Ethiopia Tours North and Omo Vally 16 Days

Ethiopia Tours North and Omo Vally 16 Days

This spectacular Ethiopia holiday is a small group tour, travelling with local expert guides on a cultural circuit of the north of the country and Omo Vally .
This Northern Ethiopia and the Omo Valley Tours , focuses on the rich diversity of the cultural groups living within the region that have long retained tribal customs and traditions whilst staving off the trappings of the modern world.
will be invited into the villages of the Mursi, Karo, Hamer and Konso tribes in the company of a local guide so as to find out more about the lifestyles and cultural heritage of the Omo Valley as well as how it differs and compares to other areas of Ethiopia.

Visiting local market places, meeting tribal members and listening to the knowledgeable tales of your guide enables travelers to expand their Ethiopian horizons and tap into the history of the Omo Valley / Northern Ethiopia on a two-week adventure that’s often considered more of a privilege than simply a cultural holiday.

Itinerary

Day 1: Addis abeba City Tour

Stop At: Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa
Day 01 Addis Ababa
Visit the Ethnographic Museum, a great introduction to Ethiopian culture and history. Tour the Mercato, one of Africa's largest outdoor markets, and Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie.
Overnight Hotel (B, , D)

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: standard Hotel or Lodge

Day 2: Fly addis abeba - Bahir Dar

Stop At: Bahir Dar, Bahir Dar, Amhara Region
Day 02 Addis Ababa - Bahar Dar
Fly to Bahar Dar on Ethiopian Airlines. Visit the marketplace in Bahar Dar. Take a boat tour on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile and tour ancient island monasteries.
Overnight Lodge (B,, D)

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: standard Hotels and Lodge

Day 3: Bahar Dar - Gondar

Stop At: Gonder, Gonder, Amhara Region
Drive through the countryside to Gondar. Tour the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five castles built by a succession of Ethiopian kings beginning in the early 17th century. Having survived several wars, including air raids during World War 2, the castles are a testament to the resilience of this once mighty empire. Visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie, famous for its religious art and especially its iconic ceiling depicting angels.
Overnight Hotel (B, D)

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: standard Hotel

Day 4: Simien Mountain Excursion

Stop At: Debark, Debark, Amhara Region
Drive to Sankabar the gateway to the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy an easy hike (2 - 3 hours) to take in the spectacular scenery and spot wildlife such as the endemic Gelada Baboons. Return to Gondar by evening.
Overnight Hotel (B, D)

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: standard Hotel

Day 5: Gondar - Lalibela

Stop At: Lalibela, Ethiopia
Gondar - Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela on Ethiopian Airlines. Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group of eleven monolithic churches were carved directly into the stone mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings.
Overnight Hotel (B, D)

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Standard Hotels

Day 6: Lalibela

Stop At: Lalibela, Lalibela, Amhara Region
For the morning you have two choices: Take a morning hike with mules to Mount Asheton, with its 13th century rock-hewn monastery and great views of the town; - OR - Drive to Yemrehanna Kristos, a beautiful church situated in a shallow cave that predates the churches of Lalibela. The drive to Yemrehanna will also give you the opportunity to view the rural countryside and villages of the Ethiopian highlands. Following either option above continue with tour of Lalibela’s churches in the afternoon.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: standard Hotels

Day 7: Lalibela - Axum

Stop At: Axum, Axum, Tigray Region
Fly to Axum on Ethiopian Airlines. Tour the ancient stelae fields, standing for 2000 years. Visit the new and impressive Archeological Museum. Visit other tombs and archeological sites as time permits.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: standard

Day 8: Axum - Addis Ababa - Lake Langano

Stop At: Langano, Langano, Oromiya Region
Fly to Addis Ababa and then drive to the Rift Valley Lake Langano. Relax at the Sabana Lodge. Lake Langano is safe for swimming.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel/Lodge

Day 9: Lake Langano - Arba Minch

Stop At: Arba Minch, Arba Minch, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
Drive to Arba Minch via Melka Kunture, a stone-age archeological site; Adadi Mariam, a 12th century rock-hewn church; and Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its mysterious stelae, thought to be grave markers, dating from the 12th century. Also visit a Dorze Village in the Guge Mountains. The Dorze are known for their tall, beehive-shaped bamboo houses. If the base becomes infested with termites, the entire house can be lifted and moved to another location.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel /Lodge

Day 10: Arba Minch - Jinka

Stop At: Jinka, Jinka, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
Take a boat trip on Lake Chamo and view some of the largest crocodiles in the world sunning on the banks of the lake. Hippopotami and birdlife are also abundant. Drive to Jinka visiting various peoples such as the Gamo and Derashe. Stop at Key Afar's weekly market (if on a Thursday) and wander among the various tribes such as the Benna and Ari that have gathered to barter their goods.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel/Lodge

Day 11: Mago National Park Excursion

Stop At: Mago National Park, 782km south of Addis on East bank of the Omo River, 1046 Ethiopia
Early morning drive to the Mago National Park to visit the Mursi people. The Mursi women are known for the clay plates they insert into their lower lips. Time permitting, visit the Omo Valley Museum in Jinka.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel/Lodge

Day 12: Jinka - Turmi

Stop At: Turmi, Turmi, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
Drive to Turmi to visit the Hamer people who are well known for the scarring of their bodies, using clay to shape their hairstyles, and the unique practice of "bull-jumping" which every young man must accomplish prior to marriage. En route to Turmi, visit the Benna and Ari people.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel/Lodge

Day 13: Omorate Excursion

Stop At: Dasenech Village, Omorate Dasenech, Turmi 1000 Ethiopia
Excursion to Omorate to visit the Dassanech people, known for their elaborate body-painting. Cross the famous Omo River by canoe. Return to Turmi for the evening.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel/Lodge

Day 14: Turmi - Konso

Stop At: Konso, Konso, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
Drive to Konso, recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A highland people, the Konso are known for the ancient and intricate terraces that encircle their well-planned villages.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel/Lodge

Day 15: Konso - Hawassa

Stop At: Awasa, Awasa, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
Drive to the lakeside town of Hawassa. Relax and recover from your journey at one of Hawassa's fine resorts.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel/Lodge

Day 16: Hawassa - Addis Ababa

Stop At: Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa
Visit the Hawassa fish market in the morning. Drive to Addis Ababa making stops at the Rift Valley Lakes. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country's many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure if needed.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: standard Hotel