The Historic Route is the best-known pathway followed by travelers to Ethiopia. In the North it touches on religious traditions and architectural heritage. The cities and surroundings conserve traces of the now-faded, glorious past of the first Christian-African country and the powerful Axumite Empire. This tour is an extraordinary experience, as travelers pass among ancient monuments, precious religious treasures, marvelous frescoes, endless landscapes, excavations, rivers, gorges, and traverses. During the Orthodox celebrations this part of the country is a destination for religious pilgrims. These traditions are particularly important in the North which is why it attracts the pilgrims. For visitors it is a unique experience.
Must See
- Axum: Palaces, Obelisks, Fortresses
- Lalibella: 11 Monolithic churches were carved out of the rock more than 800 years ago. The beauty of the churches and their architectural and artistic importance make this area the Eighth Wonder of the world.
- Bahir Dar: Blue Nile waterfalls and Lake Tana with its 37 islands, home to ancient Coptic monasteries containing splendid artwork.
- Gondar: Castles recall an imperial error. They seem to emerge from a fairytale; the churches are thousands of years old and have magnificent frescos.
- Tigray Region: Mysterious and rocky churches which unlike the Lalibella churches are excavated in the mountains. They are architectural jewels that protect and watch after the ancient traditions of the Orthodox Christian religion.
Climate
- Dry season: January, February, March, May, October, November, December
- Small rains: April, June, September
- Heavy rains: July, August
