Ethiopia · Tribal Experiences

4-Day South Omo Valley Tribal Tour from Addis Ababa with Mursi Visit

4 Days Round trip from Jinka Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore cultural artifacts at Addis Ababa's Ethnographic Museum
02 Immerse in vibrant Hamer Tribe traditions in Turmi
03 Canoe across the Omo River to visit Dassench Tribe villages
04 Discover unique lifestyles of the Benna and Ari Tribes in their villages
05 Witness the iconic Mursi Tribe lip-plate tradition in their village

Embark on a cultural odyssey through Ethiopia, beginning in Addis Ababa with the Ethnographic Museum before flying south to Jinka and Turmi. Immerse yourself in the traditions of the Hamer and Dassench Tribes, including a canoe crossing over the Omo River to visit a Dassench village. Continue through Benna and Ari villages on the way to Jinka, then visit the semi-nomadic Mursi village, whose women are known for inserting lip-plates in their lower lips. The journey ends in Addis Ababa with time at 'Mercato', the largest open-air market in Africa, and an evening of Ethiopian food, drinks, and traditional dances.

The Mursi are a semi-nomadic tribe who live close to the Omo River, and their women are known for inserting lip-plates in their lower lips.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Addis Ababa, Omo National Park, Jinka, Turmi

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Addis Ababa, Jinka, and Turmi

Visit the Ethnographic Museum in Addis Ababa and fly to Jinka, the central town of the South Omo Valley.
Drive to Turmi, a town of the Hamer Tribe, to spend the night at the hotel or lodge.

Overnight stay in a hotel at Turmi.

Day 02

Dassench Village Excursion from Turmi

Visit another tribe, the Dassench, who live on the other side of the Omo River.
Cross the river by canoe to one of the Dassench villages.
Spend time visiting their villages, learning about the tribe, and taking pictures before returning to Turmi.

Overnight stay in a hotel at Turmi.

Day 03

Benna and Ari Villages to Jinka

Visit Benna and Ari Tribe villages on the way to Jinka.

Overnight stay in a hotel at Jinka.

Day 04

Mursi Village and Addis Ababa

Drive to Mursi village in the morning. The Mursi are a semi-nomadic tribe who live close to the Omo River, and their women are known for inserting lip-plates in their lower lips.
Drive back to Jinka for your flight to Addis Ababa.
Visit 'Mercato', the largest open-air market in Africa, in Addis Ababa.
Go to one of the cultural restaurants in Addis Ababa.
See a variety of Ethiopian traditional dances while enjoying the country's most delicious food and drinks.
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home or drop-off at your hotel.

Where this trip takes you

Ethnographic Museum, Omo River canoe crossing, Mursi village

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Jinka 4 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

4x4 vehicle with fuel
Experienced driver
Local guide

What's Not Included

Meals
Accommodation
Entrance and boat fee
International and domestic airfare
Alcoholic beverages
Tips
Personal items and needs
Visa charges

What to bring

Mosquito repellents
Sunscreen

Know before you go

Visitors coming to Ethiopia should have a tourist visa.
Be advised to cover your head, especially for females, and your body while visiting religious places.
Ethiopia also requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for travellers aged nine months or older arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission, as well as travellers who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
All passengers travelling to Ethiopia must present a negative PCR test certificate for COVID-19 before boarding a flight. The certificate validity should not exceed 120 hours on arrival from the date the sample is given.
Children aged 12 years or younger are exempt from the PCR test certificate requirement.
There is no COVID-19 test to be done on arrival at Addis Ababa.
A rapid diagnostic test (RDT antibody test) certificate is not acceptable. The above requirement does not apply to transit passengers.

Logistics