• International air/flight tickets,
• Alcohol beverages,
• Tourist Insurance,
• Video filming and photography fees,
• Tips and items of personal nature like laundry, souvenirs, etc
• All expense that are not mentioned in the included part

Day 1- fly ADDIS ABABA- BAHIRDAR- boat trip & blue nile water fall

Morning transfer to the airport to fly Bahirdar, upon arrival meet with SET team and drive to your hotel, after check in and breakfast boat cruise on this beautiful highland lake to see the monastery church of the beautifully decorated Ura Kidanmihret, and Azwa Mariam that allows both genders. Under the thatched roof of the monastery, there are some distinctive colorful frescoes of religious scenes an impressive display of illuminated bibles written in “Geez” the religious language from which Amharic is derived then afternoon will take a scenic drive of 32 km to the little town of Tiss Abay and walk for about twenty minutes to visit the famous Blue Nile Falls. The falls is locally known as Tiss Isat meaning, “Water that smoke”. Those who may wish to descend to the base of the falls must be climb back to the other side and cross the Blue Nile in a boat in-order to back to the point of departure, overnight hotel.

Day 2- DRIVE Bahir Dar – Gonder- PM EXPLORE GONDER

After breakfast drive to Gonder 180 km to conduct tour of Gonder known as the “Camelot” of Africa, nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Semien Mountains National Park in the northwestern part of the country was the 17^th and 18^th century capital city of Ethiopia, which was founded by Emperors Fasiladas (1632 – 1667) and was home to a number of emperors & warlords, curtsies and kings who built several castles and palaces around the area. Visit the oldest and the most impressive Gonderine structure, the magnificent castle compound including the two storied palace of emperor Fasiladas, built of roughly hewn brown basalt stone held together with mortar, the fantastically decorated Debre Brehan Silassie Church (light of Trinity),the bath (now baptismal place during Ethiopian epiphany, January 19) of king Fasiladas and the ruined palace of Queen Mintiwab at Qusquam, were the Scottish explorer James Bruce used to reside for sometimes, overnight hotel.

Optional Activities Awra Amba community- is an Ethiopian community of about 400 people, located 73 kilometres east of Bahir Dar in the Fogera woreda of Debub Gondar Zone. It was founded in 1980 with the goal of solving socio-economic problems through helping one another in an environment of egalitarianism—in marked contrast to the traditional norms of Amhara society. Founded by Zumra Nuru, who currently serves as co-chairman of the community, with 19 other people who shared his vision, as of 2007 Awra Amba has some 400 members, and is lauded as a model to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality in a country where women are generally subservient to men)

Day 3- DRIVE goder – simien mountain national park-HIKING

Early in the morning Trip to Simien Mountain drives to Debark, 100Kms from Gonder, the Headquarter of the Simien Mountains National Park. Proceed to Sankaber, 37Kms farther, which is your first trekking starting spot, 3250 ms above sea level. Spend the day trekking around the camp sites. Lunch will be served by lunch boxes on top of the view point; here you will see some endemic Ethiopian Birds like wattle Ibis, and some mammals like the Gelada Baboon, overnight hotel/ Lodge/ Camping

Day 4- DRIVE simien mountain national park- Axum

Early in the morning after breakfast drive through the Semien Mountains National Park escarpments to Axum, via one of the most scenic road of Ethiopia and the Tekeze river gorge. This trip is a trying one, but it is the most rewarding for those who love exceptional scenery, overnight hotel

Day 5- Full day VISIT Axum-BIRTH PLACE OF ETHIOPIAN CIVILIZATIONS

Full day visit of Axum, a place where the cradle of Ethiopian culture Christianity and the first capital of Ethiopia until the 9^th century A.D., On this day you will visit the small but rich archaeological museum, the famous stele park, where the magnificent single block of stones erected since 3^rd century, the Saint Mary of Zion Cathedral, where the original Holy Ark of the Covenant is still sheltered, however except one guardian (priest) no one is allowed to enter in to the sanctuary where the ark is stayed. Continuing your visit which includes the subterranean tomb of king Kalbe and his son king Gebremeskel, 6^th Century AD, the trilingual inscription of king Ezana and finally visit the ruin palace and bath of Queen of Sheba who was the mother of king Menilik I of the 950 B.C, overnight hotel

Day 6- Axum- HAWZEN/ GERALTA- ON THE WAY TIGRAY ROCK CHURCHES

Morning after breakfast drive Axum- Geralta on the way visit the 8-5BC Temple of Yeha. The temple is believed to be the oldest standing worship building in the country dedicating to god of Moon called Almuqa, then Proceed to the 6^th century AD famous Monastery of Debre Damo established by Abune Aregawi one of the nine Saints came to Ethiopia in the 6^th century in the reign of King Kaleb to spread Christianity and introduce monastery life in different parts of the country particularly to the northern region. The monastery is only for men and accessed by climbing rope to the top of the plateau ) if you are not interested with the monastery since it is only for men and need physical capability it is possible to visit rock churches of TIGRAY (TEKA TESFA CLUSTER) arrival to Hawzen, overnight Lodge

Day 7- DRIVE GERALTA- mekelle-ON THE WAY TIGRAYR ROCK CHURCHES

Morning after breakfast head to the Geralta cluster to visit the rock churches of Tigray dated back from the 6-9^th century established by the nine saints who came from Syria during the time of Kaleb and Gebremeskel kings of the Axum dynasty, the rock churches are carve on the top of mountain façade today you will visit the rock churches namely Mariam Korkur in the morning and afternoon ABUNE YEMATA – The most difficult to ascend but worth to see the surrounding mountains from the top of the cliff, after that continue drive to Mekelle on the way more rock churches of Abrehawe Atsbha and finally to Wekro Cherkos. Finally drive to Mekelle, overnight Hotel

DAY 8- drive MEKELLE AFDERA SALT LAKE (HOT SPRING)

Morning after breakfast meet with SET adventure team then drive to Afdera, on the way enjoy the dramatic landscape of the Tigray mountain followed by the Afar lowlands that is part of the Great Rift Valley afternoon arrival at Afdera a town called after the salt lake in the settlement where the Ethiopian salt is extracted both in traditional and modern way, upon arrival have lunch and rest on the camping ground till the heat reduce and late afternoon enjoy lake Afdera for a view and hot spring bath, overnight camping.

DAY 9- DRIVE AFDERA-DODEM- EVENING TREK ERTALE ACTIVE VOLCANO

Morning after relaxed breakfast pack the camping material head to the Afar regional tourism office to finishes the necessary permission then escort the regional police and road leader and head to Dodem/ Kusrewad a base camp for the active volcano, arrival lunch break and rest, prepare camel late afternoon have early dinner and start trek to the top of the rim for the active volcano lake and admire the Ertale active volcano through the beautiful evening and take picture spend the night, overnight camping

DAY 10- TREK BACK ERTALE VOLCANO TO DODEM- DRIVE TO HAMEDELLA

Early morning around 5:00 AM trek back to the base camp Dodem, meet the car and have breakfast then after pack the camping equipment continue driving to Hamedela on the way picnic lunch will be served. Upon arrival rest and shower then late afternoon photograph the caravan that passed through the village, overnight camping

DAY 11- MORNING EXCURSION TO DALLOL SALT MOUNTAINS & LAKE ASALE

Early in the morning after breakfast head to Daloll to visit the amazing mineral colors with bubbling springs, then to Daloll one of the lowest places on earth 120 meter below sea level and Lake Asale with the salt extraction process activity of the Tigray and Afar people. Then drive back to base camp after picnic lunch and rest in the camping area, overnight camping.

DAY 12- MORNING EXCURSION TO DALLOL SALT MOUNTAINS & LAKE ASALE-DRIVE BACK TO MEKELLE

Early in the morning after breakfast head to Daloll to visit the amazing mineral colors with bubbling springs, then to Daloll one of the lowest places on earth 120 meter below sea level and Lake Asale with the salt extraction process activity of the Tigray and Afar people back to base camp after having lunch and pack the camping equipment drive back to Mekelle passing the dramatic landscape of the area, arrival to Mekelle, overnight hotel

Day 13- full day DRIVE mekelle- LALIBELA

Morning after breakfast drive Mekele- Lalibela a full day Drive to Lalibela passing through outstanding chains of Mountain via Weldia admiring the landscape and the people on the way picnic lunch will be served, overnight hotel

Day 14- Full DAY EXPLORE THE 8^TH WONDERS OF WORLD LALIBALA

Full day at Lalibela visiting the brilliant feats of engineering and architectures, are often by many referred as the “8^th wonder of the world” which is exceptional to find eleven rock hewn churches of such master craftsmanship in one place. In this morning among the eleven remarkable rock hewn churches built by king Lalibela in the late 12^th and 13^th century A.D, you will visit the first cluster of churches that represents the earthly Jerusalem. After lunch break you will visit the second cluster of churches, which represents the heavenly Jerusalem, finally visit the most beautiful and fascinating monolithic cruciform church of Saint Gorge, late afternoon Ethiopian traditional coffee ceremony and honey wine, overnight hotel

Day 15- fly lalibela ADDIS aBABA – departure

Morning after breakfast transfer to the airport to fly back to Addis Ababa upon arrival arrival at Addis, shopping and coffee break and finally in the evening traditional farewell dinner in cultural restaurant with live tribal music and dance then transfer to the airport for your departure.

END OF THE TOUR