15 Days Northern Ethiopia & Danakil Depression Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa & City Tour

Meet your Enat Ethiopia Tours representative upon arrival at Bole International Airport. Transfer to your hotel and begin exploring Ethiopia’s capital. Visit the National Museum (home to Lucy’s fossil), Ethnological Museum, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and ascend Entoto Hills for panoramic city views.

National Museum—Ethiopia’s time capsule where Lucy’s bones whisper humanity’s beginnings.

Overnight: Addis Ababa

Day 2: Meskel Festival Celebration

Enjoy shopping in Merkato and participate in the Meskel Festival at Meskel Square, a vibrant Christian celebration of the Finding of the True Cross featuring chants, flames, and masses of white-cloaked worshippers.

Overnight: Addis Ababa

Day 3: Drive to Bahir Dar via Debre Libanos

Travel north to Bahir Dar with stops at Debre Libanos Monastery and the Portuguese Bridge for views of the Blue Nile Gorge and potential sightings of Gelada baboons.

Overnight: Bahir Dar

Day 4: Lake Tana Cruise & Blue Nile Falls

Cruise Lake Tana to visit island monasteries with colorful frescoes and ancient manuscripts. In the afternoon, hike to Blue Nile Falls and witness its misty cascade surrounded by lush countryside.

Tissisat—“water that smokes”—where nature performs its own Meskel bonfire.

Overnight: Bahir Dar

Day 5: Drive to Gondar

Visit the 17th-century castles of the Royal Enclosure in Gondar, the Bath of King Fasilides, and Debre Berhan Selassie Church with its angel-filled ceiling and vivid murals.

Overnight: Gondar

Day 6: Simien Mountains National Park

Embark on a hiking and driving excursion through the Simien Mountains. Encounter Gelada baboons, soaring vistas, and afro-alpine flora on cliff-edge paths at Sankaber viewpoint.

Overnight: Lodge or Camp, Simien Mountains

Day 7: More Exploration & Return to Gondar

Continue trekking in the Simiens with panoramic stops and wildlife sightings before heading back to Gondar for rest and relaxation.

Overnight: Gondar

Day 8: Fly to Lalibela – Rock-Hewn Churches

Fly to Lalibela and tour the first cluster of rock-hewn churches including Bet Medhane Alem and the beautifully decorated Bet Mariam, showcasing ancient architectural mastery and spiritual elegance.

Bet Mariam—sacred silence carved from stone and soaked in centuries of devotion.

Overnight: Lalibela

Day 9: Excursion to Yemrehanna Kristos

Visit Yemrehanna Kristos cave church nestled in forested highlands. Return to Lalibela to explore the second cluster of churches including Bet Emanuel and Bet Giorgis, Lalibela’s cross-shaped crown jewel.

Overnight: Lalibela

Day 10: Fly to Addis & Drive to Hawassa

Fly to Addis Ababa then drive south to Hawassa, gateway to the Rift Valley lakes. Enjoy sunset views and local hospitality in this lakeside city.

Overnight: Hawassa

Day 11: Fish Market & Dorze Culture – Drive to Arba Minch

Visit Hawassa’s fish market then drive to Arba Minch. Stop at Dorze village to explore bamboo homes, false banana bread-making, and distinctive weaving traditions.

Dorze ingenuity—mountain architecture wrapped in banana leaves and harmony.

Overnight: Arba Minch

Day 12: Lake Chamo & Drive to Turmi

Take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to spot crocodiles, hippos, and birds. Continue to Turmi via Konso, visiting the Konso people known for stone terraces, wagas (statues), and cultural ingenuity.

Overnight: Turmi

Day 13: Excursion to Omorate & Tribal Markets

Visit the Dassanech tribe across the Omo River by wooden canoe. Return via Dimeka to attend the weekly market, a gathering of Hammer, Karo, and Dassanech traders. Explore Hammer village rituals including marriage dances and bull-jumping ceremonies.

Overnight: Lodge, Turmi

Day 14: Drive to Jinka via Karo Village

Travel north to Karo village and photograph the tribe’s expressive body painting. Continue to Jinka through scenic landscapes and highland villages.

Overnight: Jinka

Day 15: Mursi Encounter – Fly Back to Addis Ababa

Visit Mago National Park and the Mursi tribe, known for lip plates worn by women. Return to Jinka for your flight to Addis Ababa and gather for a farewell dinner with traditional food, dance, and music before your airport transfer.

End of Tour