After breakfast at our hotel, we will head out —weather and conditions permitting— to visit the Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tis Abay (“Smoke of the Nile”) or Tis Isat (“Water that Smokes”). These impressive falls, over 40 meters high, have traditionally been a symbol of the power and mystery of the Nile, as well as a spiritual gathering place for local communities. They are one of Ethiopia’s most celebrated natural landscapes and mark the beginning of the long journey of Africa’s most legendary river. Afterwards, we will drive to the city of Gondar, where we will spend the night.

Today we will explore the city of Gondar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the excellent preservation of its 17th-century castles. We will also visit the Fasilides Bath, an impressive pool that is part of the Royal Enclosure of Gondar. After lunch, we will visit Debre Birhan Selassie Church, renowned for its magnificent interior paintings. The faces of the angels on the ceiling have become a common motif in Ethiopian design. For dinner, we will try injera, Ethiopia’s traditional dish.

We will have breakfast at our hotel and fly to Lalibela. In the afternoon, we will visit the Asheton St. Maryam Monastery. The church was carved from a single piece of solid rock and features distinctive characteristics of Ethiopian architecture. Like other churches in Lalibela, Asheton St. Maryam is a monolithic church, meaning it was excavated from one single block of stone rather than built from individual blocks. For dinner, we will taste traditional Ethiopian dishes.

The big day has arrived! We will attend the Timkat festival, which takes place on January 19th in the city of Lalibela. This religious festival celebrates the Ethiopian Orthodox Epiphany and involves a colorful procession, music, and dancing. We will immerse ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere and learn about these incredible traditions.

The isolated town of Lalibela, perched high in the Lasta Mountains, is famous for its incredible rock-hewn churches. This afternoon we will have our first encounter with these unusual and astonishing monuments, including Bieta Medhane Alem —the Church of the Savior of the World—, the largest rock-hewn church in the world. The church’s interior is equally impressive, with carved corridors, columns, and arches, as well as paintings and frescoes depicting biblical scenes and religious figures. Bieta Medhane Alem is still used as a place of worship and pilgrimage for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, and it also attracts visitors from all over the world who are amazed by its beauty, historical and spiritual significance, and the architectural achievement it represents.

The next day, we will explore the second group of rock-hewn churches, including the Church of Saint George, or Bete Giyorgis. Carved into the ground and sculpted from the inside out of a single block of stone, it is connected to the other churches through elaborate tunnels. In the afternoon, we will discover the traditional methods of producing Ethiopia’s unique culinary delights. Our host will welcome us into their home and show us how to prepare typical Ethiopian dishes, usually vegetable and lentil stews, along with slow-cooked meats. They will also perform a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony before we sit down with our host family to enjoy the meal we helped prepare. We will end the evening with a visit to a lively Tej bar, where we will taste the famous honey wine.

This morning we will drive to visit the Na’akuto La’ab Monastery, remarkable for its hilltop location and impressive rock-hewn architecture. From there, we will head towards Semera via the town of Weldiya.

During these days we will enjoy the natural wonders of this part of the world. We will set off early towards Hamedilla, a region known for its unique geology, desert landscapes, and some of the most fascinating geological formations in the world. The environment is harsh and challenging, made up of active volcanoes, salt deposits, and colorful formations that look as if they belong to another planet. Hamedilla is part of the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest regions on Earth. After lunch in the town of Afdera, we will head to the Assale salt flat, where we will watch the sunset. We will spend the night camping in the area.

We will wake up early to head towards the Dallol region, known for its sulfur mountains and multicolored landscape. The minerals and chemical compounds in the ground and hot springs create a palette of colors ranging from bright yellow and orange to green, red, and deep blue. We will also visit acid pools and salt craters, where we can observe camel caravans in the extraction areas. In the evening, we will arrive at the impressive active volcano of Erta Ale, where we will spend the night at the crater after a hike to witness its flowing rivers of lava.

The next day, we will continue exploring the area and, after enjoying another spectacular sunrise —the most adventurous can return to the volcano’s crater— we will move on. During the day, we will try to visit an Afar village, where the locals will share firsthand stories about their culture and daily life. While in the Danakil Depression, we will spend the nights in tents or, for those who wish, sleeping under the open sky.

Our journey through the regions of Lalibela and the Danakil Depression comes to an end. After this unforgettable adventure, we will return to Semera and head to the airport to catch our flights back home. Until the next adventure!