Days

Departure

Sites to be visited

Lunch

Arrivals

Day 1

Mekelle

1.      Abraha Atsebaha (It is situated 15 kms west of the town of Wukro. It is a rock-hewn church that is believed to have been built in the 4^th Century AD. It is a ‘miraculously hewn’ church.)

2.      Debretsion (It is about 30 kms far from the town of Wukro and can be approached after 40 minutes’ walk from the foot of the escarpment. It is a church entirely hewn and abundantly decorated with fine paintings of saints and apostles. In addition, a 15^th Century unique circular ceremonial fan makes the visit to this church special.)                                                                                                   Or                                                                                                           Yohannes Maequddi (It is located opposite to Debretsion Abune Abraham church. It is best known for its ancient and well preserved paintings. It is attractive and different from other churches in Tigrai.)

3.        Debremariam Korkor (It is situated about 40 kms west of the town of Wukro or 10kms from Hawzien. It is one of the biggest and complex rock-hewn churches of Tigrai in terms of architectural quality and ancient murals.

Or

Abune Yemata Guh (It is located about 12 kms from Hawzien and a further 30 minutes’ walk.  It is not only famous for its difficult ascent but also for its remarkable and exciting murals.)

Digum /Hawzien

Hawzien

Day 2

Hawzien

1.      Mariam Wukro (It is situated near Nebelet settlement and can be approached 35kms from the town of Hawzien. A great ornamentation and workmanship has been displayed with stone carvings in Mariam Wukro. It is a very complex and magnificent church worth visiting.)

2.      Adergud (Like Mariam Wukro it is located near to Nebelet settlement. It is a reverent and holy place of Islamic worship. It is believed to have been more than 500 yrs old. It is the target of annual festivity on the month of Tahisas 1 every year.)

3.      Medhane Alem Adikesho (It is located about 75 kms north of the town of Mekelle. It is one of the truly great churches of Tigrai in terms of architectural quality. It witnesses how advanced rock architecture was in Tigrai.)

4.       Negash (It is found about 60 kms far from the town of Mekelle. It is a 7^th Century Islamic site.  It is considered by Muslims as the second most sacred place of Islamic worship. It is the burial place of King Asihima Al Negash and early Muslims or companions (Asihabbas).)

Freweini

Adigrat

Day 3

Mekelle

1.      Mikael Debre Selam (It is situated 9kms northwest of   the town of Atsbi. The church is unique in its architectural design that makes it one of the most extraordinary edifices of Tigrai.  It is a church with in a church and is a combination of built front, rock roof and sides.)

2.      Cherqos Agebo (It is a built church inspired by the construction of Debre Damo monastery. It was built by fixing fine woods and stones alternatively.)

3.       Mikael Imba (It can be reached either from Wukro via Atsbi or from Agulae, 35 kms from Mekelle, via the town of Haiki Meshal. The church is almost monolith and three of its walls are completely free of the cliff out of which it is carved. It is one of the painstakingly carved and complex churches of Tigrai.)

Atsbi

Mekelle

Day 4

Mekelle

         The town of Korem, 160 kms south of Mekelle, has its                 outskirts dotted with breathtaking sites like lake Hashenge, Mifsas Bahiri (an archaeological site) and Higumbirda forests.

Korem

Mekelle

Day 5

Mekelle

You need to drive about 190Kms to visit the Afar Depression.  Drive to Berahle and Hamed Illa and overnight there.

Berahle

Hamed Illa

Day 6

Berahle

Visit all the hot springs in Dallol that is hot springs, lake Asale and the salt mines and drive back to Mekelle

Berahle

Mekelle

Day 7

Mekelle

1.      EPRDF HQR (It is located near Hagere Selam, about 50 Kms far from Mekelle. The cave has been used as Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front Head quarters in the early 90s. Strategic decisions concerning war and politics were made from this historic cave that resulted victory on the Dergue regime.)

2.      Menewe (It is located about 75 kms far from the town of Mekelle. It is the birth place of the great war-winning hero of Ras Allula Abba Nega.)

3.      Gebriel Wukien (It is located 16kms northwest of the town of Abbi-Addi. It is one of the most remarkable churches of Tigrai. It is a master piece for remarkable detail and careful carvings.)                                                                                                  

or

Enda Abba Yohanni (It is situated about 16.5 kms far from the town of Abbi-Addi using the track that leads to the small town of Menji. It is one of the great rock-hewn churches of Tigrai.)

AbbiAddi

Mekelle

Days

Departure

Sites to be visited

Lunch

Arrivals

Day 1

Mekelle

1.      Abraha Atsebaha (It is situated 15 kms west of the town of Wukro. It is a rock-hewn church that is believed to have been built in the 4^th Century AD. It is a ‘miraculously hewn’ church.)

2.      Debretsion (It is about 30 kms far from the town of Wukro and can be approached after 40 minutes’ walk from the foot of the escarpment. It is a church entirely hewn and abundantly decorated with fine paintings of saints and apostles. In addition, a 15^th Century unique circular ceremonial fan makes the visit to this church special.)                                                                                                   Or                                                                                                           Yohannes Maequddi (It is located opposite to Debretsion Abune Abraham church. It is best known for its ancient and well preserved paintings. It is attractive and different from other churches in Tigrai.)

3.        Debremariam Korkor (It is situated about 40 kms west of the town of Wukro or 10kms from Hawzien. It is one of the biggest and complex rock-hewn churches of Tigrai in terms of architectural quality and ancient murals.

Or

Abune Yemata Guh (It is located about 12 kms from Hawzien and a further 30 minutes’ walk.  It is not only famous for its difficult ascent but also for its remarkable and exciting murals.)

Digum /Hawzien

Hawzien

Day 2

Hawzien

1.      Mariam Wukro (It is situated near Nebelet settlement and can be approached 35kms from the town of Hawzien. A great ornamentation and workmanship has been displayed with stone carvings in Mariam Wukro. It is a very complex and magnificent church worth visiting.)

2.      Adergud (Like Mariam Wukro it is located near to Nebelet settlement. It is a reverent and holy place of Islamic worship. It is believed to have been more than 500 yrs old. It is the target of annual festivity on the month of Tahisas 1 every year.)

3.      Medhane Alem Adikesho (It is located about 75 kms north of the town of Mekelle. It is one of the truly great churches of Tigrai in terms of architectural quality. It witnesses how advanced rock architecture was in Tigrai.)

4.       Negash (It is found about 60 kms far from the town of Mekelle. It is a 7^th Century Islamic site.  It is considered by Muslims as the second most sacred place of Islamic worship. It is the burial place of King Asihima Al Negash and early Muslims or companions (Asihabbas).

Freweini

Adigrat

Day 3

Adigrat

1.      Debre Damo (It is situated about184 kms far from Mekelle and 47 kms from the town of Adigrat. It is believed to have been built in the 6^th century. It is dedicated to its founder, Abune Zemikael, one of the ‘nine saints’ who taught gospel in the country. Debre Damo is the ancient monastery in the country. Ascent to the mountain top where the monastery is found is possible by using a 15 meter plaited leather rope that is hanging down from the summit.)

2.      Yeha (It is about 27 kms from the town of Adwa. Yeha is famous for its huge and remarkable temple. The temple is believed to date back to the 8^th Century. It is believed to be the prime capital of the pre-Aksumite period.)

3.      Mountains of Adwa (It is one of Africa’s greatest battle fields that Ethiopian’s scored a spectacular victory against the invading Italian army in March1, 1896.)

Inticho/ Adwa

Aksum

Day 4

Aksum

           Archaeological & historical sites (The main stelae Park, The Mausoleum, The Tomb of False Door,  Tomb of Bazen, Tomb of Kaleb and Gebre Meskel, The Mai-shum Dam, The Dungur Ruined Palace, The Aksumite Stone Thrones, The New Archaeological Museum, etc.)

Aksum

Aksum

Day 5

Aksum

        The Monastery of Mariam Tsion & Museums

Aksum

Aksum

Day 6

Aksum

1.      Abune Gerema Monastery (It is situated 10 kms far from the town of Adwa. It is famous for its collection of ancient treasures such as manuscripts, carpets and curtains. It is also the burial place of Ras Allula Abba Nega, the African hero.

2.      Gabriel Wukien (It is located 16kms northwest of the town of Abbi-Addi. It is one of the most remarkable churches of Tigrai. It is a master piece for remarkable detail and careful carvings.)                                                                                                  

Abbi-Addi

Abbi-Addi

Day 7

Abbi-Addi

1.      Enda Abba Yohanni (It is situated about 16.5 kms far from the town of Abbi- Addi using the track that leads to the small town of Menji. It is one of the great rock- hewn churches of Tigrai.)

2.       Menewe (It is located about 75 kms far from the town of Mekelle. It is the birth place of the great war-winning hero of Ras Allula Abba Nega.)

3.      EPRDF HQR (It is located near Hagere Selam, about 50 Kms far from Mekelle. The cave has been used as Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front Head quarters in the early 90s. Strategic decisions concerning war and politics were made from this historic cave that resulted victory on the Dergue regime.)

Hagere Selam/

Abbi-Addi

Mekelle