The trip starts in Addis Ababa with a welcome meeting at 6pm. Depending on your arrival time, you might want to get acquainted with the capital by taking an optional city tour in the afternoon. Enjoy a dinner with the group this evening at a local restaurant.

Fly to Bahir Dar this morning, catching glimpses of the Ethiopian Plateau below. Next, enjoy a sightseeing boat cruise on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile and the largest lake in Ethiopia. Of the 37 islands here, 20 are home to some of the most venerated monasteries in the country. After visiting the fascinating Ura-Kidane Mehret church, return to your hotel.

Today’s morning excursion takes you to the Blue Nile Falls, a spectacular natural drop about 90 minutes south of Bahir Dar. Measuring more than 400m (1,312ft) wide, they’re a sight to behold. While there’s a short walk to the foot of the falls, there’s also a longer, more scenic walk of 1.5km (1mi). In the afternoon, you have free time in Bahir Dar. Explore the open-air market or perhaps take a tuk-tuk up to the town viewpoint.

Depart for Gondar, a journey of about four and a half hours including stops for photos along the way. Gondar was the capital during the 17th and 18th centuries, and has an impressive array of medieval castles and churches. You can visit these historic sites on your own or as part of an optional guided tour – the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie is one of the finest in Ethiopia. The Fasil Ghebbi castles compound is a Unesco World Heritage site and not one to miss.

Enjoy free time in the morning to explore more of Gondar’s historic attractions or to simply relax at the hotel. In the afternoon, head to the market to buy fresh ingredients for a cooking demonstration this afternoon. Learn how to make traditional Ethiopian dishes such as wot, the national dish, and injera, the staple bread of Ethiopians.

Leave Gondar early in the morning to travel the three hours to Simien Mountains National Park. This area is home to some of the most unique wildlife in Ethiopia, including the gelada baboon – also known as the bleeding heart baboon due to the red-shaped patch on its chest. After seeing Ras Dejen, the highest point in Ethiopia at 4,550m (14,928ft) high, hike to Sankaber Camp, soaking up the incredible views. In the evening, return to Debark and your hotel.

Be prepared for a long travel day today, as you make the journey of around nine hours to Aksum. However, the phenomenal views make it worthwhile – you’ll cross the lowlands of the Simien Mountains and the Tekeze River gorge. Also stop at a farming village to learn about traditional farming techniques. Finally, arrive in Aksum, once an important centre on a trading route from Egypt to India.

Today is a free day, so you can see the best historical attractions here at your own pace. There are stele fields, the ruins of the Queen of Sheba’s palace, an archaeological museum and several important tombs. Stele, or monoliths, are carved from a single piece of granite and elaborately decorated. There’s also St Mary of Zion Church, which holds the crowns of Ethiopian emperors and – rumour has it – houses the Ark of the Covenant. Finish the day with a traditional coffee ceremony in a family home.

Today, leave Aksum behind and head to Mekele. See the beautiful Adwa Mountains and the Battlefield of Adwa, where the Ethiopian army defeated the Italians in 1896. Next, stop at the pre-Christian Temple of Yeha, which dates to about the sixth century BCE. You’ll have a lunch stop in Adigrat before continuing onto Mekele, where you have a free evening.

Today is another long travel day, but you’ll see some of Ethiopia’s most stunning scenery. Journey through the ​​Amba Alagi mountain range to Woldia, which will take approximately five hours. The road from Woldia is one of the most scenic in the country – winding roads along steep hills give great views of lush green valleys below. You’ll reach the Delanta Plateau before arriving in Lalibela, which takes approximately six hours.

Lalibela in the Lasta Mountains is home to the most amazing churches in Ethiopia. Spectacular rock-hewn temples were built here between 1137 and 1270, created from huge single blocks of stone. The Northern Group contains seven churches plus a tomb and sunken chapel. Bet Medhane Alem is said to be the largest rock-hewn church in the world, but Bet Giyorgis is the best known and most photographed. The Eastern Group is made of five churches – see them all during the morning and afternoon tour.

The morning starts with a hike to Asheten Mariam church, which is carved out of the cliff face at Abune Yosef Mountain. The church is 3,150m (10,335ft) high, and the hike will take two and a half hours to reach the summit. Descend and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure in Lalibela. The group meets for a final meal of the trip – a special dinner at Ben Abeba open-air restaurant.

The tour concludes after breakfast, and you are free to leave in your own time. After saying goodbye to your fellow travellers, you could continue the adventure by exploring more of Ethiopia, or venturing to a new destination in Africa. Alternatively, return home with memories that will last a lifetime.