Combination Tour to Historical, Natural and Cultural Tour to Omo Valley Tribes
Tour Type: Historical, cultural and Nature Hiking/Trekking
Combination Tour to Historical, Natural and Cultural Tour to Omo Valley Tribes
Tour Type: Historical, Cultural and Nature Hiking/Trekking
Duration: 15Days/14Nights
Transportation: Flying and Drive by 4×4
Overview: This tour is the combination of Historical sites, Nature Hiking and Cultural tour, This tour start from Addis Ababa by exploring Addis city tour and then fly to Bahir Dar and visiting the 13th c island monastery on Tana Lake and the majestic Blue Nile falls, The Castle of Gondar which is known Camelot of Africa as a group castle in 70,000 sqms built during the reign of Emperor Fasiladas and called Gebi and its bath which is now used for Timket ( Ethiopia Epiphany Festival, Axum which the cradle of our civilization where all started and finally the magnificent and the highlight of the trip will come end at visiting 11 Rock hewn churches of Lalibela from Northern historical sites, The excursion to Simien Mountain national park with give an opportunity to the magnificent gigantic mountain with its extraordinary view and a home of many endemic mammals and birds life and perfect places for trekking. Continue to your journey will take you to Southern Ethiopia to omo valley tribes such as Dorze, Konso, Hamar, Bana, Dassanech, Arbore, Karo, Nyangatom, Mursi and many more.
Day 01: City tour of Addis Ababa
AM start exploring Addis Ababa beginning with a visit to the National Museum, one of the most important sub- Saharan museums in all of Africa? The museum is home to the fossilized humanoid Lucy, as well as an amazing collection of artifacts, royal items and art. We then visit the Ethnological Museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie.
PM, we take time in St. George Cathedral, built in 1896 by Emperor Menelik and then continue on to Holy Trinity Cathedral. Holy Trinity Cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in Ethiopia and has survived through many historical periods, as its interesting architecture can attest to. The Cathedral contains the thrones and the tombs of the emperor and some of the royal family. Visit Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02: Fly to Bahir Dar
This morning connect flight to Bahir Dar. It takes a 55-minute flight to northwest country’s City called Bahir Dar. Bahir Dar is a pleasant city located on the shores of Lake Tana which is the meaning of the name city itself, the largest lake in Ethiopia. After checking into our hotel,
A.M we driving to the Blue Nile Falls, which is known locally as Tisisat (smoking water) falls: 400 m wide, the water plunges for 45 m, giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows. We climb down to the base of the falls for an up-close look and then ascend to the other side.
PM After back to the town from (Tis Isat) Blue Nile falls have you lunch in the town take a boat trip the Lake Tana Monastery called Ura Kidane Mihret on Zeghe peninsula. Overnight at hotel
Day 03: Drive to Gondar
A.M drive to Gondar through the beautiful and fertile countryside on the Lake Tana side. it takes 2:30hours to Gondar on the way visit the villages along the road, meet people at their field and photo stop for beautiful scenery then proceed to Gondar and Check in hotel.
PM our visiting the city will begin from Fasiladas Gibi, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences. We will visit Fasiladas’ Palace which is probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one, too! We continue on to the bath of Fasiladas. Then we continue to visit the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of this is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berhan Selassie is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Later on, we will visit the colorful market of Gondar. Overnight at hotel.
Day 04: Drive from Gondar to Simien Mountains (4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser)
Today we drive to the jagged panorama of the Simien Mountains National Park, famed for its exclusive landscape, afro-alpine vegetation and unique wildlife, where you may spot the endemic Walia Ibex, Gelada Baboon troops, Bushbuck, Klipspringer. However, as we stay for one night, we will enjoy the dramatic scenery and a troop friendly Gelada Baboon at very close distance and Birds such as Chestnut-napped Francolin, Mountain Thrush, Thick-billed Raven, Lammergeyer, White-collared Pigeon and Ankober Serin just to name a few. Arrive to the lodge check in, have lunch, after short rest, for those who interest in hike/Trek we will trek for about 2-3 hrs. on the edge and beautiful escarpment to view the beautiful and green valley, wondering the long day eating and grooming of Gelada Baboon families and then trace back to the Lodge. Overnight at Lodge.
Day 05: Trekking and driving to Chenek (full day in Simien Mountain National Park)
This day we will have a full day visiting the marvelous Simien Mountain National Park. You will hike on great escarpment with excellent view with Gelada Baboon backing from where they stay at night to the field for whole day grooming and grazing on the field. Then drive to Chenek to see endemic mammal called Walia Ibex and if lucky the Red fox. Have you picnic there and spend whole in the park and late afternoon drive back to the lodge. Overnight at Lodge
Day 06: Drive to Axum by 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser
Continuing on to Axum the capital of the Axumite Kingdom, who accepted Christianity at the beginning of 4th century and where the ‘Moses’ Ark of covenant is found. Driving the zigzag roads to Adi Arkay village leading into the Tekeze Valley with its Baobab trees, birds such as Sunbird, Nile Valley Sunbird, Rock Buntings, Superb Starling and more can be found. Overnight at hotel
Day 07: Full day city tour Axum
Axum, the legends narrated in the Kebre Nagast (Book of Kings) recount how the city of Axum as early as the 10th century B.C was already the city in which the Queen of Sheba resided. It is recounted that the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Axum and it remains there to this day, preserved in a sanctuary. Famous long before the time of Christ, Axum was the capital of the long Axumite reign, one of the oldest African empires, and represented a crucial connecting-point between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years. A visit is organized to the steles: granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. In ancient times, there were seven stelaes, the one in Rome – Mussolini brought it there during Italian occupation of Ethiopia was return to Axum and re-erected in its original place in 2004. There is also a visit to the church of Saint Marry of Zion (Tsion), which contains the crowns of Ethiopian kings and other treasures. Overnight at hotel.
Day 08: Axum – Lalibela (flight)
Fly to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lalibela – the Jerusalem of Ethiopia, and Africa own Petra in a fitting finale to your Ethiopian adventure, explore the first group of the monolithic red-Tuff churches incredibly carved into the rock. Your will lead you through the network of crevices and tunnels linking each of the churches. The churches are still in use today: finally walk to the separately standing, uncovered and beautiful Saint Georges Church down to narrow path to church, step inside and you will see a robed priest going about his timeless business. Late afternoon drive back to your hotel and overnight at Hotel
Day 09: Full day in Lalibela
This morning we will have excursion to Na’akto La’ab cave but built church up into the side of a hill which is considered as the third type differ from Monolithic and Semi Monolithic churches in the town. Drive back to your hotel and lunch.
PM we take drive to the eastern (second) group of rock churches: smaller in size, these are no less impressive, with intricate carvings and many dark tunnels to explore. Late afternoon we will take you to an Ethiopian coffee ceremony in private home. Overnight at Hotel
Day 10: Connection Flights Fly Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Arba Minch
Lalibela to Addis arrival 10:10AM and Addis to Arba Minch 2:30 PM so based on this information it’s possible to connect between destinations. Depending on the time of your arrival drive to Dorze village to visit the way life of the people and then retrace back to Arba Minch for overnight. Overnight at lodge
Day 11: Drive from Arba Minch to Jinka (4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser)
Moring after breakfast drive to Nech Sar National Park to Chamo Lake to spot Nile Crocodile and Hippos. The main land of the national park was left due the bad road condition that makes game drive impossible. Then continue drive to Jinka. Overnight at Jinka Resort
Day 12: Drive Jinka –to Mursi village – Turmi
Morning Excursion to Mursi village driving through Mago National Park visits the Mursi tribe who’s known for lip plate. Stay with them and admire their way of Life and take picture back to Jinka for lunch break and then proceed to Turmi. Overnight at Turmi Lodge
Day 13: Excursion to Dassanech tribe at Omorate village
Morning Excursion to Omorate Dassanech tribe, arrive there and take canoe local boat curved from light wood to cross Omo River or drive on the river by newly built bridge, visit the nomadic village of Dassanech tribe and Drive back to Turmi afternoon visit Hamar village around Turmi. Turmi Lodge
Day 14:Drive back to Arba Minch on the way visit Key Afar for weekly mark the day falls on Thursday
Today you are driven for market at key After Market which is the best Market in south Omo valley. In the market there is a big congregation of Tsemai, Banna, Hamar and other tribes. After visiting the village drives to Arba Minch. Continue to Konso visit the Konso villages, known for their traditional cluster house style, ritual sites, grave mark Totem known as Waka and traditional terrace farming. Konso terracing and their way of life was registered as a world heritage. After visit drive Arba Minch. Paradise lodge
Day 15: Drive back to Addis
Evening you will have a farewell dinner at Ethiopian traditional restaurant with music show. Depending on your check in time you will be transferred and fly back home.
End of Tour