5 Days Northern Ethiopia Route Bahir Dar, Gondar and Lalibela Tour
Bahir Dar: Located near Lake Tana in northern Ethiopia, Bahir Dar is famous for its stunning natural beauty. Gondar: Known as the "Camelot of Africa," Gondar is home to the remarkable Fasil Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure), a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring medieval castles and palaces and Lalibela: Famous for its extraordinary rock-hewn churches, Lalibela is a pilgrimage site and one of Ethiopia’s most iconic destinations.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Addis Ababa
- DAY - 1 07:00 - 07 :30 drive from hotel in Addis Ababa to airport. 08:00 -09:05 - Fly from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar. 10:00 - 12:30 - visit a selection of the monasteries hidden on the islands and shores of this sacred lake. Visit the Zege Penninsula and the monasteries of Azuwa Maryam and Ura Kidane Mehret and the island monastery of Debre Maryam near the outlet of the Blue Nile River. 13:00 - 14:30 - Lunch at a local restaurant with traditionally coffee ceremony. 14:30 - 17:00 - drive out to the Blue Nile Falls for a short hike in the area. 17:00 - 18:00 - Finish the day with the sunset over the lake. 19:-00 - 20:00 - Dinner.
Gondar
DAY - 2
07:00 - 07 :30 drive from hotel in Addis Ababa to airport.
08:30 -12:30 - Drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture
12:30 - 14:00 -explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings
14:30 - 15:30 Lunch
15:30 - 16:00 - visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today, Ras Gimb Palace Museum
16:00 - 17:00 - Visit the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia
18:-00 - 19:00 - Dinner.
Lalibela
DAY -3
08:00 - 08:55 -Fly to Lalibela
09:30 - 11:30 - start your tour of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel,
12:00 - 13:30 - Lunch
14:00 - 16:30 - Visit Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha (entry not permitted for women).
18:00 - 19:00 -Dinner
Lalibela
DAY - 4
09:00 - 12:00 - take a trip to visit the church of Yimrehanne Kristos. The most popular of the churches outside of Lalibela, this church is built with layers of wood and granite, set in the entrance to a large cavern.
12:00 - 13:00 - Lunch
14:00 - 16:00 - visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos
16:00 - 17:30 - visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – Saint George.
18:00 - 19:00 - Dinner
Lalibela
DAY -5
09:00 - 10:30 - visit the nearby monastery of Na’akuto La’ab, set on the side of a cliff.
12:00 - 13:00 - fly back to Addis Ababa.
Ending Point
Addis Ababa
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Private ground transportation.
- A 4 start hotel accommodation including breakfast
- Entrance fees to all locations including local guide service and boat trip on Lake Tana
- All applicable taxes
- Lunch, dinner and beverages, including all alcoholic beverages
- 3 domestic flights.
- Camera and/or photo fees
- Tips for driver, guides, etc (at your discretion)
- Items of a personal nature
Tour Important Information
-Please wear comfortable shoes & outfits.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Demeke G.
I was born and grew up in Addis Ababa. I used to work in Addis Ababa for more than 7 years. I became a National Government Licensed Guide in English and French in 2018. I am a graduate of history and heritage management.
Since then, I have guided more than 300 tours in Addis Ababa as well as Bahir Dar, Gondar, Danakil Depression and Tigray churches, Omo Valley, Lalibela, the Siemen Mountains, Bale Mountains, and various day trip programs while improving my tours. Ethiopia is a country with a rich cultural, historical, and natural attraction with more than 80 ethnic groups and languages.
My tours are very flexible, and I always do my best to customize them according to the interests of my guests. I studied about the places and will provide you knowledge to appreciate them more deeply than just visiting there by yourself or as a member of group tours. I like food, and I know many restaurants that provide typical Ethiopian traditional cuisine along with the traditional Ethiopian coffee. Therefore, I am sure that I can provide you the best tours customized to your interests. It will be my great pleasure to help you to have memorable experience in Ethiopia.
Reviews
Andrew C.
“Short tour of Addis Ababa”
I was looking for a compact tour of Addis Ababa. This was perfect - accommodated my desired departure time, was very pleasant and knowledge. Just the right level of detail for me. Also offered to help with dinner reservations etc. Would definitely recommend!
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Demeke G.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that the tour met your expectations and that the timing, level of detail, and overall experience worked well for you. It was a pleasure showing you around Addis Ababa, and I’m always happy to help with anything—from city tours to dinner reservations. Your recommendation means a lot! Safe travels, and I hope to welcome you back sometime in the future.
Diana R.
“Beautiful walk through impressive landscapes ”
Blue Nile gorge, Jemma valley and Portuguese bridge are absolutely amazing places of fantastic beauty. If you are in Ethiopia for only one day it is for sure the must-visit place. It would give a lot of unforgettable memories (and photos) to those who prefer walking in nature over city sightseeing. Our guide Demeke was very friendly, punctual, respectable guy with perfect English and a huge amount of knowledge regarding the tour. Highly recommended, 10/10
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Demeke G.
Dear Diana and your families, I would like to saythank you for choosing me to be your guide and happy with the services I am providing for your families. I am so grateful for the time we spent together.
$1,350/ per person
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