14-Days Historic Route and Lower Omo Valley
Overview
Tour : Historic Route and Lower Omo Valley
Duration : 14 Days / 10th – 23rd July 2014 /
Group Size : Two
Day One
Thursday 10th July : Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar
At 7:30AM, you will be heading North to Bahir Dar, on your way visiting the 13th century Debre Libanos Monastery and the Blue Nile Gorge. Arriving Bahir Dar late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Kuriftu Resort / Abay Minch Lodge / Avanti Blue Nile Hotel / Summerland Hotel / Papyrus Hotel / Ghion Hotel.
Day Two
Friday 11th July : Bahir Dar
At 8:00AM, you will be having a boat trip on Tana Lake where you will be able to visit two Monasteries – to be recommended are Azoa Mariam and Kibran Intos.
Returning back to Bahir Dar for lunch, you will be proceeding to the Blue Nile Falls (28kms South East of Bahir Dar) where you will be able to see the Falls. Returning back to Bahir Dar late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Kuriftu Resort / Abay Minch Lodge / Avanti Blue Nile Hotel / Summerland Hotel / Papyrus Hotel / Ghion Hotel.
Day Three
Saturday 12th July : Bahir Dar – Gondar
Starting off at 8:00AM, you will be heading North to Gondar, driving by Tana Lake for the first 115kms. Driving through villages and farmlands of the Amharas, you will be arriving at noon. Through the rest of the afternoon, you will be visiting the various attractions of Gondar – Emperor Fasiledes Castle Complex and spiritual bathing pool, Debre Birhan Silassie Church and Wolleka – the one time settlement of Ethiopian Jews (Falashmuras) that were airlifted out of Ethiopia in 1991 by the Israeli Government under Operation Solomon. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Goha Hotel / Taye Belay Hotel / Quara Hotel / Ambaras Hotel / Belegez Guest House.
Day Four
Sunday 13th July : Gondar – Awra Amba Village – Lalibela
At 8:00AM, you will be heading to Lalibela via Debre Tabor. En route, you will be able to visit Awra Amba village, an exemplary community where gender difference has been totally omitted with men and women in this community share equal responsibilities – from farming to cotton weaving to handling their aged community members. Driving further through the scenic highlands by the side of Mount Guna, you will be arriving Lalibela late afternoon, spending overnight at Mountain View Hotel / Cliff Edge Hotel / Maribela Hotel / Seven Olives Hotel / Alef Paradise Hotel / Lalibela Hotel.
Day Five
Monday 14th July : Lalibela
Through the day, you will be visiting the various rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Mountain View Hotel / Cliff Edge Hotel / Maribela Hotel / Seven Olives Hotel / Alef Paradise Hotel / Lalibela Hotel.
Day Six
Tuesday 15th July : Lalibela – Hayk – Kombolcha
At 8:30AM, you will be proceeding to Kombolcha, on the way visiting the cave Monastery of Neakuto Le’ab shortly out of Lalibela. Proceeding further through Weldiya and Hayk, you will be arriving Kombolcha late afternoon, spending overnight at Sunny Side Hotel.
Day Seven
Wednesday 16th July : Kombolcha – Debre Birhan – Addis Ababa
At 8:00AM, you will be heading back to Addis Ababa via Kemise and Debre Birhan, en route driving through and visiting Amhara/Oromo villages. Arriving Addis Ababa mid-afternoon, you will be spending overnight at a hotel of your choice.
*Various accommodation options available for Addis Ababa
Day Eight
Thursday 17th July : Addis Ababa – Butajira – Arbaminch
Starting off from Addis Ababa at 7:30AM, you will be heading South West to Arbaminch via Butajira and Hosaina. At Tiya, you will have a brief stopover to visit the UNESCO registered Stalae fields of Tiya. With lunch break further ahead at Hosaina, you will proceed to Arbaminch, arriving late afternoon and overnight at Paradise Lodge / Swaynes Lodge / Tourist Hotel / Forty Springs Hotel / Rift Valley Guest House.
Day Nine
Friday 18th July : Arbaminch – Konso – Turmi
Starting off from Arbaminch at 8:00AM, you will be heading South into the Omo Valley via Konso. At Konso, you will visit a Konso village located in the surrounding hills of Karat Konso, their symbolic wooden totems, nine clan community structure and magnificent rock formation in front of Gesergio village. The Konsos are the first ones in the region to have initiated terrace farming and due to their unique preserved community values, in June 2011, the Konso Community has been registered as the 9th UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ethiopia. Driving further through the scenic Weito plains, you will also be able to visit an Arbore tribal village. Arriving Turmi late afternoon, you will be will be camping overnight at Keske Campsite / Evangadi Campsite or alternatively at the bungalows in Buska Lodge / Turmi Lodge.
Day Ten
Saturday 19th July : Turmi – Korcho Village – Dimeka – Turmi
At 7:30AM, you will be heading to Korcho village, home to the Kara tribe. Settled around the banks of the Omo River, the Kara tribe are known for their body paintings, same done for beautifying purposes. From this particular village, the view of the Omo River is magnificent, a high ground view seeing off the Omo River flowing down South into the Turkana Lake.
Mid-day, you will be heading back to Turmi and on to Dimeka where you will be able to visit a weekly Hamer tribe market. Heading back to Turmi late afternoon, you will be camping overnight at Keske Campsite / Evangadi Campsite or alternatively in the bungalows at Buska Lodge / Turmi Lodge.
*In any of your days around Turmi, you may be able to see a Hamer tribe bull-jumping ceremony, in which case the itinerary may be amended on the spot.
Day Eleven
Sunday 20th July : Turmi – Omorate – Jinka
Starting off at 8:00AM, you will be heading to Omorate, home to the Dassanach tribe that are said to be descendants of the Turkana tribe in North Kenya. Crossing the Omo River with a wooden canoe boat or alternatively with motorized fiberglass boat, you will be visiting a Dassanach village. Returning back to Turmi at noon, you will visit a Hamer tribe village in the surroundings of Turmi. Mid-afternoon, you will be proceeding to Jinka, arriving and overnight at Eco-Omo Lodge / Jinka Resort Hotel / Orit Hotel / Eyob Guest House / Goh Hotel.
Day Twelve
Monday 21st July : Jinka – Mago National Park – Jinka
At 7:30AM, you will be heading into Mago National Park, home to the Mursi tribe. Settled in the lowland plains of the Park, you will visit a local village of the Mursis. Additionally, you may be able to see a bit of wildlife – Dik Dik, Greater and Lesser Kudu, etc. Returning back to Jinka at noon, you will visit the South Omo Research Center (SORC), an opportunity that will give you a general insight into the various tribes of the Omo Valley. Time permitting, you may also be able to visit an Ari tribal village on the outskirts of Jinka. Overnight will then be at Eco-Omo Lodge / Jinka Resort Hotel / Orit Hotel / Eyob Guest House / Goh Hotel.
Day Thirteen
Tuesday 22nd July : Jinka – Arbaminch
At 8:30AM you will be visiting Omo Child Center a non-governmental organization that cares for Mingi children of the Kara and Hamer tribes. Proceeding to Arbaminch via Konso and arriving mid-afternoon, you will have a 2-hours boat trip on Chamo Lake – one of the seven Rift Valley lakes in the region, where you will be able to see the largest and oldest Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, Pelicans and a variety of birdlife. End of the day, you will spend overnight at Paradise Lodge / Swaynes Lodge / Tourist Hotel / Forty Springs Hotel / Rift Valley Guest House.
Day Fourteen
Wednesday 23rd July : Arbaminch – Shashamane – Addis Ababa
Departing from Arbaminch at 7:30AM, you will be heading back to Addis Ababa via Ziway and the Rift Valley line. En route, you will be able to visit a few Rift Valley Lakes – Langano, Shalla, Abiatta and Ziway. The Rift Valley stretch to the South is much known for its abundant birdlife some of which are endemic to Ethiopia. Late-afternoon, you will be arriving Addis Ababa, thereby ending your 14 days tour of North and South-West Ethiopia.
Remark :
Hotel accommodation indicated for each day ranges from the best available to medium and then to budget level ones. All hotels indicated have rooms with own built in bathrooms and restrooms.
