Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to the Hilton. After a rest we will have lunch in town at an excellent local restaurant tasting traditional food and atmosphere. After this great introduction to Ethiopian food, we visit the National Museum, where Lucy – the 3.5 million year old humanoid – is found along with many other curious artefacts followed by the Trinity. We’ll have an early dinner and retire for the night.

Fly to Bahir Dar at 07:00 and check into our hotel. We will have a look around town, see the papyrus boat makers and the market before driving to Tisissat (45 minutes) to visit the Blue Nile falls. After taking in the ‘Smoke of the Nile’ from the usual vantage point we will then take a beautiful one hour walk, via the base of the falls and a short boat trip across the river, back to Tisissat. Dinner at hotel.

Travelling by chartered launch – nothing too fancy but great fun – we shall take a picnic lunch and visit a number of monasteries and churches along the way. At around 1700 we will arrive on the far side of the lake and check into our basic hotel in Gorgora located on the lake shore with good birdlife and lovely gardens. Dinner at hotel.

It is possible to visit the nearby St Mary’s Church and see the sun rise before breakfast. We will drive to Gondar visiting Qusquam church and Mentuwab’s Palace before checking into our hotel. In the afternoon we plan to visit the Debre Birhan Selassie Church (Light of Trinity) with wonderful murals and the castle compound (UNESCO WHS). Gondar is a lively place to eat out and we will take dinner at the Abyssinian Café. After dinner we can visit one of the live singing bars for a beer or two.

Depending on the dates, we may be able to experience the celebration of the Trinity at Birhan Selassie Church this morning before departing Gondar.

After breakfast check out the town’s market before driving up into the Simien Mountains to stay at a new eco-lodge that has recently opened. This new property, very much involved in community care projects, will be a perfect place to stay for two nights and from which we can walk in the Simien Mountains, along the escarpment, admiring wonderful views of the highest chain in Africa where we should also see Lammergeyer vultures, Gelada Baboons and Klip Springer. Time allowing, we may be able to go for a short walk after checking into our lodge.

All day in the Simien Mountains to go on a lovely day walk along the escarpment. 

Breakfast then drive to Axum, stopping for picnic lunch en route. Plenty of time for photography stops and arrive in town around 17.30. On the way into town we can stop and walk up to see the rock- carved lion and place from where the famous Axum stellae were hewn – some still lie there, half finished - and visit the palace of the Queen of Sheba. Check into our hotel and relax. Dinner in hotel.

Morning sightseeing in Axum, a town steeped in more than 2500 years of history. From the palace and tomb of King Kaleb (6th C, AD), we will visit the extraordinary stellae field (WHS) and tomb of King Remhay (1st to 4th C, AD), followed by a trip to the church of St Mary of Tsion, (17th C, AD) in which is deposited the Ark of Covenant. Lunch back at hotel.

In the afternoon we will return to St. Mary’s to watch as the Tabots are removed from the church and taken in a colourful precession to the Queen of Sheba’s bath – a large water tank – in preparation for the following day’s Timkat celebration. Special dinner at hotel.

Crack of dawn, rise for the one of the most spectacular spiritual events in the Ethiopian calendar as we witness the actual Epiphany celebrations at Queen of Sheba’s’ Bath. After breakfast we will then drive to Mekele, stopping en route at the Yeha temple, also known as the temple of the Moon, (5th C, BC) Stay the night at hotel in Mekele.

Drive on through stunning countryside – an area designated as outstanding natural beauty – to Lalibela. Check into hotel. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
 

In the morning,  we will visit the first cluster of amazing rock-hewn churches – another UNESCO World Heritage Site – that will simply stagger you. After lunch at our hotel. we will visit a local family for a traditional coffee ceremony where you will be able to see how a real Ethiopian family live. Dinner at hotel.

Morning mule ride up to the mountain monastery of Acheton Mariam. This 3-hour (5 hour return trip) trek is a real highlight and should not be missed. The views from the ridge are simply breathtaking. After a late lunch at our hotel, we will visit the second cluster of churches, including the famous church of St. George, which is carved in the shape of a cross, from the red basalt rock. Evening trip to a tej house to sample the local liquor, followed by dinner at a traditional restaurant.

After breakfast , we will have a last look around before transferring to the airport for flight at 12.00 back to Addis. Check back into the Hilton where we will have wash and change rooms. Dinner at traditional restaurant watching local dance and music. After dinner transfer to airport for flight to UK