19 Days Grand Tour to Northern Historic Ethiopia & Omo Valley Tours
Duration: 18 Nights/ 19 Days
Transportation: Surface only
Accommodation: hotels /Resorts and Lodges
Itinerary
Day 1: Drive Addis Ababa for a tour to Bahir dar (565 km on asphalt road)
The drive will takes 10-11 hours with some stops.
⇒ On the way 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 that takes you out of the city for a drive on a gravel road.
Þ PM, you will have a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the Monasteries on the islands of Lake Tana. Hotel
Day 3:Tour to Gondar
Þ AM after Breakfast you will drive over land to Gonder by minivan to Gonder, which is some 180kms. On arrival check in to the hotel.
Þ PM is dedicated for 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 Debark to Axum alongside the Simien Mountains range with spectacular scenery.
Þ Distance :282km to Axum and takes +- 7 hrs. Hotel
Day 5: Full day tour in Axum
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: Tour fromAxum to Mekele (90km)
The drive will take +- 3 hrs.
⇒ En-route Visit famous rock churches of Tigray like Abreha we atsebeha and Wekro Cherkose . Hotel
Day 7: Drive Mekele to Lalibela (360km )
Time it will take will be +- 8 hrs (with short leg stretching stops)
⇒ Beautiful mountain scenery
⇒ Meet the Amhara people, house and village visit. Hotel
Day 8: Full day Tour in Lalibela (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Visit The Amazing rock churches of Lalibela rated as the eighth wonder of the world by many authors. Hotel
Day 9: 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 up on time and the lake weather you can have a Boat trip on Lake Hayek for the 13th c monastery on island. Hotel
Day 10: 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.This evening Your mother needs to arrival in Addis Ababa and she will get a transfer service from the airport to the hotel you are staying to spend the night. Hotel
Day 11: Drive to Arba Minch via Butajira to start Omo Valley tour
⇒ Morning drive to Visit Adadi Mariam, the only southerly rock hewn church.
Þ See Tiya stelae field UNESCO registered world heritage site.
Þ Meet the Gurage and Oromo people and visiting their villages
You will have stops for photographing for the sights and locals en-route. Hotel
Day 12: Full day trip in Arba Minch
Þ Drive to Dorze village and visit the drorza people who is well know on traditional weaving and on their hut homes.
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
Day 13:Cultural drive 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
Day 14: Excursion to Mago National Park for Mursi Tribes – Turmi
⇒ Early morning drive to Mago to meet the Mursi Tribe, their women are famous for Lip plates and men for ritual fighting with stick (tourists not allowed the stick fighting due to government regulation)and visit their villages.
⇒ Then proceed to Turmi with a detour to Caro tribes, the famous body painters. Hotel
Day 15: Excursion to Omo rate for Dascench Tribe then back to Turmi for Hamer Peoples
Þ Morning canoe ride across the Omo River to Omorate to visit the semi-nomadic pastoral Dassanech people at the bank of the Omo River.
You will meet the Dassenech peoples and visit their beautiful village.
Þ PM you will visit the Hamer peoples and their villages and attend ‘EVANGADY’ Tribal dance or Bull Jumping rite, (occasional and optional). Lodge
Day 16: Morning Attend the biggest Monday Market in Turmi then drive to Konso for overnight
Þ AM You will Attend the biggest Turmi MONDAY market to meet the hamers and neighboring tribes on a much decorated way than other occasions.
Þ You will meet the colorful Hamer, Karo and Dassenech people on their way of somehow modern and traditional bartering exchange system.
Then proceed to Konso on the way visit Erbore tribes and their Village. Overnight in Konso hotel or resort
Day 17: Drive Konso to the lake side town of Awassa
Þ Morning short visit to the konso people and visit their villages.
Þ Then drive to Awassa for overnight in the resort hotels owned by a fame Ethiopian athlete Haile Gebre Sellassie.
Day 18: Drive Awassa to Addis Ababa
Þ Morning you will visit the fish market in Awassa with tasting fresh tilapia cached and roasted.
Continue driving to Addis Ababa for overnight.
Day 19: Day trip in Addis Ababa – Evening/ Midnight Departure
Þ AM after Breakfast you will have as short sightseeing of Addis Ababa including the National Museum, famous for hosting the Humanoid fossil “LUCY”, Ethnographic Museums and Trinity cathedral or you will have a free leisure time for shopping.
Þ Evening you will be our guest for a farewell dinner. Then Departure
……………….. End of the historic Ethiopia & Omo valley tour arrangement…………
