16 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 01 : Arrive

Ethio Target Tours will meet upon arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Addis.

Day 2: 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 the National Museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of the ‘Lucy’ fossil. Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during WWII. Then proceed to the Ethnographic museum, which use to be the palace of Emperor Hailesellase. To wrap up you drive to Mercato, the biggest market in East Africa.
Overnight in Addis.

Day 3: Fly Addis – Bahir Dar (Lakeside Town)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bahir Dar. Be met and transferred to your hotel. Later, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th-century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries. Afternoon, you will drive to the village of Tis Isat to see the Blue Nile falls. (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal because of the construction of the new dam.)
Overnight in Bahir Dar.

Day 4: 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.

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

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

Day 6: 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 the top attractions of Lalibela that will simply stagger you.
Overnight in Lalibela.

Day 7: 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.

Day 8: Fly Lalibela – Axum (Mysterious Monoliths)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Axum. A city with 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 includes the St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the ‘Ark of the covenant’, the coronation yard, Stelae Park, the 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.

Day 9: 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 places for different Ethiopians. Proceed towards the Lake Langano. The lake is a place to enjoy water activities.
Overnight in Langano.

Day 10: Drive Langano – Chencha – Arba Minch

Morning, drive to the town of Arba Minch visiting en route the Doreze village 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 people. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Day 11: Drive Arba Minch – Konso – Jinka

After having your breakfast you will take a boat cruise on Lake Chamo, the third biggest Lake in Ethiopia. On the Lake, you may have a chance to see the Nile crocodiles, hippos, and different types of birds. Visit and proceed southwards to Jinka passing through the Konso village, one of the UNESCO sites in Ethiopia known for its terracing. One of the best types of coffee in the country is also from this village. Proceed to the Bana village. The Bana are indigenous pastoral and semi-nomadic people living in the harsh environment of the lower Omo Valley. The men often have their hair dressed up with a colorful clay cap that is decorated with feathers. Drive to the Ari people, the largest population in the lower Omo valley. The women wear skirts from the banana-like tree, called Enset, and are experts in pottery.
Overnight in Jinka.

Day 12: 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 live.
Overnight in Turmi.

Day 13: Excursion to Murulle and Nyangatom

On this day you will drive to Murulle where you can find the Karo people. Karo People are very famous for their splendid body decoration, in which they paint their bodies and faces with white chalk to prepare for a ceremony. The women scar their chests believing it makes them beautiful. The men’s scars represent an enemy or dangerous animal killed. Visit and proceed to Nyangatom people, 17 km 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.

Day 14: Drive Turmi – Yabello

On this day you will drive to Yabello passing through the Arebore and Tsemay villages. The Tremayne, women are well known for having a tattoo on their faces. They braid their hair in a number of different eye-catching styles and wear beautiful beads around the neck. Visit and proceed to Borena people. Overnight in Turmi.

Day 15: Drive Yabello – Yirgalem

This day you will drive to Yirgalem passing through the coffee plantation. Overnight in Turmi.

Day 16: 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