Our years of experience and extensive network of local partners can help you build your dream trip from the endless possibilities of Ethiopia. We’ll talk through your ideas, give you some suggestions, set it all up and advise on travel, kit and preparation, so that you get the Ethiopian adventure you’ve always wanted.
Grand Historic Tours
Transportation
Flight and Drive
Duration
17 Days and 16 Nights
Accommodation
Hotels and Lodge
Ethiopia has a fascinating history stretching back more than 3,000 years to the fabled reign of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, and even further into the past. It is from this region that many scientists believe earliest mankind, Homo erectus, migrated out of Africa via the Levantine corridor and the Horn of Africa to Eurasia around 1.9 million years ago. Essentially, Ethiopia is the ancestral home to all of mankind.
Discover the wonders of an ancient land where nature, culture and history are equally magnificent. Where one can enjoy great wildlife and landscape photography and combine it with extraordinary cultural experiences. Ethiopia has all of this and more: the awesome landscapes Simien Mountains National park, the Rift Valley Lakes and the palaces of Gondar, home of many of Ethiopia’s kings and emperors. This package touches the living rock hewn churches of Lalibela, the fortress of Goner, the dramatic landscapes of the Simien Mountains, the monasteries of lake tand and river blue Nile These, the Ethiopian rift valley lakes and the melting pot of omo Valley, designs are created purely for fun and aesthetic effect, each artist vying to outdo the others. In the northern part of the country you will experience ancient monasteries, Castles, rock-hewn churches, and Ethiopia’s magnificent natural beauty.
Where as in the southern part, you will witness and learn the meaning behind age-old customs and rituals that remain an integral part of everyday life in this region, Isolated for millennia from the rest of the world, the beautiful Omo Valley is home to an exciting mix of many small and distinctive tribal groups. Amongst others, we find the Karo, The Arbore, the Mursi, and the Hamer — all of whom have retained their own unique customs and traditions. Lifestyles are as varied as the tribes themselves. Lacking any material, culture and artifacts common to other cultures, these tribes find unique ways in which to express their artistic impulses. Both the mursi and the Karo, for example, are experts at body painting, using clays and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic patterns on each other’s faces, chests, arms, and legs. These designs are created purely for fun and aesthetic effect, each artist vying to outdo the others
Tour Highlights
- Generally five World Heritage Sites
- The sacred monastery of lake Tana
- The mighty river Nile
- Rock-hewn churches in Lalibela
- 17th century trading town of Gondar
- The royal enclosure of Gondar
- Rift valley lakes
- The wildness and breathe taking Semien Mountains
- Melting pot of Omo valley
- In general (Dorze , Konso, Bena, hammer, Dassenech, karo, Ari And Mursi Tribes)
- Culinary or food test and coffee ceremony
Detail Itinerary
Day 1.
September Arrive in Ethiopia and City tour
A guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to our hotel. You will have some free time to rest up from jet-lag after checking in. This afternoon, enjoy a city sightseeing tour. First stop is at the magnificent Trinity Cathedral. Continue to the National Museum, close to the University Of Addis Ababa Graduate School, which houses numerous antiquarian relics and archaeological artifacts showing the history of Ethiopia from prehistoric times to the modern day. Its most famous exhibit is a replica of the 3.5-million-year-old skeleton of 'Lucy'. Continue to St. George’s Cathedral, dedicated to the national saint of Ethiopia. The museum houses a wide collection of important religious paintings, crosses of many designs, historic books and parchments, and beautiful handicrafts. There are also fine examples of modern paintings by the famous Ethiopian artist Afewerke Tekle. Last stop of the day is driving up to the hill of mount Entoto to see the panoramic view of Addis Ababa, Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight and get your first taste of Ethiopian cuisine. OOvernight: Swiss Inn Addis Ababa,.
Day 2.
Drive to Bahir Dar via Debre Libanos
At slightly over 100 km from Addis Ababa, Debre Libanos is one of the best day trips from the Ethiopian capital. The monastery and church northwest of the city have played an important role in Ethiopian Orthodox Christian religious history and are reminders of Ethiopia’s struggle against the Italian occupation. In addition to its religious significance, Debre Libanos impresses all visitors with the surrounding landscape. Debre Libanos is located directly on the escarpment looking down into the canyon, providing spectacular views – a perfect location to stop and enjoy the surroundings. In addition, a short walk leads to the so-called Portuguese Bridge, which was built around the turn of the 20th century. The bridge spans the small Gur River which, just a few meters farther, pours into a 600 meter high waterfall down into the canyon. Then drive continue to Bahir Dar Overnight: Jacaranda Hotel, Bahir Dar,
Day 3.
Bahir Dar / Ura Kidane Mihret Monastries / Blue nile falls
Bahir Dar the third largest city in Ethiopia, Bahir Dar. It is located on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source from where the Blue Nile starts its long journey to Khartoum. There it joins with the White Nile and continues to the Mediterranean. Upon arrival, we drive to the Blue Nile Falls, flowing out of Lake Tana with tremendous force and volume over the basalt shoulder of a giant cataract and onwards from there, ever downwards towards the deserts of Sudan, on its way to enrich Egypt's fertile delta. Afternoon, We cross Lake Tana this morning to visit the monastery of Ura Kidane Miheret, The round Ura Kidane Mihret Church has a straw-thatched roof that follows the classic structure of the churches of the region. Dating back several centuries, is known for its colorful murals depicting biblical stories that cover every surface. Overnight: Jacaranda Hotel, Bahir Dar
Day 4.
Gonder/ Castle and church
Then drive to Gondar, an important town for over two centuries, and a thriving center of religion, art and culture. Arrive in Gondar just for late lunch. Afterwards, drive to the Simien national park. Gondar culture and history await you! Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, the Fasilidas Palace stands in a compound filled with juniper and wild olive trees. Founded around 1635 by Emperor Fasilidas, he originally used the city for a residence but about a year later he moved his capital here. By the late 1640’s he had built a great castle, the recently restored Fasilidas Palace. With its large towers and looming battle walls it looks as if a piece of medieval Europe has been transported to Ethiopia. This afternoon we enjoy a tour of Debre Berhan Selassie, one of Ethiopia’s most beautiful churches. Located on the summit of a hill and surrounded with fortified walls, the breathtaking inner sanctuary features stunning frescos which represent a masterpiece of the Gondar School of Art Overnight: Haile Resort, Gonder
Day 5 and 6.
Exploring the semien mountains national park
After a relaxed breakfast drive to Debark a small town where the headquarter of Semien mountains national park is found and a place where facilitate entry permit for the park. A stunning mountain range, alive with exotic plant and animal life. The highest mountain here, Ras Dashen at 14,905 feet above sea level, proudly carries the local moniker ‘The Roof of Africa.’ These spectacular segments of the Simien Mountains are considered the wildest and most beautiful sites of all Ethiopian landscapes and serve as home to many endemic animals like the highly endangered Ethiopian wolf, Waliya ibex, and Gelada baboons, and plants like the Giant Lobelia. The massive 13,000-foot-high table of rock offers easy but immensely rewarding trekking along the edge of a plateau that falls sheer to the plains far below. The scenery and the variety of wildlife will leave you speechless. We stay at a lodge sitting atop an escarpment with wonderful views of the mountains, and our second day here is dedicated to exploring in the mountains. Overnight: Ras Dejen Hotel , Debark
Day 7,8 and 9.
Explorer Lalibela and its surrounding place
On day 4 we will drive back to Gonder to catch our flight to lalibela, One of Ethiopia’s holiest cities. Once the thriving and populous capital city of a medieval dynasty, the passing centuries have reduced Lalibela to a mere village. Nearly invisible from the road below, Lalibela, previously known as Roha, is named after a 12th century king. Myth and legend claim he had a near-death experience which prompted a vision to build many churches like the world has never seen. Once he was crowned, he gathered masons, carpenters, and tools, set down a scale of wages and purchased the land needed for the buildings. These awe-inspiring, towering edifices were hewn out of the solid, red volcanic rock on which they stand. They seem to be of superhuman creation – in scale, in workmanship and in concept. Some lie almost completely hidden in deep trenches, while others stand in open quarried caves. A complex and bewildering labyrinth of tunnels and narrow passageways with offset crypts, grottoes and galleries connects them all – a cool, lichen- enshrouded, subterranean world, shaded and damp, silent but for the faint echoes of distant footfalls as priests and deacons go about their timeless business. We spend two exciting days exploring these architectural marvels. We also enjoy an opportunity to meet with the clergy and have a brief discussion about the history of the churches. We spend these two nights in a lodge centrally located among all the churches and other historical sites in the surrounding area. Overnight: Sora Lodge, Lalibela ( 3 night is recommendable)
Day 10.
Fly back to Addis Ababa from Lalibela then connect our drive to lake langano
Today head back to lalibela airport to board your flight to Addis Addis Ababa, Just south of Addis Ababa the road leads down to the bottom of the Great rift valley where a row of interesting lakes are found, the rift valley lake harbor a great natural diversity but are also very important for the local economy, the area is particularly interesting for birder, en route visit lake koka and lake ziway. Sabana Beach Resort, Lake Langano
Day 11.
Drive to Arba Minch
Drive to Arba Minch (in Amharic it means “40 springs”), located in a beautiful setting at the foothills of the Rift Valley escarpment and overlooking Lake Abaya and Lake Cham. Let afternoon we visit the Dorze village, known for their weaving culture which is reflected in their beautiful cotton clothes, fences, and beehive shaped bamboo huts. Men weave and women spin. Each Dorze bamboo house has its own small garden surrounded by beds of spices, cabbage and tobacco. Their staple food is Kocho, made from the false banana. The evening is free to enjoy the amenities and spa services of our lodge while taking in the breathtaking view over the two valley lakes. Overnight: Haile Resort, Arba Minch
Day 12.
Lake Chamo and Konso Village
In the morning, take a remarkable boat ride on the southernmost Rift Valley lake of Ethiopia, Lake Chamo. One can spot many hippos and giant crocodiles, and the scenery is truly unforgettable. Fishing for Nile perch and many other species by locals on their traditional boat is by far the best in the country. We can also watch various lowland water birds like the African Fish Eagle, Great White Pelicans, and egrets. Leaving Lake Chamo behind, we visit the Konso village where we enjoy lunch. The cultural landscape of Konso is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is comprised of stone-walled terraces and fortified settlements in the highlands stretching back 21 generations (more than 400 years). Konso is known for its religious traditions, waga sculptures and nearby fossil beds. Kanta Lodge, Konso
Day 13.
Drive to Turmi and Hamer Villages
In the afternoon, we visit the Hamer tribe, whose women are known for their striking appearance, adorned with ochre-colored hair hanging in a heavy fringe, leather skirts decorated with cowries, and many copper bracelets fixed tightly around their arms. The men are noted for the initiation ceremony of jumping over bulls. Below Karo & Hammer Tribes. Buska Lodge , Turmi
Day 14.
Dassanech and the Karo Tribe
This morning travel closer to the Kenyan border to visit the people of the Dassanech tribe. We cross the Omo River, one of the major rivers of the country that drains into Lake Turkana of Kenya, to visit one of the villages of the Dassanech tribe (meaning “people of the delta), who are the southernmost people of the country and are known for their scarifications. Over time the tribe absorbed a wide range of different people and it is now divided into eight main clans. Each clan has its own identity and customs, its own responsibilities towards the rest of the tribe and is linked to a particular territory. Continue with our drive to Jinka, the biggest town in the Omo region. In the afternoon to Koricho, a settlement for the Karo Nilotic ethnic group, famous for their body paintings. They are also one of the smallest tribes in the region with an estimated population between 1,000 and 3,000. They paint themselves daily with colored ocre, white chalk, and yellow mineral rock and pulverized iron, all-natural resources local to the area. This is an elaborate process, which ranges from fine details to rough, but striking paintings traced with the palms or fingers. The Karo people also scarify their chests to beautify themselves by cutting with a knife or razor and rubbing ash into the wound to create a raised effect. Buska Lodge , Turmi
Day 15.
Drive to Ari Village/ Jinka
In the afternoon visit the Ari people, the biggest group in the Omo region, numbering over 100,000. Ari are living in wider villages with private compounds on which they have their huts and grow a variety of crops. They have large livestock herds and produce large quantities of honey. Ari women are famous for their pottery which they sell to support their families. Eco-Omo safari Lodge, Jinka
Day 16.
Mursi tribes
After breakfast, we leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit one of the most fascinating tribes in Africa. Although recent extreme drought has made their herding and cultivation difficult, they still adhere to their traditional and unique culture. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular disks inserted, indicating her worth before getting married. Men of the Mursi also use white paint for their bodies and faces. Just like any other ethnic tribe in the lower valley, the men must pass a test before they can get married. A Mursi man is given a stick called a “Donga “and must face one opponent. The men then battle it out, beating each other with the sticks. BEco-Omo safari Lodge, Jinka
Day 17.
The omo valley Musuem then fly back to Addis Ababa
Midday flight back to Addis where we enjoy free time to enjoy a farewell lunch and dinner together, offering a chance to refresh and relax before evening transfers to the airport.
