OMO VALLEY

Depart south from Addis Ababa via Butajira. On the way you will visit the archeological sites of Tiya (ancient stelae field and UNESCO World Heritage Site), Adadi Maryam (a rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela) and Melka Kunture (pre-historic tool-making site). Final destination for the day is Awassa. Overnight in Awassa (hotel).

In the morning after breakfast, visit the fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa and then 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 in traditional Dorze hut (shared toilet facilities) or continue to Arba Minch for overnight (camping, hotel or lodge).

In the morning, depart to Arba Minch for a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the crocodile market, and the local hippos. Afterwards, 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. Overnight in Turmi (camping, hotel or lodge).

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. Overnight in Turmi (camping, basic hotel or lodge).

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. Overnight in Jinka (camping, hotel or lodge).

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. Overnight in Jinka (camping, hotel or lodge).

After breakfast, depart from Jinka to Arba Minch via Key Afar and Konso. 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 a brief opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. After the visit, proceed driving to Arba Minch. Overnight in Arba Minch (camping, hotel or lodge).

Early in the morning, depart from Arba Minch for a full days drive to Addis Ababa. On the way you may have time to visit one of the following archeological sites of interest:
– Tiya – ancient stellae field and UNESCO World Heritage site
– Adadi Maryam  rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela
– Melka Kunture  pre-historic tool-making site

End of tour.

*** This itinerary is flexible, and will likely change in order to coordinate visits with market days in the south, which is a great opportunity to mingle with the people, many of whom travel long distances on foot to attend.

Arrival in Addis Ababa at Bole International Airport
An Insider will meet and greet you and your group at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa and transfer you to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ghion Hotel.

Fly to Arbaminch and drive to Dorze Village
After catching the early flight to Arbaminch where our drivers will meet us, we head up into the highlands to visit a Dorze village with its remarkable, tall thatched, beehive-shaped houses. The Dorze use ingenious terracing and have a unique traditional life style with their colourful weaving products. In the afternoon, drive back down the escarpment to Lake Chamo for a relaxing boat trip to watch crocodiles, hippos and plenty of birds. Enjoy dinner in Arbaminch famous for its fish and overnight stay in Paradise Hotel.

Drive to Jinka
Early morning drive to Jinka and visit a Konso village on the way. If its a Thursday, you can visit th Key Afar market one of the biggest in the Omo Valley that attracts different tribes such as the Tsemay, Benna, Ari and Bashada. Overnight stay in Jinka Resort Hotel.

Day excursion to the Mursi tribe through the Mago National Park
An early drive after breakfast takes you to meet the Mursi tribe after passing through the Mago National Park, located on the banks of the Omo River. Visit the Mursi in their traditional village, and see the Mursi women and their custom of expanding their lower lips with wooden and clay discs. Overnight stay in Jinka Resort Hotel.

Drive to Turmi, the Hamer Tribe
Drive to Turmi via Dimeka and pass Hamer and Benna cattle herders. Turmi is the central town of the Hamer people and the main trading point between many of the Rift Valley peoples so markets here are particularly interesting. Overnight stay in Turmi Lodge.

Morning trip to Kolcho, the Karo Tribe
An early morning drive after breakfast will take you on an excursion trip to Murulle to visit the Karo tribe who adorn their bodies with paintings for dancing, feasts and celebrations. After lunch, visit a Hammer village featuring a tribal dance. Overnight stay in Turmi Lodge.

Excursion to Omorate , the Dessanech Tribe
You drive to Omorate and after crossing the Omo River you encounter the Dassenech people. Omorate lies on the eastern bank of the Omo River and is almost totally isolated from the rest of Ethiopia. Here you will encounter the Galeb people in the countryside, and go into the villages, in the river people bathe and wash their clothes. Afterwards drive back to Turmi. Overnight stay in Turmi/Buska lodge.

Drive to Arbaminch via Arbore
Today after breakfast leave the Lower Omo Valley via Arbore back to Arbaminch to relax in the evening. Overnight stay in Paradise Lodge.

Drive to Awassa
After breakfast you will travel back up the Rift Valley crossing fertile land planted with bananas, mangos and papayas and inhabited first by the Gamo people and then by the Wolayta. Then drive to the lakeside city of Awassa in mid-afternoon. Overnight stay in Lewi Resort.

Drive back to Addis
After breakfast, you will visit Lake Awassa and the popular fish market. Then you will drive to Addis Ababa. After having a farewell dinner check-in for flight back home.

Depart south from Addis Ababa via Butajira. On the way you will visit the archeological sites of Tiya (ancient stelae field and UNESCO World Heritage Site), Adadi Maryam (a rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela) and Melka Kunture (pre-historic tool-making site). Final destination for the day is Awassa. Overnight in Awassa (hotel).

In the morning after breakfast, visit the fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa and then 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 in traditional Dorze hut (shared toilet facilities) or continue to Arba Minch for overnight (camping, hotel or lodge).

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. Overnight in Arba Minch (camping, hotel or lodge).

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. Overnight in Turmi (camping, hotel or lodge).

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. Overnight in Turmi (camping, basic hotel or lodge).

Early morning depart from Turmi to the village of Kangatan. Here you will cross the Omo River and take a short walk through the local fields to visit a village of the Nyangatom tribe. After the visit, return across the river and proceed to the Karo village of Korcho, with a stunning location lookin over the Omo River. The Karo people, while the smallest tribe of the Omo Valley in number, are also known to be the most decorated. After the visit, return to Turmi for another opportunity to see Jumping of the Bulls. Overnight in Turmi (camping, basic hotel or lodge).

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. Overnight in Jinka (camping, hotel or lodge).

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. Overnight in Jinka (camping, hotel or lodge).

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). Overnight in Konso (camping, hotel or lodge).

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. After the visit, continue to Yabello. If there is time, visit the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary for a chance to see zebras. Overnight in Yabello (hotel).

Early in the morning, take an excursion south to visit El Sod, a village that is home to a crater lake with a large salt deposit called the House of Salt (chow bet). This is the land of the Borena people, a large nomadic ethnic group that extends deep into Kenya. After the visit, proceed driving to Yirgalem. Here you can enjoy an evening coffee ceremony while watching the hyenas in the surrounding forest. Overnight in Yirgalem (lodge).

After breakfast, depart north 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.

*** This itinerary is flexible, and will likely change in order to coordinate visits with market days in the south, which is a great opportunity to mingle with the people, many of whom travel long distances on foot to attend.
Itinerary Information

Arrival in Addis Ababa at Bole International Airport
An Insider will meet and greet you and your group at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa and transfer you to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ghion Hotel.

  Fly to Arbaminch and drive to Dorze Village
After catching the early flight to Arbaminch where our drivers will meet us, we head up into the highlands to visit a Dorze village with its remarkable, tall thatched, beehive-shaped houses. The Dorze use ingenious terracing and have a unique traditional life style with their colourful weaving products. In the afternoon, drive back down the escarpment to Lake Chamo for a relaxing boat trip to watch crocodiles, hippos and plenty of birds. Enjoy dinner in Arbaminch famous for its fish and overnight stay in Paradise Hotel.

Drive to Jinka
Early morning drive to Jinka and visit a Konso village on the way. If its a Thursday, you can visit th Key Afar market one of the biggest in the Omo Valley that attracts different tribes such as the Tsemay, Benna, Ari and Bashada. Overnight stay in Jinka Resort Hotel.

 Day excursion to the Mursi tribe through the Mago National Park
An early drive after breakfast takes you to meet the Mursi tribe after passing through the Mago National Park, located on the banks of the Omo River. Visit the Mursi in their traditional village, and see the Mursi women and their custom of expanding their lower lips with wooden and clay discs. Overnight stay in Jinka Resort Hotel.
 

Drive to Turmi, the Hamer Tribe
Drive to Turmi via Dimeka and pass Hamer and Benna cattle herders. Turmi is the central town of the Hamer people and the main trading point between many of the Rift Valley peoples so markets here are particularly interesting. Overnight stay in Turmi Lodge.

Morning trip to Kolcho, the Karo Tribe
An early morning drive after breakfast will take you on an excursion trip to Murulle to visit the Karo tribe who adorn their bodies with paintings for dancing, feasts and celebrations. After lunch, visit a Hammer village featuring a tribal dance. Overnight stay in Turmi Lodge.

Excursion to Omorate , the Dessanech Tribe
You drive to Omorate and after crossing the Omo River you encounter the Dassenech people. Omorate lies on the eastern bank of the Omo River and is almost totally isolated from the rest of Ethiopia. Here you will encounter the Galeb people in the countryside, and go into the villages, in the river people bathe and wash their clothes. Afterwards drive back to Turmi. Overnight stay in Turmi/Buska lodge.

 

Drive to Arbaminch via Arbore
Today after breakfast leave the Lower Omo Valley via Arbore back to Arbaminch to relax in the evening. Overnight stay in Paradise Lodge.

Drive to Awassa
After breakfast you will travel back up the Rift Valley crossing fertile land planted with bananas, mangos and papayas and inhabited first by the Gamo people and then by the Wolayta. Then drive to the lakeside city of Awassa in mid-afternoon. Overnight stay in Lewi Resort.

Drive back to Addis
After breakfast, you will visit Lake Awassa and the popular fish market. Then you will drive to Addis Ababa. After having a farewell dinner check-in for flight back home.