Gonder was founded in 1636 by Ethiopian emperor Fasiladas and was Ethiopia’s first capital. Gonder contains some of Ethiopia’s most important historical sites chief among these are its castles and palaces, most of which were constructed in the 17th century. Click link to see more about Gondar…

Lalibela is a town in northern Ethiopia. Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, second only to Aksum, and is a center of pilgrimage for much of the country. Lalibela was intended to be a New Jerusalem and it is more or less so considering the number of hewn stoned churches that surrounds the city and the number of people that goes to the site. The Architecture of the Churches are a thing of wonder so much so that the churches are now UNESCO Heritage site. Click link to see more about Lalibela…

Harar was founded between the 7th and the 11th century and emerged as the center of Islamic culture and religion in the Horn of Africa, in fact considered the fourth holiest Islamic city in the world. It is noted as a World heritage site by UNESCO. Called Gey ("the City") by its inhabitants and Adari by the Somalis. Harar is known by it’s a called Jugol built in the sixteenth century, walls that are still intact. Many poets are known to have lived and wrote there. Furthermore Harar  known for the special brew of  coffee, weaving, basketry and bookbinding. Locate Harar on our historical Route...

One of the leading tourists’ destination in Ethiopia. It has a variety of attractions in the nearby Lake Tana and Blue Nile river. It is also considered as one of the most beautiful and well planned it won the 2002 award as UNESCO Cities for Peace Prize. Within the area of Bahir Dar town, Bird watching, visit to many of the old monasteries scattered around the lake and the Zege peninsula are some of the attractions in Bahir Dar. The Foreign community locally called ‘ferengi community’ is also a noted place where people from different part of the world living in Bahir Dar usually meet.  

Axum, or Aksum, a city in northern Ethiopia named after the Kingdom of Aksum, a naval and trading power that ruled from the region ca. 400 BC into the 10th century.  The city is popularly know for The Obelisk  which have been dated to be about 1700-year-old. The Obelisk are 24-meters (78-foot) tall granite obelisk, weighing 160 tones.

It is documented that The Aksumites were a people formed from the mix of Kushitic speaking people in Ethiopia and Semitic speaking people in southern Arabia who settled the territory across the Red Sea around 500 BC. Click for more on Axum...

Addis Ababa which mean "new flower," is the capital city of Ethiopia. It is also the largest city in Ethiopia. The site was chosen by Empress Taytu Betul and the city was founded in 1886 by her husband, Emperor Menelik II.

Addis Ababa Museum is home to Australopithecine Lucy. DNA test of almost 1,000 people around the world, makes geneticists and other scientists claimed humans spread from the Addis Ababa 100,000 years ago. Addis Ababa is full of surprises. Click for more on Addis Ababa...

Shashamane is a town 150 miles from Addis Ababa. It is located in the Rift Valley. The Shashamane is said to be taken from an Ethiopian woman named Shashe, operating a rest facility (‘mene’ in Oromo language) and provisions for travelers.
The town is become famous for the settlement of the ‘Rastafarians.’  And one of the main attractions is the life style and Music of the Rastafarian tribes within this town.

One of the main attractions of Mekele is Yohannes Castle. The town is one of the friendliest places in Ethiopia and a surprise show of what man can do in the middle of the adverse Nature. Also there are many Rock-hewn church close to Mekele. The town is also known for its trade in salt, incense, and resin.

Adwa is a market town in northern Ethiopia, and best known as the community closest to the decisive Battle of Adowa fought in 1896 with Italian troops. Adwa is home to several notable churches: Adwa Awraja Fird Bet, Adwa Gebri'el Bet (built by Dejazmach Wolde Gebriel), Adwa Maryam Bet (built by Ras Anda Haymanot), Adwa Medhane `Alem Bete (built by Ras Sabagadis), Adwa Nigiste Saba Huletenya Dereja Timhirt Bet, and Adwa Selasse Bet. Near Adwa is Abba Garima Monastery, founded in the sixth century by one of the Nine Saints and known for its tenth century gospels. Also nearby is the village of Fremona, which had been the base of the 16th century Jesuits sent to convert Ethiopia to Catholicism.

Zadok Tours can help plan your trip even to some of the places that are not normally included in the Historic Routes but are places that are full of history and excitement within Ethiopia. For Further information contact Zadok Tours.