OVERVIEW

The nine World Heritage Sites of Ethiopia are the best what the country can offer. The ancient Axum city was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. It was the location of the ancient Kingdom of Aksum, which flourished between the 1st to the 10th century AD, and was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The Rock-hewn monolithic churches of Lalibela are often described as miraculous works of angels. Fasil Ghebbi is a fortress city of royal castles in the glorious Gondar region of northern Ethiopia. Established in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was the residence of most gracious and famous Emperor Fasilidas and his successors.

The Simien Mountains National Park is found just 140 kilometers north of Gondar. The park includes one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world with jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices, dropping some 1500 meters. The lower Valley of Awash is found in Afar Regional north east of Ethiopia. It is a very important paleontological site in Africa. In addition, the Lower Valley of the Omo is found in the most southern part of Ethiopia. It is a prehistoric site unlike any other place on Earth. The hominid remains that have been excavated in the Lower Valley of the Omo are characteristic of a unique type. Tiya is located just 88 kilometers south of Adddis Ababa. The site contains 36 stelae with mysterious symbolic engravings. The fortified historic old city of Harar, located in the eastern part of Ethiopia is another fascinating World Heritage Site of the country. Just recognized by UNESCO as the World Heritage Site in 2011, the Cultural Landscape of Konso is a 55 km2 arid property of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia.

Click here to read more about the World Heritage Sites of Ethiopia

 

ITINERARY
UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tour
Duration: 21 Days / 20 Nights (By Air/Car)
Destinations: Addis Ababa -Lalibela – Axum -Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park-Addis Ababa- Tiya – Arba Minch- Konso – Lower Omo Valley- Arba Minch – Langano- The Lower Valley of Awash- Afar Region – Harar– Addis Ababa

Day 1: Arrive in Addis and be met by our representative and transferred to hotel. Later, have a Highlights tour of the Addis Ababa city-the view from Mount Entoto, the National and the Anthropological Museums, the Trinity Cathedral and Mercato. This evening we gather for an orientation in the hotel. Hotel

Day 2: Whole day visit to the World Heritage Site of Lalibela Rock Hewn Churches, which were cut out of a living rock during the time of king Lalibela in the 12th Century. Hotel

Day 3: Whole day visit to the Wold Heritage Sites in Axum: Exploring the ruins of Dungur – the remains of the Palace of the Queen of Sheba, the Giant Monolithic Stele, the Axum St. Mary Church of Zion, Historic Tombs and Archaeological Findings. Hotel

Day 4: Whole day visit to the World Heritage Site of Gondar: Fasil Ghebbi -The successive castles, forts and palaces of Ethiopian Glorious Emperors of the Medieval Period. Hotel

Day 5: Whole day viewing the natural marvels of the World Heritage Site of Simien Mountains National Park. Camping at Sankaber

Day 8: Whole day trekking through the wonders of a mass of rugged chain of mountains. Camping at Geech

Day 9: Whole day trekking again through the deeply dissected landscape of high natural miracles, viewing the Afro Alpine Highland Vegetation and Ethiopian endemic mammals such as the Chilada Baboon with their bleeding hearts, the Ethiopian Wolf, and Walia Ibex. Trekking back to Sankaber, Camping at Sankaber

Day 10: This morning, we fly back to Addis and have Highlights tour of Addis Ababa City. The rest of the day, at leisure. Hotel.

Day 11: Visit to the World Heritage Site of Tiya: millennia-old grave stelae with symbolic engravings. Before we actually head to the Stelae of Tiya, at the Awash River, we visit the important archaeological site Melka Kunture and the nearby rock caved church Adadi Mariyam. Hotel

Day 12: Today we visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Cultural Landscape of Konso, just inscribed in 2011 for the peoples’ indigenous wisdom of terracing the hills of the surrounding area in order to prevent erosion and land degradation. The Konso are particularly famous for their wooden carved totems which serve as memory deceased heroes. Hotel

Day 13: En route, viewing and interacting with authentic Tribes of the Southern Omo Valley, we will have an adventurous drive to Turmi. Camping at Turmi

Day 14: Whole day visit to the cultural mosaic in the tribal ring of the Lower Omo Valley, with due focus on the banks of the Lower Valley of the Omo River for its high archaeological significance in the study of human evolution. Camping at Murule

Day 15: Today, as we drive back to Arba Minch, we view cultural market days of some fascinating and colorful tribes. Hotel

Day 16: The cooling breeze at the beach of the Golden Lake Langano is rewarding after a long drive. A swim in the lake’s brownish water can be even more refreshing. Hotel

Day 17: Driving through a stunning geological landscape, we reach at the thrilling region of the Afar People. Lodge

Day 18: Whole day visit to the World Heritage Site of the Lower Valley of Awash. It is a place of the world’s most spectacular archaeological discovery, including the famous Lucy, Australopithecus Afarensis, a 3.2 million years old Hominid. Lodge

Day 19: Viewing the contrasts of the landscape, the drive takes you to the old walled city of Harar. Hotel

Day 20: Whole day visit to the World Heritage Site of Harar: Jugol, a fortified ancient city of high cultural and religious significance in Ethiopian history. Hotel

Day 21: After lunch (on your own), the afternoon is free until we have a farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant, followed by folkloric music and dances. Then it will be time for transfer to the airport to connect with the recommended flight home. Day rooms will be held for you at hotel