This tour enables visitors to discover the history and different cultures of the country. It includes the visit to the historic towns of Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela and Axum. In the south of Ethiopia are found several ethnic groups with their own unique cultures. Besides, trekking in some of the country's parks is one of the activities among many. This trip makes you have the general perspective of Ethiopia as a whole in terms of its fascination.
Morning flight to Bahir Dar. Meet your guide at the airport and head to the spectacular waterfalls 35kms per way from Bahir Dar and 30 minutes walk per way to the view point of the waterfalls. Enjoy taking pictures of the landscape, streams, clouds and rainbows. Drive back to Bahir Dar and after lunch boat trip on Lake Tana to visit one of the most impressive church of the area - Ura Kidanemihret Church with beautiful paintings and murals. Continue your Bahir Dar tour and walk for at least 25 minutes per way through the coffee forest to the church. Back to the city and check in at Abayminch Lodge or similar. After you finished the Bahir Dar tour, enjoy the dinner and overnight stay at the lodge. Read more
After breakfast, drive north of Bahir Dar to Gondar through the beautiful plains, breath-taking hilly landscape of Teragedam Mountain, and some stops for views. Transfer to Goha Hotel or similar to check-in and for lunch. In the afternoon explore the 17th century capital of Ethiopia. Visit the castle compound where you can explore the medieval palaces/castles of Emperor Fasiledas, Yohannes, Eyasu, David, Bakaffa and Queen Mentuab. Also visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie with its famous murals and paintings of more than 80 winged-angels covering the ceiling. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel and prepare for your Simien Mountains excursion the following day. Read more
After breakfast start driving for your Simien Mountains excursion through the National Park. On the way stop at ‘Weleka’- the former Ethiopian Jewish village and see works of pottery and an old synagogue. Continue driving through this breathtakingly beautiful region while on the Simien Mountains excursion with many peaks above 13,000 feet. The vast and unique highland plateau is capped by a dramatic skyline of jagged volcanic plugs and split by deep gorges and gullies. The striking tower formations have been described as the “chess pieces of the gods.” It is also an area rich in flora and fauna, home to the Gelada Baboons, Walya Ibex, Klipspringers, grey duikers and Wattled Ibis. NExt on the Simien Mountains excursion, have a two hours trek around Sankaber and enjoy the spectacular landscapes at different viewpoints. Afternoon, drive back to Gondar. Dinner and overnight stay at Taye Hotel or similar, ending here the Simien Mountains excursion. Read more
After the Simien Mountains excursion experience, in the morning check in at the airport and fly to Lalibela. Up on arrival meet your driver and transfer to Tukul Village Hotel. After a while, go out for the visit of the first group of rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which includes Bete Medhanealem, Bete Maryam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil and the “double church” of Debre Sina, Bete Gologota and the Selassie-Chapel. After lunch, explore the second group of rock-hewn churches- Bete Emanuel. Bete Mercurios, Bete Abba Libanos, Betelhem, and the double church of Bete Gebreiel-Rafael. Also visit the famous cross-shaped church of Bete Giorgis which stands separately from the two main groups. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel. Read more
After breakfast go out for the Axum tour. Begin your tour with a stop at the archeological museum, the church of St. Mary of Zion, built on the site of an older church, dating from the 4th century, the stele park to see the obelisks carved from single blocks of granite. Also explore the remains of what was once a massive Palace of the Queen of Sheba. Nearby are a number of granite slabs and giant stele said to be the burial place of the queen. Afterwards, continue your Axum tour and drive to the remains of a fortress from the 6th century and its underground catacombs, reportedly the tombs of the Ethiopian Emperor Kaleb and his son Gebre-Meskel. After the impressive Axum tour, enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Read more
After an impressive Axum tour, enjoy your breakfast, and then transfer to the airport to check in for your flight back to Addis. Upon arrival in Addis, meet your guide and transfer to Intercontinental Addis Hotel or similar. After lunch, go out for the city tour of Addis. This includes the National Museum where the 3.2 million fossil of Lucy is displayed, Entoto Hilltop for the panoramic view of the city and Merkato-the largest open air market in Africa. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Read more
Morning, meet your guide at your place of stay and start heading to the southwest of Addis Ababa, all the way through the semi-desert and grassland. The first stop is at 50km from Addis to Melka Kunture after crossing the bridge of Awash River which is considered the "source of humanity". Melka Kunture is a paleontological site, a fenced enclosure kept for excavation and collection of prehistory physical remains. The main excavation in the site include fossilized animal bones, Stone Age pebble tools of ancient men (estimated to be 2 million years old) which are exhibited in the mini museums in the field. Continue driving and arrive in the town of Tiya for the visit of the stele field of Tiya. This is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the field today comprises some 45 stones of up to 2m in height. They mark the mass graves of males and females who died when they were between 18 and 30 years of age and who were laid to rest in a foetal position about 800 years ago. Then continue driving. Lunch en route and arrival in Arbaminch is late in the afternoon. Check in at Paradise or similar lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge and prepare for the Lake Chamo boat trip and other activities the following day. Read more
After breakfast climb up to the town of Chencha some 20kms from Arbaminch. There visit the villages of Dorze people famous for their bee hive look alike house style and staple dining on a plant called False banana or Enset. See the harvest, fermentation and preparation of this cassava like plant and perhaps you might want to have a bite of the bread made out of it. These people are also known for their skill of weaving cotton clothes. Back to Arbaminch for lunch and in the afternoon go out for Lake Chamo boat trip. Admire crocodiles (here the Nile crocodiles are some of the longest in Africa with length of 6m and above) and hippos various birds like African Fish Eagle, Goliath Egret, Marabou Storks, Pelicans, Sacred Ibises, etc. After the magnificent Lake Chamo boat trip experience, enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the lodge. Read more
Following the Lake Chamo boat trip adventure, this moring set out for Jinka. Proceed through the amazing terraced hills of Konso people recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Visit one of the the Konso villages compounds. Walk around the huts for marvelous experience and capturing memorable pictures. Also see the naturally formed skyscrapers of soil formation called ‘New York’. Proceed via the low land of Weito 625 above sea level dominated by Tsemay tribe living on nomadic and agriculturalist style. Arrival in Jinka is late in the afternoon and check in at Jinka Eco Omo Lodge or similar. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge. Read more
Morning, after breakfast, drive through the Mago National Park to heart land of the Mursi people famous for their decorated lip plates. Take some time to see the huts and way of living of the Mursi people and take some pictures. Then drive back to Jinka. After lunch head to Key Afer to see the vibrant and dazzling Thursday market where Tsemay, Benna, Ari, etc people gathering and exchanging goods. Then on the way back to Jinka stop at the village of Ari people. These are famous for their terra cotta and black smith producing ploughing machine, knives, spears and axes. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge. Read more
After breakfast and sometime of relaxation leave Jinka for Turmi. Check in at Buska Lodge or similar and have lunch. Afternoon go out for the visit of one of the Hammar villages. The Hammars women are well known for their curly hair made with butter (or animal fat) and the special red soil from the surrounding. Stay for some time to take pictures and drive back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge. Read more
Morning, after breakfast, drive to Omorate and see another tribe called Dasenech crossing Omo River with dug-out wood canoe . Back to the lodge for lunch and afternoon drive some 51kms on rough road to the Omo lowland area exploring the vast endless Hammer territory to the village of the neighboring Karo tribe famous for their pierced lower chin stuffed with nail and other sharp metals. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Read more
Morning, after breakfast, start driving to back to Arbaminch. Lunch en route and arrival in Arbaminch is late in the afternoon. Check in at Paradise Lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
After breakfast start driving to Addis via Shashemene. Along the way you will see different tribes including the Oromo, Gurage, Hadiya, Welayta and Gamo people with their unique houses. Have lunch at one of the hotels by Lake Langano. Also stop at Lake Ziway to see some aquatic birds. Then continue driving to Addis. Evening have a farewell dinner at one of the city’s traditional restaurants where you enjoy the cultural dances and dishes of the country. Finally transfer to the airport and fly home. END OF SERVICE. Read more
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