North Historic and South Omo Valley Tribes 12 Days Tour Package

Welcome! Upon your arrival at Bole International Airport and you will clear immigration and proceed to baggage claim, after collecting your checked bags, clear customs and pass through the arrivals hall where you will be meet FINOT TOUR ETHIOPIA tour guide or representative, who will assist you with your transfer to your hotel. After having early breakfast, we transfer you to Bole International Airport for Domestic flight to Bahirdar. After arrival directly transfer to the hotel. You will a drive to the Blue Nile Falls, (the water amount of the fall is depending on the rain), but the drive and walking by its self is great and enjoyable. After lunch, we take a boat across Lake Tana to the Zeghie peninsula. On the peninsula, we do a short walk and visit two monasteries from the 14th century, Azwa Mariam and Ura Kidane Mehret. Under the thatched roof of the monastery, there are some distinctive colorful frescoes of religious scenes an impressive display of illuminated bibles written in “Geez” the religious language from which Amharic is derived. The architectural style of both monasteries is a typical example of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, with its round shape, mud walls, and conical straw roofs. In Zeghie, we also find diverse bird species and Columbus Baboons in the forest. We continue our cruse to Entos Eyesus Monastery the smallest and nearest island in Lake Tana. Ura Kidanmihret, Azwa Mariam that and Entos Eyesus Monastery on the on Lake Tana islands allows both genders. We back to our hotel late in the afternoon.

After breakfast, we continue driving to Gondar. The town is the gateway to the Simien Mountains and lies at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level. After lunch, we will visit the famous castles of the town, where former rulers built numerous palaces for themselves and their families. Gondar was the 17th and 18th century capital city of Ethiopia, which founded by Emperors Fasiladas (1632 – 1667) and was home to a number of emperors and warlords, curtsies and kings who built several castles and palaces around the area. Visit the oldest and the most impressive Gondarian structure, the magnificent castle compound including the two storied palace of emperor Fasiladas, built of roughly hewn brown basalt stone held together with mortar. Afterwards, we will go to the bath of King Fasilidas, where Timkat Fest is annually hosted. Timkat is one of the famous festivals in Ethiopia and held annually to celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ. We finish the day with a visit to the church of Debre Berhan Selassie, which is famous for its beautiful ceiling paintings. The motif of the angelic face became a symbol of Ethiopian art.

Morning Drive to Simien Mountains National Park. The Simien Mountains has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1969. UNESCO described the mountains as “one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes on the Ethiopian plateau.” The park is full of breathtaking landscapes and abundant flora and fauna. Over 10,000 of the rare & endemic Gelada baboons live in the park and can be observed at a close distance. The park is also the home to the Walia Ibex, which is also called Ethiopian Wolf. We will have an easy hike (approximately 4 – 5 h) from the head quarter until Sankaber (3,260 m). We pass picturesque scenery, as well as Ethiopia’s highest waterfall Jinbar, also called “gateway to hell.” Trek for 2.5 hours to 500m high Jinbar waterfall. Along the way you will observe the splendid landscape and different kinds of flowers and trees. There is also a possibility to see a klipspringer and mini bushbuck. There are leopards in the area but they are rarely seen, however maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones! Of course, the delightful gelada baboons are always around. We will visit Waliya Ibex endemic to Ethiopia and Semien Mountain National park too in Geech (3,600 m). On the way you will visit the black Jewish. The small village of Woleka, just north of Gondar, is a little remainder of the Falasha (Ethiopian Jews) community whose origin is not known but it is believed their story is connected to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The Jews who once lived there left for the nearest countries during the Operation Moses period. You will find many ancient and modern crafts in this part of Gondar as the villager’s exhibit their handwork for people to buy.

In the morning, you will drive to lalibela Via Woreta. You will have stunning views of the Guna Mountains as you travel through this dramatic landscape. On the way, you will drive to Awra Amba community through Hamusit city. Awra Amaba is an Ethiopian community of about 400 people, located 73 kilometers east of Bahirdar in the Fogera woreda of Debub Gondar Zone. Founded by Zumra Nuru, who currently serves as co-chairman of the community and is lauded as a model to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality in a country. You will have a photo stop and coffee break through it.

After having breakfast, you start visiting the churches of Lalibela. It is registered by UNESCO world heritage site. The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are the “new Jerusalem” and the holiest town in the whole of Ethiopia is highly recommended since there are 12 churches in town separated in three different groups. Your professional tour guide will meet you at the reception of your hotel. Once you introduced with your guide, you will walk through the city for about 3 minutes until the ticket office of Lalibela churches and you will start visiting the first group of churches. In the morning, we visit the first /South Western/ cluster churches. You will be able to discover churches of Bet Medhanealem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael and Bet Golgotha, which are connected through underground tunnels. In the afternoon, after having your delicious lunch at one of the best restaurant. We continue our visiting the second /North Eastern/ cluster. The churches are Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bethlehem, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos and St. George. St. George is the most famous and symbol of Zagwe dynasty and city of Lalibela. It is the most famous and very picturesque of all the churches. Bet Giyorgis (St. George) constructed in honor of the patron Saint George. Finally, we will have a traditional in one of traditional restaurant with traditional music performance.

After an early breakfast, leave Lalibela en-route visit the monastery of Nakutolab- a cave church. This is the easiest of all the outlying churches to reach in the monastery of Nakutolab, which is named after its constructor, the nephew and successor of king Lalibela. The monastery accredited to Nakuotolab consists of a relatively simple church built around a shallow cave in which several holy pools are fed by natural springs. After visiting you will get domestic flight takes us back to Addis Ababa and transferred to the hotel your hotel for overnight stay.

Early in the morning we make fly to Arba Minch and drive to the shore of the lake to have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, Boat trip on Lake Chamo is along the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Nile Crocodiles, which measure about 6 meter with the water birds, are great the scenery is truly unforgettable then further drive to jinka. Then continue drive to Turmi for overnight.

After early in the morning breakfast, we drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women, who on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted. Based on our drive and visiting time we drive to drive to Key-Afer Tribal Market one of the best market in the Omo Valley since at list four different tribes are coming to attend these weekly market. Arrival to the small town and escort a local guide walking around the market and explore different section of the market including animal, vegetable, cereals and much more. Then continue drive to Turmi for overnight.

This day early in the morning after breakfast drive 73 km west to visit the Dassench /Geleb/ people; who inhabited in the bank of Omo River and we cross the Omo River by locally made boat to see the village these tribes are semi nomadic with very little agriculture on the bank of the Omo River. You will drive back to Turmi for lunch. After lunch, you will drive for excursion to Murulle to see Nyangatom tribes and the Karo tribe. They are famous for their body panting they prepare the ink for the painting from locally available material like flower, soil and animal blood. You will drive in one of the nearest village of hammar tribes and visit. The Hamar is one of the most well-known tribes in Southern Ethiopia. They inhabit the territory east of the Omo River and have villages in Turmi. They are especially well known for their unique rituals, including a cattle-leaping ceremony that the young men have to undergo in order to reach adulthood and to marry. The young Hamar men are famous for their “Evangadi dance” and “Bull jumping” ceremony. This ritual entails young men who wish to marry jumping over a line of bulls, thereby proving their worth to their intended bride’s family. We return back to Turmi for overnight.

In the morning, you will drive in to Arbaminch. You will stop to visit the Konso tribe with their king- UNESCO registered site for their extensive terracing and practice of making a wooden grave mark for their hero and kings. This day you will have a brief opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many “Wagas” statues. This is the famous 'wagas' a funerary tradition, where magnificent carved wooden sculptures were created in honor of Konso warrior heroes, who have killed an enemy or animal, and often grouped to represent the man, his wives and his adversaries. The Konso people, who are known for their totems erected in honor of the dead and their intricate agricultural terracing techniques. You will visit the Konso people who have an ancient, complex, and fascinating culture of their own. Here are found human fossils dating from between 1.3 and 1.9 million years. Witness the spectacle of ‘Konso's New York' an extraordinary landscape of sand pinnacles formed by wind and rain. Continue driving Aribaminch and visit the Dorze tribe and their village, famed for their bee hive shaped houses and their weaving skills. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze. They are also farmers, who prevent soil erosion by ingenious terracing of the mountainsides. Around their huts, they have their own little garden with vegetables, spices tobacco and Enset (false-banana or Ensete). You arrive late in the afternoon at Arbaminch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arbaminch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town.

Early in the morning drive to the Lake shore to have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, connecting with Lake Abaya by the "Bridge of God". Boat trip on Lake Chamo is along the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Nile Crocodiles, which measure about 6 meter, are great the scenery is truly unforgettable. We will also under the lead of the experienced boat man spot the rich wildlife around the lake including hippopotamus and a good variety of water birds. After lunch in Wolayita Sodo, we continue driving to Hawassa one of the beautiful lake from the rift valley.

On our last morning, we set off for the fish market on the shores of Lake Hawassa. Watch the small fishing boats come in and the anglers selling their catch to traders, attracting a host of water birds including Marabou Storks. Leaving Lake Hawassa we head north, returning to Addis Ababa where our cultural journey began. Our scenic route takes us via the Rift Valley Lakes of Langano, Abiyatta, Shalla and Ziway. This afternoon you are free to explore the diplomatic and cultural hub of Addis Ababa and do some sightseeing. In the evening, farewell party dinner invitation by FINOT TOUR ETHIOPIA with cultural dinner and traditional special buffet and local drinks to experience Ethiopia’s cultural meals and drinks. Here you will enjoy and experience several tribal dances. After farewell dinner party, we transfer you to Bole International Airport for international departure.