13 Days Historic Route and Omo Valley Tour

Day 01: Arrival and Sightseeing in Addis Ababa (The New Flower) – Part of the Historic Route & Omo Valley Tour

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be met by our staff and transferred to your hotel. After breakfast, begin your exploration of Addis Ababa with visits to the city’s most iconic historical, cultural, and religious landmarks. Visit Entoto Maryam Church, one of the oldest Ethiopian Orthodox churches built by Emperor Menelik II in 1877. Continue to the Entoto Hills for panoramic views of the city before visiting the Ethnological Museum, housed in the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. Explore the National Museum of Ethiopia, home to the world-famous fossil “Lucy,” and conclude the day with a visit to Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market.
Overnight: Hotel in Addis Ababa (Bed and Breakfast)

Experience the rich culture and breathtaking landscapes that are part of the Historic Route & Omo Valley Tour.

Day 02: Fly to Bahir Dar

Fly north to Bahir Dar, capital of the Amhara region, situated on the shores of Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake. Upon arrival, take a boat trip on the lake to explore the island monasteries, including Ura Kidane Mihret Church on Zeghie Peninsula, renowned for its colorful religious paintings and illuminated manuscripts. In the afternoon, visit Tissisat Falls, meaning “water that smokes,” located about 32 km south of Bahir Dar.
Overnight: Hotel in Bahir Dar (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 03: Drive to Gondar (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

After breakfast, drive north to Gondar, the former capital of Ethiopia. Explore the Royal Enclosure, home to a series of 17th-century castles, including the grand castle of King Fasilidas. Visit Fasilidas’ Bath, where the Timkat Festival is celebrated annually, and the Debre Birhan Selassie Church, famed for its angelic ceiling and beautiful murals.
Overnight: Hotel in Gondar (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 04: Gondar – Simien Mountains – Gondar

Drive to Debark on the edge of the Simien Mountains National Park. Continue into the park for spectacular views of the rugged landscape. Take an optional 1.5-hour walk around the Sankaber area, where you can spot endemic wildlife such as Gelada baboons, Klipspringers, Lammergeyer vultures, and bushbucks. Afterward, return to Gondar.
Overnight: Hotel in Gondar (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 05: Fly to Lalibela (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Take a morning flight to Lalibela, famous for its rock-hewn churches. Visit the northwestern cluster, including Bete Medhane Alem—the world’s largest monolithic church—Bete Maryam, Bete Golgotha-Mikael, Bete Denagel, and Bete Meskel. End your visit at the magnificent Bete Giyorgis, the cross-shaped Church of Saint George, carved into solid rock and considered the most elegant of all.
Overnight: Hotel in Lalibela (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 06: Full-Day Visit in Lalibela

After breakfast, visit Na’akuto La’ab Monastery, founded by King Lalibela’s successor. Inside, see sacred artifacts, crowns, and illuminated manuscripts. Continue to Asheton Maryam Church, located high in the mountains, and admire its ancient treasures and beautifully illustrated Bibles.
Overnight: Hotel in Lalibela (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 07: Fly Back to Addis Ababa

In the morning, visit the southeastern cluster of Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches, including Bete Gabriel-Rufael, Bete Marqorios, Bete Emmanuel, and Bete Abba Libanos, showcasing unique Aksumite architecture. Afterward, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa.
Overnight: Hotel in Addis Ababa (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 08: Drive to Lake Langano

After breakfast, drive to Lake Langano, enjoying the scenic views of the Rift Valley lakes of Abijata and Shala along the way. Optionally, visit the Ostrich Farm in Abijata-Shala National Park before relaxing at the lake.
Overnight: Hotel at Lake Langano (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 09: Langano – Arba Minch

Drive to Arba Minch via Sodo Village and continue to the Guge Mountains to visit the Dorze and Chencha villages. The Dorze are known for their traditional beehive-shaped houses and exceptional weaving skills, while Chencha is renowned for producing some of Ethiopia’s finest woven cotton.
Overnight: Hotel in Arba Minch (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 10: Arba Minch – Konso – Turmi

Take a morning boat cruise on Lake Chamo, home to crocodiles, hippos, and various aquatic birds. Continue south to visit Konso Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique terracing and walled settlements. Learn about their traditional generation poles and ancestral wooden statues before proceeding to Turmi.
Overnight: Hotel in Turmi (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 11: Turmi – Kangaten (Nyangatom Tribe) – Karo Tribe – Turmi

Travel through acacia-dotted savannah to Kangaten to visit the Nyangatom tribe, known for their warrior culture and decorative body scarification. Continue to the Karo tribe at Kolcho Village on the eastern bank of the Omo River, famous for their artistic body painting and elaborate hairstyles. In the afternoon, visit the Hamer tribe, recognized for their distinctive adornments and the traditional bull-jumping ceremony marking the passage to manhood.
Overnight: Hotel in Turmi (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 12: Turmi – Omorate – Jinka

Drive to Omorate and cross the Omo River to visit the Dassanech tribe, semi-nomadic pastoralists known for their unique scarification traditions. Afterward, drive to Key Afer to visit the Mursi tribe, famous for the lip plates worn by women and intricate scarification patterns symbolizing beauty and status. Continue to Jinka for the night.
Overnight: Hotel in Jinka (Bed and Breakfast)

Day 13: Visit Ari Village and Fly to Addis Ababa

In the morning, visit the Ari tribe, the largest group in the Lower Omo Valley, known for their pottery, blacksmithing, and production of traditional liquor. After lunch, transfer to Jinka Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival, enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant with live cultural dances and an authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremony before being transferred to the airport for your international departure.