After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Bahir Dar, one of the most attractive cities in Ethiopia. Bahir Dar, with its wide avenues lined by rows of palm trees, is situated on the southern shore of Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake. Bahir Dar is also the best base to visit some of the monasteries built on the islands. from the interior of Lake Tana, between the 12th and 18th centuries, as well as the sources of the Blue Nile River.

After arriving at the hotel, departure to the Tissisat Falls of the Blue Nile, about 30 kilometers from the city. A 20-minute walk takes us to these falls, with a 45-meters high drop, which shows its most spectacular appearance during and just after the rainy season (from June to January). Here, the Blue Nile, which contributes 85% of the flow of the Nile River, begins its long journey to the Mediterranean. Lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the city of Bahir Dar.including the city itself, as well as the town of Woito, 2 km to the west, known for its production of Tankwa boats made of junks. Then it continues with a visit to the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie in Bezawit, with excellent views of the city, the exact place where the Blue Nile rises from the lake, and some of the local markets.

After breakfast at hotel, the day begins with a boat ride on Lake Tana, where a visit to some of the ancient monasteries that were built around Lake Tana and many of the islands within it is scheduled, adding up to about 38 in total.

The list includes a visit to the Zeghe Peninsula, where you will visit the churches of Ura Kidane Mehret and Mariam Azewa, which were built at the end of the 13th and 14th centuries, respectively, and whose walls are covered with incredible murals from the 16th century. You will also visit the church of Dek Stefanos, with its valuable collection of icons, as well as the remains of various medieval emperors, the church of Kibran Gabriel (closed to women) and, finally, the church of Narga Selassie.

Picnic lunch on the boat, and then continue on the way to the town of Gorgora, where we visit Debreseina Mariam church. In Gorgora you pick up the cars and continue for 60 km to the city of Gondar.

Breakfast at the hotel, and start of a full day of visits in Gondar. The Emperor Fasiladas founded Gondar as his imperial seat in 1636 and, until the 19th century, the city was the capital and main commercial center of the region.

The visit includes the Royal Enclosure, or Fasil Gibbi, and the six castles built by the various emperors who ruled Gondar. 2 km from the city center are the baths of King Fasilidas where, during Timkat (Epiphany in Ethiopia), a nearby river is diverted to fill an area the size of a small swimming pool. Faithful and pilgrims immerse themselves in the cold water in a reenactment of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River. Lunch at the local Four Sisters restaurant.

Next, visit the church of Debre Berhane Selassie, the only church that was saved from the Mahdist invasion of the 1880s. According to legend, a swarm of bees drove away the invaders who were trying to loot the church. The walls and ceiling of this church are completely covered with murals – the faces of angels on the ceiling have become a common motif in Ethiopian design. Finally, visit the ruined palace of Queen Mentowab, and the church of Qusquam Mariam, located on a hill outside the town.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for a flight to Lalibel ET122 10:10-10:40. On arrival transfer to the lodge for check in.Lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon, visit Asheton Mariam church. The church was first begun to be hewn by King Lalibela, and for an unknown reason, he left it unfinished, and later it was completed during the reign of King Ne’akuto Le’ab (1215-1255) and shares similar features with rock-hewn churches of Lalibela for it was hewn from a single solid rock.Finally, traditional coffee ceremony in local house when you return to the city.

Lalibela is the jewel in the crown of Ethiopia, the most famous churches and the scene of so many major religious ceremonies. The churches are carved below ground level and ringed by trenches and courtyards and are arguably Ethiopian’s top most attraction.

They are connected to each other by a tangled maze of tunnels and passages. Among the churches you will visit are Bete Amanuel a 36-foot-high monolith considered by art historians to be the finest and most precisely worked church in Lalibela, possibly because it was the private church of the royal family. Bete Markorios a cave church originally used for secular purposes and thought to be around 1,400 years old and Bete Giorgis the most majestic and best preserved of all Lalibela’s churches. Visit the first group of six churches lye in rock cradles, one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mikael, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, Bet Denagel, and Bet Medhane Alem. Bete Medhane Alem, the largest, is built like a Greek temple. In a corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Later, visit the remaining churches of the 2^nd group, south of the Jordan River, comprise of Bete Emanuel, Bete Mercurios, Bete Abba Libanos and Bet Gabriel-Rufa’e, Bete Emanuel’s elaborate exterior is much praised by art historians. Finally visit Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches, lies somewhat isolated in the southwest part of the village on a sloping rock terrace. It can only be reached through a tunnel.We will go back to the lodge to have lunch and relax for an hour before heading back to the churchs to attent the festivity.

In the afternoon,we wil attend the start of the celebration of Timket. On the first day of the Timkat celebration, the Tabot (symbol of the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments) is taken out of the monasteries with a large procession. All the monks shake sitras (religion bells) and winding horns. One of the priests holds the Tabot on his head hidden in layers of colorful velvet shelter, not to be viewed by infidel people. The procession takes it to the large grass area where it is stored inside a special ceremonial tent. The priests and the monks are prying the whole night. Crowds of people spent the night in the surrounding area, to be close to the Tabot. They are prying eating and drinking by the fires, all dressed in white, look like earthbound angels. Night of celebrations.

In the morning after breakfast at the hotel, the celebrations of Timkat continue with a public mass and the subsequent return in procession of the tabot to their churches of origin.Lunch at hotel

In the afternoondrive to the cave church of Yemrehene Christos, (40 KMs and 1h1/2 drive) built by the king of the same name before the reign of King Lalibela.  The church is constructed inside a cave, with alternating levels of wood and stone. A 40-km trip from Lalibela followed by a 20-minute hike brings you to this beautiful church, the finest example of its kind in Ethiopia.

Participation in the Sunday mass in Medhane Alem church (from 6:00 to 8:30) Breakfast at the hotel, then departure by road to Kombolcha for your overnight.(250 km, 6-7 hours).Lunch in a local restaurant in Dessie Melbourne Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.08:00 Departure by road to Bati (45 km, 1 hour)

After breakfast we will be driving to the small town of Bati to see the second largest markets of Ethiopia which is attracting up to 10,000 Afar, Oromo and Amhara, and even some traders from Djibouti, this market is epic. Its Ethiopia’s largest after Addis Ababa’s Merkato, but it far eclipses the capital’s for interest and exotica.Within the market is old gallows (dating from the emperor’s day) and on the other side of town are the livestock and chat markets.

13:00 Return to Kombolcha and lunch at the hotelin Kombolcha.Flight to Addis Ababa (ET167 117:15-18:25). Direct transfer for farewell dinner at traditional restaurant for the all group.Direct transfer to the airport to catch a return flight