodge

Day 06: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – AXUM
Today you drive to Axum, which has sheltered several pre-Christian era edifices. On your way, visit gorges and admire some rural villages of north Ethiopia.

Day 07: FULL-DAY IN AXUM
You will have a full-day visit of the most important sightseeing in Axum which includes the steles of Axum (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the swimming pool of the Queen of Sheba and the ruins of palace she had been using while she was on power, and ruins of ancient palaces and tombs of the sixth century kings. O/N in hotel

Day 08: AXUM – LALIBELA
Transfer to the airport and take your morning short fly to Lalibela. After arrival, visit the 11-rock hewn churches, which readily identified with Ethiopia as is the Great Wall with China. O/N in hotel

Day 09: LALIBELA – ADDIS – DEPARTURE
Fly back to Addis, do your last minute shopping, and finally transfer to the airport in the late evening for your return flight to home.