The vibrant gateway to your trek, alive with bustling markets, rich museums, and soulful jazz clubs.
Ethiopian Highland Trekking | 15-Day Tigray Historic Route
A Journey through History and Nature
Plunge into Ethiopian highland trekking on this 15-day odyssey that links legendary royal cities with remote plateau villages. From Addis Ababa’s coffee aroma to Lake Tana’s island monasteries, you’ll follow a community-based trekking Ethiopia model that channels income directly to host lodges.
Northward, climb Simien escarpments alive with gelada baboons, then push east for a dramatic Tigray rock-churches trek amid crimson cliffs and 1 000-year-old sanctuaries. Ancient history, living culture and epic scenery—all in one seamless journey.
Destination Highlights
Highlighted Destinations
Cruise serene waters to discover ancient, mural-rich monasteries and a paradise of exotic birdlife.
Explore fabled castles and stunning frescoes in the 'Camelot of Africa' before beginning your community trek.
Hike jagged ridges and acclimatize to the altitude while searching for the rare Walia ibex.
Witness the architectural miracle of eleven cathedrals, masterfully chiselled from volcanic rock.
Step into legend as you explore the towering stelae fields and delve into the lore of the Ark of the Covenant.
Embark on a memorable trek to remote rock-hewn churches, scaling the stunning sandstone escarpments.
Marvel at breathtaking sandstone spires and ancient frescoes before your concluding flight south from Mekelle.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by day Tour Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN ADDIS ABABA & CITY TOUR
- Fly to Addis Ababa; upon arrival at Bole international airport, your hospitality begins. We provide you with a meet-and-greet service at the airport and then transfer you to your hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a tour of Addis Ababa, a pleasant capital city with wide jacaranda-edged avenues, interesting museums, and lively markets.
- Start our visit with the Ethnological Museum for an overview of Ethiopia's history, culture, and traditions, and its collections from thousand-year-old nomadic tribes. Next, see the beautiful baroque-styled Holy Trinity Cathedral which contains the thrones and the tomb of Emperor Haile Selassie (the last king of Ethiopia) and some other members of the royal family.
- We end up the city tour by inviting you to the oldest and best coffee roaster and coffee shop-Tomoca. Not only do they serve fantastic Ethiopian coffee, but they also offer other fine coffees.
- Overnight in Addis Ababa
DAY 2: FLY TO BAHIR DAR & VISIT THE MONASTERIES ON LAKE TANA
- Board a short flight to Bahir Dar where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Then you embark on a cruise of Lake Tana, the largest highland lake in Ethiopia, to visit monasteries dating back to the 14th century. Located on the forested Zege Peninsula, Azuwa Mariam is the most impressive of the southern monasteries.
- The walls of the church are completely covered with remarkable 16th-century murals that offer a revealing look into medieval Ethiopia.
- You then return to Bahir Dar for lunch at your hotel. Then you head into the colorful market.
- Later in the afternoon, you drive up Bezawit Hill for impressive views over the town, the Blue Nile, and of Lake Tana with its island monasteries. We aim to get here shortly before sunset to enjoy the magnificent natural light show. Afterward, we return to our hotel.
- Overnight in Bahir Dar
DAY 3: DRIVE TO SIMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
- This morning's drive takes you to Simien Mountain National Park. You will have a lunch stop at Gonder and continue on your drive. Simien Mountain National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's largest ranges. More than a dozen peaks are higher than 3600 meters, including Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia. Simien's landscapes vary from plateaus, escarpments, and steep gorges to rolling hills and pinnacles.
- Enjoy an afternoon walk around the lodge, amid the breathtaking alpine sceneries. This will help you acclimatize your body to the altitude.
- Overnight in Simiens.
DAY 4: EXPLORE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
- Your day is spent exploring the Simien Mountains National Park and watching for its endemic residents, including the elusive Walia ibex, the endangered Ethiopian wolf, and the gelada, a primate we'll get to know better alongside field researchers.
- We'll also look for a variety of birds, such as the powerful, cliff-nesting lammergeyer.
- Overnight in Simiens
DAY 5: DRIVE TO GONDER & SIGHTSEEING IN GONDER
- A scenic drive returns you to Gondar- famous for its medieval castles and churches. Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasilades as the royal capital of Ethiopia, and is also known as “the Camelot of Africa”. Spend the afternoon exploring the city of Gondar. In Gondar, there are a dozen castles, built by various kings and a queen over the course of 236 years.
- You will visit the Royal Enclosure, among these the Castle of Fasiledes, the oldest and probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area. We continue on to the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
- The interior of Debre Berhan Selassie is decorated with beautiful murals, cherubs, and paintings. It is rumored to have once been the proposed final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.
- Overnight in Gonder
DAY 6: FLY TO LALIBELA & VISIT THE ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES
- From Gonder, a short flight takes you to Lalibela, home of the rock-hewn churches and a World Heritage Site. It is located at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level. Lalibela is the 8th wonder of the world; 11 rock-hewn churches have been cut out of a solid red volcanic rock, some completely hidden in deep trenches, while others stand in open quarried caves and a complex series of tunnels and narrow passageways connect the churches.
- Lalibela indeed offers a great opportunity for any traveler. After checking in and having your lunch in your hotel, the afternoon will be devoted to visiting the first group (or the north–western cluster) of churches: Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, and Bet Danaghel.
- Overnight in Lalibela
DAY 7: EXPLORE MORE ROCK CHURCHES
- After breakfast, drive to the cave church of Yemrhan Kristos. The drive will be on a good road passing through the most dramatic landscape of the countryside. This exquisite church is a masterpiece of Axumit wood and stone construction style. It is renowned for its interior decoration, its beautiful wooden coffer ceiling inlaid with hexagons, and medallions with both figurative and geometric motifs.
- Drive back to Lalibela. In the afternoon, you will visit the remaining rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which include the churches of Bet Gabriel - Rafael, Bet Emanuel, and Abba Libanos. Then you will continue your visit to the cruciform-shaped Bet Giorgis, the most beautiful church here. Its interior is dominated by depictions of Saint George killing the dragon. It is one of the newest and best-preserved churches.
- Overnight in Lalibela
DAY 8: FLY TO AXUM & EXPLORE THE SIGHTSEEING
- In the morning, you will fly to Axum, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. You will proceed to a full-day city tour of Axum – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the stelae: granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. Nearby is the subterranean Tomb of Ramhai, a former king of Axum.
- You also visit the Archaeological Museum, before heading to the Queen of Sheba's Bath. This large reservoir is an excellent place to observe the local women collecting water for washing. Visit also historically important dedicatory stone dating to about 320 AD with an inscription written in three languages - Sabaean, Ge'ez (earliest written Ethiopian language), and Greek.
- After having a lunch break, continue on your visit to the church of Saint Mary of Zion. A chapel in the church is believed by many to contain The Ark of the Covenant. It is guarded by “The Guardian” who is the only person allowed into the chapel and the only person who may set eyes on it.
- There is also a small museum here which contains the crowns of Ethiopian kings and other treasures. You then continue to the Queen of Sheba's Palace. The palace area has been fully excavated and is definitely worth a look.
- Overnight in Axum
DAY 9: DRIVE TO ADIGRAT & TREK TO ANAF
- Today, you will transfer by road (4 hours) to Adigrat en route to visit the temple of Yeha. It is the oldest of Ethiopia's antiquities beautifully set in scenic surroundings, dating back to the 5th century BC. We continue our journey to Adigra for a lunch stop. Start your trekking from Agoro Lodge to Anaf (3hrs.) You will meet your local guide here.
- Your luggage will be loaded on the donkeys. The walking takes you along the narrow track between fallow terraced fields and passes through small villages. Most stone-made houses are fenced by cacti trees. You climb up a gentle slope for a couple of hours onto the escarpment where Anaf is located. Right from the end of the ridge, you start to look at Anaf community lodge at the other end of the plateau.
- Perched nearly at 3000 meters, the lodge overlooks the Agame Massif and valleys to the south. In all the lodges, you will be greeted on arrival by your host with local bread, nuts, popcorn, tea, and coffee. You will be served with tasty local meals.
- Overnight in Anaf community lodge
DAY 10: TREK TO SEHITA
- This morning after having breakfast, you walk to Sehita. The walk takes around 4 hours and goes past some lovely churches – notably Debre Giorgis, which is a built-up church like that of the ancient church of Debre Damo. You walk across rolling plains dotted with cypress trees.
- Then descend along valleys of giant candelabra cactus and aloe to reach the Valley of Debre Abay. Like the other village of Tigray, all the small houses are surrounded by prickly pears and eucalyptus that look more or less exactly like every other house you have passed.
- The rocky soil atop the plateaus supports only grasses, grains, and legumes. Open your eyes for different birds and small animals on this day too. After another short walk from the valley, takes you to Sehita community lodge. It has lovely views up and down the valley and is an ideal location to visit many of the local churches.
- Overnight in Seheta community lodge
DAY 11: TREK TO SHIMBRITI
- Depart after breakfast for a day walk (approximately 5-4 hrs) to the community site-Shimbriti. From these guesthouses, it is a 5-hour walk through the valleys to Shimbriti. The first one-hour walk takes you from the plateau down to the valley.
- Following tracks walked by Tigrayan highlanders for the past many years, passing the villages in the valley. Then climb up escarpments, spotting rock hyraxes and birds, and continue walking along narrow, crumbling ledges with sheer drops. As you get closer to it, you come across an interesting rock tunnel that has been carved through the ridge to give villages on the western side access to the lovely rock church of Maryam Bezuhan.
- The church itself is an exquisite one, and the trail thereafter hugs the mountain and winds up to the plateau on the top.
- The sceneries along the walk are amazingly superb. Unlike the other lodge, on the plateau where it is located, you find here small villages scattered with local stone houses. Having an overwhelming welcoming up on your arrival, you will be served tasty local and have an elaborate traditional coffee ceremony. You can take a walk along the rim of the mountain at dusk.
- Overnight in Shimbriti community lodge
DAY 12: WALK FROM SHIMBRITI TO DEGA ARBI & DRIVE TO GHERALTA
- After an enjoyable breakfast, you take your last morning on a community walk (2 hours). You will begin by descending for 1 hour, steeply at first and then more gradually, and get on the flatter plain. You pass by the small mangrove forest which grows around the church. You are likely to encounter small cattle herders here – friendly children from the local village.
- You will meet your driver with the vehicle at Dega Arbi popular for a Friday weekly market. You transfer to Gheralta Lodge (1.5 hours). Spend the rest of the day at your leisure enjoying the excursions that can be arranged from the lodge. Hiking, bird watching, and visiting the nearby rock-hewn churches are all recommended from here.
- Overnight in Gheralta
DAY 13: EXPLORE THE TIGRAY ROCK CHURCHES
- After an early breakfast, head to explore the marvelous rock churches in the Gheralta cluster. A short drive takes you closer to the foot of Korkur Mountain. It is from here you start your hiking up to the plateau.
- Here you will visit Mariam Korkur and Daniel Korkur rock-hewn churches. The latter one is the smallest church and has a really beautiful view of the surrounding areas.
- Drive back to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon drive to visit Mariam Papaseti church which is decorated with beautiful mural paintings.
- Overnight in Gheralta
DAY 14: DRIVE TO MEKELLE & FLY TO ADDIS
- This morning you will drive to the Mekele, passing by a number of interesting churches and towns on the way. Carrying on towards Wukro, you first visit Abreha Atsbeha church, one of the most picturesque of the churches in the area with a beautifully decorated interior, depicting biblical scenes and saints.
- Having a lunch break at Wukro, head to visit Wukro Cherkos, a semi-monolithic church. Inside this crucifix-shaped church, you'll see patterned pillars and carvings. Then drive to Mekelle to catch your flight to Addis Ababa.
- Overnight in Addis Ababa
DAY 15: DEPART FROM ADDIS ABABA
- Depending on your flight schedule, a transfer is arranged to Addis Ababa Bole international airport for the flight back home. Thanks for vacationing with Sawla tours.
Begin Your Adventure with Sawla Tours
At Sawla Tours, we believe that every journey should be as unique as the traveler. Our expert team is dedicated to crafting personalized itineraries that reflect your interests and passions, ensuring an unforgettable Ethiopian experience.
Whether you're seeking cultural immersion, wildlife adventures, or breathtaking landscapes, we tailor each tour to your preferences. From the moment you reach out, our travel designers work closely with you to create a bespoke itinerary that captures the essence of Ethiopia.
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