Danakil Depression, Lalibela, Omo Valley and Simien Mountains

Day 1: Addis Ababa City Tour

1. Holy Trinity Cathedral
   35m · Admission ticket included
   This is the main Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral, the last resting place for important personnel including King Hailesilassie I, and many others who have contributed for the welfare of Ethiopia. It is beautifully painted and have a lot of architectural majesty. A good insight to understand the Ethiopian Christianity.
2. National Museum of Ethiopia
   40m · Admission ticket included
   This is a great introduction to the history, culture and people of Ethiopia. It houses different collections like antiquities, crafts, contemporary paintings, archaeological findings from different parts of the nation and exhibit it to the public. This is also where the famous and oldest (3.2M Years old) known human skeleton (fossil) - LUCY - is displayed
3. Entoto Natural Park
   40m
   The highest point around Addis Ababa has the perfect look-out place of Addis. Drive up to the Mountain covered by the eucalyptus, Junipers, 'hygienica Abysinica' and many more other types of trees. It is a peaceful and enjoyable landscape over-looking Addis Ababa. Driving down through the authentic villages will enable you to have balanced impression of Addis Ababa.
4. Mercato Market
   45m
   The largest open-air market in Africa, Mercato offers blistering mix of activities involving local people across Ethiopia. It is a living testimony of the harmony and collaborative life style of Ethiopia. From small-scale business to skyscrapers, food, clothes and almost everything people needs is there. We will take our guests to the most authentic part of the market, Spicy, coffee, foods, recycling area. It is fun place for visitors.

Day 2: Fly from Addis Ababa - Mekelle - Danakil Depression

1. Danakil Depression
   8h · Admission ticket included
   This is officailly the lowest point on the planet (120M below Sea level) and we will start our drive as soon as we land in the vibrant Mekelle. The Danakil depression is formed when three different tectonic plates met at the triangle in the Afar Region, in the process forming the depression which is now full of colors and minerals. We will drive to Hamedilla - the Camping Site - and go to the the Asale Salt Lake for beautiful Sunset and walk around.

Day 3: Excursions around Dalol and Drive to Eartale

1. Dalol tours
   3h · Admission ticket included
   This is going to be another amazing day inside the depression, where we will hike for about 2 hours and witness the miraculous colorful formations. This is a mix of several minerals mainly Salt, Potash, Sulpher. After visiting the colorful area, continue the adventure to the ever-existing Salt Mountains which are proof of the actual volcanic activities.
2. Erta Ale
   7h · Admission ticket included
   After visiting the Dallol, we will drive to Ertale - one of the few active volcanoes in the world. This is the described as the ' The Gateway to Hell' by some of the famous authors and it indeed requires a lot of energy and patience because of the evening trekking to the mountain.
   After long driving, we will arrive to the base camping where the cars will park and we will start the trekking: it is possible to hire Camel for anyone interested.
   After 1:30 to 2:30 hours of trekking, we will arrive to the tip of the volcanic eruption area - walk deep in to the volcano and enjoy it for a while. return to the camping site.

Day 4: Drive from Ertale to Mekelle

1. 8m
   After two different hard trekkings, guests deserve to have a nice Swim on Afdera Salt Lake on our way back to Mekelle. Arrive to the base camp from the volcano and have breakfast: then head to Afdra to swim and refresh OR go directly to Mekelle to enjoy the city and sleep there.

Day 5: Drive from Mekelle to Lalibela

1. Amhara Region
   8h
   This is going to be long but relaxing drive which will give you insights about the typical countryside lifestyles of Ethiopia. We will be driving through chained-mountains of Tigray and Amhara regions.
   
   We will have several stops for lunch, photos and just relaxing and talking with locals. Depending on the date, we may visit a typical local markets.
   
   Arrive to Lalibela Late afternoon to enjoy the stunning Sunset from your hotel.

Day 6: Sightseeing in the Rock churches of Lalibela & Surrounding

1. Lalibela - Rock-Hewn Churches
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Lalibela, previously known as 'Roha' served as the second permanent historical capital of Ethiopia and now welcomes thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world to witness the breathtaking engineering of 10 solid Rock-curved churches.
   
   There are three different groups of churches and we will explore every one of them, starting from the biggest monolithic church in the world - Bete Medhanialem, and the nearby churches, which are excavated to symbolize "Earthly Jerusalem" - by the Saint & King Lalibela
2. Church of St. George
   2m · Admission ticket included
   The finest of all churches of Lalibela, St.George was curved out to symbolize Noah's Ark, and have elaborately designed windows and doors, each meaning different stories from the bible or other complementary Christians prayers Books. The cross-shaped church is famous for being used in different promotion and advertising, so being here will definitely WOW you.
   
   We will proceed to discover more hidden parts of this ancient capital and see the remaining churches.
3. Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Our entire time in Lalibela will be used to explore many more attractions in and around the City depending on our time.
   
   At the end of the tour, we will finish the day by going to the local 'Honey Wine Brewing Place', locally known as 'Tej Bet' to taste one of the famous Ethiopian drinks and enjoy local music - Watch out for the amazing Shoulder Shaking dance.

Day 7: Fly from Lalibela to Jinka

1. Jinka
   1h
   This day, we will have two flight: going from Lalibela to Jinka, but first stop in Addis Ababa to chnage a plane. Up on arrival to Jinka, we will check in the hotel and have a free afternoon: maybe have a little walk in Jinka - Nice and peaceful city, or maybe going up to the South Omo Research Center - a museum narrating stories about the several tribes living by the Omo river Valley.

Day 8: Visit Mursi tribes, drive to Turmi

1. Mago National Park
   4h · Admission ticket included
   This day, is your introduction to the tribal life in Omo valley and we will be spending several hours driving between them.
   
   The indigenous Mursi tribe live inside the Mago national park together with other people. In the morning, we will cross Mago park and visit typical Mursi village where we will see the most authentic routine life of the Mursi people.
   
   Mursi women are the most recognizable ladies in Ethiopia with their practice of inserting lip-plates in their lower lips to beautify themselves. After spending few hours with Mursi, we will drive back to Jinka for lunch and proceed to Turmi
2. Key Afer
   1h
   Depending our traveling dates, we will visit some tribal markets: most notably the Key Afer, Dimeka or Kako market places: this will be decided depending on the dates.
   
   If there are no markets, we will improvise and visit something else so our guests are enjoying the day. Some typical ceremonies COULD take place on the same dates so we have some options. This will be notified once the tour is booked.
3. Turmi
   1h
   Late afternoon, we will arrive in the small dusty town of Turmi - the nearest town to visit several tribes. We will visit one oft he most friendly and humble peolpe - The Hammar village. By the time we arrive in the village, it is time for the people to come to their house from wherever they spent the day, the village will be full of people - young people, enjoying their life, sometimes following us by surprise - Some of them asking you to have photos.
   
   The Hammar have something unique to their culture - The Bull-jumping ceremony --performed by every adult as rite of passage from childhood to adultery and an official sign that the guy who do the jumping is fit to Marry.
   
   If there is one happening while we are there, we could go and see them ceremony.

Day 9: Drive from Turmi To Karro

1. Omo Valley Tours
   4h · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, we will drive to Korocho village to enjoy time with the most colorful of the tribes, Karro people. They live closer to Omo River and in the best location over the River. Karro people decor their body with different paints and welcome you for photos.
   
   We will explore the village and go into somebody's house and see how the Omo valley tribes live deeply.
2. Dasenech Village
   3m · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon, we will take nice drive down to Omo River to see the Dasenech people, who are the closest to Omo River.
   
   Up on arrival we will cross Omo River by traditional wooden boat and walk 20 minutes to the nearest Dasenech village.
   
   Dasench are very unique that they still practice Circumcision of girls in every generation. We do agriculture and husbandry for their routine life. We will spend as long as we want and go back to Turmi for overnight.

Day 10: Drive from Turmi to Arbaminch

1. Konso Cultural Centre
   2h · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, we will drive out of the Omo valley and join the Rift valley. En route we will stop in Konso village to visit one of the most interesting societal life.
   
   Konso are famous for many things, their land terracing technique set them apart from anyone else. We will visit some of their local village built by dry-walled by every different generations. The organization and way of life in Konso will take you by surprise.
   
   We cannot describe Konso enough that you will be amazed by everything.
2. Turmi
   1h
   There is a high possibility to visit another market that we could not see in another days. So we will enjoy driving back to Arbaminch and stopping wherever we find something interesting.
   
   It is going be 6-8 hours drive from Turmi to Arbaminch

Day 11: Drive from Arbaminch to Bale Mountains National park

1. Bale Mountains National Park
   1h
   We will start early morning and drive to the second highest mountain in Ethiopia - Bale Mountains national park.
   
   We will drive through the rift valley and stop for lunch in Shashemene, the living place for Jamaicans.
   
   Up on arrival to Bale, we will visit some of the endemic wildlife including, Mountain Nyala, Menelik Bushbuck, Reedback, Kidus, Warthogs and many more.
   
   We will continue driving to Bale Goba for overnight.
2. Goba
   10m
   This is going to be full day drive from Arbaminch to Bale Mountains national park.

Day 12: Excursion of Bale Mountains National Park

1. Bale Mountains
   9h · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, we will drive to Harenna rain-forest and Tulu Dimtu, slowly walking and driving to hopefully spot the indigenous Ethiopian Wolf, the Giant Molerat, and other species inside the park.
   
   We will spend half day in the park and drive back to Hawasa. We will arrive to our resort in the afternoon and enjoy the Sunset over Fiker-Haiq, near our resorts.

Day 13: Drive from Hawassa to Addis Ababa

1. Fish Market at Awassa Lake
   2h · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, we will witness the amazing Human-Fish-Birds fight for survival. This a famous Fish market where the fishermen spend the whole night on the other end of the lake and bring their fishes for locals. We will spend few hours and drive to Addis Ababa.
2. Kuriftu Water Park
   2h · Admission ticket included
   We will have lunch at one of the most luxurious resorts in Ethiopia - Kuriftu resorts and spend few hours, walking around or Canoeing on the Kuriftu Lake. In the afternoon drive back to Addis Ababa for overnight.
3. Addis Ababa
   2h
   We will have a farewell dinner at one of the famous cultural restaurant and enjoy the folk live music and dance performance, with Ethiopian honey wine or beer.
   
   This is the best way to finish your trips in Ethiopia and the fun night will bring the end for your beautiful trip in Ethiopia.

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness