Bahir Dar’s Best Outdoor Activities: Top 5 Adventures
Bahir Dar, you know, it’s a beautiful city in Ethiopia that’s basically located on the shores of Lake Tana. That area’s actually known, very much known for its amazing landscapes and its rich cultural heritage. The city happens to serve as a pretty, pretty good starting point for so many different kinds of outdoor adventures. If you’re that type of person — that adventurous traveler, it can sometimes be tough choosing what things to check out first. So, this review will guide you through, like, the top five outdoor activities near Bahir Dar that’ll provide memories for many, many years.
1. Lake Tana Boat Trip to Monasteries
Taking a boat trip on Lake Tana is pretty much at the top of, like, almost everyone’s list when they’re planning to visit the region. It’s something you must, must do! Not only do these boat tours let you take in, almost, panoramic views of the lake’s huge, seemingly endless waters, that type of thing, they, for the most part, get you to some old, amazing monasteries that are, really, sprinkled on the shores of the various peninsulas and islands. Each one tends to boast super unique religious artifacts and paintings that go, seriously, way back centuries.
So, as you coast along, think about checking out Ura Kidane Mihret on the Zege Peninsula. Ura Kidane Mihret is basically popular for its, very vibrant, pretty vibrant 16th-century murals. Like your guide or a guide will take you there. Plus, there’s Azwa Maryam Monastery. You will be met with very different architecture, and they might go a little into its quiet, peaceful vibe. It’s, for all intents and purposes, a very cool place that kind of encourages you to think and reflect. When you are in Bahir Dar, do, seriously, consider going to these religious spots.
Keep a lookout for the local wildlife too. You should! There are several kinds of bird species that are so easy to spot around the banks, which makes it sort of great for people who like bird watching, if you dig bird watching and stuff. Basically, boat trips, though, are not, in the same way, all the same; they are very different. You’ll find ones lasting for a few hours to other ones that can last an entire day. Because of that, it’s actually super vital to, obviously, see how long a tour is and what’s part of the package, or if you like the type of trip with that package to match what your interested in the most. What your priorities might be, I mean.
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2. Visit the Magnificent Blue Nile Falls
A visit to the Blue Nile Falls, which some know by the name “Tis Issat,” which basically means “smoking water” in Amharic, the local lingo, is such an experience. It might even, possibly, be one of the best. Just know that, these waterfalls aren’t too far away, just about an hour’s drive from Bahir Dar. It should be easy to find if you ask someone for the falls, or for Tis Issat. But, they happen to offer such an amazing sight! So amazing! You see water crashing over the cliffs! It’s great.
While the volume of water might kind of change over the course of the seasons, because the rainy season causes a larger volume of flow versus the drier season, the area is pretty much very beautiful and impressive to peep any time of the year. You can walk there after being dropped off! You’re able to hike along trails to good viewpoints where you could very easily snap photographs of the falls. As a matter of fact, in the right lighting you will get a photo with the biggest rainbow. You just may have to walk a bit and wait until the falls present a very amazing photo op!
Oh, that’s right! What I almost forgot, to just get a little closer to the Blue Nile Falls and feel that “smoking water” mist on your skin, like your face, you should see about hopping on a very short boat trip nearby. The journey gives you some good perspective to, clearly, enjoy the pure amazing, I mean, powerful, just amazing grandeur of the waterfalls up close. Plus, don’t pass up the little village there! You know, with folks offering up traditional crafts and food. Not bad at all!
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3. Explore Bahir Dar Market
You can’t travel anywhere in the world without making a quick stop at a marketplace, for sure. Exploring the Bahir Dar Market lets you experience, you know, the vibe of, like, daily Ethiopian life while connecting more deeply, basically, with locals, who, mostly, will be there to offer you their services. The main market happens to be a busy hub where traders sell just a bit of basically everything! There’s local produce that tends to smell rather fresh! There’s coffee! There’s spices. Plus handicrafts!
Get yourself prepped to use those super great haggling skills to try to get the prices down for souvenirs and local products you may find very attractive, you know. You’re able to watch artisans at work, as well, or how other local artisans trade goods. By buying there, though, it will contribute to the community, rather, since that local person there will receive some kind of support from you as a result of your action, helping their families with whatever small trade and skills they might, sometimes, be very well-known for. Keep your eyes peeled, though, for some great deals that can almost always happen.
Spending a bit of your morning just milling about, casually walking slowly, through the various stands will truly open your eyes to what Ethiopia really offers, with so much of its culture basically out on full display for visitors to appreciate. Is that so amazing, you know? Also, sampling the foods that you might, sometimes, find may just give your palette something, perhaps, you’ve ever had, or at least have not had very much!
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4. Hike to Mount Bezawit
A trek up to Mount Bezawit just delivers some outstanding, incredible, views across the region for not too much exertion to get that payout. Almost no place delivers the view this site has to give. You have to climb a small way up a somewhat steep slope! Up at the mountain, you’re gifted views that can be so pretty of Bahir Dar’s town skyline and all around it. Don’t let the trek fool you because that trek is super awesome, I swear.
Once at the top you find the Bezawit Royal Palace where Haile Selassie once dwelled! The whole Bezawit hill is gorgeous! You may have a chance to visit during some national or local holiday! What a memory! It should be a fun experience if it happened to be, possibly, one of your memories during your visit. You should almost for sure bring someone with you on that hill climb.
Also, what’s rather cool? You will see at the peak of the mountain the little church with people. Stop by if you feel like it and drop some change. Basically, after taking in the views and having experienced something like that, like you know donating or something, or stopping and talking to the local faithful, taking a hike like this one on Mount Bezawit lets you combine adventure and culture. You won’t be let down if you were to just put this high up on your visit list. It’s almost very very fun! Take pictures, just some small reminders that can take you back. A little picture with the kids might be one, I guess!
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5. Day Trip to the Tiya Stone Field
While it could take a little longer trip to make it out to Tiya Stone Field, seeing this UNESCO site might be something to put down as something rather meaningful because that Tiya Stone Field tends to reveal some very awesome aspects about this specific location, and the cultural heritages that have deep ties to its storied ancient roots. It isn’t so, literally, close, and in order to take it in it should be a long ride; However, that ride will pay dividends!
It is a collection of big headstones; The stones do happen to be embellished with some symbols. Some people see them as, like, possible ancient writings that go way back! Basically, the stone monuments are some remnants of ancient people with, like, a unique perspective, for those to ponder for eons or ages to come! All these monuments tell some rather ancient untold tale that many dig to try to unlock!
Basically, what some visitors see is the idea that those structures had ties or connections to rituals that took place ages and ages ago! Visiting this particular landmark allows a chance to think a little bit back through what all that the place was, at that old time. Getting here typically means that a full day must be taken. What will always be an appealing idea will, literally, be that UNESCO World Heritage marks have got something so worth the trip! You have got to get there!
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Taking in what Bahir Dar has is surely worth your energy, and its offerings just tend to appeal to many wanderlustful travelers because of how there are options like taking leisurely lake cruises, scaling mountains, to cultural points!
- Lake Tana boat ride and the monasteries offer some historical sites
- Viewing the falls presents how Mother Earth has some strong sights for all the see!
- To take it slow while experiencing those open markets does give an immersive opportunity that does connect to something local!
- With a climb that will reward the ones who will get there to that viewpoint with panoramas you’re almost not going to see again
- Basically, visiting UNESCO sites, though so remote and sometimes, literally, time consuming can deliver moments worth a memory.
