Ethiopia Nature & Heritage

Upon your arrival at Addis Ababa, our representative waiting at the airport will pick you up and escort you to check in the hotel. After a good rest, your Ethiopia historical tours will start with a visit to the National Museum of Ethiopia, where you will see the fossilized bones of "Lucy", the early hominids. Then we will tour the Ethnographic Museum and appreciate its collection of cultural artifacts of diverse Ethiopian ethnic groups. In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to Holy Trinity Church and tour around Merkcato at dusk, Africa's largest open-air market.

Accommodation: Radison Blue Hotel

This morning, you and the escorted guide will fly to the city of Bahir Dar. After arrival, we will drive to visit Ethiopian largest fresh water lake, Lake Tana. There we will enjoy a boat ride to sightsee its dramatic scenery and wildlife and pay a visit to the legendary monasteries located on the southern shore of the lake. In the afternoon, we will tour the Summer Palace of Emperor Selassie I on Bezawit Hill, with a spectacular vista of overlooking the Lake Tana, the Blue Nile and Bahir Dar. Then you could spend some free time hanging out at local markets.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kuriftu Resort

After breakfast, we will follow the Ethiopia historical adventure to reach the former capital city of Gonder. It will take about 3 hours to drive there. After arrival, we will go to explore the remains of the walled imperial enclosure, Fasil Ghebbi, as well as castles and palaces of Gonderian emperors inside. Next, we will tour around the Debre Birhan Selassie Church, appreciating its unique structure and elaborate Ethiopian church murals.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Goha Hotel

In the early morning, we will drive to Simien Mountains National Park in 3 or 4 hours (130 km). It is the largest national park in Ethiopia with dramatic plateaus, deep valleys, towering peaks and sharp cliffs as a result of over million years of erosion, also being declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site home to some globally threatened wild animals such as Ethiopia wolf, Walia ibex, and gelada, etc.

In the afternoon, the local guide and scout will accompany you on a 2 to 3 hours hiking around the park, discovering rare plants and animals and playing with friendly Gelada baboons. On the return trip, we will enjoy a game drive to seek endemic Ethiopian wolf and sightsee the spectacular highland scenery. In the late afternoon, we will get to the city of Axum and stay overnight at the local lodge.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Simien Lodge

Today we will be on a 6 to 7 hours’ drive to Axum. You could enjoy the mesmerizing landscape of Tekeze river basin and undulating maintain ranges along the way. When arrive, we will check in the hotel for a good rest.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sabean International Hotel

Known for monumental obelisks, Axum is the place where Ethiopian Christianity originates dating back to over 2,000 years. In the morning, we will show you around the landmark Obelisk of Axum and later the St. Mary of Zion Churches first built in the 4th century which was claimed to hold the Ark of the Covenant. Last, we will tour the Palace of Queen Sheba.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sabean International Hotel

In the morning, we will take a flight to the holy town of Lalibela in northern Ethiopia and pay a visit to its magnificent Rock-Hewn Churches, built in the reign of King Lalibela who determined to create a "New Jerusalem" in the 12th century after Muslim had blocked the pilgrimage roads to the holy land. It comprises of 11 monolithic churches, all carved entirely out of giant rocks. The St. George Church, which we'll visit in the afternoon, is the most spectacular and representative one, roughly 12 meters (40 feet) high, in a simple yet exceptionally impressive cruciform structure.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mezena Lodge

Today we'll take a morning flight back to Addis Ababa and drive south 4 to 5 hours to the Lake Langano, an idyllic lake perfect for water activities and wild birds spotting. On the way, we'll also stop by the Lake Ziway, the largest lake on the upper course of the Rift Valley lakes.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sabana Beach Resort

Today we will drive 4 hours with 260km to the city of Arba Minch and tour around the Dorze village at its doorstep. The villagers there are renowned for building high doomed bamboo huts as dwellings and most people are expert in some of the best cotton weaving, especially a kind of colorful toga robe called Shammas. Arrive in Arba Minch in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Haile Resort Hotel

After a 2 hours driving, we will get to Konso at the edge of Rift Valley, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site famous for property of ancient stone-walled terraces, fortified dwellings, and anthropomorphic hardwood statues - waka, a kind of grave makers. After arrival, we will explore the local museum and go to see their dome-shaped, wood-and-mud built, thatched houses. Then we will go on driving to tour the Key Afer Market, opening on Thursday only, where you could see traditionally dressed people of diverse tribes coming here for trading. In the afternoon, we will take a 5 hours' drive to the town of Jinka and overnight there.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Eco-Omo Lodge

Today we are going to enjoy a short game drive across Mago National Park to discover its rich wildlife. Then go on driving 2 hours to reach Mursi tribal village, one of the most famous ingenious tribes in Omo Valley whose women are known for wearing lip wooden or pottery plates in their lower lips. We'll drive 2 hours to the market town of Turmi in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Buska Lodge

Turmi is the gateway to the colorful tribes centering on the Omo Valley. In the morning, we will go for a leisurely stroll at Dimeka Saturday market in Harmer tribe territory, one of the most biggest and atmospheric markets in Ethiopia. In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the nearby Hamer village. If lucky enough, you may get to see a traditional Hamer marriage ceremony, watch young tribe people dancing Evangadi, the night dance, or join their famous bull jumping ceremony held to celebrate a young boy's initiation into adulthood.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Buska Lodge

Your Ethiopia historical tours today will begin with a visit to the Dassanech Ethnic group, located 70 km (44 mi) from Turmi. They are semi-nomadic people living along the Omo River who herd cattle, grow crops and catch fish for a living and renowned for their unique way of using scarification to decorate their bodies. When arrival, we will take a dugout canoe crossing the river to their village. About noon, we will go back to Trumi and enjoy a self-paid lunch. In the afternoon, drive back to Konso in 3.5 hours (180 km).

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kanta Lodge

This morning, we will go to the airport in Arba Minch and take a flight back to the capital city, Addis Ababa. This is the end of your tours. Thanks for choosing us. Hope you've had a wonderful vacation in Ethiopia.

Meals: Breakfast