Private Guided Tours To Bahir Dar Lake Tana Monastery & Blue Nile Waterfalls
Overview
Bahir Dar and Blue Nile Waterfalls
Bahir Dar is situated on Lake Tana, which is dotted with island monasteries some dating back to the 14th century. Its 30 odd islands represent today a unique natural habitat for plant life.
The Blue Nile Falls are a waterfall on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. They are known as Tis Issat in Amharic, when translated, means "smoking water" They are situated on the upper course of the river, about 30 kilometers downstream from the town of BahirDar and Lake Tana.
Bahir Dar is situated on Lake Tana, which is dotted with island monasteries some dating back to the 14th century. Its 30 odd islands represent today a unique natural habitat for plant life.
The Blue Nile Falls are a waterfall on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. They are known as Tis Issat in Amharic, when translated, means "smoking water" They are situated on the upper course of the river, about 30 kilometers downstream from the town of BahirDar and Lake Tana.
Inclusions
- Bottled water
- Driver/guide
- Local guide
- Hotel drop-off
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entry/Admission - Bahir Dar Market
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Bahir Dar Market, Papyrus Hotel The Opposite Of Millinium Cafe, Bahir Dar 1000 Ethiopia
Be met and transferred to your hotel. Later, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries. Afternoon, you will drive to the village of Tis Isat to see the Blue Nile falls. (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal because of the construction of the new dam.)
Duration: 6 hours
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Bahir Dar Market, Papyrus Hotel The Opposite Of Millinium Cafe, Bahir Dar 1000 Ethiopia
Be met and transferred to your hotel. Later, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries. Afternoon, you will drive to the village of Tis Isat to see the Blue Nile falls. (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal because of the construction of the new dam.)
Duration: 6 hours
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
- Dress code is formal
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Aleksandra T
November 2019
Great organisation of the two day trip to Bahir Dar! Aman set up a trip for us in a short notice, met up with me in Addis and was checking up if everything is going smoothly. Our local guide was amazing and we had wonderful time!
Great organisation of the two day trip to Bahir Dar! Aman set up a trip for us in a short notice, met up with me in Addis and was checking up if everything is going smoothly. Our local guide was amazing and we had wonderful time!Melissa H
January 2020
My friend and I decided to make Bahir Dar a single day trip, taking the second available morning flight from Addis. Our guide Genanew picked us from the airport and packed in as much as he could before returning us to the airport for the last available flight back to Addis the same day. We had an...
My friend and I decided to make Bahir Dar a single day trip, taking the second available morning flight from Addis. Our guide Genanew picked us from the airport and packed in as much as he could before returning us to the airport for the last available flight back to Addis the same day. We had an amazing day! Our first stop was the Blue Nile Falls. Depending on time of year, there will be more or less water going over the falls. It was a beautiful sight, but the journey getting there was actually the bigger highlight for me. The drive takes some time getting out of Bahir Dar, but the scenery is gorgeous and our guide was a wealth of cultural and historical information. After the drive, there's a hike through the village and even a local speed boat "taxi" ferrying people across the river- so fun! There was some people trying to sell touristy trinkets, but mostly you're walking through and experiencing the real community. The locally made "honey beer" was very nice to taste too ;) Our guide called in our lunch order ahead to save on time. He ordered us a big family dish of many local foods I don't know the names for, but it was delicious! The mini coffee ceremony was also a lot of fun (I'm not a true coffee drinker, so I'm glad I was able to order "with milk"!) After lunch we took a boat ride to a beautiful monastery. The ride was relaxing and beautiful, and visiting the monastery was amazing! Our guide translated for us to converse with one of the monks, and we talked for at least 15 minutes. It was precious to hear his heart for why he chose his lifestyle and what his faith means to him. He was thrilled that we were asking genuine questions, so apparently we were rare find for tourists? I think such encounters and conversations should be at the heart of traveling. Be genuine, and remember that the locals are real people! Alas, our time was too short, or we could have continued sharing for quite a while. We had just enough time to find a family of hippos (yes, even a baby!) as the sun set over the water on our return from the monastery. Next time will have to plan for 2 days. It was a truly authentic and magical experience.Ruth G
October 2019
Aman Ethiopia organized for us a two-day tour to Bahir Dar, Lake Tana and the falls of the Nile. Our guide there Genano, was excellent and very attentive. He also had a wonderful sense of humor. On the first day Genano took us on a boat to the monasteries at Lake Tana and the outlet of the Nile R...
Aman Ethiopia organized for us a two-day tour to Bahir Dar, Lake Tana and the falls of the Nile. Our guide there Genano, was excellent and very attentive. He also had a wonderful sense of humor. On the first day Genano took us on a boat to the monasteries at Lake Tana and the outlet of the Nile River. On the second day, he took us to the amazing Nile Falls (a wonderful destination during the rainy season) and for city tour in Bahir Dar. Genano proved to be a very professional and resourceful guide. We found his explanations very thorough and enlightening. He was most attentive to all our interests and flexible to mold the itinerary according to our requests. Overall, Aman Ethiopia built a fascinating and enjoyable two-day sojourn in Bahir Dar to our full satisfaction. We already look forward to future trips with them to other parts of the country.