Master street photography in the bustling Mercato, capture vast panoramas from Entoto Hill, and shoot portraits inside historic cathedrals.
Ethiopia Photography Tour – Ancient Wonders, Tribal Faces & Danakil Light
Capturing the Riches of History and Nature
Launch an Ethiopia Photography Tour that sweeps from Addis Ababa’s buzzing streets to the flaming colours of the Danakil Depression. This lens-focused journey frames rock-hewn churches, royal castles, high-alp peaks and the remote tribes of Tigray, giving you nonstop chances to capture Ethiopia’s history, culture and surreal geology in perfect light.
Destination Highlights
Highlighted Destinations
Capture dramatic cliff panoramas and frame unique endemic wildlife on an unforgettable photo expedition into the 'Roof of Africa'.
Shoot moody medieval architecture, capturing the magic of Gonder's royal castles at sunrise and during the enchanting blue hour.
Perfect your low-light tripod skills, capturing the sacred atmosphere and timeless details inside monolithic rock-hewn churches.
Create dramatic stelae silhouettes in Axum and capture stunning sunbursts against the rock-faces of Tigray's hidden cliff-churches.
Document the alien beauty of acid pools, the epic scale of salt caravans, and practice astrophotography over glowing lava fields.
Create intimate village portraits, capture the vibrant energy of craft markets, and document the rich traditions of a sacred coffee ceremony.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by day Tour Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN ADDIS ABABA
- 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.
- Overnight in Addis Ababa
DAY 2: ADDIS ABABA
- You will start the day with a photoshoot in the Entoto hills, the highest point in Addis where the women wood carriers walk, donkeys roam and people pray at St. Mary's Church. From there you will walk the local Shiro Meda market where people shop for shama cloth and traditional clothing.
- You will photograph the pilgrims and priests at the ornate Holy Trinity Cathedral. Women in shama- traditional white shawls, and men deep in prayer are both inside this second most important place of prayer in Ethiopia as well as in the expansive courtyard.
- Lunch at the Lucy restaurant which is adjoining the Ethnological Museum which houses Lucy, the most complete skeleton ever discovered, being 3.2 million years old.
- Overnight in Addis Ababa
DAY 3: FLY TO GONDER & DRIVE TO SIMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
- This morning board a short flight to Gonder and upon arrival you drive to the Simien Mountains. It 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; VISIT SIGHTSEEING & DRIVE TO GHERALTA
- 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 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. In the afternoon, you drive across the dramatic mountainous landscapes to Gheralta, stopping a number of times en route to take in the spectacular scenery. You arrive at your lodge in time good to enjoy a beautiful Ethiopian sunset.
- Overnight in Gheralta.
DAY 9: EXPLORE THE TIGRAY ROCK CHURCHES
- After an early breakfast, continue your exploration of the marvelous churches in the Gheralta cluster. Today's half an hour's drive takes you closer to the foot of Korkur Mountain. It is from here you start you 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 you will drive out of Gheralta to visit Mariam Papaseti church. A short and easy walk takes you through the most scenic landscape and vibrant small villages.
- The church is a semi-monolithic church. You'll find a wide range of beautiful 18th-century mural paintings decorating the internal part of the church. Later you take a short walk to meet local farmers and learn about their way of life. Return to your lodge for dinner.
- Overnight in Gheralta.
DAY 10: DRIVE TO THE DANAKIL DEPRESSION
- After breakfast, spend the morning at your leisure which can be arranged for short hiking, bird watching, and visiting the nearby rock-hewn church. After lunch, you drive towards the Danakil region, stopping a number of times en route to take in the spectacular scenery. You arrive in time to enjoy a beautiful Ethiopian sunset over Lake Asale.
- Overnight camping in the Danakil.
DAY 11: EXPLORE THE DALLOL AREA & DRIVE TO MEKELLE
- Depart before dawn, you start driving to Dallol. It is like nowhere else; a bizarre landscape of colorful mineral deposits, sulfur pools, and geysers, where you will have this early morning to explore this seemingly alien terrain. You then visit the salt canyons, a bizarre landscape where we go for a short walk. On the way back to camp you cross the salt flats where we see the arduous work of salt being extracted by hand and loaded onto the camels.
- After freshening up and having lunch, we will leave the Danakil and climb the steep mountains to Mekele, climbing from 100 meters below sea level up to 2500m. Mekelle is the capital of the region.
- Overnight in Mekelle.
DAY 12: FLY TO ADDIS & DEPARTURE
- After breakfast, you drive to Mekelle airport and take the short flight back to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival in Addis, transfer you to your hotel. You have the afternoon free for shopping in 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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