Ethiopia's historic route begins with a glance at the tantalizing remains of Yeha - the country's earliest high civilization. In a remote part of Tigray region, Yeha lays several hours drive from the more accessible city of Axum; the journey takes you on rough tracks through dramatic highland scenery and eventually ends in a beautiful and serene agricultural hamlet. It is there, close to a much more recent Christian church, that you may see the towering ruins of Yeha's Temple of the Moon built more than 2,500 years ago, in Sabaean times.

Ancient Collection of History and capital of Africa

Duration: Half day

Tour Code: AT001

Transportation: By car

Tour highlight: Depart from your country arrival in Addis Ababa depends overnight in Addis Ababa, early in morning freshen up before taking city tour

National museum

National museum is home to the hominid fossil remain of 'Lucy' the cradle of mankind. The female fossilized skeleton found in northeast part of Ethiopia in 1974, believed to be about 3.4 million years old, Ardi 4.4 million years old, Selam 3.5 million years old discovered by an Ethiopian Archeologist and named her after his wife (Selam). The museum has an extensive collection of artifacts, some pre-historic of Axumite civilization

Ethnological museum

Ethnological museum is located within Haile Selassie’s former Royal palace and surrounded by the beautiful garden and fountains. Being used as Addis Abeba University’s main campus and as enthralling Ethnological Museum.

Entoto Hill

Entoto is the mountain range that rises to the north of Addis Abeba and is easily accessible from the city. This is where King Menelik started building his first capital city and the Church of Entoto Mariam where he was crowned. The top of the hill offers stunning and panoramic view of Addis Abeba.

Stop for Lunch & Coffee break

A lunch break either at cultural or western place, hen continue our remaining sights.

If you’re not interested from the above categories; possible to Choose

Selassie Church Holy Trinity Cathedral

Holy Trinity cathedral was once the largest Ethiopia orthodox cathedral and the burial place of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen, late Prime mister Meles Zenawi, Sylvia Pankhurst alongside many well-known Ethiopian and patriots from the Italian occupation.

Merkato Market

Merkato is located in western part of Addis Abeba and is one of the largest open air market in Africa; offering an array of Colors, Aromas, Costumes, Products, Jewelries and many more. In Merkato virtually every possible commodity is on sale. There is a place called Merkato district Menalesh Tera local name), materials from every corner of the city will be brought to this place to be recycled for sale and to be used again.

N.B: Beware of pickpocket

Red terror Martyrs Memorial Museum

The "Red Terror" Martyrs' Memorial Museum in Addis Abeba was established in 2010 as a memorial to the victims of the Red Terror under the Derg regime. In the museum various torturing instruments are displayed. In addition, original skulls and bones, coffins, bloody clothes, and photographs of victims are exhibited. The museum also features pictorial history of the red terror.

Archeological tour

Duration: Day trip

Tour Code: AT003

Mode of Transportation: Ground transportation

Tour Description: Day trip to Tiya, Adadi Mariam and Melka Kunture

Tiya is one of the nine UNESCO world heritage sites in Ethiopia. Drive 90 km on the asphalt road from the capital, and only 500m from the main road; Tiya Stelae field consists about 40 Stelae which stand between one and two meters high. Recent excavations revealed that the stones mark mass graves of both males and females who died between the ages of 18 and 30 and were laid to rest in a fontal position.These stelae are remains of an ancient Ethiopian culture, whose age hasn’t yet been precisely determined (the tallest one stands 3.7 meters).

On your return to Addis Ababa detour to Adadi Mariam Rock hewn church; the only southerly rock church related with Lalibela rock hewn church in Ethiopia which dates back to 12th and it lies in the ground with steps descending to the main entrances. The church has 10 gates and 14 small windows to let sunlight inside the room. Return to hotel

Addis food test and walking tour

Duration: Full day

Tour code: AT026

Mode of transportation: walking tour

Tour Description: There are several kinds of dishes most of them unique to the country, so its worth familiarizes yourself with Ethiopian delicious spicy food.

Juice or Yogurt

Ethiopian fruit is really pureed fruit. What is available depends somewhat on season and location, but most common juices are banana, avocado, papaya, orange and guava.

Enjera (Traditional pancake)

Enjera is source of carbohydrate, large pancake shaped made from ‘’Teff’’, nutty-tasted grain. The “Teff “dough fermented for up to three days before it’s cooked with texture and have a slightly sour taste which is unique to Ethiopia. For a taste take a piece ‘’Enjera’’ on your hand and use it to scoop the “wat”, the sous.

Vegan Corner

Vegan wat (sous) is served mainly on Wednesday and Friday, i.e. the orthodox weekly fasting days. The traditional dish comes with puréed beans (shiro wat), halved beans (kik wat) lentils miser wat), Spinach (Gomen) and Potato sous (Dinech wat).

Shiro Tegamino

Shiro Tegamino is a special delicious thick paste to be served on fasting. what makes it special is that the puréed beans (Shiro wat) is cooked with a low heat to bring the flavor of the spices Bean and with Butter(optional), and the Butter (optional), Serve with the Enjera.

Fried meat (Shekila tibs)

Fried meat is also very popular Ethiopian dish, made with fried meat served in a clay pot (with little charcoal heat to keep the fried meat hot), different spices and Enjera.

Ketfo

Ketfo is a minced meat slightly-cooked served with baked bread made from false banana tree called ‘’Enset”, a local cheese called “Ayib” and a vegetable called “Gomen”. Ketfo special, the same dish but uncooked (raw minced meat) can also be served.

Coffee

Kaffa province in Ethiopia is the birth place of coffee, and it also accounts for more than half of Ethiopia’s exports. The local espresso-style coffee (Bunna) served with two spoons of sugar is rich, sweet and thoroughly addictive.

Tej & Tela

Tej, is the most popular local tipple, a mead like drink made from honey (Mar).”Mar Tej’’ is similar to most local African brewed drink but very unique in how it’s made, taste, and is very alcoholic , but it’s naturally made from pure honey so no harm for health.

Tela is a locally brewed beer, made from millet or maize. This is similar to the local brew of east and South Africa. It passes through a thorough fermentation process which makes it alcoholic.

The ancient walled city

Duration: 2 days / 1 night

Tour Code: AT020

Mode of Transportation: Flight and ground transportation

Tour Description: This voyage will leads you to the walled city of Harar

Day 1: Fly to Dire Dawa; drive to Harar

Fly Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa(duration 1 hour)and then drive 56 km to the town of Harar; which was established between 7th and 9th centuries, has remained a center of Islamic religion from the early days of the Islamic expansion in Eastern Africa until 1887, After check-in to hotel, visit the five gates, the "Rimbaud House" which is named after the famous French poet who chose Harar as his city of exile from French, Harari market, the house of Ras Mekonnen, and the Harari houses with unique architectural features. In the evening watch the performance of Hyena man show. Overnight hotel

Day 2: Drive to Dire Dawa and fly back to Addis Ababa

After breakfast drive to Dire Dawa and fly back to Addis Ababa. In the evening you will have a traditional farewell dinner in the traditional restaurant. Overnight hotel or Departure

Coffee tour

Duration: 6 days/ 5 nights

Tour Code: AT029

Mode of Transportation: Ground transportation

Tour Description: These tour include beautyful scenery and birth place of coffee

Day 1: Drive to Hawassa

Drive from Addis to the Rift Valley lake side town of Hawassa via Wendogenet. Stop at Wendogenet, and walk through Sidama Coffee farms. Experience farmers work and test Sidama Coffee with its typical ceremony. En route you will visit Lake Ziway, Abijata - Shala National Park, and Shashemene (village of the Ras Teferian community in Ethiopia). Then continue drive to Hawassa. Overnight Haile Resort

Day 2: Drive to Yirgalem

Drive south along the road leading up to Kenya. All journey long, you will see traditional Sidama Houses encircled by Coffee and Enset (False Banana plant) After lunch, Get off from the beautiful Aregash Lodge and walk deep into the village that lies in the undisturbed green countryside surrounded by Coffee, Enset and other forests. It's here that you will get in to Sidama Houses, attend a demonstration of preparing food from Enset and seat with locals to test their coffee. At night see Hyenas who comes close to the fire place you seating on. Overnight Aregash Lodge

Day 3: Drive to Yirgachefe

Drive through a very green landscape to reach Yirgachefe, where one of the most popular coffees in the world is harvested. Explore Yirgachefe, one of the centers for the cultivation and processing of an excellent Coffee. It's the area where you can visit several Coffee Cooperatives and plantations. Overnight hotel

Day 4: Drive to Bale Mountains

Drive to Hawassa and visit Fish Market, a place where the daily activity of fishing, fish sale and fish cooking takes place. Proceed to Bale crossing Arsi-Bale highlands renowned for best production of wheat. Stop at Dinsho, the headquarter of Bale Mountains National Park, to spot the main concentration of Mountain Nyala (endemic) and other mammals like Menelik’s bushbuck (endemic), Bohor's reedbuck, warthogs and colobus monkey.

Day 5: Excursion to Sanetti & Harena Forest

Drive to Harena, the largest remaining rain forest of Ethiopia, to enjoy the walk through Forest Coffee. Climb also to the top of Tullu Dimtu (4377m) the 2nd highest mountain of Ethiopia. Here, you will spot the rarest endemic animal, Ethiopian wolf and plenty of birds. Then drive back to Bale Goba.

Day 6: Drive to Addis Ababa

In the evening enjoy a traditional farewell dinner with Ethiopian cultural music and dancing presentations. Overnight hotel or Departure

Nations, Nationalities and Peoples day is becoming a symbol of peace, democracy, justice, tolerance, love and affection between and among Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia. It is also a demonstration of unity that embraces diversity, an expression of cultural religious, linguistic and ethnic multiplicity and where all Nations, Nationalities and Peoples bring the assets of their culture to one place; thus, on this day, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi linguistic people gathered in the selected city. This day is also an expression of the Democratic Federalism that accommodates the above diversities between and among our people to further strengthen unity in diversity, enhance national consensus, empower them and enlarge the awareness of our people towards our constitutional system.

Menagesha suba forest

Duration: walking tour

Tour code: AT026

Mode of transportation: Ground transportation and Hiking

Tour Description: Explore through the suba forest of Menagesha rich in flora and fauna a day trip from the capital

Menagesha Suba forest park is a beautiful forest from 15th century, located 55 kilometers from Addis Ababa. Almost a dozen trails (up to 9km in height) leads through the forest, with one even heading above the tree line to Mt Wuchacha's 3380m summit.

The total area of the forest is about 2,500 hectares and its composition represents the natural high forests that once exists in Ethiopia. The oldest tree of Juniperus procera is estimated to be over 200 year old all covered in a thick layer of moss. While Erica Arborea and Helichrysum represent vegetation of above 3,000 m (high attitude).

The multiple layers provide a rich habitat for plants and animals including the endemic Menelik's bushbuck who took refuge in the forest enclave, Anubis baboon, Gureza (Colobus monkey), bush pig, warthog and leopard.

Mt. Menagesha in the vicinity, this is not the same place. According to local tradition, this Menagesha is where many Ethiopian kings' coronations were held. When you reach at the top of the mountain there is camping ground from here visitors certainly enjoy the spectacular scenery of the plain.

The beauty of the Mogli peak and surrounding scenery makes Menagesha Suba forest an ideal place for nature lovers, hikers, trekkers, forest explores and scenery admirers

Wenchi crater lake

Tour Code: AT005

Tour description: Beautiful scenery around the capital

Duration: Day trip

Mode of Transportation: Ground transportation

After breakfast, drive to Ambo through the Gefersa Water Reservoir, turn left from Ambo town to reach the volcanic Crater Lake Wenchi on a gravel road that ascends to mountain slopes almost to the rim of the crater where the height reaches 3386m at a peak.

When you arrive at the Crater Lake you will be totally overtaken by the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the freshness of the air. Wenchi Lake is 560 hectares wide. The lake’s depth ranges from 9 to 67.8 meters. The Lake is located on the plateau, which is 3386 meters high above the sea level. It is partially surrounded by forest. The other sightseeing around the Lake are natural hot springs. Southwest of the lake, one can find several lukewarm springs. There are two islands in the lake, Ancient church called Cherkos monastery located in one of the island. You can explore to the monasteries on ferries. You can hire horses to go down to the foot of the mountain to the lake, it will only take you one hour and half to reach to the lake.

Wenchi Crater Lake is an ideal site, and has a good appeal to such tourist activities and recreations like hiking, boating, horseback riding and forest exploring. You will have your lunch in picturesque setting. Then you will follow a different route that run through Wolliso to drive back to Addis Ababa. Overnight hotel

After breakfast, drive to Ambo through the Gefersa Water Reservoir, turn left from Ambo town to reach the volcanic Crater Lake Wenchi on a gravel road that ascends to mountain slopes almost to the rim of the crater where the height reaches 3386m at a peak.

When you arrive at the Crater Lake you will be totally overtaken by the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the freshness of the air. Wenchi Lake is 560 hectares wide. The lake’s depth ranges from 9 to 67.8 meters. The Lake is located on the plateau, which is 3386 meters high above the sea level. It is partially surrounded by forest. The other sightseeing around the Lake are natural hot springs. Southwest of the lake, one can find several lukewarm springs. There are two islands in the lake, Ancient church called Cherkos monastery located in one of the island. You can explore to the monasteries on ferries. You can hire horses to go down to the foot of the mountain to the lake, it will only take you one hour and half to reach to the lake.

Wenchi Crater Lake is an ideal site, and has a good appeal to such tourist activities and recreations like hiking, boating, horseback riding and forest exploring. You will have your lunch in picturesque setting. Then you will follow a different route that run through Wolliso to drive back to Addis Ababa.