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INTRO
Explore ancient rock-hewn churches, castles and towering stelae in the north. Trek to the source of the Blue Nile and witness endemic wildlife in the Simien Mountains. In the south, meet the vibrant tribal people of the Omo Valley, experience market day in the villages and take a boat ride on Lake Chamo watching out for crocs, hippos and birdlife. FInish your trip in the ancient walled city of Harar, in Ethiopia's remote east.
DATES
AV - Available
GD - Guaranteed
LM - Limited places left
OR - On request (contact us for status)
CL - Closed for bookings
HIGHLIGHTS
Meet Lucy, the world’s oldest humanoid
Trek to the source of the Blue Nile
Medieval castles of Gondar
Gelada baboons in the Simiens
Ancient stelae of Axum
Rock-hewn churches of Lalibela
Tribes of the Omo Valley
Wildlife & birds in Awash National Park
Old-walled city of Harar
PLACES VISITED
Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar - Gondar - Simien Mountains - Axum - Lalibela - Lake Langano - Arba Minch - Turmi - Omo Valley - Awassa - Awash National Park - Harar Addis Ababa
ITINERARY
Short | Detailed | PDF
Day 1 : Addis Ababa
Pick up from airport. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon sightseeing. Dinner at traditional restaurant. Overnight in Addis Ababa.
Arrive into Addis Ababa airport, where you will be met by a Travel The Unknown representative and driven to your hotel. Freshen up, rest and have lunch. Spend the afternoon sightseeing: see the St. George Church Museum, Ethnographical Museum, National Museum and Entoto Mountains. In the evening, have dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant. Overnight in Addis Ababa.
Meal plan : Lunch & dinner
Day 2 : Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar
Drive to Bahir Dar. Enjoy a free evening. Overnight stay in Bahir Dar.
Drive the scenic route to Bahir Dar via the 13th century monastery of Debre Libanos and the Blue Nile Gorge. This is a dramatic road with spectacular views, which are often compared to those of the Grand Canyon in the USA. Arrive to Bahir Dar late in the afternoon and take the evening to relax. Overnight in Bahir Dar.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3 : Bahir Dar
Morning trek to Blue Nile Falls, source of Blue Nile. Afternoon boat ride on Lake Tana. Walk through jungle to ancient churches. Overnight in Bahir Dar.
In the morning, take a light trek through the rural countryside to the source of the Blue Nile and marvel at the Blue Nile Falls. Enjoy stunning scenery and encounter tribal villages en route. In the afternoon drive to the shore of Lake Tana (the largest lake in Ethiopia) for a boat cruise. Stop off at one of the monasteries on the peninsula to walk through the jungle and visit the ancient churches of Ura Kidane Mihret and Azwa Maryam. On the boat ride back you may see hippos as the sun starts to set. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Bahir Dar.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4 : Bahir Dar - Gondar
Drive to Gondar. Spend the afternoon exploring the castles of Gondar and royal bath. Continue driving to Simiens where you will spend the night.
After breakfast set off along the shore of Lake Tana for the castle city of Gondar, stopping en-route at the ruins of the impressive Guzara Castle. On arrival in Gondar, explore the city's medieval castle compound and royal baths. Later, head to the church of Debre-Birhan Selassie. If time permits also visit the local market. Evening free. Overnight in Gondar.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5 : Gondar - Simien Mountains
Early morning leave for Simien Mountains. Walk and spot wildlife. Dinner and overnight in Simien.
Early start for drive to the Simien Mountains, famous for its dramatic scenery, gelada baboons, walia ibex and bird life. Spend the day exploring the mountains on foot. Evening free. Overnight in the Simien Mountains.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6 : Simien Mountains - Axum
Drive to Axum and spend the night.
Drive to the ancient city of Axum across the stunning Limalimo Twist and Tekeze Gorge roads. Stop off to see the incense trees dotted along the valley. Arrive into Axum in the early evening. Check into hotel and take the evening to rest. Overnight in Axum.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7 : Axum
Sightseeing of ancient stelae and ruins. Dinner and overnight in Axum.
Full day sightseeing in Axum. Explore the site of the towering stelae (obelisks) which date back to the 4th century. Visit the Church of St. Mary of Zion, believed to house the original Ark of the Covenant (tabot). In the afternoon visit some of the underground tombs and ruins of the legendary Palace of Queen Sheba. Evening free. Overnight in Axum.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8 : Axum - Lalibela
Morning flight to Lalibela. Transfer to hotel. After lunch, visit the rock-hewn churches (Northern group). Evening free. Ovenight in Lalibela.
In the morning, fly to Lalibela and transfer to hotel. After lunch, explore the Northern cluster of the incredible medieval monolithic cave churches dating back to the 13th century. Evening free. Overnight in Lalibela.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9 : Lalibela
Full day sightseeing of Eastern and Western group of rock-hewn churches, including the spectacular cross-shaped Church of St. George. Evening free. Overnight in Lalibela.
Full day exploring the eastern and western cluster of Lalibela's rock-hewn churches, including the iconic cross-shaped Church of St. George (Giyorgis). Evening free. Overnight in Lalibela.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10 : Lalibela - Addis Ababa - Lake Langano
Fly to Addis Ababa and drive to Langano to spend the night.
Transfer to airport for morning flight to Addis Ababa. On arrival, drive via the Rift Valley to Lake Langano. Evening free.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11 : Langano - Arba Minch
Drive from Langano to Arba Minch. Visit Alaba people and spice markets. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Drive from Langano to Arba Minch. Along the way, visit the predominantly Muslim Alaba people, who are known for their colourful paintings on clean mud huts. They are economically active and their main source of income is cattle. The town itself is known for its spice markets, which attract the surrounding people of Gurage, Silite and Wolaita. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 12 : Arba Minch - Konso - Arba Minch
Explore Chencha and the Dorze people. Travel to Konso to meet the Konso people. Return to Arba Minch and spend the night.
In the morning, head to Chencha, home of the Dorze people, who are known for making beehive-shaped bamboo houses and colourful woven-cotton clothing. The market day of the Dorze people takes place on Thursdays and is a great place to see local villagers trading. After lunch, head to Konso to meet the Konso people. They are made up of 9 different clans and have a tradition of nominating their own King, who then gets his own Palace and servants who work for him. He is a symbol of peace and integrity among the Konso and this unique dynasty goes back many hundreds of years. The Konso have clean, well-built and well-protected villages and each village has a communal house called a 'Mora', where young boys spend their nights protecting the village. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 13 : Arba Minch - Turmi
Drive to Turmi, stopping at the tribal villages of Arbore and Hamer. Dinner and overnight in Turmi.
Drive deeper into the Omo Valley to Turmi. Stop off to visit the Arbore people. Arrive early evening into Turmi. Evening at leisure.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 14 : Omo Valley villages
Visit tribes close to Murelle (Bume and Karo people). Drive to Omo Rate for overnight stay.
In the morning visit the colourful Hamer tribal market in Dimeka (Saturdays). They typically sell honey, coffee beans, butter and cattle. The Hamer people are also famous for their wedding bull-jumping ceremonies and their women, who wear protruding metal necklaces and braid their hair with red clay and fat.
Visit the Karo village in Murelle. The Karo people share their cultural values with the Hamer people, and are known for their colourful body decorations. Later, walk to the nearby Omo river to see the Karo people fishing and the crocodiles that live there. Have a picnic lunch along the road and drive back to Turmi. On Mondays, there is another colourful market with the Hamer tribes. Overnight in Turmi.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 15 : Turmi - Omorate - Turmi
Drive to Omorate. Stop in Kangate to see Bume people. Meet Dassenech people. Overnight in Turmi.
In the morning, start driving from Turmi towards Omorate. Stop in Kangate to visit the Bume people on the way. Cross the Omo River in a traditional dugout canoe to meet the Dassanach tribal people. Their name means 'people of the Delta region' in the local language. Return to Turmi.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 16 : Turmi - Arba Minch
Drive from Turmi to Arba Minch. Boat trip on Lake Chamo. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Drive from Turmi to Arba Minch, where you will take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to see crocodiles and hippos up close. The lake is also known for its bird life. Evening free. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 17 : Arba Minch - Awassa
Fly from Arba Minch to Addis Ababa. Drive to Awash. Overnight in hotel.
Leave after breakfast for the drive north along the lake towards Awassa. Check into hotel on arrival and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Awassa.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 18 : Awassa - Awash
In the morning, explore Awash National Park. After lunch, drive to Harar. Overnight in Harar.
Visit the fish market in the morning, then set off through the Rift Valley for Awash National Park. Check into accommodation on arrival and rest of evening to relax. Overnight in Awash.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 19 : Awash - Harar
Morning free in Harar. Drive to Dire Dawa for sightseeing. Overnight in Dire Dawa.
You will have the morning free to explore Awash National Park. It is known for its spectacular scenery, varied wildlife and great bird-watching opportunities. The park has waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, acacia trees and grasslands. After lunch, drive east towards Harar. Check into hotel and evening free to relax. Overnight in Harar.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 20 : Harar
Enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Harar. Overnight in Harar.
Enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of the walled city of Harar. In the evening visit the famous 'hyena man' of Harar who hand feeds raw meat to wild hyenas. Overnight in Harar.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 21 : Harar - Dire Dawa - Addis Ababa
Fly from Dire Dawa to Addis Ababa. Free shopping time and farewell dinner. Return flight home.
Transfer to Dire Dawa to catch flight back to Addis Ababa. On arrival transfer to hotel. You will have the afternoon free for any additional sightseeing or shopping in the local markets. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant before being transferred to the airport for your return flight home.
Note: Ethiopian Airlines flight schedules vary so on some days so an overnight stay in Addis may be required.
Meal plan : Breakfast, lunch & dinner