Lalibela and Omo Valley Tours – 8 Days
Tour Highlights
- Explore the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit the Bete Giyorgis and Bete Medhane Alem churches carved directly into volcanic rock
- Discover the unique cultures of the Omo Valley tribes
- Meet the Hamer, Karo, Ari, and Mursi tribes and learn about their traditions
- Experience the spectacular wildlife and scenery of Lake Chamo
- Enjoy a boat trip to the crocodile market and see hippos and birdlife
- Visit the South Omo Research Center in Jinka
- Explore Addis Ababa city highlights including Mount Entoto and the National Museum
Day 1: Addis Ababa – Arba Minch
At 7:30 AM, flight ET171 will take you on an 80-minute flight to Arba Minch. Our team will welcome you at the airport. After checking in to your hotel, you will visit the Dorze villages, known for their unique elephant-shaped houses and weaving traditions.
O/N in hotel
Day 2: Arba Minch – Turmi
After breakfast, you will take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the crocodile market. During the boat trip, you will also see hippos and different kinds of birds. Later, drive to Turmi with a stop at Konso village, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia known for its terraced landscape and traditional culture. Continue to Bana village and then proceed to Turmi where the Hamer people live. You may also witness the traditional bull-jumping ceremony if available.
O/N in Turmi
Day 3: Turmi – Jinka
Today we will visit the Hamer tribe and possibly observe a bull-jumping ceremony if it takes place. After lunch, we drive to the town of Jinka and continue to visit the Ari people, the largest population in the Lower Omo Valley. The women wear skirts made from the Enset plant, a banana-like tree, and they are well known for their pottery skills.
O/N in Jinka
Day 4: Jinka – Kara
After breakfast, we will drive to the banks of the Omo River to visit the Karo tribe, also known as Kara. They are famous for their intricate body painting and decoration. The riverbank itself offers breathtaking scenery. Later, we return to Jinka and visit the South Omo Museum and Research Center.
O/N in Jinka
Day 5: Jinka – Mago – Addis Ababa
Take a half-day excursion to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi village. The Mursi are one of the most well-known ethnic groups in Ethiopia. They live in very small huts made of hay and straw. The women are famous for wearing clay plates on their stretched lower lips and ear lobes. After visiting the village, drive back to Jinka for lunch and take flight ET170 to Addis Ababa.
Day 6: Addis Ababa – Lalibela
At 11:35 AM, flight ET120 will take us to Lalibela. After lunch, you will visit the famous Bete Giyorgis Church and Bete Medhane Alem along with six other rock-hewn churches carved directly into the rock.
O/N in hotel
Day 7: Lalibela – Addis Ababa
Early in the morning, we will drive about 40 km north of Lalibela to visit Yimrehane Kristos Church. Later, we return to Lalibela Airport and take a flight back to Addis Ababa.
Day 8: Addis Ababa City Tour
Today your city tour will start at 9 AM. You will visit Mercato Market, Mount Entoto, the National Museum of Ethiopia, and the Red Terror Martyrs Memorial Museum.
