10 Days North and South Ethiopia Tours

Overview

Pick you up at Gondar Airport or your hotel, and drive along a good paved road from Gondar to the park headquarters in Debark. The 100 km journey will take around two hours. At the headquarters, we will arrange our permits to the park and pick up our scout. After that, we will drive for another hour before we start our first-day introductory walk. This first hike is an easy one along the northern edge of the escarpment with nice viewpoints over the foothills and plains of northern Ethiopia. You will encounter gelada baboon along this hike and overnight at Sankaber.

Day 1: Arrival to Addis Abeba

You will visit the National Museum which exhibits numerous antiquates, historical relics, and archaeological and paleontological objects including the 3.5-million-year-old skeleton of Lucy; one of the fine Ethiopian Orthodox Churches, St. George Cathedral that contains several interesting modern paintings and mosaics St. George Cathedral: Merkato – biggest open market of its kind in Africa and the commanding panoramic viewpoint Mount Entoto which offers the stupendous view of the city.
Overnight in a hotel

Day 2: Fly Addis Abeba – Bahir Dar

A short flight north to Bahir Dar. Bahir Dar is a pleasant city located on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. After checking in to your hotel, explore Lake Tana and its islands by boat. There are 37 islands on Lake Tana and 20 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret, Azwa Mariam, Ura Kidanemihiret is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries A.D. Azwa Mariam is known for its paintings and we also have time to visit the small museum.
Afternoon drive to the Blue Nile Falls, which is known locally as Tissisat (smoking water) the water plunges for 45 m (148 ft.) giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows. We climb down to the base of the falls for an up-close look and then ascend the other side the round trip will take about 1hour of walking. Then we cross the Blue Nile by boat to return to the point of departure.
Overnight in a hotel

Day 3: Gonder – Royal Enclosure of Fasiledes

Morning Drive to Gonder: Gondar City Sightseeing, Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. In Gondar, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences. In the morning visit Fasilidas’ Palace, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! We continue on to the bath of Fasiledes and Quskuam Church. In the afternoon we visit the Church Of Debre Berham Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of Debre Berham Selassie is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs, and paintings. Debre Berham Selassie is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant and we will visit the colorful market of Gondar.
Overnight in a hotel

Day 4: Simien Mountains

Morning Drive to Simien Mountains: on the way to the Simien Mountains visit the village of Ethiopian felasha (black Jewish) then we continue to the Simien Mountains (Simien National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The road passes over mountainous areas of wild beauty, drawing close to the Simien Massif.
From Debark town, we will drive to the park gate, which is about 16km from the town. Then, we are heading about 6km to Buit Ras, the first area of the national park. From Buit Ras, we will trek for about 3, 4 hours to Chilkuwanit which is one of the most beautiful viewpoints. This area offers stunning views over the escarpment dropping vertically. You will most certainly encounter troops of the endemic Gelada Baboons and see them up close.
Overnight in a hotel

Day 5: Gonder – Arbaminch via Addia Abeba

After breakfast fly to Arbaminch
Overnight in a hotel

Day 6: Arba-Minch – Jinka

Early in the morning drive to the Lake shore to have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, Boat trip on Lake Chamo is the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world’s most spectacular concentrations of Giant Nile Crocodiles which measure about 6 meters the water birds are great the scenery is truly unforgettable, then drive further to KEY AFER- Tribal Market- one of the best market in the OMO VALLEY since at list four different tribes are coming to attend these weekly market arrival to the small town and escort a local guide walking around the market and explore a different section of the market including animal, vegetable, cereals and much more. Then continue to drive back to Jinka,
Overnight in a hotel

DAY 7: Jinka – Turmi

After breakfast early in the morning leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of the Mursi tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay TURMI LO discs inserted, Then continue to drive to Turmi on the way visit Bana Tribe, O/N Turmi lodge
Remark: – if there is any ceremonial activity like a traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony.
Overnight in a hotel

Day 8: Omorate – Dassenech

Friday This day early in the morning after breakfast drive 73 km west to visit the Dassench/Geleb people; who inhabited the bank of the Omo River we cross the Omo River by locally made boat to see the village, then drive to Dimeka Market to attend the weekly colorful market of the HAMER tribe then drive back to Turmi after afternoon break in the lodge late afternoon walk from the lodge to the village to visit the HAMER tribe with their own way of live interaction with their way of life,
Overnight in a hotel

Remark: – if there is any ceremonial activity like traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony

Day 9: Drive Turmi – Arba- Minch

The morning after breakfast Head to Murulle to see the Karo tribe, famous for their body painting (they prepare the ink for the painting from locally available materials like flowers, soil, and animal blood) we will also admire the scenic view of the Omo river from the edge of the village, then drive to Arbaminch on the way stop at KONSO to visit the Konso tribe with their king- UNESCO registered site for their extensive terracing and practice of making a wooden grave marker for their hero and kings, continue driving and late afternoon arrival to Arbaminch, the
Overnight in a hotel

Day 10: Fly Arba-Minch – Addis Abeba

On this day after breakfast exclusion to Arba-Minch and transfer out to the airport.
End Tours