Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Cultural evening in one of the best restaurants of Addis.
Overnight in Addis
Day 2: Departure to Bahir Dar, which is located by the shores of the fabled Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. Bahir Dar is one of Ethiopia’s most attractive towns and the perfect base from which to explore the area’s main sites: the Blue Nile falls and the island monasteries of Lake Tana (560 km asphalt).
Overnight in Bahir Dar
Day 3: The visit to Lake Tana’s monasteries will start with a boat trip during which you can admire the hand-made papyrus canoes, which still navigate Lake Tana. During the 13th and 14th century this region received monks seeking the isolation and peace ideal for lives devoted to prayer, fasting and study. The result was the construction of small monasteries alongside churches. In the afternoon visit the Blue Nile Falls where you will enjoy a pleasant trek. The Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tis Isat (Smoking Fire), are not as spectacular as they used to be due to the redirection of water for hydroelectric power. They are however still worth the trip (60 km off-road).
Overnight in Bahir Dar
Day 4: Departure to Gondar, also known as the Camelot of Africa through a unique landscape which becomes more and more spectacular as you head north. With its numerous castles and churches it is one of the major historical attractions of Ethiopia. Visit the castle-palace of Fasilidas and the church of Debre Birhan Sellassie (Mount of Light of the Holy Trinity) famous for its beautiful winged angel decorated ceilings and many other frescos (184 km asphalt).
Overnight in Gondar
Day 5: Departure to the heart of the Simien Mountains National Park, registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The park is out of the ordinary because of the uniqueness of its endemic animals, the beauty of its flora and the majesty of its impressive landscape. If you would like to rest from the bike and do some trekking this is the right place. The Simien Mountains north of Debark are made up of several plateaus separated by broad river valleys and make up one of the most marvelous landscapes of Ethiopia (150 km off-road). Camping in the Simien, Chenek. The camping area is beautiful but also very cold at night, which shouldn’t be underestimated.
Day 6: Departure to the city of Axum which dates to about 100 B.C and is one of Ethiopia’s star attractions. You will ride through the astonishing landscape of the Simien Mountains (305 km off-road).
Overnight in Axum
Day 7: Axum was the centre of power of the Axumite Empire, one of the oldest civilizations in Africa and is Ethiopia’s oldest city. It was the first place to adopt Christianity, is home to the Arc of the Covenant and, according to the Old Testament, the place of birth of The Queen of Sheba which made it its capital 1,000 years B.C. Visit Axum slabs and impressive monolithic obelisks, including the largest in the world, churches and historical sites.
Overnight in Axum
Day 8: Departure to Mekele, the starting point for the ride to the Danakil Depression. An enjoyable ride through wonderful landscape and villages. Site seeing of Mekele (215 km off-road).
Overnight in Mekele
Day 9: Departure to Dalol. This is a tough ride made worst by the very high temperatures reached. Riding will be done only at defined hours of the day (182 km asphalt and off-road).
Camping in Amed Ila
Day 10: The Danakil Depression can be said to ‘begin’ here. It is one of the most inhospitable regions of the world and as spectacular, full of eye-catching colours as the sulphur springs will illustrate. The desert has several points lying more than 100m below sea level and temperatures can rise above 50°C. Visit the Asale Salt Lake, where salt is still extracted using ancestral techniques (120 km off-road).
Camping in Amed Ila
Day 11: Early in the morning we will leave to the 500 metre high active Volcano of “Erta Ale”. It will take us approximately 4/5 hours to make the 82 km until the first post. Two hours and 25 km later we will be at the base of the volcano where we will set up camping. The ride through sand and sharp stones is very difficult. There are no tracks and GPS will be our only guide (107 km off-road).
Camping at base of Erta Ale
Day 12: The 2 to 3 hour hike into the summit of the volcano will start very early. The Danakil Depression has several Volcanoes but “Erta Ale” is the most accessible and spectacular. Admire the volcano during the best hours of the day (dusk, night and dawn) and have a deserved rest.
Camping on top of Erta Ale
Day 13: Early dawn we will trek back to the base of the volcano where we will join up with our vehicles and go back to Amed Ila Dalol (107 km off-road).
Camping in Amed Ila
Day 14: Departure for Mekele in the morning. Relaxing after the Danakil trip will come naturally, but those who still have some energy left may visit the market of Mekele (182 Km asphalt and off-road).
Overnight in Mekele
Day 15: Departure to Lalibela through a high altitude curvy road which offers an extraordinary scenery. This is an exceptional, enjoyable ride through great landscape on one of the less traveled routes in the country (357 km asphalt and off-road).
Overnight in Lalibela
Day 16: Lalibela which is also known as the kingdom of the living rock or African Jerusalem is famous for its churches carved out from red volcanic rock dating back to the 12th & 13th Centuries. Ethiopia is home to more World Heritage sites than most countries in Africa. The churches at Lalibela are perhaps the most prominent of all and Ethiopia’s top attraction (40 km asphalt).
Overnight in Lalibela
Day 17: Departure to Dessie. A necessary stop on the way to Addis, the capital of Wollo is set in the middle of an attractive eucalyptus forest (290 km off-road).
Overnight in Dessie
Day 18: Departure to Addis Ababa. The road is made up of new and bad bumpy asphalt with lot of changes in altitude and temperatures, but as usual the landscape is fantastic. In the evening the group will have a farewell dinner in one of the best restaurants of Addis. There are many good Restaurants, Bars, Discos, Jazz Live Music and Cultural Dance venues to offer if you want to extend your stay (425 km asphalt).
Overnight in Addis
Day 19: Flight Home.
Notes:
* Total Km: +/- 3285
* Skill level : 4/5
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour dates: 20 January - 7 February 2009.
Price for passengers on bike or support car: €1,862.
Price Includes:
- Airport collection and drop-off
- Motorbike (KTM 640 LC4 Enduro or 525XC Desert Racing - no fuel), bike insurance against third parties and theft
- Support car for luggage and passengers
- Expert multi-lingual tour leader and mechanical support
- Double occupancy accommodation in the best hotels of each overnight stay (note: single occupancy incurs an extra-charge)
- Cook and Helper (when camping)
- Camping fees, camping equipment, preparation of campsite where no hotels are available. Every person/couple will have their own tent
- Restoration (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Beverages and snacks not included
- Entry fees to parks and other sites
- Local guides
- Luggage storage
- CD with photos of the trip
- Individual Tour T-shirt
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Ethiopia
Motorcycle Tours
Volcano Tours
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