Day 1: Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa - Begin your journey with a half-day city tour of Addis Ababa, exploring its museums, churches, and the bustling Mercato, known as the largest market in Africa.

National Museum of Ethiopia - The oldest museum in Ethiopia, it is home to the famous exhibit “Lucy,” a 3.5 million-year-old skeleton discovered in 1974 that proved bipedal hominids evolved much earlier than previously believed. The museum also features numerous palaeontological and archaeological artifacts, along with ethnographic and modern art displays.

Holy Trinity Cathedral - Built to celebrate Ethiopia’s liberation from Italian occupation, this cathedral is a significant site for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is considered the second most important place of worship after the Church of Our Lady Zion in Axum, where the original Ark of the Covenant is believed to be kept.

Mercato Market - Known as the largest market in Africa, Mercato is the commercial heart of Addis Ababa. It’s a maze of streets filled with stalls, kiosks, and shops where you can find almost anything, but be ready to haggle!

Addis Ababa to Arba Minch

Tiya - On day 2, depart from Addis Ababa early in the morning and head towards Butajira, stopping at the enigmatic stone stelae field of Tiya. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the origins and meanings of these carved stones remain a mystery.

Arba Minch - From Butajira, enjoy a long but scenic drive through fertile landscapes to Arba Minch, where you will spend the night.

Arba Minch

Chamo Lake - In the morning, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market,” a sandy area where large Nile Crocodiles bask in the sun. Hippo sightings are also common here.

Dorze Village - In the afternoon, drive up the hillside to visit the highland community of Dorze. Known for their weaving skills, the Dorze people create intricate products, and even their homes are woven from bamboo. You can try spinning thread and learn about the various uses of the enset (false banana) plant. Return to your hotel in Arba Minch for a second night.

Arba Minch to Jinka

Konso - Departing from Arba Minch, continue south past Lake Chamo to Karat-Konso. The Konso Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site, includes 42 villages and surrounding farmland. Around 250,000 people live here, mostly in hilltop villages with high stone walls. Konso farmers use advanced stone terracing techniques to retain moisture and prevent erosion. The area is also known for waka, carved wooden funerary statues. The Konso have lived here for at least 400 years and speak a Cushitic language.

Key Afer - If it’s a Thursday (market day), you may opt to visit the local market at Key Afar instead of the Tsemai village.

Jinka - At the end of the day, continue to Jinka, where you’ll spend the night.

Jinka

Mursi Village - Spend the morning visiting a Mursi village, located in a remote area between the Mago and Omo rivers. The Mursi are known for the clay lip-plates worn by women, a practice with debated origins. Both men and women engage in scarification and have short, often patterned hair. Men wear a blanket tied at one shoulder, while women wear similarly fashioned goat skins. The Mursi are known for their aggressiveness, and men carry a Donga (large stick) for fighting. Cattle are central to Mursi society, used in social relationships and as dowries. They provide milk and blood, key components of the Mursi diet.

Jinka - In the afternoon, choose between visiting the Jinka museum or a village of the Ari people. The Ari, who live around Jinka, practice settled agriculture and grow various crops, including coffee and cardamom. In rural areas, Ari women may still wear traditional dresses made from false banana leaves, adorned with beads and bracelets. Return to Jinka for a second night.

Jinka to Turmei

Turmi - Leaving Jinka, head south to Turmei, passing through Hamer/Bana territory. In the morning, visit a local market (if it’s Tuesday or Saturday) or a Bana village. In the afternoon, visit a Hamer village or, if fortunate, witness the Hamar’s bull-jumping ceremony, a rite of passage for young men. Hamer women wear decorated goat skins and beaded jewelry, while men wear clay caps adorned with feathers. Spend the night in Turmei.

Turmei

Omorate - From Turmei, visit a Dassanech village. The Dassanech tribe, living around Omorate, is diverse and divided into eight clans, each with unique powers. Clan members cannot marry or dance with each other. Both men and women wear beads and bracelets.

Turmi - In the afternoon, you might see another Hamar bull-jumping ceremony or visit a Hamar village if you saw the ceremony the previous day. Return to Turmei for a second night.

Turmei to Arba Minch

Arba Minch - Enjoy a scenic drive back to Arba Minch, where you’ll spend the night.

Arba Minch to Hawassa

Awasa - Continue north from Arba Minch through fertile countryside. Villagers often sell fresh, seasonal fruits along the roadside. Arrive in Hawassa, a charming lakeside town, for the night. The sunset views over the lake can be stunning.

Hawassa to Addis Ababa

Yod Abyssinia Traditional Restaurant - Conclude your tour with dinner at a cultural restaurant in Addis Ababa, where you can enjoy traditional dances from across the country while sampling various Ethiopian dishes.

• Private transportation
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast

• Gratuities
• Alcoholic drinks (water and soft drinks with meals are included)