Cactus ETHIOPIA TOURS AND TRAVEL
Cactus Ethiopia Tour and Travel ensures you have the best possible experience on your Ethiopian holiday.
Axum: The Ancient Capital of Ethiopia
Axum (Aksum) is one of Ethiopia’s most historically and culturally significant cities, located in the Tigray region. It was the center of the ancient Aksumite Kingdom (100 AD – 940 AD), one of the greatest African civilizations and a major trading empire connecting Africa, Arabia, and the Mediterranean. Today, Axum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key destination for historical tourism.
Key Attractions & Historical Significance
1. The Axum Obelisks (Stelae Field)
- A collection of massive stone obelisks (stelae), some over 23 meters tall, built as royal tomb markers.
- The largest obelisk, now fallen, was 33 meters tall and is considered the largest single stone ever erected in the ancient world.
- The Obelisk of Axum (24 meters) was taken to Italy by Mussolini but was returned to Ethiopia in 2005.
2. The Church of St. Mary of Zion
- The holiest church in Ethiopia, believed to house the Ark of the Covenant.
- Originally built in the 4th century by Emperor Ezana, the first Christian ruler of Ethiopia.
- The church is a major pilgrimage site for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.
3. The Tombs of Kings
- The underground tombs of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskel, two powerful Aksumite emperors.
- Ancient inscriptions and carvings provide insight into Aksumite civilization.
4. The Queen of Sheba’s Palace & Bath
- Axum is linked to the legendary Queen of Sheba, who, according to Ethiopian tradition, ruled from here.
- Her palace ruins and the Queen of Sheba’s Bath, a large water reservoir, are key attractions.
5. Ezana’s Stone Inscription
- An ancient stone tablet with inscriptions in Ge’ez, Greek, and Sabaean—often compared to the Rosetta Stone.
Axum’s Role in Trade & Religion
- The Aksumite Empire was one of the first African states to adopt Christianity (4th century AD).
- It was a major center for gold, ivory, and spice trade, connecting Africa, the Middle East, and India.
- Axum controlled the Red Sea trade routes and minted its own gold, silver, and bronze coins.
Cactus ETHIOPIA TOURS AND TRAVEL
14 Days Tours To Ancient Cities like Axum, Gondar, and Lalibela with Their Iconic Structures.
Fly to bahir dar on ethiopian airlines. take a boat tour on lake tana, the source of the blue nile, and tour to the ancient monasteries on the zegie peninsula and will visit Ura Kidane Mehiret, Azwa Maryam, Mehal Zege Giorgis, and Bete Maryam. End the day with a sunset visit to bezawit hills overlooking the nile river.
Early morning after breakfast will drive to visit the Blue Nile falls and back to Bahir dar.
After noon drive to Gondar, on the way explore the country side areas and headed to Gondar. Tour to the royal enclosure, a UNESCO world heritage site featuring five castles built by a succession of
Ethiopian kings beginning in the early 17th century. Having survived several wars, including air raids during world war 2, the castles are a
testament to the resilience of this once mighty empire. Visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie, famous for its religious art and especially its iconic ceiling depicting angels.
Morning after breakfast drive to the jagged panorama of the simien mountains national park, famed for its exclusive landscape, afro – alpine vegetation and unique wildlife, where you may spot the endemic Wallia Ibex, gelada baboon troops, bushbuck, klipspringer then drive back to gonder for the night.
Fly to lalibela on Ethiopian airlines. Tour the magnificent Rock-Hewn churches, a UNESCO world heritage site. The 11 rock hewn church’s were carved directly into the stone mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings.
Take a morning hike with mules to the 13th century rock-hewn monastery church of Ashton Mariyam. The walk provides wonderful views of Lalibela and the surrounding countryside or drive to Yemrehanna kristos, a beautiful church situated in a shallow cave that predates the churches of Lalibela.
The drive to Yemirehane Kiristos will give you the opportunity to view the rural countryside and villages of the ethiopian highlands. Following either option above continue with tour of Lalibela’s churches in the afternoon.
Use connection flight from lalibela to semera via Addis Ababa.
Early morning, drive to Hamedila where you will start your actual adventure of Danakil depression. Lunch will be in Afdera where the heat starts, salt mining takes places. You will keep going down to one of the lowest point on the planet, and enjoy your first night without a roof, counting thousands of stars.
This will be another amazing day, as you will enjoy the most colorful ground covered with Salt, pottash, sulphur and many other minerals, that combine to make you feel like you are in another planet, continue the excursions to salt mountains, bubbling water and salt mining area. By the afternoon, drive to Eartale to sleep on the basement of Eartale volcano, after walking on the edge of the volcano.
In the morning, take short walk on the volcano during the sunrise and then drive to Semera and route stop at Lake Afdera for nice swimming on the hot springs to clean all the two days tiredness and catch your flight to Addis Ababa.
In the morning you will take a flight from Addis Ababa to Axum and after checking in to your hotel we will take you for a city tour of the ancient city of Axum in which you will visit, Axum Tsion St. Mary Orthodox church, Dungur Palace (Queen of Sheba Palace), Historical landmark, Ezana Stone, Ezana Park and Garden, Arabtu Ensessa Church, King Bazen’s Tomb, King Bazen’s Tomb Ruin, Obelisk of Axum / Stelae Field, Queen of Sheba’s Bath and so on.
Drive 20km and visit the temple of Yeha which is 3000 years old temple of Almokah and continue the excursion to Debre Tsion Abune Abreham Monastery which entirely carved from the living rock then visit and proceed to Yohannes Makudi, one of the early Ethiopian Coptic Christian churches which is accessed via a narrow cleft between towering sandstone walls.
After breakfast you will drive to Geraltha for 2 hours trekking visit the monastery of Mariam Korkor, which dated back 4th century. After a few minutes’ walk from Mariam Korkor you can visit the small rock church known as Abba Daniel’s Prayer room. Then drive back to Hawzien.
This Day in the early morning you will drive 10km to Megab south of Hawzen and climb the mountain of Abune yemata to visit a 4th century cliffside rock church with original fresco painting’s and finally after lunch drive to Mekele to visit the market and drive to the airport for a flight to Addis Ababa.
Overnight: Addis Abeba
Can fly in morning or afternoon and transfer to airport for departure.
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