This Ethiopian adventure begins and concludes in Addis Ababa
Our first destination in the historic route is Lalibela, a world-heritage-listed town set high in craggy mountains. Lalibela is renowned for its 12th- and 13th-century churches hewn out of solid rock and connected with subterranean passages.
The Danakil Depression one of the lowest place on the earth (116 meter below sea level) where the salt excavation taking place and the bubbling colorful sulfuric acid.Proceed to the Lower Omo Valley has been recognized by UNESCO, which has declared it a cultural World Heritage site. It also contains two expansive national parks and several Important Bird Areas. This vast, scenic valley is however most famous for its staggering cultural diversity. Over a dozen distinctive ethnic groups exist here, many of whom live lives little touched by the modern world. This is largely due to the area’s remoteness and prior near-inaccessibility, forming a natural barrier to modernization and the detribalization of the Omo Valley. Our tour aims to spend time with the Mursi tribes (all now justly famous for their dress, body adornments and unique culture), Benna, Ari, Tsemay, Konso and we will also encounter other tribes when visiting market villages. In addition, we will of course take time to enjoy the spectacular scenery and wildlife of this remote and fascinating region.Your adventure concludes in Addis Ababa where you enjoy a night of traditional Ethiopian food, live music and dancing.
Arrival into Addis Ababa, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel .
Check in, refresh then meet your guide and enjoy a City Tour of Addis Ababa.
We drive you up north to Mount Entoto for the panoramic view of the city.
Enjoy lunch en-route at local restaurant .We then proceed to the National Museum also called the Archeological museum that houses interesting archeological featuring which includes "Lucy," the 3.2-million-year-old hominid skeleton considered the missing link in the evolutionary study of mankind. Proceed to the Ethnographic museum, which displays a very large collection of Ethiopian crafts and items of historical interest.Return to the hotel evening at leisure dinner at the hotel followed by overnight stay
After breakfast at the hotel . Transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Lalibela 08:10 Depart Addis Ababa 09:10 Arrive into Lalibela
Meet your guide and transfer to the 1st group churches which are included Bieta Medhanialem ,Chapel of Holy Savior which is the biggest and Bieta Mariam (Chapel of Mary): three aisled with mural paintings and a covered pillar containing inscriptions about the end of the world according to the gadl (act) of saintly king.
Further visit of Bieta Denagel (Chapel of the Virgins), Bieta Meskel (Chapel of the cross) and finally, the “double – church” of Debre Sina and Bieta Golghotha (women are not allowed in the latter since it’s where the remains of King
Lalibela are and also because it contains the tabernacle of the Holy Trinity). It is a very relaxed visit and you will have time to see all churches in detail.
Afternoon visit of the second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, Bieta Merquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style and the Bieta Abaa Libanos , said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort Meskal Kebra and visit the Bieta Ghiorghis which is the cruciform chapel of St. George ,Proceed to your hotel Dinner at the hotel with over night stay
After breakfast at the lodge.Optional mule excursion to Asheten Mariam church situated at a very hill top, to see the town of Lalibela and the surrounding attraction. In the afternoon, you'll be driven to the charming semi–cave church of Neakutoleab, a church of the early 13th century
Day at leisure ,Dinner at the lodge followed by overnight stay.
After breakfast at the lodge.Check out, meet your guide and head to Mekele
Here will visit with the Amhara people, their village and the wonderful landscape of the Lasta mountain. The view on the left and right side is breathtaking. We have the possibilities to see the real life of the countryside of Ethiopia Arrive at your hotel .Dinner at the hotel
After breakfast at the hotel .Breakfast at the hotel
Today we will visit some of the Gheralta Cluster of famous rock hewn churches including Abreha Atsebha, Medahnialem Adikesho which is the famous, Wukro Cherkos and also admire the best market and Tigray house village visit .Return to the hotel dinner and overnight stay.
After breakfast at the lodge . Morning drive to Hamed Ella via Berehale
Arrival at Berhale for a lunch stop, we also pick the police scouts, road guides and permits for the Afar region.We then drive from Berehale to Hamedella. Along the way we will see the camel caravans, which are carrying salt from the Salt Lake to Mekele for sale.Drive to Dallol, which at 116m below sea level is the lowest point on the African continent.
Admire the stunning landscape, the ground many shades of red, yellow and orange colours from the hot water, acids and minerals spurting up from the ground. where lakes of acid form colourful sulfur formation in the hottest and deepest part of Danakil depression and you will also witness the cutting of salt bricks and salt being loading on to camels for the long caravans (approximately 1500-2000 camels weekly). Return to the hotel
Dinner at the hotel with overnight stay
After breakfast at the hotel , transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Addis Ababa 08:50 Depart Mekele,10:10 Arrival into Addis Ababa, proceed to check in for your onward flight to Arba Minch.11:40 Depart Addis Ababa 12:45 Arrive into Arba Minch, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel .Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure .Dinner at the hotel with over night stay.
Early breakfast at the hotel .Today we drive to drive to lake Chamo for early morning boat excursion to see the Crocodile Market and the Hippos, here crocodiles are some of the longest in Africa , With length of 8 and also above meters.Proceed on your drive to Turmi and on the way visit the Konso, Tsemay and Ari tribes.
Cross the weito Dessert which is the home of the Tsemay tribes
Return to the hotel ,Dinner at the hotel
Breakfast at the lodge ,post breakfast, we drive to the Kara village in the bank of Omo river.
The Karo excel in face and body painting that is practiced daily in preparation of their dances and ceremonies.
They pulverize locally found white chalk, yellow mineral rock, red iron ore and black charcoal to decorate their bodies often mimicking the spotted plumage of a guinea fowl. The men create highly decorated clay hair buns, which can take up to three days to complete. Their ornate body scaring where a cut is made with a knife and ash is rubbed into the wound to produce a raised welt is also a known characteristic of the Karo.
Later in the afternoon we head back to Turmi with a quick stop to see the Hamar tribe in their village.
Turmi is notably the home of the Hamar tribe. The Hamar women wear beautiful, colorful, beaded skins, ornate necklaces and metal bangles around their wrist and ankles.
They are famous for their unique hairstyle, which is made up of a crown of long dread-lock braids covered in ocher.Return to the hotel ,Dinner at the hotel with overnight stay.
Breakfast at the lodge .Early morning drive to Enter Mago National Park to visit the Mursi Tribe Known for their lip plates and face painting.
The women first started using the lip plates as a way to disfigure themselves so the slave traders would be appalled by the way they look and not take them into slavery, later it became a sign of beauty used to get a husband.
After lunch we dive to Keyafer for the best and colourful markrt of the Benna, Arria tribes. Admire the market. Check possibilities if there is bull jumping ceremony and then drive to Konso, overnight stay
After breakfast Breakfast at the hotel .This morning we will visit the Konso villages and Gergesiyo, the landscape which is formed by flood but looks like the Sky Sculpture building. We will then proceed to with our drive to Arba Minch to take the flight back to Addis Ababa .13:15 Depart Arba Minch 14:20 Arrive Addis Ababa, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel .Rest of the day at leisure ,Dinner at the hotel followed by over night stay
Breakfast at the hotel .Depending on your flight:
Enjoy a brief City Tour of Addis Ababa, we will take you to sites such as the trinity cathedral.
Post your tour, enjoy local experience: cooking food, making coffee, bake Enjera, our stable food etc in one selected house in Addis Ababa.
Evening fare well dinner at Habesha 2000 traditional restaurants to enjoy a variety of Ethiopian cuisines and watch traditional dancing.
Post dinner, transfer to airport for your onward flight services
Inclusion
Accommodation as specified in itinerary
Meals as specified in itinerary
Transfers as specified in itinerary
English Speaking Driver as specified in itinerary
English Speaking Guide as specified in itinerary
All entrance fees and guided excursions as described in
itinerary
All park fees
Unlimited bottled water per person per day
Exclusion
International Flights and Airport Taxes
Visa Fees (if applicable)
Medical & Travel Insurance
Incidental tips to hotel/lodge staff
Gratuity to tour driver/guide
All expenses of personal nature
Any entrance fees and guided excursions not included in
the above itinerary
Early Check In & Late Check Out
Internal & Domestic Flights (priced separately)
Dinner on last day in Addis Ababa (departure day)
Note
Optionals on requests.
Domestic flights at additional costs.
Hotels/ Lodges
Golden Tulip Hotel
Mezena Lodge
Desta International hotel
Wukro lodge
Paradise lodge
Buska/Turmi Lodge
Kanta lodge