Northern Splendor: Lalibela and Gondar Tour

After breakfast, transfer to Addis Ababa airport for the flight to Lalibela. After checking in to your hotel, we drive to the site where you will find a concentration of some of Ethiopia’s most famous rock-hewn churches, mostly referred by many as one of “the living wonders of the world”. These churches are, and they 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.

Bete Medhani Alem, the largest monolithic rock-hewn church in the world, measures 37.7 ft. in height, covers an area of almost 2625 square ft., and has walls that are up to 6 feet thick. A plain building supported by 36 pillars on the inside and another 36 pillars around the outside, Bete Medhani Alem was modeled on the original St. Mary Zion Church built by King Ezana in the 4th century at Axum.
 
The rock-hewn churches that you will visit today include Bete Medhani Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil, Bete Golgotha Michael, and Bete Giorgis.

After having lunch and a rest at the hotel, you will continue your journey into Ethiopia’s long and marvelous history with a visit to more of St. Lalibela’s remarkable churches — their architecture and artistry must be seen to be believed. After we finish visiting the second group of churches, we will walk to the village through the complex, bewildering labyrinth of underground tunnels to the monastery where the monks and nuns live.
 
We will visit the rock-hewn churches of Bete Gebriel, Bete Mercorios, Bete Emanuel, Bethlehem, and Bete Aba Libanos this afternoon.

In the evening, a special traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony for the group, which will be will be prepared at a local house. In the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia’s Kaffa region, from which it gets its name, the berries were originally only eaten, never roasted and ground for a drink. Only since the 13th century has coffee been made into a hot drink. Holding a coffee ceremony is a traditional Ethiopian way of welcoming a guest and giving the guest the best hospitality. It is probably one of the most widespread and celebrated Ethiopian traditions.

Overnight: Harbe Hotel, Lalibela

After breakfast, transfer to Lalibela airport for the 30-minute flight to Gondar. After checking in to the Goha Hotel on a hill overlooking the city and having lunch there, you will start your tour of Gondar.

Gondar, founded by Emperor Fasiledas around 1635, is famous for its many medieval castles and the design and decoration of its churches — particularly, Debre Berhan Selassie, which represents a masterpiece of the unique Ethiopian School of traditional art.

This afternoon, you will explore the ancient city and its famous sites, including the Royal Enclosure, a walled compound with six castles built starting in the 17th century by different kings who ruled at different times. You will also see the pool of King Fasiledas, which still serves as a baptismal pool during the Ethiopian Epiphany, and the famous Debre Berhan Selassie, which is adorned with brilliant frescos from inside.

Overnight: Goha Hotel, Gondar