16 Days Combined Tour to Historic route of Ethiopia & Omo Valley Tours
Best historical places to visit in Ethiopia along with tribes of the Omo valley
Duration: 15 Nights/ 16 Days
Transportation: Surface
Accommodation: Chosen Tourist standard Hotels
Itinerary
Day 1: Drive Addis for a tour to Bahir dar (565 km on asphalt road)
The drive will takes 10-11 hours with some stops.
⇒ En-route short visit the 13th c monastery of Debre Libanos
⇒ The Blue Nile Gorge which is compared to Grand Canyon in America. Hotel
Day 2: Full day tour in Bahir dar
Þ Excursion to visit the Blue Nile Falls; Retrace the same way back to your hotel for late lunch.
Þ PM, you will have a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the Monasteries on the islands of Lake Tana. The Monasteries has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries. Hotel
Day 3: Drive for a tour to Gondar- then full days sightseeing
Þ AM after Breakfast you will drive over land to Gondar. On arrival check in to the hotel.
Þ PM is sightseeing of Gonder; the 16th century Royal enclosure famous for its 17th C castles that is known as the “African Camelot”, Fasil bath where Timkat (Epiphany) festival colorfully celebrated and one of the old churches Debre Birhan Selassie. Hotel
Day 4: Drive Gondar to Axum alongside the Simien Mountains range with spectacular scenery.
Þ Distance :382km to Axum and takes +- 9 hrs. hotel
Day 5: Tour of Axum then drive to Mekele for overnight
Today you will have a full day sightseeing of:
Þ The archeological sites and the famous stele park.
Þ St’ Mary of Tsion (Zion) Church the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.
Þ The ruin palace of the Queen of Sheba (9th Century BC). And mid afternoon excursion to Yeha Temple, the oldest surviving building in sub Saharan Africa from 5th century BC. Hotel
Day 6: Drive Mekele to Lalibela (360km ) to tour the rock hewn churches.
Time it will take will be +- 8 hrs (with short leg stretching stops)
⇒ Beautiful mountain scenery
⇒ Meet the Amhara people on the way see their traditional farming system. hotel
Day 7: Full day tour in Lalibela
Visit The Amazing rock churches of Lalibela rated as the eighth wonder of the world by many authors. Hotel
Day 8: Drive to Kombolcha for 300km via the town of Dessie and the drive will take about 6 hrs with some leg stretching stops.
⇒ Beautiful scenery and mountain ranges all along the way
⇒ Optional you can have a Boat trip on Lake Hayek for the 13th c monastery on island. Hotel
Day 9: Drive back to Addis Ababa for some 400km and it will take +_ 7hrs to arrive in Addis.
⇒ Before Debre Sina you can stop for top view of the Great Rift Valley Depression at Gemasa Gedel.Overnight in Addis hotel
Day 10: Drive Addis to Arba Minch via Butajira to start the Omo valley tour
⇒ Morning drive to see Tiya stelae field UNESCO registered world heritage site.
⇒ Visit Adadi Mariam, the only southerly rock hewn church.
⇒ Meet the Gurage and Oromo people and visiting their villages
You will have stops for photographing for the sights and locals en-route. hotel/lodge
Day 11: Full day in Arba Minch.
Þ Boat crossing Lake Chamo, for the Nech Sar National Park to see the endemic plants and animals inside the park and to see hippos and crocodiles.
Photographing for the sights, parks and locals village. Hotel/ lodge
Day 12: Drive for a tour to Jinka
Þ En route you will visit the Konso tribes and you will visit their ancient villages.
Þ Today you will also meet Tsemay and Ari tribes with visiting their villages.
Photographing with tribes. Hotel/resort
Day 13: Excursion to Mago then transfer to Turmi
Þ Early start for excursion tour to Mago national park.
Þ Visit the Mursi Tribes, their women are famous for Lip plates and men for ritual fighting with stick.
Then proceed to Turmi for overnight. Lodge
Day 14: Full day in Turmi, principal town of Hamer people.
Þ Today you will visit the colorful Hamer tribes and their villages. photographing
Attend Tribal dance or Bull Jumping rite, occasional and optional. Lodge
Day 15: Drive Turmi to Awassa
Þ Morning a bit long drive to leave Omo valley to Awassa with short stops for leg stretching and omo valley Photographing on the road. Arrival late afternoon in Awassa then checks in to the hotel. Hotel/resort
Day 16: Drive back to Addis Ababa – Evening Departure
Þ Morning you will visit the fish market in Awassa with tasting fresh tilapia cached and roasted
Continue driving to Addis Ababa for overnight.
Evening You will be our guest for a fare well dinner. Then Get transferred to the airport for your departure flight back to your home country.
…….. End of the Tour to Historic route of Ethiopia arrangement……
