Historic North with Simien Mountains National Park

• DAY 1- ADDIS to BAHIRDAR

  Early morning flight from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar – depart at 07:00AM to arrive at 08:00AM. Up arrival at Bahir Dar Airport, met by a Zulla Discovery representative and transferred to the lodge for check-in. Morning activity – Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Tana and visit a medieval period monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret at Zeghe Peninsula. Observe the separation point of the Blue Nile River from Lake Tana before heading back to the lodge for lunch.  

  Afternoon activity – Transfer by vehicle to Tis Abay village and visit the Blue Nile Falls. Hike through the beautiful scenery and cross a Portuguese Bridge to the waterfall. After spending time at the Falls, cross the Blue Nile River which joins the White Nile to form the longest river in the world by boat before heading back to the lodge.  

  
  
  

• DAY 2 – BAHIRDAR to GONDAR

  After breakfast travel by road to Gondar on a comfortable 3 hour drive. Along the way stop at Tara Mountains and enjoy the amazing landscape. Continue the journey to Gondar and arrive in time for lunch at the hotel.  

  Afternoon activity - Visit to the Royal enclosure consisting of several castles inscribed by UNESCO.  King Fasiledes’s bath and the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie church which is well known for its intriguing ceiling paintings. Debire Birhan Selassie Church, meaning 'Trinity and Mountain of Light' is the most famous place of worship in Gondar. On approach, twelve rounded stone towers representing the 12 apostles stand stoically guarding the church, as they have done for centuries. The 13th tower, the tallest, represents the Lion of Judah. Originally built in the 17th century by Emperor Eyasu II, the present structure was redeveloped during the 1880s following a raid by marauding Sudanese Dervishes. (A lightning strike reduced the original building to rubble). 

  
  
  

• DAY 3 - GONDAR to SIMIEN MOUNTAINS return to GONDAR

  Early morning departure at 06:30 am for an unforgettable excursion to the Simien Mountains National Park. Simien Mountain National Park is recorded in the UNESCO as world heritage site. Spectacular scenery and encounter the endemic Gelada Baboons. The trekking time will be from 3 to 4 hours depending on your interest and fitness.  

  Packed lunch is provided whilst on the excursion.  

  The Gelada is often referred to the bleeding-heart baboon. However, not a true baboon. These brown and grey primates are Old World monkeys that do bear some external similarities to baboons. Twice the size of females, males are as big as a large dog and are equipped with large canines, which they often bare at each other as a display of dominance or aggression. Both sexes have large, fluffy manes, as well as distinct, hourglass-shaped, bald patches of skin on their chests. These primates also have the most opposable index fingers and thumbs to any other primate. 

  Late afternoon drive back to Gondar for dinner and overnight stay at lodge.  

  
  
  

• DAY 4 - GONDAR to GORGORA

  After breakfast at Gondar Hill Resort, depart south of Gondar for about 60 km. Full day visit to the ancient monasteries and enjoy time on the shore line of the lake. 
  Gorgora is a small peninsula jutting into Lake Tana, with a small village hosting an active harbour.  
  Enjoy the scenery and the vibrance of the harbour and its people.  

  Late afternoon drive back to Azezo for overnight stay at Mayleko Lodge or Similar. 

  
  
  

• Day 5 – GONDAR to LALIBELA

  After breakfast, transfer to Gondar Airport for the flight to Lalibela - departure time is 09:15 am for arrival 09:45 am. Upon arrival at Lalibela Airport, a Zulla Discovery representative will meet and assist, followed by a 30 minute drive to Lalibela Town and check-in at the hotel.  

  Morning activity – Guide will collect the entrance tickets and other necessary documents for entrance to visit the first group of the rock hewn churches of Lalibela (encompasses 6 churches). 

  After lunch, continue to visit both the second and third groups of rock hewn churches of Lalibela with a total of 5 and 1 church. The churches were not constructed in a traditional way but rather were hewn from the living rock of monolithic blocks. These blocks were further chiseled out, forming doors, windows, columns, various floors, roofs etc. This gigantic work was further completed with an extensive system of drainage ditches, trenches and ceremonial passages, some with openings to hermit caves and catacombs. 

  
  
  

• Day 6 – LALIBELA to ADDIS ABABA

  A leisure morning with breakfast at the hotel, followed by road transfer to Lalibela Airport for flight to Addis Ababa at 11:10 am  and arriving at 12:10 pm.  

  Afternoon at leisure. Inquire with our booking consultants for optional activities in and around the city. 
  (City tour, Birding tour, Museum and or Cathedral visitations) 

  
  
  

• Kuriftu Resort and Spa or similar (Lunch and Dinner)

  
  
  

• Gondar Hill Resort or similar (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

  
  
  

• Mayleko Lodge or similar (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

  
  
  

• Mezena Lodge or similar (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

  
  
  

• Skylight Hotel or similar (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

  
  
  

Package Price Includes  

• Accommodations as specified in the program. 
• Meet and greet services. 
• English speaking guide services. 
• Airport transfers as per the program. 
• All ground transports per the program. 
• Scout fees at Siemen National Park. 
• All entrance fees such park fees, village fees and museum fees as stated in the program. 
• Local boat fee to cruise Lake Tana. 
• Bottled water will be provided in vehicles.  
• All government taxes. 

Cost Excludes

• International flight airfares.
• Domestic airfares inside Ethiopia (confirm with agent when making a booking)  
• Airport taxes. 
• Visas
• Personal travel, baggage and medical insurance. 
• Telephone bill, laundry and any items of a personal nature
• TIPs for service providers such as portages, drivers, guides, scouts, waiters/waitress and others.

Deposit & Cancellation Policy

• A 30% refundable deposit is required within 14 days of making the booking,
• Final payment is due 65 days of date of departure.
• Cancelation before 60 days, a fee of $50 per person is charged as a handling fee to cover the cost of processing the booking and subsequent cancellation. 
• Cancellation between 59 days and 30 days, a rate of 50% of the value of booking is applicable. This applies for all services cancelled or reduced in number, from noon on the first day of their commencement.
• In the case of cancellation within 29 days from noon on the day the services commence or in the case of a no-show, a 100% of the value of the booking is applicable.

Additional remarks

• Please request any further information on this if required.
• We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodate in similar lodges in case of non-availability.
• Prices for domestic flights, airport taxes or park fees may be changed without prior notice. This is beyond our control and any increase levied will be passed to you.
• Specific language speaking guides must be requested at time of requesting booking and are subject to availability at time of confirmation. 

Passenger Information

The tour is modular and combines with other tours so there may be need for clients to change vehicles on occasion.

Luggage

Passengers should bring only soft sided bags. Due to limited luggage space in vehicles, suitcases are unsuitable for scheduled road safaris. We recommend luggage packed in inexpensive barrel/sausage bags or soft sided bags not exceeding 15kgs and 65x46 cm.

Excess luggage can be handed over to our representative at time of briefing for storage in Addis Ababa.  Additional costs of USD 40.00 NETT per booking will apply to handle excess luggage until your return to Nairobi from the safari. This service can be pre-booked, alternatively clients can pay for this directly on the ground.