31 days in Ethiopia Itinerary

Mek'ele, also transliterated as Makale, Mekelle or Meqele, is the capital city in the northern Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Get outdoors at Lake Assale and Gheralta Rock. Museum-lovers will get to explore Wukro Museum and Emperor Yohannes IV Palace. Change things up with a short trip to Wukro Chirkos Church in Wukro (about 1h 10 min away). It doesn't end there: appreciate the history behind Martyr's Memorial Monument.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Mek'ele tour itinerary planning tool.

Vienna, Austria to Mek'ele is an approximately 18-hour flight. You'll lose 2 hours traveling from Vienna to Mek'ele due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Vienna in August, expect nights in Mek'ele to be about the same, around 15°C, while days are a bit cooler, around 24°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Sun) so you can drive to Axum.

Axum or Aksum is a city in the northern part of Ethiopia. Visit Medhane Alem Adi Kesho and Tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskal for their historical value. Get a sense of the local culture at Abuna Yemata Guh church and Chapel of the Tablet. The adventure continues: steep yourself in history at King Ezana's Inscription, walk around Ezana Park, take in the spiritual surroundings of Northern Stelae Field, and don't miss a visit to King Bazen's Tomb.

To find more things to do, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Axum tour itinerary planner.

You can drive from Mek'ele to Axum in 4 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Thu) to allow enough time to fly to Lalibela.

Tourism in Lalibela, a small town nestled in Ethiopia's Lasta Mountains, prospers due to its fascinating cluster of rock-carved churches, dating back to the 12th century and boasting the status of a World Heritage Site.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Tomb of Adam and Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela. Escape the urban bustle at Climbing Tours and Abune Yosef. And it doesn't end there: steep yourself in history at Bilbala St. George Rock Hewn Church, don't miss a visit to Biete Medhane Alem, take in the spiritual surroundings of Monastery of Na’akuto La’ab, and take in the architecture and atmosphere at Asheton Maryam Monastery.

For ratings and other tourist information, go to the Lalibela tour builder site.

You can fly from Axum to Lalibela in 3 hours. Another option is to drive. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 12th (Mon) so you can catch the flight to Gonder.

A former royal city, Gonder once served as the Ethiopian Empire's capital--it still boasts well-preserved remains of 17th-century castles and palaces that shed light on the opulent lifestyle of the bygone times.

Visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church and Fasil Ghebbi for their historical value. Step out of the city life by going to Climbing Tours and Walking tours. There's much more to do: appreciate the extensive heritage of Falasha Village, take in the spiritual surroundings of Fasiladas Bath Timket, and revel in the low prices at Ploughshare Women Crafts Training Centre.

For other places to visit, photos, more things to do, and other tourist information, use the Gonder trip itinerary builder site.

Traveling by flight from Lalibela to Gonder takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. August in Gonder sees daily highs of 26°C and lows of 17°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Bahir Dar.

Palm trees and tropical gardens line the spacious avenues of Bahar Dar, a town nestled on the southern shore of the vast, glistening Lake Tana.

Get outdoors at Blue Nile Falls and Lake Tana. Appreciate the collections at Church of Debre Sina Maryam and Lions Art Gallery. There's much more to do: look for gifts at Ura Kidane Mihret, take in the spiritual surroundings of Azwa Mariam Monastery, and pause for some serene contemplation at St George Church.

For reviews, maps, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Bahir Dar online journey builder.

Drive from Gonder to Bahir Dar in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry. In August, daytime highs in Bahir Dar are 26°C, while nighttime lows are 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Sun) to allow time to fly to Jinka.

Jinka is a market town in southern Ethiopia. On the 19th (Mon), examine the collection at Jinka Museum.

For ratings, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, use the Jinka trip itinerary planning site.

Fly from Bahir Dar to Jinka in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. On the 19th (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can drive to Arba Minch.

Spend the 21st (Wed) exploring nature at Nechisar National Park.

For maps, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Arba Minch planner.

Getting from Jinka to Arba Minch by car takes about 7 hours. Expect a daytime high around 32°C in August, and nighttime lows around 22°C. On the 22nd (Thu), you're off to Addis Ababa.

A sprawling metropolis and home to millions of Ethiopians, Addis Ababa houses many international organizations, embassies, and commissions, making it a diplomatic, political, and economic hub of the country.

Let the collections at National Museum of Ethiopia and Lela Gallery capture your imagination. Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Menagesha Suba Forest Park and Horseback Riding Tours. There's lots more to do: take in the spiritual surroundings of Bole Medhane Alem Cathedral, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Mount Entoto, take in the exciting artwork at Asni Gallery, and indulge in your favorite hot beverage with a coffee and tea tour.

To see ratings, traveler tips, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Addis Ababa road trip planning app.

Traveling by flight from Arba Minch to Addis Ababa takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Prepare for slightly colder weather when traveling from Arba Minch in August: high temperatures in Addis Ababa hover around 24°C and lows are around 14°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 31st (Sat) to allow enough time to fly back home.