21-Day Ethiopia Grand Discovery Tour a Lifetime Journey

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

Fly to Gondar and city tour in Gondar

Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by Inward ethiopia Tours representative then after breakfast you will be flying to Gondar. Welcome by our Gondar representative and check-in to your hotel, then you will visit Gondar, Ethiopia’s capital during medieval times and often referred to as the ‘Camelot of Africa’. This city is famed for its medieval castles and churches. First, you will discover the complex of medieval castles and ruins in the Royal Enclosure, a testament to the majesty of the Ethiopian Empire. Afterward, visit the peaceful Bathing Pool of Emperor Fasilidas. Then explore the famous church of Debre Berhan Selassie, one of the finest in Ethiopia with walls and ceilings covered with stunning murals of angels. Then Set off towards Bahir Dar, passing through picturesque farmlands and highland mountains.

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)

Simien Mountains National Park

We take a full-day outing to Simien Mountains National Park to enjoy the striking scenery and heather-like Afroalpine moorland characteristic of Africa's fifth-highest mountain range. The park is also home to an array of rare animals – notably Walia ibex, Ethiopian wolf and gelada monkey – that are totally unique to Ethiopia. Birdwatchers should keep their eyes peeled for the spectacular lammergeier, which can be seen here along with other heavyweights
including the endemic thick-billed raven.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit September to December (Beautiful scenery)

High Season October to April (Lodges are busy)

Best Weather October to April

Wildlife in Simien Mountains NP

Gelada Monkey Abundant

Walia Ibex Occasional

Ethiopian Wolf Rare

Klipspringer Rare

Bushbuck Rare

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Golden Jackal Rare

Hyena Rare

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)

Fly back to Addis Ababa and take a city tour

This morning, you will be flying back to Addis Ababa. When you arrive in Addis Ababa, our guide will greet
and take you a guided city tour of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital and the third-highest capital in the
world. Head to the National Museum, home to one of the world's most important paleontological exhibits
in the world; 'Lucy'. Then visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church. As the final resting place of muchloved
Emperor Haile Selassie, Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the country's most sacred places of worship. Then Mount Entoto, the highest peak in the city. Entoto Mountain was the site of a palace and the royal court to Emperor Menelik in the 1800s. Here you will visit the palace of the Mighty King Menelik II and the Natural Park of Entoto.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Azzeman Hotel

• 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)

Discovery of Dallol, the lowest surface on the planet

In the morning, take a flight to Semera, meet with the group then head to the famous Dallol Depression - the
hottest place on earth located in the Ethiopian Denakil Desert. Dallol is the result of changing geological activity. Before sunset, you will travel a short distance to Lake Karum to watch the sunset from the salt flats
on the lake. The water level on the lake is very shallow so it’s easy to walk out and around the lake. There might be a chance to watch the camel caravans of the Afar people who live in this inhospitable place. Then you will return to Hamed Ela for an overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Semera (Town)

Accommodation:

Ahmed Ela Camp

• Budget bush camp located in Danakil Depression (Highlight)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Erta Ale Volcano, visit Lava Lake

You'll have an early start today, as you will be descending to the lowest point on the planet, Dallol. With its uniquely colorful volcanic terrain and its ridiculously high temperature, Dallol Depression is known around the world as the hottest inhabited place on the planet. When you will arrive, there will be plenty of time to walk around and admire the
colorful pools, learn about the unique geology, and of course, take photos of the spectacular scenery. The visit to Dallol also gives you the chance to visit the grueling local salt mines. Then you will drive to the Dodom campsite at the foot of the Erta Ale (Smoking Mountain) Volcano. In the evening, trek up the volcano and appreciate its spectacular lava. Once you reach the top of the crater, you will get time to relax and admire the amazing sight of the lava lake. Finally, walk the short distance back to the camp for dinner and sleep.

Main Destination:

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)

Accommodation:

Erta Ale Motel

• Budget hotel located in Semera (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Visit the Salt Lake of Afdera

Early in the morning, wake up and walk a short distance to the volcano. Stay some time by the lava lake until sunrise to see the change in the flow of the lake. After sunrise, hike back down to the camp for breakfast. Depart the campsite and drive back to Semera. On your way to Semera you have a stop at lake Afdera. Semera is the capital city for the Afars. Late in the afternoon fly back to Addis Ababa. Then transfer to your hotel.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Swiss Inn Nexus Hotel

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

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Fly to Lalibela and visit the churches of Lalibela

In the morning you will catch your flight to Lalibela to explore Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches. Lalibela is the
most famous of all of Ethiopia's historic cities and contains the most stunning Christian architecture in Africa. Often referred to as ‘New Jerusalem’ and ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’, the town’s eleven beautiful rock-cut churches draw pilgrims from all over the world. Built during the 12th and 13th centuries, these religious monoliths are carved from the red volcanic rock. The 11 rock churches of Lalibela are grouped into two parts and each church has a unique
architectural style and all are superbly carved. This afternoon, we will discover the Northwestern group of churches, Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael, and Bet Golgotha.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Sora Lodge Lalibela

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Guided tour, Lalibela

After morning breakfast, set off by car or Mule to Asheten Mariam, a monolithic church, beautifully perched at an altitude of 3,000 m. near the summit of Asheten, which dominates the entire Lalibela region. Back to the town of Lalibela for lunch. In the afternoon proceed to visit the second group of the rock-hewn churches, you will visit Bete Amanuel,
Bete Merkorios, Bete Abba Libanos, and Bete Gabriel- Rafael (possibly a former royal palace). Finally, discover Bete Giyorgis, often regarded as Lalibela’s most beautiful church.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Sora Lodge Lalibela

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

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

Fly back to Addis Abeba

In the middle of the day you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival in Addis, we will take you to your hotel, and this afternoon Our Guide in addis will take you to local coffee place the free time to get prepared for another trip to the south.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Best Western Plus Pearl Addis

• 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)

Visit the Mursi, Mago National Park

The descent into Mago National Park follows a rough but thrillingly scenic 4x4 track into one of Ethiopia's most remote wildernesses. Named after the forested tributary of the Omo River that forms its lifeblood, Mago no longer supports significant numbers of large mammals, though we should see some antelope and monkeys, and birdlife is abundant. The main goal of our expedition today is to visit the Omo Valley’s most famous human inhabitants. These are the Mursi, who are best known for the immense clay and wooden lip plates worn by the women.

Main Destination:

Jinka (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Nasa Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Jinka (Lower Omo Valley)

Meals & Drinks:

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

To The land of hammer tribe and Market Visit

In the morning, you will visit the South Omo Tribes Museum (South Omo Research Center). Then transfer to Turmi town, home of the famous Hamar tribe and center to explore the Omo Valley tribes. Late in the afternoon, you will visit the Hamer Tribe. The Hamar people are best known for their bull-jumping ceremony and to be the friendliest tribe of the Omo Valley. The Hamer women, with their magnificent ochre-colored hair braids, skirts of cowrie-decorated goatskin, and tight copper bracelets, rank amongst the most beautiful of all South Omo ethnic groups. Finally, transfer to your accommodation in Turmi.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Buska Lodge

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Karo, in the heart of the last Ethiopian tribes and Nyngatom

In the morning, excursion from turmi to meet the Karo tribe Your morning is dedicated to visiting the village of the Karo people, who are best known for their skin scarification and ornamental painted body and face decorations. They use white chalk, black charcoal, and red and ochre earth and are considered the masters of body painting. Then leave the Karo Village and drive towards the village of the Nyangatom Tribe. The lives near the town of Kangate on the west side of the Omo River and further towards Kibish. The Nyangatom are specialized crocodile hunters, using harpoons from a dugout canoe. Like the Hamer Tribe, In Nyangatom’s culture body ornaments and scarification are symbols of status and strength. We will cross the Omo River to reach the village of Nyangatom. Return to Turmi, late afternoon Visit the Hamer tribe village. Visiting Hamer settlements that are known for the women’s colorful dress and the unique bull-jumping initiation ceremony undertaken by the men.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Buska Lodge

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Dassanech, a people rich in traditional customs

Early in the morning, depart to Omorate town to visit a village of the Dassenech tribe who settled adjacent to the Omo River. The Dassenech live in the fertile Omo River delta, close to Kenya and Lake Turkana where they hunt crocodiles. We will cross the Omo River by a local boat to reach and visit their village. Because they are semi-nomadic, they live in small, lightweight huts, designed for easy movement if the village changes location. Return to Turmi and drive to Konso. The
Konso people are famous for their intricately terraced hillsides, fine woven materials, and the carved totems with which they decorate their graves. A site of immense cultural importance, these old villages stand as a testament to the enduring adaptability of the people who have called these lands or hills home for generations. Konso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Main Destination:

Konso (Cultural Village)

Accommodation:

Kanta Lodge

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Guided tour, Konso Cultural Landscape

Ethiopia's incredible cultural diversity is highlighted by a guided tour of one of the 11 traditional hilltop villages registered by the Konso Cultural Landscape Unesco World Heritage Site. Comprising an organic labyrinth of stone-walled family compounds, each village is distinguished by several uniquely Konso features. These include towering olahita poles which are erected every 18 years to mark the induction of a new generation, and engraved waka grave markers that depict the deceased clutching his penis. Reached from Arba Minch by a dramatic 25km road, the pretty highland region around the small town of Chencha is known for its misty climate and fertile crop-producing soils. It is home to the Dorze people, skillful weavers who produce what is widely regarded to be the finest cotton shama cloth in all of Ethiopia. highlight of our trip will be a visit to a traditional Dorze homestead. Made from bamboo, grass and false banana leaves.

Main Destination:

Arba Minch (City)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Arba Minch

• 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)

Boat ride on Lake Chamo

In the morning, you will have a boat safari out onto Lake Chamo to see the Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, and Birds that call the region home. This 1h to 2h hours boat ride takes you to the “crocodile market”, an area of the lake nicknamed as such due to the impressive crocodile population usually found there, and the local hippos.

Main Destination:

Arba Minch (City)

Accommodation:

Haile Resort Arba Minch

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Visit the Sidama village

Leave the Arbaminch and travel to Awassa via Yirgalem. Yirgalem is the home of Sidama People and a lovely and tranquil area in which to relax and escape the rat race. Sidama people are blessed with unique geology, traditions, and a UNESCO-recognized calendar. They ate famous for growing sweeter, more acidic coffee beans with appeasing aroma and complex flavors. Arrive at Yirgalem and you will walk through the beautiful cultural villages of the Sidama People. The villages are filled with Enset (False Banana) and Coffee plantations. A Hanafa cultural tourist village showcases the culture and way of life of the Sidama people. You will see the traditional coffee ceremony, preparation of traditional Sidama food, and the ways of life of the local people.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Accommodation:

Hawassa Lake View Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Awasa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Drive through the Rift Valley zone

This morning you will visit Awassa to visit the scenic lake and the fish market. Then drive to Awash through the Ethiopian Rift valley which is part of the Afro-Arabian Rift system and offers eight spectacular chains of lakes. Visit Abijatta-Shalla Lakes Park. Besides the two lakes, the primary attractions of this national park are a number of hot springs on the northeast corner of Lake Abijatta, large numbers of flamingoes on the lake, and plenty of birds. There are also some mammals living in this park. Stop at Lake Ziway which is famous for its Birdlife and Islands. It is home to varied bird populations. Then short game drive through the Ilala Sala Plain in the southern part of the Park. This offers a chance to see the local wildlife, such as Oryx, Baboons, Kudu, Warthogs, Gazelles, and Colobus Monkeys. Then, short walk alongside the Awash River to see Birds some animals. Also, visit the Awash River Fall – a waterfall described
as a scaled-down version of Victoria Falls.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Best Time To Visit October to February (Little rain and less hot)

High Season September to April (The park is never busy)

Best Weather October to February

Wildlife in Awash NP

Olive Baboon Abundant

Beisa Oryx Common

Soemmerring's
Gazelle Common

Hamadryas
Baboon Common

Salt's Dik-dik Common

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Lesser Kudu Occasional

Desert Warthog Occasional

Defassa Waterbuck Occasional

Nile Crocodile Occasional

Spotted Hyena Occasional

Guereza Monkey Rare

Ethiopian Wolf None

Gelada Monkey None

Walia Ibex None

Accommodation:

Genet Hotel Awash

• Mid-range hotel located less than 1hr drive from Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Travel to the colourful Harar

Head through the Hararghe Mountains and plenty of coffee and ‘chat’ fields. This part of Ethiopia is well known for growing quality Coffee in the country. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to stop and see the impressive countryside we are driving through. Visit the famous local ‘Chat’ market in the village of Awedae before heading into Harar. Finally, arrive in Harar early in the afternoon and transfer to your reserved accommodation. In the evening, you will visit the hyena man, who feeds wild hyenas every night just outside the walls of the city. The locals started feeding the wild hyenas
each evening in a bid to stop them from killing their livestock. You could try to experience this feeding
activity in person.

Main Destination:

Harar (Town)

Accommodation:

Harar Ras Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Harar (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Visit the colourful Harar

A full-day walking tour to discover the treasures hidden in the narrow alleyways of the walled city of Harar, with its colorful markets, countless mosques and shrines, and unique Harari people and homes. Established early 16th century, Harar is an eastern Ethiopian city and once an important trade center and is famous for its ancient Arabic structures and great city walls. This city is an Islamic center and it is considered the city of saints and the fourth holiest Islamic city in the world just after Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem due to its countless mosques and shrines. Today you will walk into the old town and visit the Harari people and their colorful culture and traditions. The visit includes – traditional Harari house, vibrant local markets, House of Arthur Rimbaud, Palace of Prince Mekonnen, House of Emperor Haile Selassie Harari Cultural center, and the tomb of Emir Nur, who built the famous wall around the tow.

Main Destination:

Harar (Town)

Accommodation:

Harar Ras Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Harar (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

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

Visit Babile sanctuary and Dire Dawa

In the morning, you’ll drive out to Babile to visit the Valley of Marvels to view the large, balancing rock sculptures dotting the vast landscape. Then drive back to Harar and proceed to Dire Dawa best known to be the mosaic of culture and the museum of people. You will have a short visit in the city, Etio-Djibouti rail way station built in the early 20th centry. And see the major sites in the city. Culture from around the country, and the culture of the French, Greek, Armenian and Indian are displayed in this remarkable city with the diverse architectural style of the buildings.

Main Destination:

Dire Dawa (Town)

Accommodation:

Dire Dawa Ras Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Dire Dawa (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly back to Addis Ababa, shopping and Dinner

Morning fly back to Addis Ababa then you will have shopping to buy souvenirs. In the evening, before your
international flight, farewell dinner at Ethiopian Cultural Restaurant. We're sure it really has been a wonderful trip, but sadly, it's time for it to end. It has been an honor to look after you and hopefully provide you with many safari memories. We hope to see you again next time you go on tour.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Beer and wine (Other drinks not included)

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