North Ethiopia Tourism Attractions
Make a research then find out your interests, Tell us about your plans and one of our specialists will plan a unique trip for you. Request a free a Quote and detailed itinerary by clicking the button.
Vacation Destinations in the Historic North of Ethiopia
- Axum Where it All Begins Axum being 2500 years old it stands out to be the oldest city in in Ethiopia and one of the oldest in the world. The Axumite kingdom was centered in the northern part of Ethiopia and in Eritrea stretched to Sudan, south Arab present-day Yemen, and north part of Djibouti. The Kingdom of Aksum was considered one of the four great powers of the 3rd century by the Persian prophet Mani, alongside Persia, Rome, and China. The kingdom was as powerful, that coins belonging to Axum were found as far as India. The Kingdome used Geez language with its own script in which present day Tigrina and Amharic languages use. Axum also accepted Christianity as a state religion in the 4th century making it one of the earliest kingdoms to do so. Things to do in Axum – Tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskal, Stelae Of Axum, Queen of Sheba Bath, Queen of Sheba Palace, Ark of the Covenant Chapel, New Church of St. Mary of Zion, Archaeology Museum, Stelae Park.
- Tigray Mountain Churches – Most of them being built in the 4rd century, inside the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The Tigray Mountain churches show dramatic mountainous landscape and the long practiced Christian culture in Ethiopia. There are plenty of reason this monastery churches are located in such and rare access mountains but what ever reason is, the Tigray Mountain churches are a paradise for local monastics but not only the though, climbing barefoot alongside the faithful hoping to get closer to God is a spiritual, as well as an adrenaline adventure.Things To Do in Tigray Mountain Churches – Climb Abune Yemata Guh and Mariam [Daniel] Korkor mountains to share the blessings with the locals.
- Mekele City – Mekele is one of the biggestt citis in Ethiopia is a home to 500,000 people and it is famous for being founded by imperor Yohanes the 4th the last emperor of the Abbysinyan Impire and it hosts the Kingly palaces of the imperor the Martayers Statchu of the comunist war. to give you a clue Lalibela is 300km south of Mekele, Danakil Depression is 160km north east, Tigray Mountain Churches is 75km north west of Mekele. This and its airport Makes Mekele very important city.Things to do in Mekele – Emperor Yohanes 4th Palace, Memorial Statchu, Caw market, Adi haki Market.
- Ertale Volcano – Ertale is a continuously active basaltic shield volcano in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia. It is situated in the Afar Depression and means the Smoking Mountain by the local language. The long existing lava lake is situated 613m above sea level and usually holds 2 lakes, the crater remains liquid due to convection currents of the magma system underneath. Ertale is located 300km east of Mekele, in an expedition which requires a 4×4 and even though it is possible to visit the lava lakes in 2 days over 1 night the culture is 2nights / 3 Days including Dallol the total Danakil Depression is visited.Things To Do Near Ertale – Lava Lakes, Ostrich, Pheros Chicken, Secretary Bird and so on.
- Dallol – Danakil Depression – The hydrothermal volcanic activity below the Dallol crater is responsible for this kaleidoscopic landscape. As groundwater it is heated by the magma below Dallol and pushed through the crater, dissolving salts and other minerals in the process. When the water heated up evaporates these minerals that come up along oxidize to create colorful, supersaturated formations. Dallol is best visited from September – March where the temperature will fall down to 30 degrees, but the rest of the year is extremely hot. Plus for travelers on budget this months are practical to join groups. Things to Do in Dallol – Camel Caravans transporting Salt, Sun Set in Salt Flats, Swim in Lake Asale, Dallol Mountain, Salt Mountain, Red Salt mountains… ETC
- Lalibela – The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century ‘New Jerusalem’ are situated in a mountainous region in Lalibela which is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilgrimage. Their building is attributed to King Lalibela who set out to construct in the 12th century a ‘New Jerusalem’, after Muslim conquests halted Christian pilgrimages to the holy Land. Lalibela flourished after the decline of the Aksum Empire. There are two main groups of churches – to the north of the river Jordan: Biete Medhani Alem Biete Mariam, Biete Maskal, Biete Denagel, Biete Golgotha Mikael; and to the south of the river, Biete Amanuel, Biete Qeddus Mercoreus, Biete Abba Libanos, Biete Gabriel Raphael, and Biete Lehem. The eleventh church, Biete Ghiorgis, is isolated from the others, but connected by a system of trenches.
- Semien Mountains National Park – 202370km north of Gondar city, Semien Mountain National Park is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with rough mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices dropping some 1,500 m. The park is home to some extremely rare animals such as the Gelada baboon, the Simien fox and the Walia ibex, a goat found nowhere else in the world. The park is of global worth for biodiversity protection because it is home to globally threatened species, including the Walia ibex which is a wild mountain goat found nowhere else in the world, the Gelada baboon and the Ethiopian wolf.
- Gondar – Gondar is known for the walled Fasil Ghebbi fortress and palace compound, once the seat of Ethiopian emperors. Dominating it is the immense 17th century castle of Emperor Fasilides, which combines Portuguese, Indian and local architectural styles. Outside the complex is Debre Berhan Selassie church, with an interior of elaborate paintings, including a ceiling of faces. Gondar is also the gate way to the Semien mountains national park, even a day trip is possible. Royal Enclosure (Fasil Ghebbi), Fasiladas’ Bath, Debre Birhan Selassie Church, Kuskuam Church, Head into the Simien Mountains.
- BahirDar Lake Tana – Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source of the Blue Nile. Bahir Dar is the capital city of the Amhara region in northern Ethiopia. It’s a port on the south shore of the huge inland Lake Tana. Dek Island is one of many islands in the lake that are home to medieval monasteries. On the Zege Peninsula, the Ura Kidane Mihret monastery is known for its elaborate, colorful murals. The Blue Nile River snakes southeast of the city toward the towering cliffs at the Blue Nile Falls.