16-Day North & South Ethiopia Discovery Tour

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

Arrival Addis Ababa

Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, take time to relax from your flight. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a short city orientation, a traditional coffee ceremony, or a stroll through nearby streets to get a first glimpse of Addis Ababa’s vibrant life. In the evening, rest and prepare for the adventure ahead. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Jupiter International Hotel Bole

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

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Sightseeing Addis (The new Flower)

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Refresh and begin your sightseeing of Addis with a drive up to mount Entoto for a panoramic view of Addis. Descend down and drive to National museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of ‘Lucy’ fossil. Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during the WWII. Then proceed to Ethnographic museum, which use to be the palace of Emperor Hailesellase. To wrap up you drive to merkato, the biggest market in East Africa. Overnight in Addis.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Jupiter International Hotel Bole

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

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly Addis – Bahir Dar (Lakeside Town)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bahir Dar, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Later, enjoy an optional boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th-century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret, the most famous of the Zege Peninsula monasteries. During the boat trip, you'll have the chance to enjoy the scenic beauty of the lake and surrounding wildlife. Note: The boat trip is an optional wildlife viewing activity, available at an additional cost.
In the afternoon, drive to the village of Tis Isat to see the Blue Nile Falls (Note that the volume of the falls may be minimal due to the construction of the new dam).
Overnight in Bahir Dar.

Main Destination:

Bahir Dar (City)

Accommodation:

Kuriftu Resort & Spa Bahir Dar

• Luxury hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive Bahir Dar – Gondar

After having your breakfast, you will begin your journey to Gondar. The Royal Capital of Ethiopia, Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fassiladas. In the afternoon you will visit the city of Gondar with the drive to the Castles and Churches built by Emperor Fassiladas and his descendants. Proceed to the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie (The Enlightening of Trinity) with Wonderful murals art, Qusquam Church. Overnight in Gondar.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Gondar

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Excursion to Semien Mountains (122 kms 4 – 5 hrs drive)

Today you will drive to Buyit Ras a segment of the Semein Mountain. This is a sight, which is termed as the most wild and magnificent view all Ethiopian landscapes. The Semien Mountains National park is the only place in Ethiopia registered by the UNESCO as a natural beauty. Observe the magnificent scenery. Overnight in Gondar.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Gondar Hills Resort

• Mid-range resort located in Gondar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly Gondar – Lalibela (The Eighth Wonder of the World)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. Be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. ‘Eighth wonder of world Heritage’ Lalibela is famous for its underground rock-hewn cathedrals. In the afternoon you will visit top attractions of Lalibela that will simply stagger you. Overnight in Lalibela.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Zan-Seyoum Hotel - Lalibela

• Budget hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Excursion to Asheton Mariam

This day you will have an excursion to the monastery of Asheten Mariam church found on top of a hill. Visit and walk back to Lalibela. In the afternoon you will visit the remaining churches of Lalibela which includes Bete Gabriel/Rafael, Bete Mercorios, Bete Emmanuel and Bete Aba Libanos. Overnight in Lalibela.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Zan-Seyoum Hotel - Lalibela

• Budget hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly Lalibela – Axum (Mysterious Monoliths)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Axum. A city more than 2500 years of history, once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization, home of the original Ark of covenants, Axum is the prime historical site in the north of Ethiopia. Take a city tour that include the St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the ‘Ark of covenant’, the coronation yard, Stelae Park, Tomb of Kaleb and his son Gebre Meskel, Ezana’s Inscriptions, Queen of Sheba’s Bath, Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins and Axum Museum. Overnight in Axum.

Main Destination:

Axum (City)

Accommodation:

Sabean International Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Axum (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly Axum – Addis – Drive Langano

This day you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Addis. You will be met upon arrival and drive further down southwards to Langano. En route visit Lake Ziway the largest of the upper Rift Valley lakes with an area of 400 sq. km. Its shores are creased with water lilies, breeding place for different Ethiopian. Proceed towards the Lake Langano. The lake is a place to enjoy water activities. Overnight in Langano.

Main Destination:

Lake Langano

Accommodation:

Hara Langano Eco Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Lake Langano

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive Langano – Chencha – Arba Minch

Morning drive to the town of Arba Minch visiting en route the Doreze village who are expert in weaving called Shammas. The shape of their house looks Elephant, in order to remember the existence of these animals around the area many years ago. Enset “fake banana” is the stable food for these peoples. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Main Destination:

Arba Minch (City)

Accommodation:

Arbaminch Tourist Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Arba Minch (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive Arba Minch – Konso – Jinka

After breakfast, embark on an optional boat cruise on Lake Chamo, Ethiopia’s third-largest lake, where you may see Nile crocodiles, hippos, and a variety of bird species. Note: The boat trip is an optional wildlife viewing activity, available at an additional cost.
Continue your journey south to Jinka, passing through Konso village, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its terracing and high-quality coffee.
On the way, visit Bana village, home to indigenous pastoralists with distinctive clay-capped hair, and explore the Ari people, known for their unique banana tree skirts and pottery skills.
Overnight in Jinka.

Main Destination:

Jinka (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Jinka Resort

• Budget hotel located in Jinka (Lower Omo Valley)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive Jinka – Mago – Jinka – Turmi

Take a day excursion to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi village. The Mursi are one of the exotic ethnic groups in Ethiopia. They live in very low huts made of straw leaves. The women like to wear terra cotta on their enormously stretched lower lips and ear lobes. Drive back to Jinka for lunch. Then proceed to the Turmi where the Hamer people lives. Overnight in Turmi.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Paradise Lodge Turmi

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

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Excursion to Murulle and Nyangatom

This day you will drive to Murulle where you can find the Karo people. Karo People is very famous for their splendid body decoration, which they paint their bodies and faces with white chalk to prepare for a ceremony. The women scar their chest believing it makes them beautiful. The men’s scars represent an enemy or dangerous animal killed. Visit and proceed to Nyangatom people, 17 kms away from the Murulle area. To adore their long and lean bodies, the Nyangatom women wear numerous necklaces and long skirts from goatskins that are richly decorated. Then you will attain the colorful market of Dimeka for the Hammer people. Visit and drive back to Turmi. Overnight in Turmi.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Paradise Lodge Turmi

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

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive Turmi – Yabello

Today you will drive from Turmi to Yabello, passing through the Arbore and Tsemay villages. The Tsemay women are known for their distinctive facial tattoos, beautifully braided hairstyles, and colorful bead necklaces. After visiting these communities, continue toward the Borena people, known for their rich pastoral culture and centuries-old traditions.
Overnight in Yabello.

Main Destination:

Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Accommodation:

Yabello Motel

• Budget hotel located near Yabello WS (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive Yabello – Yirgalem

Depart Yabello and drive toward Yirgalem through the lush Sidama region, known for its expansive coffee plantations and beautiful rolling landscapes. Enjoy scenic stops to observe local coffee farmers at work and experience the greenery that defines southern Ethiopia. Continue to Yirgalem, where you can relax in the peaceful forest surroundings and spot colobus monkeys and colorful birds around your lodge. Overnight in Yirgalem.

Main Destination:

Yirga Alem (Town)

Accommodation:

Aregash Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Yirga Alem (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive Yirgalem – Addis – Departure

After breakfast, drive to the town of Awassa. En route visit the fish market around Lake Awassa. Around the lake you could encounter different birds. Visit and drive back to Addis sightseeing en route.

In the evening attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The traditional coffee ceremony will also be served. Later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

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