32 Days All in One Ethiopia Historical, Simien Trek, Danakil,Omo Valley Tours with Harar
Itinerary
Day 1: Full day sightseeing in Addis Ababa
The day is dedicated for sightseeing of Addis Ababa that includes; the National Museum, famous for hosting the Humanoid fossil “LUCY”, Ethnographic Museums, Trinity cathedral and Mercato, the largest open air market in Africa and Entoto capital before Addis Ababa, visit Menilik palace and museum with fascination top view of Addis from Entoto. Hotel
Day 2: Drive Addis to Bahir dar (565km 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 3: Full day Bahir dar sightseeing
Þ Excursion to visit the Blue Nile Falls that takes you out of the city for a drive on a gravel road through the farmlands and small villages of the Amhara People.
PM, you will have a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the Monasteries on the islands of Lake Tana.. Ura Kidane Mihret is known for its paintings and small museum .hotel
Day 4: Drive to Gondar then proceed to Sankaber in Simien mountains
Þ Drives to Debark pay the necessary entrance fees, take scouts and security staffs and continue to Sankaber (3250 m) for overnight.
Day 5: Trek Sankaber to Gich (3600 m)
The first serious day of trekking starts from the beautiful situated campsite of Sankaber. Today’s trek covers a distance of approximately 10 km an takes us around 6 hours straight walking. Right from the beginning the trek follows the spectacular escarpment. We will encounter gelada baboons, foraging in big groups, at the fields. A stunning viewpoint at the Jinbar Falls is reached after clambering a few rocks. This waterfall plunges several hundred meter down the escarpment in the abyss. At the end of the day we pass through the welcoming village of Gich where the local people prepare a well deserved coffee for us. Our camp for the night is not far from the village.
(Gich is a good place to add an extra day, several day walks are available, including to the spectacular Imet Gogo)
Day 6:Trek Gich to Chenek (3620 m)
This is probably the most spectacular stage of the whole trekking, offering stunning views all the way. Today we walk for almost 8 hours to cover 12 km, including a short detour to Imet Gogo (3925 m). This summit offers the most exciting views. The majestically lammergeyer might soar the skies in front of us and the endemic thick billed raven will be present. On our way to Chennek we pass some other major peaks (Inataye reaching 4070 meter) and a deep valley. Chennek is abundant with the giant lobelia and the best place to spot the endemic and endangered walia ibex. Not seldom they walk into the camp.
Day 7: Trek Chennek to Ambiko (3200 m)
Today is for sure the most challenging day. First we hike up the Bwahit Pass (4200 m) and later we will reach the bottom of the valley of the Mesheha River (2800 m) before we reach Ambiko. The 14 km we cover today will take at least 7 hours walking. Weather permitting we will be rewarded with at least the first glimpse of Ras Dashen (4533 m). Around Bwahit is an excellent area to find the Ethiopian wolf. Our chef will prepare another great meal with very limited means and like the other evenings we lit a campfire to keep us warm. But we will sleep early as we start tomorrow well before sunrise.
Day 8:Trek to Ambiko
The roof of Ethiopia is the goal for the day. Ras Dashen (4533 m) is roughly a mere 5 hours/ 8 km away, its all the way up to the top. The view from to top might not be as stunning as at other places in Simien (Imet Gogo) but you made it! Yes! Walking back to Ambiko takes about 3-5 hours.
Day 9: Trek back Ambiko to Chenek
With the reward you bagged the summit we are heading back into known area. There are several ways to do it. The easiest way is to walk about 4 hours to the village of Chiro Leba where a 4WD vehicle can pick you and drive you out to Debark (or even Gondar the same day). But you came to enjoy the Simien Mountains, right? Then this day we continue to Chennek and pitch our tents again in between the giant lobelias.
Day 10: Meet your vehicle and drive Chenek – Gondar
Drive from Chenek to Gonder as soon as you get ready to leave, it takes about five hours driving via Debark till Gondar.
Late afternoon you will visit Royal enclosure if you are capable for city excursion.
This is the end of the hiking program in the Simien Mountains; tomorrow you can continue your journey through fascinating Ethiopia
Day 11: Full day tour to Gondar
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.
Day 12: Drive Gondar to Axum alongside the Semien Mountains range with spectacular scenery.
Þ Distance :382km to Axum and takes +- 9 hrs
Day 13: Axum sightseeing 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.
Day 14: 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 on the way see their traditional farming system.
Day 15: Full day Lalibela sightseeing
Visit The Amazing rock churches of Lalibela rated as the eighth wonder of the world by many authors.
Day 16: 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.
Day 17: 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
Day 18: Drive to Arba Minch via Butajira.
Þ Morning drive southward to Tiya stelae field UNESCO world heritage site and Adadi Mariam, the only southerly rock hewn church.
Þ Enroute meet the Gurage and Oromo people and visit their villages.
Day 19:Full day in Arba Minch
Þ A.M boat excursion to crossing to Nechisar national park spotting the endemic Swayne’s Heart beast, Burchele zebra and have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, birding, hippos and crocodiles.
Day 20: Drive to Jinka
Þ On route visit includes the Konso tribes with their ancient villages’.
Þ Tsemay and Ari villages are among the visit list for today.
Day 21: Excursion to mago then to Turmi ⇒ passing through the Mago National Park meet the Mursi Tribes, their women are famous for Lip plates and men for ritual fighting with stick.
⇒ Drive back to Jinka and continue to Turmi via Dimeka, before reaching Dimeka you will find the colorful Tuesday market at Alduba, market attracts tribes like Banna, Tsemay, Hamer and Bashida.
Then continue to Turmi for overnight.
Day 22: Drive to Kangaten to visit the Nyangatom after crossing the Omo river with engine boat. On Return stop at Murulle for picnic lunch then proceed to Korcho to Visit the Karo tribes who live in the western bank of the Omo River. Afterwards drive back to Turmi.
Day 23: Full day in Turmi
Þ Today if the day falls on local market days (Saturday) you will attend the local market, Dimeka. Meet the colorful Hamer, Karo and Dasenech people.
Þ Boat excursion on the Omo River to Omorate for the Dasenech tribe.
Þ Meets Hamer tribes, visit villages and Tribal dance or Bull Jumping rite, occasional and optional.
Day 24: Turmi to Yabello
⇒ leave the Omo Valley with a return drive to Addis Ababa via Yabello and Awassa.Þ En route visit the Erbore and Borena peoples and their villages. Some 25km before today’s destination you will visit Singing Well, age old technique of watering cattle by the Borena tribe.
Day 25: Drive Yabello To Awassa, a beautiful city with Jacaranda Trees.
Þ Morning after Breakfast drive to the lake side town of Awassa.
Þ Evening sunset and spend the night at the hotel.
Day 26: Awassa to Awash National Park.
Þ Morning leave Awassa and drive to Awash national Park. Lodge or hotel.
Day 27: Drive Awash national park to Harar
Þ In the morning short exploration inside Awash national park and then drive to Harar which is the eastern part of Ethiopia known for being origin for the Ethiopian first grade coffee and old historical tourist attraction site for its unique old round wall built at early of 15th century by the governor of Harar. hotel
Day 28: Full day visit of Harar
Þ Morning after breakfast full day in Harar for the visit of Harar sightseeing, the Harari museum, Rainbow house, surrounding of the old wall and old village and market inside the wall. Evening Hyena man show.
Day 29: Drive to back to Awash
Þ The rest of the day visit to the national park for wild animals and the Filwoha Hot Springs.
Day 30: Drive Awash to Goba for overnight and next day trip to Bale Mountain National park. Lodge/hotel
Day 31: Full day visit in Awash national park.
Þ Today you wil explore Bale mountains national park to spot endemic
Day 32: Drive back to Addis Ababa evening Departure
…………..End of the Ethiopia Historical, Simien Trek, Danakil,Omo Valley Tours arrangement………….
