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7-Day Tour Of Addis Ababa, Arba Minch & Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes
  • Tour Category

    Private Tour

  • Tour Types

    Culture, History, Wildlife

  • Duration

    7 Days

  • Activity Level

    Easy

  • Language

    English

Description

Go sightseeing in Addis Ababa and discover the diverse wildlife species in the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes. Attend a typical Ethiopian coffee ceremony, learn how to make local bread and porridge from Enset - the 'False Banana' and the National Bread 'Enjera' and try the freshly-caught raw and fried fish at Lake Awassa. Explore the typical Dorze huts and enjoy some traditional Ethiopian cuisines.

Highlights
  • Visit churches, monuments and the largest open-air African market in Addis
  • Attend a typical Ethiopian coffee ceremony
  • Landscape view from Mount Entoto & Ethiopia's oldest palace
  • Meet diverse wildlife species in the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley 
  • Know about the local bread and porridge made from Enset or the False Banana
  • Visit the famous Fish Market near Lake Awassa
  • Learn about the famous elephant-shaped bamboo huts of the Dorze tribe near Arba Minch 
  • Enjoy meals at the lakeside with sunset views
  • Learn how to make the country's national bread, Enjera
  • Day 1: Addis Ababa City Tour expand_more
    • You will be picked up by your Ethiopian guide from your hotel in Addis Ababa/ Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

    • Take part in a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and scenic drive on the main streets of Addis Ababa.

    • Visit the 'Merkato', the biggest outdoor market in Africa. Followed by a tour of the Spice Market and the Basket Market.

    • After lunch at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant, drive towards Mount Entoto to enjoy the great view of the city. At Mount Entoto, visit the oldest palace and the 140-year-old church in Addis Ababa, which is famous for its original hand-painted wall paintings.

    • Visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, one of the most important religious sites of Addis Ababa and where Ethiopia's last emperor (Emperor Haile Selassie I) is buried. 

    • Visit the National Museum of Ethiopia to mainly see the fossil remains of Lucy, the oldest hominid, approximately 3.25 million years old. 

    • Drive on the main streets of Addis Ababa to visit the city's historical monuments and famous places such as the HQ of the African Union, Meskel Square, and the HQ of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

    Stay the night at a hotel of your choice.

  • Day 2: Drive in the Rift Valley to Lake Ziway expand_more
    • Drive 180 km south of Addis in the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley via the town of Butajira. 

    • Visit the interesting and still active rock-cut church of Adadi Mariam, which was hand cut out of a single piece of rock in the 13th century AD by King Lalibela.

    • Next, drive to the Stele of Teya, a cemetery where about 40 huge blocks are decorated with carvings and erected in honour of local warriors in the 14th century AD.

    • Attend a food preparation class at Tiya to learn how the locals make bread and porridge from Enset or False Banana Tree. 

    • Walk on the shores of the Rift Valley Lake of Ziway to see some low land water birds.

    Stay the night at Haile Resort Hotel.

  • Day 3: Head to Awassa expand_more
    • Revel in the beautiful sunrise view from the lake and have breakfast. Take an hour-long boat ride on Lake Ziway to see families of hippos and visit the Birds' Island, which is the breeding ground of birds like Marabou Stork, Spoon Billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, etc.
    • Have lunch at the other Rift Valley Lake of Langano, the only lake in the Ethiopian Rift suitable for swimming as it is Bilharzia. 
    • After lunch, drive 100 km south to Awassa. Along the way, you will have a game drive in the Abiyatta-Shalla Lakes National Park to see Ostriches, Grant's Gazelles, Warthogs and enjoy the great view of the Rift Valley Lakes of Abiyatta and Shalla.
    • Enjoy the great sunset over Lake Awassa in the evening and walk by the shores.

    Stay the night at Lewi Resort Hotel.

  • Day 4: Drive South to Arba Minch expand_more
    • Start your day by visiting the Fish Market of Lake Awassa in the morning. It is a popular place where the locals gather to have a breakfast of freshly-caught raw and fried fish and see the rare Black and White Monkey (the Colobus Monkey). 

    • Drive 275 km farther south in the Rift Valley to Arba Minch visiting the villages of the Alaba people along the way. The Alaba people are famous for their huge huts, which are beautifully decorated with paintings in and out. 

    • Late in the afternoon, enjoy the great view of the Rift Valley Lakes of Chamo and Abaya from the comfort of your hotel. 

    Stay the night at the Paradise Lodge.

  • Day 5: Arba Minch Tour expand_more
    • Take an early morning drive to Chencha to meet the Dorze people and head to Arba Minch. The Dorze are famous for their typical huts made by weaving branches bamboo trees, which measure up to 12 m when made originally. These huts become as short as 2 metres with time as termites eat the bottom and locals need to adjust the height of the gates accordingly. 

    • Have lunch at Arba Minch and enjoy a boat ride in the Rift Valley Lake of Chamo to see big African Crocodiles, families of hippos, and various low land water birds. 

    Stay the night at Paradise Lodge.

  • Day 6: Drive back to Lake Langano expand_more
    • Head back north to the other Rift Valley Lake of Langano, which is one of the most famous weekend resorts for residents of Addis Ababa. 

    • Indulge in swimming, bird watching, water sports, horse riding, and see the beautiful sunset over the lake with your loved ones. 

    Stay the night at Sabana Lodge.

  • Day 7: Return to Addis Ababa expand_more
    • Enjoy some free time in the morning and then drive 200 km back to Addis with a stop at one of the crater lakes of Bishoftu. 

    • At Bishoftu (Debre Zeit), you will also have a food preparation class to learn how Ethiopians prepare Enjera, the country's national bread. Enjera is prepared from tiny grains called 'teff', a gluten-free grain rich in iron, carbohydrates, calcium, etc.

    • At the end of the day, you will be taken to some of the best traditional Ethiopian restaurants in Addis Abba, where you can taste varieties of delicious Ethiopian meals and enjoy live dance shows.

What's Included
  • Comfortable private Toyota Minivan equipped with air conditioning and seat belts

  • Fuel (gasoline) and driver's allowance

  • Professional and experienced English-speaking Ethiopian tour guide for the entire route

  • All on-site guides

  • Private boat for hire on Lake Ziway and Lake Chamo

  • Unlimited bottled water in the vehicle

  • Food host and food preparation class attendance fee

  • Farewell dinner on the last night

  • All related government taxes

What's Excluded
  • Entrance (admission) fees to places of visit

  • Accommodation

  • Any meal

  • Personal expenses such as souvenirs, photo fees, tips, and laundry

What to bring
  • June to September is the rainy season, so prepare for wet weather. Bring umbrellas and raincoats with you. 
Know before you go
  • This is a one-week private culture and nature tour from Addis Ababa. This tour can be organized considering visitors' special interests, time limits, and places of visit. 

Meeting Point

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price Details
The group size and price
1 To 2USD 2500 Per Group
3 To 6USD 3200 Per Group

This is a private tour

Starting From

Fromss

see details
USD 2500 / group