5 Days South Omo Valley with Addis Ababa City Tour

Tour Name – 5 Days South Ethiopia Tours from Addis Ababa

No of Day/night – 5 Days & 4 Nights          

Mode of transportation – Car

Day 01 Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour          

You will meet our staff upon arrival from your international flight and after breakfast, begin your exploration of Addis Ababa with visits to some of the city’s most iconic historical, cultural, and religious sites. The day includes the following highlights:

• Entoto Maryam Church: Located on the Entoto Hills, this is one of the oldest Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo churches, built in 1877 by Emperor Menelik II. The church features traditional Ethiopian architecture with octagonal domes. Inside, you’ll find a collection of royal artifacts, including Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu’s crowns, ceremonial garments, their royal bed, and a mirror gifted to the Empress by Queen Victoria.
• Entoto Hills: At an elevation of 2,900 meters above sea level, the Entoto Hills offer a stunning panoramic view of Addis Ababa. This area, once the capital before the city moved to its current location, holds great historical and spiritual significance.
• Ethnological Museum: Situated within the main campus of Addis Ababa University, this museum is housed in the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. It offers a deep insight into Ethiopia’s diverse cultures, with exhibits covering anthropology, music, and traditional life. It is also recognized as the first university museum in Ethiopia.
• National Museum of Ethiopia: One of the most important museums in sub-Saharan Africa, it showcases Ethiopia’s rich archaeological heritage. Here, you will find the world-famous fossil remains of Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis), as well as Selam, a remarkably complete child hominid fossil estimated to be 3.3 million years old.
• Merkato: Conclude your day with a visit to Africa’s largest open-air market. Established during the Italian occupation in the late 1930s, Merkato spans several square miles and hosts over 7,000 businesses. It offers a dynamic experience of the city’s daily life, where you can find everything from spices and textiles to handmade crafts and electronics.

Overnight Aya Addis hotel Addis Ababa

Day 02 Drive Addis Ababa to Hawassa

After breakfast, continue your journey to Hawassa. En route, enjoy a visit to Abijatta-Shalla National Park, a protected area covering approximately 887 square kilometers and home to the two striking alkaline lakes, Lake Abijatta and Lake Shalla. The park’s scenery is characterized by open grasslands, dry savanna, and arid scrubland dotted with various acacia species, including umbrella thorn, red acacia, and gum acacia. Wildlife commonly seen in the area includes Grant’s gazelle and Common warthog. Abijatta-Shalla is particularly renowned for its rich birdlife, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. With nearly 300 recorded species including endemic, resident, and migratory birds the park offers exceptional birding opportunities. Common ostrich and Somali ostrich are frequently spotted, especially during the breeding.

Overnight Haile Resort Hawassa

Day 03 Drive Hawassa to Arba Minch

After breakfast, you will visit Lake Hawassa, a beautiful Rift Valley lake measuring 16 km long and 9 km wide, with a surface area of 129 square kilometers. The lake lies at an elevation of 1,708 meters above sea level and reaches a maximum depth of 10 meters. You will also explore the lively local fish market and the lakeside area, where fishermen bring in their fresh daily catch. Afterwards, continue your drive to Arba Minch through the stunning landscapes of southern Ethiopia. Afternoon drive to

Dorze people who are expert in weaving called Shammas Weaving are a primary profession for a number of Dorze people. The shape of their house looks Elephant, in order to remember the existence of these animals around the area many years ago. They are known for their traditional weaving of huts made out of local bamboo.  Enset “fake banana” is the stable food for these peoples.

Overnight Haile Resort Arba Minch

Day 04 Drive Arba Minch to Sodo

After having your breakfast you will take a boat cruise on the

Lake Chamo, the third biggest Lake in Ethiopia you will have a boat trip to see the crocodiles, hippos & aquatic bird species. The northern shores of Lake Chamo are famous for its large crocodiles, which can be seen in numbers lounging in the heat. The lake is about 32km long and provides a lush wetland habitat for many species of flora and fauna. Visit and proceed southwards to Sodo.

Overnight Haile Hotel Wolaita Sodo

Day 05 Drive Wolaita Sodo to Addis Ababa

After breakfast you will drive to Addis Ababa. On the way you have a chance to visit Tiya, it’s an archaeological site in central Ethiopia. It is best known for its large stone pillars, many of which bear some form of decoration. The archeological site was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980, due to the unique nature of these monolithic monuments. The site is relatively recent. It was dated to a time period between the 11th and 13th centuries. The site contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stele covered with symbols. Later you will visit Melka Kunture is a Paleolithic site in the upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia. The site became a World Heritage Site in 2024. The Melka Kunture area is made up of valleys whose inner terraces resisted erosion. Finally drive back to Addis Ababa End of Service.