Tour Code: ATTA 015
Duration: 13 Days and 12 Nights
Means of Traveling: By Flight and Surface
North (Classic Historic Tour) and South (Omo Valley) by Surface and Flight
DAY ONE: ADDIS-----BAHIR DAR.
In the early morning fly to Bahir Dar. Upon arrival meet with guides and drivers and be transferred to your hotel. After quick refreshment, drive 35km to Blue Nile Falls. In the afternoon boat trip on Lake Tana at the medieval monasteries of the Zeghie Peninsula and to the out let of the Blue Nile River. O/N Tana hotel or similar.
DAY TWO: BAHIRDAR----GONDAR.
N.B: There is no flight between Bahir Dar & Gondar
Morning drive 186km (asphalt) to Gondar through the spectacular Tara Gedam Mountain ranges. Enroute, you will see the 16th c. Castle of Emperor Sarsa Dengel and drive further to Gondar. After lunch, you will see the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie which is painstakingly decorated by a local monk and historical sites such as the royal palace of Emperor Fasiledes, the Quesquam Enclosure, and the Bath Palace of Emperor Fasiledes. O/N Goha hotel or similar.
DAY THREE: GONDAR----LALIBELA.
After a relaxing morning, transfer to Gondar Airport to fly to Lalibela, and be transferred to your hotel then, Visit of Lalibela brings you to yet more wonder – the rock-hewn churches. O/N Tukul Village or Mountain View hotel.
DAY FOUR: LALIBELA---AXUM
In the morning, transfer to Axum airport to fly to Axum, and drive to your hotel. After quick refreshment, sightseeing of historical sites in Axum such as the stele park, tombstones of king Kaleb, King Gebre Meskal and king Bazen and the churches of Mary Zion, the archaeological museum, the bath and the palace of Queen Sheba. O/N at Consular or similar hotel.
DAY FIVE: AXUM —ADDIS
Be transferred to Axum Airport to fly back to Addis. PM city tour in Addis to visit museums, churches and shopping such as National Museum, Natural History Museum, St.George Cathedral and St. Trinity Cathedral, Shopping and others. O/N Addis.
DAY SIX: ADDIS---ARBAMINCH
Early morning, drive to the south via Addis-Butajira road. Here, you will visit the archaeological site of Melka Kunture, Tiya Stele and through the beautiful mountainous country you will drive 35 km through another junction to visit the tribal village of Chencha. This tribe is known for its art of weaving and unique house building. Here you will see also the preparation of false banana how it is scrapped and used to be bread and porridge. Then drive to Arba Minch. O/N at Paradise lodge or similar.
DAY SEVEN: ARBAMINCH---TURMI
Day drive to Turmi en route visiting of different tribal villages and their way of life, on the way, you meet the tribes of Arbore, Konso villages and their age old astonishing terracing practices and also attend one of the most unique & colorful market of Monday market of Turmi dominated by Hamer people . O/N Buska Lodge or similar.
DAY EIGHT: Tuesday TURMI—Murulle---TURMI
Day drive to Murulle to visit the Karo village at Korecho. After a picnic lunch, you will cross the Omo River to visit the Bume people at Kangate and also attend one of the most unique & colorful market of village of Dimeka, more than three tribes congregated for Tuesday Market. Then, drive back to Turmi. O/N Buska Lodge or similar.
DAY NINE: TURMI—Omorate---TURMI
Morning drive through the lush forest to Omorate. Then, crossing the Omo River with wooden ferry to visit the Dasenetch tribal villages. O/N Buska lodge or similar.
DAY TEN: TURMI--JINKA
Day drive to Jinka en route visiting of different tribal villages and their way of life and also you meet the tribes of Giddole, Derashe, Konso, Tsemay, Benna and Ari. And also attend the village of Key-Afer, more than three tribes congregated for Thursday market, namely Ari, Benna, Hammar, Tsemay and Mali with their unique decoration can easily identified here. Then drive back to Jinka in the afternoon visit of Jinka Museum. O/N Jinka Resort or similar.
DAY ELEVEN: JINKA---Mago National Park----JINKA
Drive to the Mursi people by crossing the Mago National Park. The Mursi are mostly known who adorned by using clay and wooden lip plate on their lip and ear lobes. Then drive back to Jinka Resort or simiar.
DAY TWELVE: JINKA-- KONSO--ARBAMINCH
Drive to Arbaminch on the way, you will visit the Konso astonishing walled terracing and villages’ settlement which is registered by UNESCO as world heritage
sites in 2011. O/N Paradise lodge or similar.
DAY THIRTEEN: ARBAMINCH--ADDIS ABABA
Day drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley Lakes and enjoying their scenic beauty along with the different species of birds. There is also the Abijjata Shalla National Park that comprises the two soda lakes together with their abundant bird life and the Ostrich Farm that worth a visit on your way.