Northern Ethiopia Tour: Addis Ababa, Lalibela & Simien

Trek the Simien Mountains and walk into 800-year-old churches carved from stone

A 15-day tour of northern Ethiopia's historical sites and highlands, starting in Addis Ababa and moving through Bahir Dar, Gondar, the Simien Mountains, Lalibela, and Axum. You visit the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, trek through Simien Mountains National Park with a scout and mountain guide, explore royal castles in Gondar, and tour ancient stelae fields in Axum. The itinerary combines city tours, multi-day mountain camping, and UNESCO World Heritage sites across the Christian Highlands.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Addis Ababa city tour

• Visit Trinity Cathedral
• Tour Ethnographic Museum
• Drive to Entoto Hills and visit Maryam Church
• Stop at Sheromeda traditional cloth market
• Visit Mercato or Sholla Market

Day 2: Boat tour on Lake Tana

• Take boat tour on Lake Tana
• Visit two monasteries on Zege Peninsula
• Sunset visit to Bezawit Hills

Day 3: Fly Bahar Dar to Gondar

• Drive to Gondar
• Tour Royal Enclosure castles
• Visit Debre Birhan Selassie Church
• Tour King Fasilides' baths

Day 4: Travel to Simien Mountains National Park

• Drive to Debark
• Meet trekking team
• Drive to Sankabar campsite
• Camp at Sankabar

Day 5: Trek Sankaber to Geech campsite

• Trek to Jinnbar River and falls
• Cross Jinnbar River
• Ascend to Geech campsite
• Camp at Geech

Day 6: Trek to Imet Gogo and back

• Trek Geech to Imet Gogo viewpoint
• Continue to Kedadit and Seha
• Return to Geech campsite
• Camp at Geech

Day 7: Trek Geech to Chenek campsite

• Trek along Enatye escarpment
• Descend to Chenek campsite
• Camp at Chenek

Day 8: Trek to Ambiquo campsite

• Trek via Mt. Buhit
• Cross Mesheha River
• Arrive at Ambiquo campsite
• Camp at Ambiquo

Day 9: Summit Ras Dashen and return

• Early trek to Mizma village
• Climb to Ras Dashen summit
• Return to Ambiquo campsite
• Camp at Ambiquo

Day 10: Trek Ambiquo to Chenek campsite

• Trek bypassing Mt. Buhit
• Arrive at Chenek campsite
• Camp at Chenek

Day 11: Return to Gondar from Simien

• Meet vehicles at Simien Mountains
• Drive back to Gondar
• Relax and recover

Day 12: Fly to Lalibela and tour churches

• Fly to Lalibela
• Tour rock-hewn churches
• Attend traditional coffee ceremony
• Learn injera baking process

Day 13: Visit Nakuto La'ab Monastery

• Drive to Na'akuto La'ab Monastery
• Tour monastery for 3 hours
• Drive to Nakuto Làabe viewpoint
• Walk for panoramic view

Day 14: Fly to Axum and tour sites

• Tour ancient stelae fields
• Visit archaeological museum
• Visit St. Mary Tsion Church
• See tombs and archaeological sites

Day 15: Fly Axum to Addis Ababa

• Visit National Museum
• Optional souvenir shopping
• Farewell dinner with dancers
• Transfer to airport

The experience

How do you see Ethiopia's major historical sites without spending weeks planning the logistics? This tour strings together the Grand Historical Route (the northern cities and mountains that hold the country's Christian heritage) in a single 15-day arc. You start in Addis Ababa at Trinity Cathedral and the National Museum, then fly to Bahir Dar to boat Lake Tana and visit island monasteries on the Zege Peninsula. From there you move to Gondar to walk the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO site of five castles built by Ethiopian kings from the 17th century onward, and the church of Debre Birhan Selassie with its ceiling of painted angels.

The core of the tour is five days trekking Simien Mountains National Park, where you camp at elevations between 3,200 and 3,600 meters and trek to viewpoints like Imet Gogo and the summit of Ras Dashen at 4,543 meters: Africa's fourth highest peak. A scout and mountain guide lead each day's walk. Gelada Baboons, Walia Ibex, and the endemic Simien Wolf appear regularly on the trails. After descending back to Gondar, you fly to Lalibela to tour eleven monolithic churches carved directly into the mountainside at least 800 years ago, including the largest monolithic church in the world. A traditional coffee ceremony and injera-baking lesson round out the day. The final stops are Axum's ancient stelae fields, standing for two millennia, and its archaeological museum, before returning to Addis Ababa for the National Museum and a farewell dinner with traditional music and dance.

All domestic flights, camping equipment, entrance fees, an air-conditioned vehicle, a local guide, and accommodation are included. Meals in the cities are on your own. Only camping meals are provided during the Simien trek. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language depending on your booking, and pickup from your hotel is arranged.

What’s included

• Your tour includes all entrance fees to museums and historical sites.
• all camping equipment and a scout and mountain guide during the Simien trek.
• domestic flights between cities.
• an air-conditioned vehicle and driver for ground transport.
• fuel surcharge and airport departure tax.
• accommodation in hotels in the cities and at campsites in the mountains.
• and a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day31 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 17:00

GroupUp to 10 · max 2 per booking

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Vowland Ethiopia Tour

Is this one for you?The guide speaks your choice of five languages, so you follow the commentary and the history without translation delays. If you speak English, Spanish, Italian, or French fluently, or if your group shares another language, this tour keeps the cultural and historical context clear throughout the 15 days.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What are the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela actually like when you get there?

The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela are eleven monolithic and semi-monolithic structures carved directly into the stone of the mountainside at least 800 years ago. The complex includes the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and icon paintings. You tour them on day 12 after flying in from Gondar.

How much trekking is involved in Simien Mountains, and what kind of shape do I need to be in?

You spend five days trekking in Simien Mountains National Park, with daily walks ranging from 4 to 9 hours depending on the route. Days include treks to Geech (5–7 hours), Imet Gogo and back (4–5 hours), Chenek via the Enatye escarpment (full day), and the summit of Ras Dashen at 4,543 meters (up to 6 hours). A scout and mountain guide lead each trek. The operator recommends at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The trek is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Where do you sleep during the mountain section?

You camp at designated sites within Simien Mountains National Park at elevations between 3,200 and 3,600 meters. Campsites include Sankabar, Geech, Chenek, and Ambiquo. All camping equipment is provided, and a scout and guide are present each night.

What wildlife might you see on the Simien Mountains trek?

The Simien Mountains are home to endemic species found nowhere else. Gelada Baboons appear regularly on the trails, and the Walia Ibex and Simien Wolf are routinely spotted. The Lammergeyer, a large "bone breaker" bird, is also common in the region.

Do you need to arrange your own meals in the cities, or are they included?

Meals in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, and Axum are not included and are on your own. During the five-day Simien Mountains trek, meals are provided at the campsites. The tour includes a traditional coffee ceremony and injera-baking lesson in Lalibela, and a farewell dinner with traditional music in Addis Ababa on the final day.

What flights are included, and which legs do you fly?

Domestic flights are included. You fly from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar on day 2, from Bahir Dar to Gondar on day 4, from Gondar to Lalibela on day 12, and from Lalibela to Axum on day 14. The return to Addis Ababa on day 15 is also included. All flights are on Ethiopian Airlines.