Itinerary

• DAY 1:

  USA

  Depart for your overnight flight to Ethiopia.

• DAY 2:

  ADDIS ABABA

  Upon arrival you will be greeted by your Homeric Tours representative and transfer to your hotel for check in. Addis Ababa is a lively city rich with beauty and culture. Begin your tour up to Mount Entoto. The panoramic view is breathtaking. Enjoy a visit to Trinity Cathedral, the largest and most revered of all the churches. Visit the Ethnologi-cal Museum to learn about Ethiopia’s rich ethnic diversity. The museum has an array of religious crosses, triptychs and murals. Dinner and over-night in Addis Ababa.
  Dinner included

• DAY 3:

  ADDIS ABABA / BAHIR DAR

  Morning flight to Bahir Dar, located on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. There are 37 islands on Lake Tana; 30 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable importance. Check in to our hotel. Then take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 13th century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret, the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries. We then begin our city tour of Bahir Dar, visiting the market and stopping at the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie (entry not permitted) and the deacon school at Trinity. Dinner and overnight in Bahir Dar.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 4:

  BAHIR DAR / GONDAR

  Morning flight to Gondar. Upon arrival, check into the hotel. Gondar was the first capital of the Ethiopian Empire. Visit the royal enclosure containing six castles, a complex network of con-necting tunnels and raised walkways. We tour the bathing palace of King Fasilidas. Later, proceed to the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie Church with its walls and ceilings decorated with scenes of Biblical lore and medieval history. Dinner and overnight in Gondar.
  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

• DAY 5:

  GONDAR / LALIBELLA

  Today fly to Lalibela, described as the eighth wonder of the world, and considered one of the holiest cities in Ethiopia. Lalibela’s beautiful rock hewn churches is on the UNESCO’s World Heri-tage site. Begin our exploration with the twelve majestic rock-hewn churches, with the breathtak-ing Bette Giorgis church, carved in the shape of a cross and set apart from the other church group-ings. Other churches include Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Maskal, Bete Danaghel, Bete Golgotha and Bete Mikael. Dinner and overnight in Lalibela.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 6:

  LALIBELA

  Today we visit the church of Yimrhane Kristos. This exceptional church, a masterpiece of Axumit wood and stone construction is renowned for its interior decoration, its beautiful wooden coffer ceiling inlaid with hexagons and medallions with both figurative and geometric motifs. We return to Lalibela. In the afternoon, we visit the remain-ing rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Dinner and overnight in Lalibela.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 7:

  LALIBELA / AXUM

  After breakfast transfer to the airport for our flight to Axum. Once the center of a great empire, and the seat of learning for the ancient Ge’ez language and literature, Axum is the prime historical site in the North of Ethiopia. Our city tour includes: the Stelae Park, St. Mary’s Church, the Sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the ‘Ark of the Covenant,’ the Coronation Yard, Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins, Axum Museum with regional art crafts–dating back more than 2,000 years, and the quarry. Dinner and overnight in Axum.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 8:

  AXUM / ADDIS ABABA

  Morning return flight to Addis Ababa. Return to the hotel for a day of leisure. Visit the market to shop, or visit the United Nations Conference Cen-ter (on our own). In the evening, enjoy a “farewell dinner”, with traditional dances from various ethnic groups from Ethiopia. A traditional coffee ceremony is also included and served. Overnight.
  Breakfast and Dinner included

• DAY 9:

  USA

  Transfer to the airport for our flight home.
  Breakfast included.