Historic Northern
Ethiopia Tour
- 8 Days
- Up to 10 people
- 5
- Contact us for pricing
Discover Ethiopia’s rich history and culture on this 8-day journey through the country’s northern circuit. From ancient rock-hewn churches and royal castles to breathtaking mountains and vibrant markets, this tour connects you to the soul of Ethiopia while blending history, faith, culture, and natural beauty.
What You’ll Experience
- Scenic boat tour on Lake Tana to visit ancient monasteries
- Visit to the Blue Nile Falls (Tississat)
- Exploration of Gonder’s Royal Enclosure with castles and palaces
- Adventure in Simien Mountains National Park with hikes and stunning landscapes
- Wildlife spotting: Gelada Baboons and the rare Walia Ibex
- Discovery of Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches, including the iconic St. George Church
- Cultural experiences with traditional Ethiopian food, coffee, and Tej (honey wine)
- Hike to Asheton Mariam Monastery for breathtaking views
- Visits to historic churches such as Debre Birhan Selassie and Holy Trinity Cathedral
- Immersive journey through Ethiopia’s rich history, culture, and faith
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa
Airport pickup, hotel transfer, evening welcome meeting, and dinner with your guide and fellow travelers.
Time: Arrival Day
Day 2: Explore Addis Ababa
Drive to Mount Entoto, visit the National Museum (see “Lucy”), Holy Trinity Cathedral, Merkato market, Meskel Square, Lion of Judah, and Yekatit 12 Memorial.
Time: Full Day
Day 3: Fly to Bahir Dar & Lake Tana
Morning flight to Bahir Dar. Boat trip to Azwa Mariam and Betre Maryam Monasteries. Visit Blue Nile Falls and enjoy dinner featuring Tibs.
Time: Full Day
Day 4: Drive to Gonder
Stop at Guzara Castle, tour the Royal Enclosure, visit Debre Birhan Selassie Church and the Bath of King Fasilidas. Sample Tej, Ethiopia’s honey wine.
Time: Full Day
Day 5: Simien Mountains Adventure
Drive to Simien Mountains National Park. Visit a former Ethiopian Jewish village, hike near Sankaber Camp and Jimbar Waterfalls, and spot wildlife. Dinner featuring Shiro.
Time: Full Day
Day 6: Fly to Lalibela
Morning flight to Lalibela. Explore rock-hewn churches including Bieta Medhane Alem, Bieta Maryam, Bieta Danagel, Bieta Meskel, Debre Sina, and Bieta Golgotha. Traditional dinner in the evening.
Time: Full Day
Day 7: Hike & Discover Lalibela
Hike to Asheton Mariam Monastery, then visit Bieta Gabriel & Raphael, Bieta Mercurios, Emmanuel, Abba Libanos, and end at the iconic St. George Church (Bieta Ghiorghis).
Time: Full Day
Day 8: Return to Addis Ababa
Morning flight to Addis Ababa. Visit the Ethnological Museum, enjoy free time for shopping, and finish with a farewell dinner with traditional music and dance.
Time: Travel Day


Memories From Our Guests
EXCELLENT Based on 39 reviews Posted on SamVerified Solo friendly and found all the food I wanted during fasting Did a solo trip with them and they found everything I wanted to try and eat during fasting. Like raw meat and organs. Thank you so muchPosted on Muna ZubaidVerified Nice experience i would recommend them to my friends The views were amazing the weather was very nice the guide was very helpful the food was new experience i liked everythingPosted on BoardingPass820010Verified Good travel arrangements made by Birhanu and his team At very short notice, I planned my solo trip to Ethiopia! But thanks to Birhanu of New Ethiopia Tours it was a very good one! Birhanu made sure i was comfortable at every town I visited and the guides too were good- visited Aksum, Bahir Da, Gondar, Lalibela and Addis AbabaPosted on Alex PVerified Ethiopia at its Best Birhanu and his team in Ethiopia made possible for me to move all around the country with no hustle and confidence. Got me to the places, made sure I was safe! Explained the sites and History. Ate superbly, had the best Coffee and had a lot of fun. Thank you Birhanu! Keep up your professionalism and kindness.Posted on Nicki LVerified Excellent tour! Highly recommend! Amazing tour! I highly recommend New Ethiopia Tours for any of your vacation needs. Birhanu was knowledgeable, friendly, responsive, and engaging. He tailored the tour to my interests and made sure I had a great visit to Addis.Posted on Jon RVerified Perfect in every way Can't imagine a better organizer, planner, facilitator, everything. World-class organizers, optimizers, communicators. You're in great hands with Birhanu and Solomun and feel like you're part of their family. They're complete experts in every inch of the country and they connect you with the best of the best guides in local regions. Best decision you'll make is to work with them.Posted on aabboudVerified Birhanu and Solomon - The Perfect Guides to Ethiopia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you're planning a trip to Ethiopia, Birhanu and Solomon from New Ethiopia Tours are exactly who you want leading the way. They’re incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and generous, making every moment of the journey memorable.From the start, they made us feel welcome, like we were exploring with friends rather than guides. Their deep understanding of Ethiopia’s culture and history, paired with their warm sense of humor, kept the trip both educational and fun.Whether it was helping us navigate bustling markets, sharing fascinating stories, or going out of their way to ensure everything ran smoothly, they truly went above and beyond. Each stop felt thoughtfully planned, yet they still managed to keep things flexible and relaxed.If you want a seamless and enriching experience, Birhanu and Solomon are the perfect choice. Highly recommended!Posted on Martín CantalupiVerified The best way to explore Ethiopia! Thanks to Mule and Birhanu, we had an amazing experience in Addis and the surrounding areas. They helped us truly connect with the people, landscapes, and local customs in a way we could never have done on our own. They’re super professional, friendly, and know every little corner. If you’re thinking of exploring Ethiopia for real, don’t hesitate—reach out to them. Booking their services was the best decision of our trip. Highly recommend!Posted on Ashish LVerified Best Experience I recently was on a trip to Ethiopia Thru Bree. One of the best experience i had with him in Dallol/Danakil/Erta Ale- always helpful, with a smiling face. There was literally nothing in the wilderness but the team really made sure that whatever is best possible in convenience from food to sightseeing to facilities- they did that.A 10/10 experience 🙂 All the bestPosted on Robert PVerified Great Trip to Ethiopia My wife and I took a 6 day trip to Ethiopia (Addis, Lalibela and Gondor. Birhanu wasn't available but our tour guide Dessu was great. Ethiopia is a fascinating country and we hit the high points, particularly the stone churches in Lalibela. Dessu did an outstanding job, always flexible, knowledgeable, and great fun to travel with. Some of the local guides struggled with English but Dessu stepped in and translate for us.Can strongly recommend Birhanu or Dessu to provide an outstanding tour of Ethiopia.