Tour Code: ITO-402/12
Tour Name: Combination tour
Duration: 22 days/21 nights
Transport: flight and surface
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Arrive at Bole International Airport, and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2: Flight to Bahir Dar and drive to Blue Nile Falls
Early in the morning, transfer to the airport, after check in to your hotel/resort you will drive some 30 km to the Blue Nile Falls. In Bahir Dar, visit the market and Bezawit Palace (formerly the palace of Haile Selassie).
Day 3: Half-day boat trip on Lake Tana then trancefer to Gonder
Today we spend exploring Lake Tana and its islands by boat. We visit the monastery churches of Ura Kidhane Mihret, Kebran Gebrieal and Azawa Mariam. After lunch, drive to Gondar on the way, you can explore the beautiful landscapes of the Amhara tribes, check in hotel.
Day 4: Day trip to Semien Mountain
Drive to the Simien Mountains (Simien National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). And sped the day by looking around (in this park we can find gelada baboon which is endemic to Ethiopia) we arrive back in Gondar early evening.
Day 5: Gonder and sight seeing
Visit the Royal Enclosure that is surrounded by high stone walls containing the 17th century palaces of King Fassiladas, King Iyasu and Queen Mentewab and different other buildings. Visit also Fasiladas’ Bath, which is found in a peaceful, shady and beautiful spot, and well worth a visit. The ancient bath is filled with water for the important Timkat (epiphany) ceremony once a year. The ceremony replicates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, and is seen as an important renewal of faith.
Day 6: Flight to Axum
Upon arrival check in hotel then start to make explore in and around Axum.
Day 7: Fly to Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela check in to hotel and out to visit frist and third group of monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 8: One more day in Laliblea
Make excursion to visit Asheton Mariam by mule or drive to 45km gravel road North of Lalibela to visit Yemrehan Christos church. In afternoon continue to visit the second groups of churches.
Day 9: Flight to Addis
We will catch a morning flight back to Addis Ababa, check in to hotel and have lunch in your hotel. In the afternoon we will have city tour of Addis.
Day 10: Drive to Awassa
Early morning depart to southern part of Ethiopia through the rift valleys to Awassa on the way visiting the Marinue birds on Lake Ziway and Abjata shalla NP, check in hotel/resort.
Day 11: Drive to Dorze
In the morning, visit the fish market on Lake Awassa, and then continue to Dorze to visit the Dorze people, who are known for their tall beehive-like houses and waving, check in to hotel/Lodge.
Day 12: Make a boat trip on Lake Chamo
In the afternoon, take a boat ride on Lake Chamo to visit the crocodile market and hippo then transfer to Nechi Sar NP the nice spot of view of the two lakes and wild life then back to hotel/ lodge.
Day 13: Drive to Turmi via Arbore
Drive to Turmi, via Arbore, en route visit Konso village and Friday is market day in Arbore, if this day if we are on the right day you can visit there market. Overnight lodge/camping.
Day 14: Day trip to Omorate.
In the morning drive to Omorate where you will cross the Omo River by local boat and visit the Dasennech tribes. Afterwards, return to Turmi and, if there is bull Jumping which is traditional Hamer wedding ceremony, we can attend the ceremony. Overnight: – lodge.
Day 15: Day trip to Murille to visit Karo and Nyangatome village
Drive to Koricho to visit the Karo tribes then continue to Kangati to visit Nyangatom village across the Omo river, overnight camping in Murille.
Day 16: Drive to Jinka
Early in the morning drive to jinka, enroot stop in Dimeka for the local market, which is on Tuesdays and Saturday. This is one of the most colorful markets in the South Omo and you can visit Hamer, Benna, Karo, Tsemai and Ari tribes, overnight Hotel/Resort.
Day 17: Day trip to Mursi village via Mago National Park
Drive to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe, who are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates. Afterwards, return to Jinka, where you can visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center for more information about the tribes. Additionally, Saturday is market day in Jinka.
Day 18: Drive to Konso
Drive to Konso via Key Afar. You will have the opportunity to visit the Benna people at the local market in Key Afar, which takes place on Thursdays. Afterwards, continue driving to Konso, which has markets on Thursday. The Konso people are known for their totems erected in honor of the dead and their intricate agricultural terracing techniques, overnight at Hotel/ lodge.
Day 19: Drive to Yabelo
Drive to visit El Sod, which is home to a large salt deposit called the House of Salt. There are several deep crater lakes here from which salt is extracted. You will also visit a local village of the Borena people then back for lunch relax and out for game drive in Yabelo Sanctuary.
Day 20: Drive to Wondo Genet
Drive to Wondo Genet through the Gediyo and sidam village and landscapes where you can swim and relax in the hot spring pools, check in to resort/hotel.
Day 21: Drive to Langano
Today you will drive a short distance to Lake Langano, one of the Rift Valley Lakes, and the only lake that you can swim in. En route visit the Rastafarian village and Abiatta-Shala National Park, then check in resort and relax
Day 22: Drive back to Addis Ababa and departure
This morning you will relax around the lake and late morning drive back to Addis Ababa. And in the evening we will have fare-well dinner in one of traditional restaurants then transfer to the airport for fly back home.