5-Day Ethiopia Tour: Lalibela, Gondar, Simien Mountains
Ancient churches, mountain peaks and the source of the Blue Nile in five days
This 5-day tour of Ethiopia covers Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Gondar, Lake Tana, Blue Nile Falls and Simien Mountains National Park with a live English-speaking guide, accommodation, domestic flights, entrance fees and an air-conditioned vehicle. You'll see Lucy's 3.2-million-year-old skeleton at the National Museum, explore rock-hewn churches and royal castles, boat among monastery islands, and trek into Africa's fifth-highest peak.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Explore Addis Ababa museums and market
- Pick up from hotel
- Visit National Museum of Ethiopia
- Walk to Ethnographic Museum
- Climb Mount Entoto and visit palace
- Tour Merkato market
- Dinner with traditional dancing
Day 2: Fly to Bahir Dar and visit Lake Tana
- Travel to airport early morning
- Fly Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar
- Boat trip to Lake Tana monasteries
- Lunch in Bahir Dar
- Drive to Blue Nile Falls
- Walk around Blue Nile Falls
- Boat crossing on Blue Nile
- Drive back to Bahir Dar
- Dinner in Bahir Dar
Day 3: Drive to Gondar and visit castles
- Breakfast in Bahir Dar
- Drive Bahir Dar to Gondar
- Rest at hotel
- Visit Fasil Castle and Debre Berhan Selassie Church
- Return to hotel
- Dinner in Gondar
Day 4: Visit Simien Mountains National Park
- Breakfast in Gondar
- Drive to Simien Mountains National Park
- Explore park and see gelada baboons
- Return to Gondar
- Dinner in Gondar
Day 5: Fly to Lalibela and visit churches
- Transfer to Gondar airport
- Fly Gondar to Lalibela
- Pick up at Lalibela airport
- Visit Lalibela rock-hewn churches
- Dinner at local restaurant
What’s included
- Government tax.
- air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your hotel.
- bottled water.
- accommodation for all five nights.
- entrance fees to museums, churches, national parks and attractions.
- and a live English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
Times
- Every day 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Papyrus Tours
Prices and times updated 10 days ago
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The experience
The tour starts in Addis Ababa with the National Museum, where Lucy (one of the oldest human skeletons on earth) sits among royal insignia, church treasures and weapons spanning centuries. From there you walk to the IES Ethnographic Museum to see crosses, icons and traditional instruments, then climb Mount Entoto at 3,200 meters for panoramic views of the city and the king's palace that stood here before Menelik II moved the capital. The day ends at Merkato, believed to be Africa's largest marketplace, followed by dinner with traditional music and dancing.
A short flight takes you to Bahir Dar on Lake Tana, where you board a boat to visit monastery churches on 37 islands: 30 of them hold places of worship. Ura Kidane Mihiret holds religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries. Azwa Mariam is known for its paintings and a small museum. After lunch, you drive an hour to Blue Nile Falls (Tissisat, or "smoking water"), where the water drops 45 meters and creates steam clouds and rainbows. You walk down to the base for an up-close view, cross the river by boat, and return to Bahir Dar by evening.
The next morning brings a 2.5-hour drive to Gondar, where you see the royal Fasil Castle, Debre Brehane Selassie churches and a swimming pool. From Gondar, a 2-hour drive takes you into Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO-listed area where the plateau rises above 6,500 feet and dozens of peaks exceed 13,000 feet. Ras Dashen reaches 14,905 feet: the fifth-highest mountain in Africa. The road passes through wild terrain where you'll likely encounter troops of gelada baboons, the endemic species with shaggy coats that resemble lions. You return to Gondar by evening. On the final day, a morning flight carries you to Lalibela, where you spend around five hours exploring the rock-hewn churches before the tour ends.
Is this one for you?Five days is long enough to reach Simien Mountains and the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela without rushing the major sites, but short enough to fit into a week-long trip to Ethiopia. If you have more time, a 7-day version adds depth to each region. If you have less, a 3-day tour stays in the north.
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Top questions
What is Lucy and where do I see her on this tour?
Lucy is a 3.2-million-year-old skeleton (one of the oldest human remains ever found) displayed at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on day one of the tour. The museum also holds royal insignia, church treasures and weapons spanning Ethiopian history.
How much time do I spend at Lake Tana and what do I see there?
Lake Tana has 37 islands, 30 of them holding churches and monasteries. You take a boat trip to visit Ura Kidane Mihiret, which houses religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries, and Azwa Mariam, known for its paintings and a small museum. The boat outing happens on day two after you arrive in Bahir Dar.
What are the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela and how long do I spend there?
Lalibela's rock-hewn churches are carved directly from stone and represent one of Ethiopia's greatest artistic achievements. You spend around five hours exploring them on the final day of the tour after flying in from Gondar.
Will I see wildlife in Simien Mountains National Park?
Yes. The drive through Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO-listed area, passes through terrain where you'll almost certainly encounter troops of gelada baboons, the endemic species with shaggy coats often called the bleeding heart baboon or lion monkey because of their appearance.
How does the tour handle flights between cities?
Domestic flights are included. You fly from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar on day two (departing early morning, arriving 8:30 am), and from Gondar to Lalibela on day five (departing at 9 am, arriving 1:30 pm). Hotel pickup and airport transfers are arranged for each flight.
5-Day Ethiopia Tour: Lalibela, Gondar, Simien Mountains
5d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 999 per person
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