Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Danakil and Omo Valley Journey
Day 1
Addis Ababa City Tour
In the morning or afternoon, you'll explore Mount Entoto for panoramic views of Addis Ababa. Continue to the Ethnological Museum to see cultural and historical artifacts housed in the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. Visit St. George Cathedral, known for its iconic octagonal architecture and its link to the Battle of Adwa, then head to Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa.
Overnight stay: Addis Ababa.
Day 2
Fly Addis Ababa to Lalibela
After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After lunch, you will visit the first group of seven churches lying in rock cradles one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mika'el, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danagl, and Bet Medhane Alem. Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one, is built like a Greek temple, and its stone floor has been polished by countless visitors so that it reflects shafts of light from apertures in the walls high above. In one corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for the biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Later, you will visit the other groups of rock churches of Lalibela, including Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches, which lies somewhat isolated in the southwest part of the village on a sloping rock terrace.
Your overnight stay will be in Lalibela.
Day 3
Lalibela to Addis Ababa
In the morning, after breakfast, you will visit the remaining churches of Lalibela, including Bete Gabriel, Bete Marqorios, Bete Emmanuel, and Bete Aba Libanos. Later, you'll drive to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. In the evening, you'll 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. Finally, you will be taken to the airport for your flight home.
Overnight stay will be in Addis Ababa.
Day 4
Fly to Semera and Drive to Ahmed Ella
After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Semera. Upon arrival, you will be met and driven to Ahmed Ella, visiting the beautiful landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand, and occasional palm-lined oases. After passing several small hamlets, you'll begin visiting Ahmad Ella village, with a total population of more than 500 people, to see the lifestyle of the local Afar people. Finally, you'll proceed to Salt Lake Asale, a huge salty lake where you will swim in a natural pool while enjoying sunset reflections on the salty ground.
Overnight camping will be at Ahmed Ella.
Day 5
Dallol and Erta Ale
You'll have a morning drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the locals mine salt. Watch the activity of breaking the salt from the ground, cutting it into rectangular pieces, and loading it onto camels. You'll then drive ahead to Dallol and visit the different landscapes formed by volcanic activity. At 125 meters below sea level, it is one of the lowest and hottest places in the world. The colorful salt mining areas and other terrestrial formations created by volcanic activity, including a bubbling oily lake, create a very different experience during your trip. Then, you'll go back to Ahmad Ella for lunch. Later, you'll proceed to Erta Ale.
Dallol offers surreal volcanic landscapes with colorful salt formations. At Erta Ale, you'll witness the world's only permanent lava lake, an incredible volcanic experience.
Overnight: Camping at Erta Ale.
Day 6
Erta Ale - Lake Afdera - Semera - Addis Ababa
After breakfast, you will drive to Afdera, which is used for salt extraction. It is named after the saline Lake Afdera, located in the southern part of the Afar Depression. It is a major source of salt extraction in Ethiopia, where the lake water is pumped to salt pans for solar evaporation.
Overnight stay: Addis Ababa.
Day 7
Fly to Arba Minch and Visit Konso Village
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Arba Minch. Upon arrival, you will be met and driven south to Konso village. One of the UNESCO sites in Ethiopia, Konso is known for its terracing, created to protect against soil erosion from the sporadic and often heavy rainfall in the region.
Turmi Hamer Village: Learn about the Hamer people's bull-jumping tradition and cultural adornments.
Overnight stay: Turmi.
Day 8
Turmi - Karo - Jinka
Karo Peoples: Renowned for intricate body painting.
Today, you will drive to Murulle, where you can find the Karo people. The Karo are very famous for their splendid body decoration, painting their bodies and faces with white chalk to prepare for a ceremony. The women scar their chests, believing it makes them beautiful.
Ari People: Expert artisans in pottery and traditional liquor.
Overnight stay: Jinka.
Day 9
Jinka - Mago National Park - Addis Ababa
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll take a day excursion to Key Afer and visit the Mursi village.
Mursi people: Known for unique lip plates and scarification customs.
Fly back to Addis Ababa.
