We will take a flight to the lake side city of Bahir Dar then a lovely drive to visit the majestic Blue Nile Falls. On the way, we will take the time to stop and meet the local community to learn about their way of life. 

A walk will then take us to Tissisat to marvel at the Blue Nile Falls - or “Smoke of Fire”. The Falls are 400 metres wide when in flood and fall over a sheer chasm of more than 45m height.

After lunch (with fresh local fish of course!) we take a boat cruise on Lake Tana, the biggest lake in the country. With its tropical setting it is the perfect contrast to the highlands where you will spend the next days. We will see the birds and the ancient 14th century island monasteries of the Lake. The 37 islands of Lake Tana shelter 20 monasteries — surviving remnants of an old, contemplative tradition hidden in the thickets of a coffee forest. 

Enjoy the sunset on the lake while heading back to Bahir Dar and if we are lucky, we will get to see the Hippos in the Lake.

 After breakfast, the drive to Gondar will take us through the beautiful countryside scenery of Fogera where you will arrive around lunch time. Founded by Emperor Fasiledas around 1635, Gondar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its many medieval castles, often called "Camelot" of Ethiopia. 

On our way, we will stop by a fish market – because there is nothing quite like a fish market to give you the pulse of an area.

Visit the old imperial palace district, AKA the Gamp, with the baths of King Fasilidas and the many small palaces. 

We will also enjoy a very down to earth visit with a stop at the fish market.

Debre Berhan Selassie Church represents a masterpiece of the unique Ethiopian school of traditional art. While there, make sure to look up!! You will see eyes staring down at you…

Enjoy the ride with the local Transport called Batchatch, and immerse in the life of the Gondor people. 

 We will enjoy an excursion tour to Simien Mountains National Park along pretty country site with carefully tended fields, open pasture with grazing horses, stands of trees and distant rocky peaks to the Simien Mountains National Park. This is where – with a bit of luck – we will be able to observe the Chelada Baboon.

We will stop at Debark, a small market town at an altitude of 2700 meters above sea level close to the boundary of the Simien Mountains National Park. 

Corrugated iron roofed buildings surround its colorful and busy market area. 

Then we drive to Sankober in the National Park for the best view. 

Our easy walks will allow you to discover changing and overwhelming landscapes, endless views and rugged cliffs at striking vantage points. You will also get to know the rare afro-alpine flora with Juniper, Giant Lobelia and Giant Heather trees fully covered with St. John's-Wort hanging down. We may get lucky to spot lammergeyers and Gelada baboons. 

Road trip time! We head to Lalibela and on the way, we will visit the Awra Amba community, in South Gondar. 

The society was established in 1972 by a few people; however, now the number of members has reached more than 400 individuals. 

The unbelievably marvelous life philosophy, the beautiful and well-trodden social life of this society amazes visitors. 

The society has its own life and set rules which are different from the rest of the Amhara people. 

They have a special respect to unity, a working culture, with a focus on love and equality. 

Their basic principle is to not harm any living creature. We will visit the old people's home, the weaving mill, the library and the school of the village. 

  We will try to catch the Meskel event, which symbolized the founding of the true cross, a unique and amazing experience performed by the people of Lalibela celebrating this impotent Orthodox festival. 

We will then visit the site of some of Ethiopia’s most famous rock-hewn churches, often referred to by many as one of “the living wonders of the world”. 

These churches are and have been for at least 800 years, an active Christian shrine — the spiritual center of the country’s religious life. 

The monolithic churches were carved out of a 2,600-square-meter natural rock terrace in the 12th century AD by King Lalibela. 

Beta Medane Alem (“Church of the World Saviour”) and Beta Giyorgis (“St. George Church”) are architectural masterpieces counting among the biggest rock churches in Ethiopia. 

Beta Mariam (“Church of St. Mary”) with its beautiful painted interior and its frescoes is no less impressive.

For lunch we go back to the hotel where fresh garden food and some rest time await, before setting off for more discoveries in the area. 

A sunset dinner at the campfire with splendid views into the Lasta Mountains and into the endless skies will make it a memorable day.

The Degosach Eco Lodge positioned and takes in 360-degree views over the surrounding countryside. 

After a 1-hour drive to Degosach Eco Lodge (3600m altitude), we will enjoy a 1 hour walk to visit one of the local villages and spend the afternoon by enjoying the silence of Degosach Eco Lodge and beautiful sunset.

We will experience a true local welcome in the evening, during which local farmers will welcome us – the guests – by washing our feet. We will have dinner while watching the typical traditional dance of the Highland Tribes.

WE will enjoy a slow morning by visiting the nearby village to have coffee in the local tukuls house and enjoy the social lives of the farmers.

The day starts with the visit of the Yimrehane Kristos Cave built up church. This is a beautiful, decorated church, different and older then the rock-hewn churches from Lalibela. 

The evening will be spent on relaxing and enjoying your time as you see fit. 

Today you will visit the colorful market (depending on the day of the week) an experience of its own. 

We will meet with an Ethiopian family for a cooking class on how to make staple food; Enjera. 

The Beyayenatu, a vegan platter, is in the fasting season in Ethiopia. Cooked food will of course be shared with the family. 

We will then enjoy a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony prepared in a local home. 

The remainder of day will be free. 

In the evening, we will visit a local Tej Bet (A honey wine house) with music. “Tej is an Ethiopian honey wine that consists of three main ingredients; honey, water and a medicinal shrub called “gesho”. Honey wine is the world’s oldest alcohol beverage.”

In the morning you will be able to attend Sunday mass if you so wish, before heading to the airport for our flight back to Addis Ababa. 

There, we visit Ilanga (a women empowerment organization). 

In the morning we visit a woman owned pottery business then we go for a SPA.

Free day to shop around OR you can join us to visit a “dark tourism” museum.

We end the trip with a farewell dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants in Addis where we taste variety of Ethiopian meals and watch the folkloric dancers of the Ethiopian people. 

· There are thirteen months on the calendar in Ethiopia.

· Ethiopia runs on its own time. 

· Ethiopia was never colonized by Europeans.

· Ethiopia is the birthplace of the Rastafarian movement.

· Coffee was discovered in Ethiopia.

· Addis is the worlds fifth-highest capital city, with an altitude of 2355 metres. The name of the city translates to ‘New Flower’ in Amharic.

· Ethiopian cooking is some of the tastiest, healthiest and most diverse cuisine on the continent.

· Dallol in Ethiopia is the hottest inhabited place on Earth

· Ethiopia has the longest existing lava lake

· Visit Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Lalibela, Semine NP and Gonder

· Visit the breathtaking Simien Mountains National Park, "the Roof of Africa" and the Lasta Mountains 

· Spot the endanger Ethiopian wolf and Chelada baboons 

· Be amazed by a visit to the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, one of “the living wonders of the world”. 

· Learn more about the history of the Kings in the castles of Gondar, “Camelot of Ethiopia”. 

· Discover the ancient island monasteries of Lake Tana and Coffee Biosphere Reserve. 

· Visit the source of the mighty Blue Nile River and Blue Nile Falls. 

· Explore the vibrant city of Addis Ababa.

· Meet your ancestor Lucy at the National Museum. 

· Visit different lesser-visited sites and meet with the local people. 

· Try varied Ethiopian food and learn how to make enjera. 

· Attend an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. 

· Learn more about the handcraft of women cooperation and women empowerment 

· Learn more about the lives in local communities and farmers. 

· Visit Family homes. 

· Awra Amba community

· Last mountain and Degosach

· Visit local farmers house

· Learn how to make the staple food of the locals Injera

· Allowing you to have enough time to socialize with the locals

· Visit women owned business and women empowerment organization