Trip to Ethiopia

Landing at 00:55. in Addis Ababa. Welcome by the local representative. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Addis Ababa. Breakfast. Addis Ababa Tourist Tour: the city is located in the heart of Ethiopia. In Amharic it means "New Flower". Addis Ababa was founded by Emperor Menelik in 1886. Approximately 6 million people live in the city. Addis Ababa is considered to be the Diplomatic Capital of Africa, it is the headquarters of the African Union, the seat of many embassies and is the main place where most travellers arrive. The tour includes a visit to the National Museum, where besides the many artifacts, you will also be able to see the skeleton of our very great grandmother Lucy. We will climb to 3000 m on Mount Entoto to see Addis Ababa from above. Lunch. We will also visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church where you will see the tomb of the last king of Ethiopia. Visiting various historical monuments includes the Church of St. George, which was built by King Menelik, who first proposed Addis Abneba as the capital of Ethiopia. Dinner. Overnight.

Breakfast. Transfer to Bole International Airport for flight to Bahir Dar. After checking into the hotel, we will take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit two monasteries on the peninsula, Ura Kidane Mihret and Azewa Mariam, which are on the UNESCO Temporary List. They date from the 14th century and are famous for their frescoes depicting the Old and New Testaments. We will also visit a wild coffee plantation on the peninsula - Ethiopia is the country that gave the coffee to the world. Next, cruise back to Bahir Dar. After a break for lunch in Bahir Dar, we will head to Tis Isat village to visit the Blue Nile waterfalls, we will take a short tour along the river to see the waterfall from every angle, then drive back to Bahir Dar for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Travel to Gondar. Along the 180 km long road we will enjoy the amazing landscape and visit the villages of the Amhara people. After checking into your hotel, next visit Gondar's 17th century UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Royal Bath of Fasiledes and the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie with its unique frescoes depicting the Old and New Testaments, which are over 300 years old. Dinner. Overnight in Gondar.

Breakfast. Departure to Simien Mountains National Park - under the auspices of UNESCO since 1978 and on the endangered list since 1996. After a picnic lunch in Sankaber, walk around the Sankaber campsite. The scenery is beautiful and the endemic Gelada baboon can be seen along the way. Dinner and overnight at Simien Park Lodge.

Breakfast. Full day excursion in Mount Simien National Park. Enjoy the spectacular landscape for which they call Ethiopia the roof of Africa. We will also have the opportunity to see some wildlife such as the Gelada Baboon or bleeding heart baboon, klipspringer (a type of African antelope), bushbok and birds. Enjoy breathtaking views during the several-hour walk. Later in the afternoon drive back to Gondar. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Transfer to Gondar airport for a 30 minute flight to Lalibela. Accommodation in a hotel with mountain views. In the afternoon, visit the first group of churches carved in the 13th century in the Sakala by King Lalibela, making Lalibela Ethiopia's holiest city and Africa's Petra with its adjoining museum that has a collection of 13th century treasures. The Lalibela church complex is under the auspices of UNESCO and consists of 11 churches each with its own unique design. The churches were masterfully carved in the hard granite more than 800 years ago and represent a combination of Byzantine, Aksumite and even earlier Ethiopian architectural influences. The most famous among them is the church of St. George, shaped like a cross and considered the best example of rock architecture. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Excursion to the Yemrehana Krestos church, located 45 km from Lalibela town. This church was built in a cave in the 11th century by King Yemrehana Crestos, adapting the architecture of the Axumitei was decorated with objects from Egypt. Return to Lalibela after lunch to see the second group of churches, which is known as the heavenly Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Lalibela.

Breakfast. Flight to Addis Ababa. Transfer to a day-use room at the Capital Hotel. Free time for last purchases. Traditional farewell dinner with different Ethiopian traditional live music. Around 22:30 transfer to Addis Ababa International Airport for flight to Sofia.

At 02.00 flight to Istanbul. Landing at Istanbul airport at 07:25. Flight to Sofia at 08:45. Landing in Sofia at 09.00.