Sample Itineraries
Please contact Biruk for itinerary details and budgets. Accomodations are based on your budget and interests but are always safe, comfortable and clean.
Historical Route Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Bole International Airport in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, where you will be welcomed by Biruk Ethiopia Tour representative and transferred to the Hilton Hotel where you will stay overnight.
Day 2: Leave Addis Ababa and drive north passing by Mt. Entoto through the Sululta plain, visiting the monastery of Debre Libanos and the so-called Portuguese Bridge. Then, proceed to the spectacular scenery of the Blue Nile Gorge, where you stop for your picnic lunch and on to Bahar Dar.
Overnight stay will be in reserved hotel.
Day 3: After an early breakfast, we will drive to the mighty Blue Nile falls, commonly known as Tiss Isat. Upon return, you will take a sightseeing tour of Bahar Dar. After lunch, is a boat excursion on Lake Tana to visit the ancient monasteries on the lake. Overnight stay will be in reserved Hotel.
Day 4: A morning drive to Gondar takes us over the rolling countryside and scenic landscapes. Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia in the 17th century.
It is the site of ancient castles and palaces of different emperors constructed in the European middle ages architectural style. See the Debre Berehan Selassie church with its ancient mural paintings, Emperor Fasil's pool, which is still use for the Timket (the Ethiopian Epiphany) festival held every January 19.
Overnight reserved Hotel.
Day 5: Day excursion of Simien Mountains National Park with breathtaking scenery of the mountains. One of Ethiopian endemic mammals, the Gelada baboon and different plant species will be visited. Overnight hotel in Gondar.
Day 6: After an early breakfast, we'll drive north of Gondar through the Simien Mountains and the Tekeze River Valley to the ancient town of Axum.
Overnight stay will be in reserved lodge.
Day 7: Have a full day city tour in Axum town. Here you will visit Stelae tombs, which is considered to be the oldest monolithic stand in the world; the church compound of St. Mary of Zion, which is the seat of the true Mose's Ark of the Covenant; the Queen of Sheba's palace; King Kaleb's and Gebremeskel's palace and tombs; and the archeological museum. Overnight stay will be in reserved Hotel.
Day 8: Leave Axum and drive to the 5th century BC sites of Yeha and Debre Damo monastery and proceed to Mekele. Overnight stay will be in reserved Hotel.
Day 9: After breakfast, leave Mekele and drive through Ambalage chains of mountains, and proceed to the 12th century legendary town of Lalibella. Overnight stay will be in reserved Hotel.
Day 10: Visit of the monolithic rock-hew churches in Lalibela town, dating back to the 12th century and which are considered to be the 8th wonders of the world. Have optional excursion to visit some of the rock hewn churches around Lalibela built prior to the churches in the town. In addition to the architecture of the churches, here you will admire the panoramic view of the town with the surrounding beautiful sceneries. Overnight stay will be in reserved Hotel.
Day 11: If you come for the Ethiopian Christmas: Early in the morning attend the very colorful Christmas procession performed by beautifully dressed priests and deacons chanting at the edge of the rock hewn churches. The procession of pilgrems is one of the most incredible events and sights in the world. Afternoon visit some of the churches.
Day 12: Depart Lalibela town to Kombolcha. Visit Hayq Estifanos monastery. Overnight stay will be in reserved Hotel.
Day 13: Depart Kombolcha to Addis Ababa. Here you are close to the land occupied by the Afar shepherds, a semi-nomadic people who live mainly in the deserts of Danakil depression. You will encounter them on the road with their caravans of camels. Also in Senbete village, on Sunday, there is an interesting market where the Afar, Oromo and Amhara people congregate for their shopping. Overnight stay will be in reserved Hotel.
Day 14: Sightseeing tour that includes Trinity Cathedral, a beautiful church with a baroque style of European Architecture unique to both Ethiopia and Africa. Back now in Addis Ababa, we will go to the National Museum, the home of the famous complete hominid fossil remains of Lucy, dated 3.5 million years old. The ethnological section of the museum presents different collections for an overview of the history, culture, tradition and religions of almost all tribal groups in Ethiopia; we'll visit the St. George Cathedral and museum, a historical church, with traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Church architecture, founded by Emperor Menelik-II; from Mount Entoto, the highest point in Addis Ababa, you'll have a panoramic view of Addis at an altitude of 3200 meters. This was the site for the first palace of Emperor Menelik-II, the founder of Addis Ababa. No trip would be complete without going to the Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa. The evening is a dinner party with national music and dancing before you transfer to Bole International Airport for your flight back home later that night.
Omo Valley Itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Addis Ababa to Arbaminch in the morning. On the way, you will visit Alaba village and their unique way of home decorating style. Overnight in hotel or lodge at Arbaminch.
Day 2: Arbaminch: A morning drive to Chencha village to visit the Dorze ethnic group with their unique home building style and traditional weaving. (Visit their market if it is a market day). Then drive back to Arbaminch. After lunch in hotel, a boat trip on Lake Chamo to see crocodiles (at Crocodile Market) and hippos. Overnight in Arbaminch.
Day 3: Drive from Arbaminch to Jinka: Drive to Jinka on the way visit the Tsemay, Bena and the Ari ethnic groups with their untouched culture (if it is Thursday you will visit the colorful market of Key Afer), overnight in Jinka.
Day 4: Jinka-Mursi: After breakfast, drive to Mago national park and proceed to Mursi village to visit the Mursi people, whose females put lip plates on their lower lips and in their ears. Drive back to Jinka for lunch. After lunch visit the Ari village or the South Omo Research Center in Jinka. Overnight hotel in Jinka.
Day 5: Jinka -Turmi: After breakfast drive to Turmi. On the way visit the Tsemay ethnic group and the most colorful market in the Omo valley, the Key Afer market if it is Thursday and the Dimeka market if it is Tuesday. Overnight at lodge or hotel.
Day 6: Turmi - Omorate - Turmi: In the morning drive to Omorate and after crossing the Omo River by traditional boat visit the Dassenech ethnic group with their untouched culture. Drive back to Turmi, in the late afternoon visit one of the Hamer villages in Turmi. Overnight lodge or hotel in Turmi.
Day 7: Turmi - Murule - Turmi: In the morning drive to Murule to visit the Karo ethnic group who are very well known for their body painting and their fascinating houses. Drive back to Turmi for overnight, and visit market of Turmi if the day is Monday or Market of Dimeka if it is Tuesday. Overnight lodge or hotel in Turmi.
Day 8: Turmi -Yabello: in the morning drive to Yabello on the way visit the Cushitic-Elbore tribe and the Konso village who are famous for terracing and unique way of living. Before arriving to Yabello you will see the Borena Oromo people. Overnight at hotel in Yabello.
Day 9: Yabello - Awassa: After breakfast drive, to Awassa on the way you will visit 9th century Tutu Fella Stelae Fields. Continue driving to Awassa through the village of the Borena people and the breathtaking landscape and vegetation. Overnight hotel in Awassa.
Day 10: Awassa - Addis: After breakfast drive to the beautiful fish market on the shore of Lake Awassa with many aquatic birds, and then continue driving to Addis. On the way to Addis you will visit Ziway Lake which is rich in aquatic bird life. Over night in reserved hotel.
Day 11: City tour of Addis and Departure: Sightseeing tour that includes Trinity Cathedral, a beautiful church with a baroque style of European Architecture unique to both Ethiopia and Africa; the National Museum, home to the famous complete hominid fossil remain of Lucy dated 3.2 million years; the Ethnological Museum presenting different collections for an overview of the history, culture, tradition and religions of almost all tribal groups in Ethiopia; St. George Cathedral and Museum, a historical church with traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Church architecture founded by Emperor Menelik-II; from Mount Entoto you'll have a panoramic view point at the highest point in Addis with an altitude of 3200 meters; The Merkato is the biggest open air market in Africa. In the evening transfer to the airport for departure to home.
Danakil Adventure Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Addis Ababa. You'll be welcomed at the airport by Biruk Ethiopian tour representative. Overnight in a hotel in Addis.
Day 2: Addis - Mekele: in the morning fly to Mekele. Overnight in hotel.
Day 3: Mekele- Berehale: Early morning drive to Berehale, part of the Afar Depression. Overnight camping.
Day 4: Berehale - Hammed Ela: A morning drive to Hammed Ela to visit the salt production area and the camel caravan. Overnight camping at Hammed Ela.
Day 5: Hammed Ela- Ertale: A morning drive up to Dodom by car and continue by camel to Ertale to visit the active volcano. Overnight camping at Ertale.
Day 6: Ertale- Afdera: A morning drive to Afdera to see salt production.
Overnight camping at Afdera.
Day 7: Afdera- Semera: Drive to Semera. Overnight in local hotel.
Day 8: Semera-Awash: Drive to Awash town. Overnight in lodge or hotel.
Day 9: Awash- Harar: Morning drive to Awash National Park to see different kinds of birds and mammals. Continue driving to the 16th century walled city of Harar. After check in at the hotel, visit the Harari museum and in the evening is the famous hyena feeding. Overnight in hotel.
Day 10: Harar- Nazareth: In the morning you will visit the walled city of Harar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the house of the 18th century French poet Arthur Rimbaud, who was a merchant here from 1880-1891. Continue driving to Nazareth. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Nazareth - Addis: in the morning drive to Addis through the crator lakes of Debrezeite. That night, we'll have a farewell dinner before your departure home.
