This 3-day Ethiopia vacation takes you from the capital Addis Ababa to the religious and historical centre of Lalibela.
Your Ethiopia tour begins in Addis Ababa, the nation's capital and the diplomatic centre of Africa. Addis Ababa can simultaneously overwhelm and enchant visitors on Ethiopia tours. It's the fourth largest city on the continent, meaning it's bustling and chockfull of traffic and unspectacular architecture. But it's also exotic with an ancient atmosphere that can beguile you when you visit spots like Merkato, which is one of the largest open-air markets in all of Africa. A city tour will introduce you to the city's history and culture. You'll climb Mt. Entoto, the highest peak in an already-high city, where Emperor Menelik II lived when he founded the city in the 19th century. At Menelik's compound on Mt. Entoto, you'll see the Entoto Mariam Church as well as Menelik's Palace. You'll then head into town to the Shero Meda Market to shop for traditional Ethiopian crafts and clothing and visit both the Ethnographic Museum and National Museum to learn about the region's history and culture and see the bones of Lucy, one of the world's oldest archaeological remains of a human ancestor.
From Addis Ababa, continue your Ethiopia vacation by heading to Lalibela, one of the world's great centres of ancient Christianity and the spiritual heart of Ethiopia. Lalibela is famous for the rock-hewn churches spread across the landscape. You'll spend your time visiting two clusters of these famous churches to see Bet Medhane Alem, which resembles an ancient Greek Temple, and Get Giyorgis, which is the most elegant church in the region and only accessible through a tunnel in an isolated part of the village. You'll close out your time in Lalibela by visiting the Holy Trinity Cathedral, which commemorates Ethiopia's liberation from Italy, and by trying some local food and drink, including Tej, a local honey wine.
This Ethiopia Stopover is a perfect addition to other African tours and a rewarding exploration of history and religion for return visitors to the continent.
