Amhara region is exceptional for its landscape and home of Ethiopia's most famous historic and religious sites.  Visit the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the Monasteries of Lake Tana, the castles of Gondar, the Semien Mountains National Park, and the Blue Nile Falls

Bahir Dar

With its wide avenues of palms and flamboyant trees, and its scenic location on the southern shore of Lake Tana, Bahir Dar is one of Ethiopia's most attractive towns.  Here you will find source of the Blue Nile and the former Palace of Haile Selassie. 

Lake Tana with its 37 islands is home to many monasteries. Some of these monasteries were built as long ago as the 11th century, and most were built in 16th or 17th century. Many have long provided a safe sanctuary for royal treasures and tombs.   The most popular are Ura Kidene Meret, Kebran Gabriel (not open to women) and Debre Maryam. .

Tis Isat or the Blue Nile Falls are about an hour by tour bus from Bahir Dar. The falls, over 400m (1312ft) wide and 45m (148ft) deep, are at their most spectacular immediately after the rainy season (mid September to mid October)

Lalibela

People come to Lalibela to see its amazing 12th-century rock-hewn churches, hewn straight out of the bedrock. The city is named after the 12th-century King Lalibela, who established his capital there after God came to him in a dream and told him to. All 11 rock churches were built within a century, apparently with the help of angels who popped in during the night and did a bit of divine stonemasonry. The churches have been kept alive by generations of priests who guard their treasures of ornamented crosses, illuminated bibles and illustrated manuscripts.

Gondar

Gondar has been called Africa's Camelot, was the capital of Ethiopia from its foundation by Emperor Fasiladas in 1636 until 1886. Gondar's Royal Enclosure contains many castles and palaces.  Fasiladas' Bath constructed for important religious celebrations is still being used today for Timkat ceremony. Kweskwam Complex built by the Empress Mentewab.  Debre Berhan Selassie Church is Ethiopia's most famous church. 

Simien Mountains National Park

This park is excellent for trekking, with spectacular views and a large variety of wildlife, including baboons, ibexes, Ethiopian wolves and birds of prey such as the rare lammergeyer, a huge vulture. The park is made up of a rocky massif which slopes down to grasslands - the massif is cut by streams and gorges. Treks run from two to ten days, and you can either slog it out on foot or let a mule do the walking for you. The treks build up to an ascent of Africa's fourth highest peak, Ras Dashen. Treks start at Debark, which is about 100km (60mi) north of Gonder - you can get between the two by bus.