16-Day Ethiopian Festivals Tour

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrive at Addis Ababa bole International Airport, Meet Your guide, and transfer to the hotel

Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet your guide, and transfer to the hotel. Depending on your arrival time, take a city tour to acclimatize to the high altitude. Including taking a walk through some parts of the city, and taste Ethiopian Food.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Best Western Premier Hotel

• Luxury hotel

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Flight to Lalibela for Gena Festival Eve, take an early flight to the holy city of Lalibela

Take an early flight to the holy city of Lalibela. Spend the day exploring the first group of incredible rock-hewn churches before experiencing the magical Christmas Eve ceremony. Walk through Ethiopian handmade rock-hewn Churches, and feel the history.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Triple-E Hotel and Spa

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Genna Festival in Lalibela

Immerse yourself in the main day of the Ethiopian Christmas celebration. Experience the unforgettable spectacle of tens of thousands of pilgrims, chanting priests, and vibrant processions. Communicate with the lovely communities around and experience the culture.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Sora Lodge Lalibela

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Return to Addis and Drive to Hawassa

Fly back to the capital and begin your journey south to the Rift Valley lakes, stopping for birdwatching and scenic views along the way. On your way at Ziway watch birds and feel the fresh air around with amazing lakes. Take a walk through the city and experience the culture of the city.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Accommodation:

Triple-E Hotel and Spa

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive to Arbamich and Visit Dorze

Continue deeper into the south, visiting the skilled weavers of the Dorze tribe, known for their unique elephant-shaped huts and rich cultural traditions. In addition, taste various area-based foods, and experience the culture. Visit the lakes in Arba Minch and crocodiles.

Main Destination:

Arba Minch (City)

Accommodation:

Lewi Resort Hawassa

• Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Chamo and Drive to Turmi

Embark on a thrilling boat safari across Lake Chamo, where you'll come face-to-face with the aquatic 'giants' monstrous Nile crocodiles and sprawling pods of hippos. Afterwards, we journey through the rugged, sun-baked landscape of the Omo Valley, arriving in Turmi. This remote settlement is the vibrant heart of Hamer country, where you'll immerse yourself in the ancient traditions and vibrant culture of one of Ethiopia's most iconic tribes.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Mora Heights Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Arba Minch (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Karo and Hammer Tribal Encouters

Spend a day in profound cultural immersion within the Omo Valley. Witness the intricate body art and symbolic chalk paintings of the renowned Karo people. Then, engage with the visually striking Hamer tribe, known for their ornate clay hair buns and copper coils, gaining a deep, personal insight into their ancient and resilient way of life.

Main Destination:

Lower Omo Valley (Cultural Village)

Accommodation:

Paradise Lodge Turmi

• Budget tented camp located near Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Journey to Jinka and the Mursi Tribe

Journey to the vibrant, highland town of Jinka, the gateway to Mago National Park. From here, venture into a traditional Mursi village for a truly unforgettable encounter. This community is renowned for the unique and striking lip plates worn by its women, a powerful symbol of cultural identity and beauty that offers a profound glimpse into one of the world's most distinctive tribal traditions.

Main Destination:

Jinka (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Eco Omo Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Jinka (Lower Omo Valley)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Konso Cultural Landscape

Journey to the remarkable Konso village, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Discover a stunning landscape of ancient, intricate agricultural terracing that has sustained this community for generations. Delve into their unique social structure and witness the fascinating 'waka' statues, enigmatic wooden figures that stand as guardians over ancestral graves, revealing a deep and complex cultural history.

Main Destination:

Konso (Cultural Village)

Accommodation:

Kanta Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Konso (Cultural Village)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Retun to Addis Ababa

Enjoy a leisurely morning to reflect on the profound cultural experiences of your journey. After a relaxed breakfast, we begin our scenic drive back to Arba Minch. From there, you will catch your scheduled flight to the bustling capital, Addis Ababa, where you will transfer to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay, preparing for your onward travels or international departure.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Triple-E Hotel and Spa

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly to Ancient City of Axum

Take a flight north to the legendary city of Axum, the once-beating heart of a powerful ancient empire. Here, you will stand in awe before the city's iconic skyline of towering, intricately carved stelae monumental obelisks that testify to a forgotten engineering prowess. Then, step into profound history at the Chapel of the Tablet, believed to house the Ark of the Covenant, the holiest site in all of Ethiopian Christianity.

Main Destination:

Axum (City)

Accommodation:

Sabean International Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Axum (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Scenic Drive to Debark

Embark on a long but incredibly rewarding drive through the dramatic landscapes of the Ethiopian highlands. The journey itself is a spectacle, with winding roads offering breathtaking vistas of deep gorges, rugged plateaus, and traditional villages. We arrive in the afternoon at the gateway town to the Simien Mountains, where you can feel the anticipation build for tomorrow's immersion into one of Africa's most stunning and unique alpine wonderlands.

Main Destination:

Debark (Town)

Accommodation:

Simien Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Simien Mountains Trek and Drive to Gondar

Embark on an unforgettable hike through the otherworldly landscapes of the Simien Mountains, a UNESCO site often called 'the Roof of Africa.' Traverse jagged peaks and deep valleys, keeping watch for troops of charismatic Gelada baboons and the elusive Walia ibex. After your high-altitude adventure, we descend to the royal city of Gondar, famed for its majestic, castle-lined fortress compound that echoes a bygone era of emperors.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Goha Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Gondar Castles and Timket Festival Eve

Step back in time exploring Gondar's Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO site often called 'Africa's Camelot,' with its stunning collection of 17th-century castles and palaces. As dusk falls, the city transforms. Immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere of the Timket Festival's eve, joining vibrant processions of chanting priests, devoted pilgrims, and dazzling ceremonial robes, a truly unforgettable prelude to Epiphany.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Goha Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Timket Festival Main Ceremony and Drive to Bahirdar

Wake before dawn to witness the profound and energetic Timket baptism ceremony at Fasiladas' Bath. Join the jubilant crowds as thousands are blessed in the holy water amidst a spectacle of prayer, song, and celebration. After this spiritual climax, we journey through the scenic Ethiopian countryside to the serene lakeside city of Bahir Dar, beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Tana.

Main Destination:

Bahir Dar (City)

Accommodation:

Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar

• Mid-range hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Blue Nile Falls, Lake Tana and Departure

Conclude your epic journey with a visit to the thunderous Blue Nile Falls, known as 'Tis Issat' the Smoking Water. Feel its mighty spray and admire the rainbows dancing in its mist. Then, find tranquility on a peaceful boat trip across Lake Tana, seeking out its ancient island monasteries. Finally, fly back to Addis Ababa for a memorable farewell dinner, perfectly reflecting on your adventures before your international departure.

Main Destination:

Bahir Dar (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.