Tour Details
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22 Days North & South of Ethiopia Historical Route with Simiens & Omo Valley |
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Days |
Time |
City (Departure) |
Transportation |
Activities |
Meal |
Boarding |
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1 |
07:00 |
Addis Abeba |
Drive |
Early in the morning, depart north to Bahir Dar via Debre Markos. On the way visit the Portuguese bridge, said to have been the first bridge in Ethiopia. Afterwards, you will pass through the spectacular Blue Nile Gorge. The gorge extends nearly 400km and reaches depths up to 1500m. |
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Overnight in Bahir Dar at a) Kuriftu Resort & Spa b) Abay Minch Lodge c) Summerland Hotel d) EthioStar Hotel.
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2 |
08:30 |
Bahir Dar - |
Drive |
In the morning, take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit a selection of the monasteries hidden on the islands and shores of this sacred lake. Visit the Zege Penninsula and the monasteries of Azuwa Maryam and Ura Kidane Mehret and the island monastery of Debre Maryam near the outlet of the Blue Nile River. In the afternoon, drive out to the Blue Nile Falls for a short hike in the area. Finish the day with the sunset over the lake. |
Breakfast |
Overnight in Bahir Dar at e) Kuriftu Resort & Spa f) Abay Minch Lodge g) Summerland Hotel h) EthioStar Hotel.
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3 |
05:45 07:45 |
Bahir Dar |
Drive |
After breakfast, continue north to Gondar. The four-hour drive will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture. After briefly settling in your hotel, explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today, Ras Gimb Palace Museum and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia. |
Breakfast |
Overnight in Gondar at a) Taye Hotel b) Fasil Lodge c) Queen Taitu Pension.
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4 |
07:00
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Gondar |
Hiking & Drive |
Today is an early morning departure to Sankober in the Simien Mountains. From here you will go for an easy hike to the Geech Abyss, where you will see a large waterfall where the Jinbar River plunges into the abyss. This area is also a great place for viewing the endemic gelada baboon, also known as the ‘bleeding heart baboon’ due to the red patch of skin on its chest. |
Breakfast |
Overnight in the Simien Mountains (Simien Lodge) Or in Debark (Giant Lobelia Hotel).
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5 |
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Simien Mountains |
Drive |
After breakfast, depart north for Axum, enjoying spectacular views of the Simien Mountains. After stopping for lunch in Adi Arkay, proceed driving through the dramatic Tekeze Valley, offering some of the best landscapes in the country. Proceed to Axum, home of the ancient Axumite Empire, the Queen of Sheba, and the Ark of the Covenant. Hotel/Africa Hotel. |
Breakfast |
Overnight in Axum at a) Brana Hotel b) Remhai c) Africa Hotel |
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6 |
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Axum |
Drive |
Today will be a full day visiting the sites of Axum, including the famous obelisks (one that was recently erected after being returned from Italy) and the archeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), Ezana’s enscription, King Kaleb’s tomb, King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. |
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Overnight in Axum at d) Brana Hotel e) Remhai f) Africa Hotel |
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7 |
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Axum |
Drive |
After breakfast, drive to visit the ruins of Yeha, dating from the 8th to 5th centuries BC, and thought to be the capital of Ethiopian civilization before Axum. Afterwards, visit the Debre Damo monastery, where the men (sorry! No women allowed.) must climb up a 15-m rope to enter. Proceed through the state of Tigray, stopping en-route for a visit to the rock-hewn church of Medhane Alem Adi Kesho. |
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Overnight in Hawsein at a) Gheralta Lodge b) Tourist Hotel |
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8 |
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Hawsein |
Drive |
In the morning, visit either Abuna Yemata Guh or Maryam Korkor. Both churches involve an approximate one-hour hike but offer commanding views of the surrounding area. After lunch, continue your visit with the more easily-accessible churches of Abreha we Atsbeha and Chirkos. Afterwards, proceed driving to Mekele for overnight at Axum |
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Overnight in Axum at a) Axum Hotel b) Hilltop Hotel.
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9 |
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Axum |
Drive |
Early in the morning, embark on a full day of driving to Lalibela. Here you will pass through several small villages, with typical sandstone homes of the Tigray people. Proceed through this rural area for the stunning approach to the home of Ethiopia’s most prized destination – Lalibela. |
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Overnight in Lalibela at a) Mountain View Hotel b) Lal Hotel c) Alief Paradise Hotel |
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10 |
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Lalibela |
Drive |
In the morning, start your tour of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha (entry not permitted for women). After lunch, continue with the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – Saint George |
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Overnight in Lalibela at a) Mountain View Hotel b) Lal Hotel c) Alief Paradise Hotel |
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11 |
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Lalibela |
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After breakfast, drive out of town to visit the church of Yimrehanne Kristos, the most popular church in the surrounding region. Created in the late-Axumite style, this church is set in the entrance to a cave with a skeleton graveyard in the back of devout pilgrims who visited this church. After the visit, proceed driving to Woldia. |
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Overnight in Woldia at Lal Hotel. |
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12 |
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Woldia |
Drive |
In the morning, continue driving to Awash via Bati. (If this day is a Monday, you can visit the Monday camel market in Bati.) You will also pass through the Yangudi-Rassa National Park, home to the rare wild African ass. In the afternoon you will take a game drive to visit the wonderful birdlife and wildlife, such as oryx, baboons, greater and lesser kudu, warthogs, gazelles, colubus monkeys. Additionally, you’d be very lucky to see leopards, lions, and other cats. The landscapes in the park are beautiful, looking over the Awash Gorge. |
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Overnight in Awash National Park at a) Awash Falls Lodge b) camping.
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13 |
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Awash National Park at
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Drive |
Early morning visit the park as it wakes up and wildlife is at its most active. After breakfast, depart from Awash, proceeding to Lake Langano. On the way you can stop in Sodere to take a shower in the therapeutic hot springs waters. |
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Overnight at Lake Langano at a) Bishangari Lodge b) Sabana Beach Resort c) Wenney Ecolodge d) Abule Bassumo Hotel.
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14 |
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Langano |
Drive |
After a morning swim in the lake, proceed driving to Dorze, set in the highlands above Arba Minch. The Dorze people are known for their tall beehive-like houses and their fine cotton weaving. You will visit the village and learn about the daily lives of these industrious people. If today is market day (in Dorze village on Monday and Thursday and in nearby Chencha on Tuesday and Saturday), that will be visited. Overnight in Dorze or Arba Minch. |
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Overnight in Dorze is in traditional Dorze hut (shared toilet facilities) Or Arba Minch for overnight at a) Paradise Lodge b) Tourist Hotel c) camping at Wabe Shabelle Hotel |
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15 |
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Dorze/Arba Minch |
Drive |
In the morning, visit the local market in Dorze (Monday and Thursday) or Chencha (Tuesday and Saturday). Afterwards, continue driving to Arba Minch. In the afternoon, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market” and the local hippos. |
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Overnight at Arba Minch in a) Paradise Lodge b) Tourist Hotel c) camping at Wabe Shabelle Hotel |
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16 |
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Arba Minch |
Drive |
After breakfast, depart from Arba Minch to Turmi. On the way you will pass through the village of Weyto (market day Saturday), which is home to the Tsemai tribe. Continue through the Weyto Valley to Erbore, where you will have a brief visit to a local Erbore village (market day is Saturday). Finally, proceed to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribe. At night, you can see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer tribe, known as evangadi. |
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Overnight in Turmi at a) Buska Lodge b) Evangadi Lodge c) camping at Keske Campsite.
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17 |
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Turmi |
Drive |
In the morning, take a day trip to Omorate to visit the Dassenech tribe. Here you will cross the Omo River by local boat and enter a Dassenech village. Afterwards, return to Turmi (Monday is market day) for a visit to a local Hamer village. If there is Jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer coming-of-age ceremony, that will be visited. |
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Overnight in Turmi at a) Buska Lodge b) Evangadi Lodge c) camping at Keske Campsite.
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18 |
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Turmi |
Drive |
Depart for Jinka, via Dimeka and Key Afar. Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days in Dimeka, which is one of the most colorful markets in the area and is visited by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna and Karo. Afterwards, continue to Jinka. |
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Overnight in Jinka at a) Eco Omo Lodge b) Orit Hotel c) Goh Hotel.
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19 |
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Jinka |
Drive |
In the morning, drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates. In the afternoon, after returning to Jinka, you can visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center to learn more about the local tribes. Alternatively, take a hike in the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village. |
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Overnight in Jinka at a) Eco Omo Lodge b) Orit Hotel c) Goh Hotel.
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20 |
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Jinka |
Drive |
After breakfast, depart from Jinka to Konso, via Key Afar. Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods. This is another very popular market in the region. After the visit, proceed to Konso (market days are Mondays and Thursdays). The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing. Today you will have the opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. Time permitting, you can also visit the “natural New York Village”, named after the tall sand formations resembling skyscrapers. |
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Overnight in Konso at a) Kanta Lodge (tukul) b) Kanta Lodge (standard room) c) Strawberry Fields Ecolodge.
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21 |
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Konso |
Drive |
After breakfast, depart from Konso to Awassa. On the way you will visit the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary, which was established to protect the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest. Overnight in Awassa at Haile Resort/Tadesse Enjory Hotel/Pinna Hotel |
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Overnight in Awassa at A) Haile Resort B) Tadesse Enjory Hotel C) Pinna Hotel |
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22 |
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Awassa |
Drive |
In the morning, visit the fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa. After the visit, proceed driving to Addis Ababa. On the way, you may visit the Abiatta-Shala National Park. Lake Shala, with its deep blue waters is the deepest lake in Ethiopia at 236m. Lake Abiatta is a soda lake at which thousands of flamingos can be seen at various times of the year.
End of Tour.
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