f someone tells you Ethiopia is a land of biblical proportions, they speak the truth. For it is here that the Queen of Sheba once lived, and quite possibly the location of King Solomon’s Mines. Even today, Coptic priests steadfastly maintain that they guard the actual Lost Ark of the Covenant. You arrive in Addis Ababa, the capital - and home to over 3 million of the country's more than 80 different cultures. From here you depart for Axum, Ethiopia’s holiest city. Axum is where Christianity was declared the national religion in the 4th century. In the face of Islam, Ethiopia is one of few African countries to cling to traditions. Located in the north, Axum is known for its granite obelisks and the church that claims to house the Lost Ark. In this same region you experience some of the country’s awesone beauty, with visits to the Blue Nile waterfalls and a journey by boat across Lake Tana.

Your next stop is Gondar, once the capital of Ethiopia during the time of Emperor Fasiladas in the 17th century. Visit the historic castles, the Debre Berhan Sellassie Church, the Bath of Fasiladas, the Lion Cage of David III, and a traditional Felasha village. Your journey continues on to Lalibela, the capital of the medieval Zagwe Dynasty, famous for its rock churches which have been literally carved from solid stone, and considered by many to be the Eighth Wonder of the World.

As you travel from place to place, dine on local specialties and sample the robust mountain coffee. Your adventure ends back in Addis with visits to the Entoto Mountains, the Beata Mariam Church, the National Museum and the Merkato open-air market.

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