ADVENTURES OF ETHIOPIA

Overview Itinerary Gallery Faq & Tnc Reviews

Overview

Ethiopia, land of the origins, lions, kings, and Haile Selassie is one of the most enigmatic countries in the world. Sitting at the horn of Africa between Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea, and the two Sudan, it is one of the largest countries in Africa, the second-most populous, and potentially the oldest civilization after Egypt. It is also an incredible tourism destination with history, culture, and religion dating back to the 10th century BC. To tour Ethiopia is like to walk far back in time to when everything was medieval, amazing, and mind-boggling; An ancient civilization of unparalleled beauty, history, culture, religion, and larger-than-life characters. An ancient land of fertile well-watered mountains that form the main source of the Blue Nile, northern Ethiopia has long stood at the cultural crossroads of Africa, Arabia, and the Mediterranean. These divergent influences have bequeathed the region a unique cultural and historical heritage epitomized by a quartet of unique and magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Aksum, Lalibela, Gondar, and the Simien Mountains National Park – as well as a vast array of lesser-known but equally fascinating historical sites.

Inclusions

Accommodation on Double Sharing basis
3/4 Star Hotel / Resorts
Daily Breakfast & Dinner
Ethiopian E-Visa Fees
All Sightseeing Tours & Transfers As Per Itinerary
All Arrival & Departure Transfers
All Currently Applicable Taxes

Highlights

National Museum, Addis Ababa
St. Mary’s Church, Axum
Stelae Park & Dungur palace
Axum UNESCO World Heritage Center
Debre Birhan Selassie Church, Gondar
Lake Tana & Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret

Exclusions

Any Air Ticket (Unless Specified)
Travel Insurance
Any Increase in Govt Taxes, Fuel Price And Any Applicability Of New Taxes From The Govt
Any Up Gradation in Hotel Room Category
Guide Charges / Entrance Fees for Any Sightseeing
Price of Insurance Portage (Coolie Charges), Laundry, Telephone Charges, Shopping, Wines & Alcoholic Beverages, Mineral Water (Unless Specified), Items of Personal Nature And Food And Drink Which is Not Part Of Set Group Menu
Any Extra Cost Incurred on Behalf of Any Individual Due to Illness, Accident, Hospitalization or Any Personal Emergency
Any Services or Activity Charges other Than Those Included in The Itinerary
Anything Specifically Not Mention in The Tour Price Inclusions
Entrance Fees & Guide Charges of Sight Seeings Mentioned In The Itinerary Are Not Included
Compulsory Gala Dinner Charges During Xmas And New Year Period (Any Special Event Charge by Resort)
GST 5% (Government Tax) on Total Package Price

Tour Plan

Day 01

ARRIVE AT ADDIS ABABA

Arrive at Bole international airport and be welcome by our representative. Depending on your arrival time, you will be taken on an Addis Ababa City Tour, which will also include drinking coffee and experiencing the unique and traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony; from washing, roasting, grinding, smelling, serving and tasting coffee! Additional Addis Ababa sightseeing City Tour stops will include Mount Entoto (first capital situated in hills overlooking Addis Ababa which means “New Flower”) and from where you can enjoy panoramic views.

You will visit the National Museum: famous for containing the famous hominid fossil ‘Lucy’, the colorful Ethnographic Museum (take an engaging visual tour through Ethiopia) located within the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Your drive will also take you through Mercato – the largest open market in East Africa and along the way you will pass various significant historical monuments of Addis Ababa on this City Tour to give you a taste of Addis. Overnight stay and dinner at your hotel.

Day 02

ADDIS ABABA - BAHIRDAR

Early in the morning fly to Bahirdar. On your arrival, our representative will take you to your hotel. In the morning you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th-century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries ((beautiful mural paintings, religious books, processional crosses, and sacred artifacts). Afternoon drive 35km to the small village of Tis Abay to visit Blue Nile Falls, along the way enjoy the local lifestyle and typical countryside of Ethiopia.

Upon arrival hike through the beautiful scenery and cross over the Portuguese bridge to the waterfall. Enjoy the fall and on the way back you will cross by boat the legendary Blue Nile River which joins the White Nile at Khartoum (Sudan) then form the longest river in the world. (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal depending on the season). Overnight stay and dinner at your hotel.

Day 03

BAHIRDAR – GONDAR

Early in the morning drive to Gondar. After lunch, you will have a city tour of Gondar. Gondar; once was the Royal Capital of Ethiopia which was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fassiladas. It was a hub of art, music and literature for Ethiopia. Your visit will include the Royal enclosure, Fasiledes bath and the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie church which is well known for its intriguing ceiling paintings. Overnight stay and dinner at your hotel.

Day 04

EXCURSION TO THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

In the morning drive to Debark about 100km from Gondar, where the Simien Mountains National Park Headquarter is located. The Simien Mountains National Park is known for its dramatic landscapes and breathtaking scenery comprising deep canyons, escarpments, dizzying precipices, and jagged spires caused by millions of years of erosion. The park is also home for its indigenous flora and endemic fauna such as Waliya ibex, Ethiopian wolf, and the Gelada baboons. Lammergeyer (Lord of the Plateau) is one of the unique birds found in the Simien mountains national park. Late in the afternoon, you will drive back to Gondar for the night. Overnight stay and dinner at your hotel.

Day 05

GONDAR – AXUM

Early in the morning fly to Axum, A city more than 3000 years of history and once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization, home of the original Ark of the Covenant. The sightseeing of this ancient city includes St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository for ‘Ark of the covenant’, the coronation yard, the Stelae Park, Tombs of Kaleb and his son GebreMeskel, Ezana’s inscriptions and Dungur palace (popularly known as ruins of Queen of Sheba’s palace). Overnight stay and dinner at your hotel.

Day 06

AXUM - LALIBELA

Early in the morning fly to the holiest city of Lalibela. Lalibela is known for its well preserved Rock-Hewn churches; each rock churches are carved out and crafted beautifully from a single volcanic rock. Here you head on back to 11th c. mythical rock-hewn churches of Lalibela; it is truly a world wonder. The time of Lalibela is the ultimate period of masonry. Late in the afternoon enjoy the surrounding breathtaking scenery and take part in a traditional Tej or honey wine taste experience related with the local legend of Ethiopia. Overnight stay and dinner at your hotel.

Day 07

EXCURSION TO YIMRHANE KRISTOS

After breakfast, we drive to Yimrhane Kristos through the small village of Bilbala. The built-up cave church of Yimrhane Kristos itself predates the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. This is one of the most beautiful and colorful cave churches, built from marble, wood and beautifully decorated from inside and outside with remarkable architectural skill. In the other side of the cave, you will also see many mummified bodies of pilgrims from centuries ago. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight stay and dinner at your hotel.

Day 08

LALIBELA – ADDIS ABABA, DEPARTURE

After breakfast, fly back to Addis. In the afternoon you will have leisure time and shopping. Late in the evening have a farewell dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants then drive to the airport for flight back home.

Travel Documents

Original passport with minimum 6 months validity from the date of tour arrival along with sufficient blank pages for the stamping of visa

Visa :

Ethiopian E-Visa is available for Indian passport holder. You need to E-visa before your travel to Ethiopia. Ethiopian visa on arrival is also available for Indian passport holder.

Payment Terms

Payments can be made by Cheque, Demand Draft, NEFT, RTGS or IMPS. Cheque/Demand Draft should be in favor of "VM HOLIDAYS AND HOSPITALITY LLP".
You can also book your package online with Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.

Cancellation Policy

If the Guest decides to cancel the tour for any reason whatsoever then s/he shall give a written application to the Company within specified time limit along with original receipt issued by the Company. Such cancellation will attract cancellation charges stated here under.
Cancellation charges will be calculated on gross tour cost and the cancellation charges shall depend on date of departure and date of cancellation.
Cancellation charges for any type of transport ticket are applicable as per the rules of the concerned authority.
Air tickets issued on special fares are NON REFUNDABLE and Guest shall bear cancellation charges.
Any refund payable to the Guest will be paid after the Company receives refund from the respective authorities. The Company deducts processing charges from the refund to be paid to the Guest.

Cancellation Charges :

Before 31 Days : 00%
From 30-22 Days : 25%
From 20-16 Days : 50%
From 15-07 Days : 75%
From 06-00 Days : 100%

Refund Policy :

Refund Process time is 21 working days for any normal cancellation. You will get refund by Bank transfer only.

Note : For any natural disaster or Government Travel Ban, you will get refund as per supplier / hotel / airline policy. If they provide credit note than you will get credit note as per their terms & conditions. We are not responsible for any cash/Bank transfer refunds for it.

Booking Tnc

The above price is per person basis. High Season Surcharges are applicable; rates are not valid for long weekends and public holidays.
Child up to 4 yrs is Complimentary, Adult: 12 years and above.
Personal identification is mandatory to carry on tour for Air Travel, Hotels for security reason like: election card, Driving Licence, Passport.
All rates are valid for Indian national only.
The above given prices are subject to change without prior notice.
The quotation is based on Standard room of individual hotel, however if unavailable then the upgrading cost to be borne by the guest.
Hotel check in is 1400 hrs and checkout would be 1000 hrs. Early check in and late check out subject to availability.
If the above hotels are not available similar category hotels are used as hotel rooms are subject to availability.Hotels may provide room heater at an additional price on direct payment basis.
Meals provided at the hotel (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) are based on a set menu.
Anything other than the set menu will be charged extra.
Driver is NOT A GUIDE; he will take you to the sightseeing’s mentioned in the itinerary. You will have to explore the place of visit on your own.
Vehicle will be not at disposal. If guest wish to go for additional sightseeing extra charges will be applicable.
Itinerary is subject to change.The above mentioned cost is not valid during National Holidays, festive season/long weekends, Christmas & New year.

Special Notes

Airlines/Room up-gradation and complimentary will not be entertained during the tour unless if specified at the time of booking.
There is no refund for any services not utilized during the tour.
Security deposit is required either in cash or credit card by hotels which is refundable provided no room incidentals are incurred. This security deposit is not included in this quote and must be paid by the guests/corporate directly to the hotel when checking in.
Guests are advised not to keep valuables in the coach/vehicle while sightseeing.
The Company shall not be responsible for loss of valuables from the coach / vehicle . If the coach / vehicle is accidentally or otherwise damaged by the Guest, s/he will be required to pay compensation for the same.