Day 1- Arrive in Addis Ababa and meet one of our representatives in the airport and transfer to the Hotel. Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacarandas, interesting museums and one of the largest open air markets in Africa, known as the “Mercato.” Overnight Wasamar hotel
BAHIRDAR -–JAN 5
Day 2- Today you will fly to Bahirdar – after check in the hotel have a boat cruise to the monasteries of Lake Tana – boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the monastery churches, including Ura Kidane Mihret on the Zeghie Peninsula. Ura Kidan Mihiret is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to18th centuries. Kibran Gabriel is known for its paintings. In the afternoon drive 30kms away from Bahirdar town to the Blue Nile falls to visit the fall and the villegs around there. Overnight Tana Or Summerland Hotel
GONDAR – JAN 6
Day 3- Early Morning drive to Gondar – Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of King Fasilledes. In Gondar there are dozens of castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years.Gondar visit includes the palaces, residences and open air baths of King Fasilledes; the monasteries of Qusquom, the church of Debre Berhan Sellassie (Light of the Trinity) with its 16th century paintings and frescoes, which is located at the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. Overnight Goha or Taye Hotel
SEMIEN MOUNTAIN- JAN 7
Day 4 – Excursion to Semien Mountains National Park (World Heritage Site by UNESCO) to visit its exceptional natural beauty which includes superb scenery, endemic fauna and flora. Among other endemics it is here that the Gelada Baboon (bleeding heart Baboon) is found. Overnight Goha or Taye Hotel
AXUM -JAN 8
Day 5- Fly to Axum, a holy city of Ethiopia, dating back over 2000 years and the cradle of Ethiopian civilization with the Axumite Kingdom, tour of Axum that includes: Axum stele or obelisks; the largest single pieces of stone standing anywhere on the world, castles of former monarchs, the Axum Museum and Mariam tsion Church, built on the site of Ethiopia’s first church AD, and palace of Sheba and the Gundit stelae field, King Ezana’s inscriptions and the tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel. Overnight Yeha Hotel Or Rehmay
LALIBELA-JAN 9
Day 6 Fly to Lalibella to tour the eleven rock- hewn churches of 12th century. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each church (Bet) has a unique architectural style; all are superbly carved and most of them are decorated with well-preserved paintings. The entire city may be described as a sculpture dedicated to the glory of God. Today we will visit the first, second and St George Church .Overnight Lal Hotel Or Mountain View Hotel
LALIBELA – JAN 10
Day 7 – In the morning, mule ride, and walk to the top of Asheten Mariam Monastery. This is very famous for its 12-century monastery church and beautiful view at 10,298 ft above sea level.. In the afternoon, visit Nacutolaab monastery. Overnight Lal Hotel Or Mountain View Hotel
ADDIS ABABA – JAN 11
Day 8 – Fly to Addis –Afternoon city tour of Addis includes visit of the Ethnological Museum, the Mercato, and Shopping. You will have a chance to soak up the atmosphere of the Mercato and its environs –In the evening you will have a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance at the renowned restaurant of Addis Ababa. Overnight Kaleb Hotel
AWASSA – JAN 12
Day 9 – Drive to Awassa after visiting Langano and Debrezeit Crater Lake area, the capital city of the southern region, which is very popular in fish market and its volcanic lake. Awassa is located on the edge of Lake Awassa, surrounded by mountains. We will visit the fish market and a boat trip on Lake Awassa. Overnight Lewi Resort
ARBAMINCH – JAN 13
Day 10 – We drive through one of the most colorful and scenic areas of Southern Ethiopia, a land that is inhabited by the people of the Sidamo, the Alaba, who were once nomads but are now farmers. Today we will visit the Walayitas and the Dorzes up in the Chencha Mountains, two of the many small groups of southern Ethiopia. Once warriors, the Dorze have now turned to farming and weaving to earn a living.
Their success in the field of weaving has been phenomenal and the Dorze name is synonymous with the best woven cotton cloth. The “elephant huts” of the Dorze are unique and worth seeing. Each Dorze bamboo house has its own small garden surrounded by beds of spices, cabbage and tobacco. Overnight Tourist Hotel
KONSO- TURMI- JAN 14
Day 11 – Drive to Turmi- Today we will meet the people of Konso and their villages. The cornerstone of Konso culture, however, is a highly specialized and successful agricultural economy that, through terracing buttressed with stone, enable these people to extract a productive living from the infertile hills and valleys that surround them. An excellent day to meet the people, take photographs and learn of a culture that has had very little outside influence and continue visiting along the way the Tsemai people in Weito. Overnight Turmi Lodge
DIMEKA MARKET – JAN 15
Day 12 – In the morning drive to Omo Rate crossing the Omo River by boat to visit the Galab village in the bank of the lower Omo valley. One of a small group of the Omo Valley tribes, called Dasanach. In the afternoon we will drive to see one of the colorful markets of the Omo Valley in Demeka area (Saturday Market). Overnight Turmi Lodge
TURMI-MURULLE – JAN 16
Day 13 -This day we drive towards the Murulle area to see the Karo ethnic group in Korcho villages, experts in body painting, using clays and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic patterns on each other’s faces, chests, arms and legs. If lucky, we may be able to see a spectacle called ‘cattle jumping,’ a ceremony that constitutes rite of passage for young men in Turmi area in the afternoon. Overnight Turmi Lodge
JINKA – JAN 17
Day 14 – This morning we will enjoy the weekly market of the Hamer people, in Turmi Market (Monday Market) a highlight of Omo Valley where the Hamer and Benna ethnic tribes come to shop. The market is exciting and you may have the opportunity to buy some of the tribal regalia and artifacts and continue driving to Jinka through Key After town of the Benna tribes. Overnight Jinka Resort
JINKA-MAGO- MURSI –JAN 18
Day 15 – Morning drive to Mago National Park, sitting on the eastern bank of the Omo River From here, visit the Mursi highlands where the most illustrious of Ethiopia’s unique tribes lives. The Mursi are known all over the world, for their decorative lip plates that adorn the lower lips of the Mursi women. The various cultural aspects of the tribe will be explained and you will be able to take their photographs (not free) and interact with them. It is truly fascinating. Drive back through Mago National Park to Jinka for overnight.
YABELLO – JAN 19
Day 16- In the morning drive to Yabelo to visit the singing wells and village of Borena in El-Sod. See the scenery and the Sidama tribe with their cultural houses and Turkana Lake. Overnight Mobil Hotel
YIRGAALEM – JAN 20
Day 17 Drive to Yirgaalem and Late afternoon visit the lodge surrounded by forest that is home to diverse species of birds and mammals. The coffee plantation and the nightly visits of jackals and Hyenas are further attractions to be found in the surrounding area. Overnight Aregash Lodge
ADDIS ABABA- JAN 21
Day 18 Drive to Addis Ababa en route visit the pale ontological site of Melka Kunture which is nearly 2 million years old and Tiya Stele field- one of the most attractive archaeological sites found in Ethiopia. The site holds 36 stelae, around tombstones of 500 years old.
DEPARTURE – JAN 22
Evening Ethiopia Dinner with live music till departure time
Jan 4 2011
Ethiopia 2011
ADDIS ABABA –JAN 4
Day 1- Arrive in Addis Ababa and meet one of our representatives in the airport and transfer to the Hotel. Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacarandas, interesting museums and one of the largest open air markets in Africa, known as the “Mercato.” Overnight Wasamar hotel
BAHIRDAR -–JAN 5
Day 2- Today you will fly to Bahirdar – after check in the hotel have a boat cruise to the monasteries of Lake Tana – boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the monastery churches, including Ura Kidane Mihret on the Zeghie Peninsula. Ura Kidan Mihiret is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to18th centuries. Kibran Gabriel is known for its paintings. In the afternoon drive 30kms away from Bahirdar town to the Blue Nile falls to visit the fall and the villegs around there. Overnight Tana Or Summerland Hotel
GONDAR – JAN 6
Day 3- Early Morning drive to Gondar – Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of King Fasilledes. In Gondar there are dozens of castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years.Gondar visit includes the palaces, residences and open air baths of King Fasilledes; the monasteries of Qusquom, the church of Debre Berhan Sellassie (Light of the Trinity) with its 16th century paintings and frescoes, which is located at the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. Overnight Goha or Taye Hotel
SEMIEN MOUNTAIN- JAN 7
Day 4 – Excursion to Semien Mountains National Park (World Heritage Site by UNESCO) to visit its exceptional natural beauty which includes superb scenery, endemic fauna and flora. Among other endemics it is here that the Gelada Baboon (bleeding heart Baboon) is found. Overnight Goha or Taye Hotel
AXUM -JAN 8
Day 5- Fly to Axum, a holy city of Ethiopia, dating back over 2000 years and the cradle of Ethiopian civilization with the Axumite Kingdom, tour of Axum that includes: Axum stele or obelisks; the largest single pieces of stone standing anywhere on the world, castles of former monarchs, the Axum Museum and Mariam tsion Church, built on the site of Ethiopia’s first church AD, and palace of Sheba and the Gundit stelae field, King Ezana’s inscriptions and the tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel. Overnight Yeha Hotel Or Rehmay
LALIBELA-JAN 9
Day 6 Fly to Lalibella to tour the eleven rock- hewn churches of 12th century. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each church (Bet) has a unique architectural style; all are superbly carved and most of them are decorated with well-preserved paintings. The entire city may be described as a sculpture dedicated to the glory of God. Today we will visit the first, second and St George Church .Overnight Lal Hotel Or Mountain View Hotel
LALIBELA – JAN 10
Day 7 – In the morning, mule ride, and walk to the top of Asheten Mariam Monastery. This is very famous for its 12-century monastery church and beautiful view at 10,298 ft above sea level.. In the afternoon, visit Nacutolaab monastery. Overnight Lal Hotel Or Mountain View Hotel
ADDIS ABABA – JAN 11
Day 8 – Fly to Addis –Afternoon city tour of Addis includes visit of the Ethnological Museum, the Mercato, and Shopping. You will have a chance to soak up the atmosphere of the Mercato and its environs –In the evening you will have a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance at the renowned restaurant of Addis Ababa. Overnight Kaleb Hotel
AWASSA – JAN 12
Day 9 – Drive to Awassa after visiting Langano and Debrezeit Crater Lake area, the capital city of the southern region, which is very popular in fish market and its volcanic lake. Awassa is located on the edge of Lake Awassa, surrounded by mountains. We will visit the fish market and a boat trip on Lake Awassa. Overnight Lewi Resort
ARBAMINCH – JAN 13
Day 10 – We drive through one of the most colorful and scenic areas of Southern Ethiopia, a land that is inhabited by the people of the Sidamo, the Alaba, who were once nomads but are now farmers. Today we will visit the Walayitas and the Dorzes up in the Chencha Mountains, two of the many small groups of southern Ethiopia. Once warriors, the Dorze have now turned to farming and weaving to earn a living.
Their success in the field of weaving has been phenomenal and the Dorze name is synonymous with the best woven cotton cloth. The “elephant huts” of the Dorze are unique and worth seeing. Each Dorze bamboo house has its own small garden surrounded by beds of spices, cabbage and tobacco. Overnight Tourist Hotel
KONSO- TURMI- JAN 14
Day 11 – Drive to Turmi- Today we will meet the people of Konso and their villages. The cornerstone of Konso culture, however, is a highly specialized and successful agricultural economy that, through terracing buttressed with stone, enable these people to extract a productive living from the infertile hills and valleys that surround them. An excellent day to meet the people, take photographs and learn of a culture that has had very little outside influence and continue visiting along the way the Tsemai people in Weito. Overnight Turmi Lodge
DIMEKA MARKET – JAN 15
Day 12 – In the morning drive to Omo Rate crossing the Omo River by boat to visit the Galab village in the bank of the lower Omo valley. One of a small group of the Omo Valley tribes, called Dasanach. In the afternoon we will drive to see one of the colorful markets of the Omo Valley in Demeka area (Saturday Market). Overnight Turmi Lodge
TURMI-MURULLE – JAN 16
Day 13 -This day we drive towards the Murulle area to see the Karo ethnic group in Korcho villages, experts in body painting, using clays and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic patterns on each other’s faces, chests, arms and legs. If lucky, we may be able to see a spectacle called ‘cattle jumping,’ a ceremony that constitutes rite of passage for young men in Turmi area in the afternoon. Overnight Turmi Lodge
JINKA – JAN 17
Day 14 – This morning we will enjoy the weekly market of the Hamer people, in Turmi Market (Monday Market) a highlight of Omo Valley where the Hamer and Benna ethnic tribes come to shop. The market is exciting and you may have the opportunity to buy some of the tribal regalia and artifacts and continue driving to Jinka through Key After town of the Benna tribes. Overnight Jinka Resort
JINKA-MAGO- MURSI –JAN 18
Day 15 – Morning drive to Mago National Park, sitting on the eastern bank of the Omo River From here, visit the Mursi highlands where the most illustrious of Ethiopia’s unique tribes lives. The Mursi are known all over the world, for their decorative lip plates that adorn the lower lips of the Mursi women. The various cultural aspects of the tribe will be explained and you will be able to take their photographs (not free) and interact with them. It is truly fascinating. Drive back through Mago National Park to Jinka for overnight.
YABELLO – JAN 19
Day 16- In the morning drive to Yabelo to visit the singing wells and village of Borena in El-Sod. See the scenery and the Sidama tribe with their cultural houses and Turkana Lake. Overnight Mobil Hotel
YIRGAALEM – JAN 20
Day 17 Drive to Yirgaalem and Late afternoon visit the lodge surrounded by forest that is home to diverse species of birds and mammals. The coffee plantation and the nightly visits of jackals and Hyenas are further attractions to be found in the surrounding area. Overnight Aregash Lodge
ADDIS ABABA- JAN 21
Day 18 Drive to Addis Ababa en route visit the pale ontological site of Melka Kunture which is nearly 2 million years old and Tiya Stele field- one of the most attractive archaeological sites found in Ethiopia. The site holds 36 stelae, around tombstones of 500 years old.
DEPARTURE – JAN 22
Evening Ethiopia Dinner with live music till departure time
By Daniel • Timeline, Travel • Tags: Ethiopia