Tigray churches with Semien Mountains Tour

Duration: 9 nights and 10 days
Mode of transportation: Flight, Surface and climbing and Walking
Difficulty of the tour: Moderate

On this tour visitors get a chance to witness the ancient churches of Ethiopia, especially in Tigray Region (the home of rock churches). The churches dates back from 5th century up to 14 Century, The scenic landscape in Ghrealta mounatisn, at the top of Debre Damo Monastery, The Adwa Mountains and The massive and UNESCO world heritage site ‘Semien Mountain.’

This tour package can be done with Dallol and Erta Ale(Adventure Tour Package). It can also extend to Lalibela and Bahir Dar.

• Day 01 Arrival at Addis Ababa

  Meet Dreamland Ethiopia Tour and Travel representative at airport and check-in to hotel afterwards start visiting Addis Ababa. The Capital city founded by the wife of Emperor Menelik in the end of the 19th Century. Very attractive are the two famous museums the National museum which hosts Lucy, hominid fossil dating back to 3.2 million years ago which belongs to the Australopithecus Afarensis family. The market of Addis which is noted to be the largest open air market in East Africa holds together different retail and wholesale sectors. Particularly interesting are the recycling sector and the spice market. Overnight in hotel.
  
  

• Day 01 Addis-Mekele/Flight/ - Hawsien

  Fly to Mekele and start visiting the Museum of Mekele, the 138-years old capital city of Emperor Yohanes IV. Mekele is a city in northern Ethiopia and the capital of the Tigray Region. According to local historians Mek'ele was founded in the 13th century. Mek'ele's heyday came later during the late nineteenth century, after Yohannes IV was crowned as King of Kings of Ethiopia, and chose Mekele as the capital of his realm. General city sight of the town. Drive to Hawsien. Overnight in Hotel.
  
  

• Day 02 Hawsien

  Tigray Region is a center for all Ethiopian Orthodox Christian followers. There are numerous rock-hewn churches in Tigray and most of them are built on top of mountains. These churches date back from the 4th to the 15th Century. They are divided in different groups and located in different sites. Over 125 churches are recorded. Explore the churches of Tigray. Hawsien is the hub to discover the renowned rock churches of Tigray. On this day visit Abreha Atsbeha and Debre Tsion Churches. Overnight in hotel.
  
  

• Day 03, 04 & 05 Hawsien

  Gheralta Cluster, Is the most attractive and well known church clusters in Tigray, it consists of 23 churches and it is the home of a quarter of the rock churches, some famous for their stone workmanship, ancient paintings and old manuscripts, and others known for their magnificent view and difficult ascent. Such great churches as Abreha Atsebha, Abune Yemata (Guh), Mariam Korkor, Debretsion (Abune Abraham), Yohannes Maequddi, Abune Gebre Mikael and Selassie Degum are in the very heart of Gheralta, making it the home of rock churches of Tigrai. The tour mainly covers the above mentioned churches.
  
  

• Day 06 Hawsien-Axum

  Drive to Axum for 200km and on the way stop at Debre Damo Monastry one of the oldest churches in East Africa, this church is only accessed by the help of a rope. Women are not allowed to enter the church. It’s built by one of the nine saints came to Ethiopia during 5th century. After wards continue drive and visit Yeha Temple or Temple of Moon. it is considered as oldest standing building in the country. Yeha was a pagan worship temple before the Axumite era between 5th – 8th centuries BC. Overnight in Axum, Hotel.
  
  

• Day 07 Hawsien-Axum

  Morning start visiting the ancient town of Axum. Axum is a city in northern Ethiopia which was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. Axum was a naval and trading power that ruled the region from ca. 400 BC into the 10th century. The kingdom was also arbitrarily identified as Abyssinia, Ethiopia. The major Aksumite monuments in the town are stele; the largest number lie in the Northern Stelae Park, ranging up to the 33-metre (33 metres high 3.84 metres wide 2.35 metres deep, weighing 520 tonnes) Great Stele, believed to have fallen and broken during construction. And visit the churhe of St. Mary Zion, the home of the Arc Of The Covenant. Overnight in hotel.
  
  

• Day 08 Axum-Semen Park

  Morning starts driving to Semien Mountains, on the way stop at Tekezee river Valley the tributary of Nile River. Semien Mounatin National Park lies between 1200m above sea level to 4620m Above sea level and it is the highest point in Ethiopia. Overnight in Lodge or Camping.
  
  

• Day 09 Trekking in Semien Mountains National Park

  Start in the morning walking through the wonderful vegetation of the Semen Park to see the endemic Gelada baboons. The semien mountain massif is one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to the highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen (4620m). The Park has numerous Endemic Mamals including the Gelada Baboon, Walya Ibex and Over 50 species of birds have been reported in the Simien mountains. Overnight in Lodge or Caming.
  
  

• Day 10 Semen Park-Gondar

  Proceed to Gondar for 136km. City tour of the Ethiopian medieval capital. Gondar was founded by Emperor Fasilides around the year 1635, and grew as an agricultural and market town. The modern city of Gondar is famous of many ruins in the Royal Enclosure, from which the Emperors once reigned. The most famous buildings in the city lie in the Royal Enclosure and the Debre Berhan Selassie Church. Overnight in hotel.
  
  
  

• Day 11 Gondar-Addis/flight

  After an hour flight arrive at Addis, visit the remaining sites from the first day and shopping. Farewell Dinner in cultural Restaurant with traditional Dances performance. Transfer to Airport.