10-Day Bale Mountains Trek and South Ethiopia Tribal Culture Tour

• Arrive at the Dinsho campsite (3,100 metres above sea level).

Overnight in Addis Ababa.

• After breakfast, begin your trek to Sodota, a route of about 18 km. Walk from Dinsho through the spectacular scenery of Web Valley toward the Finch Habera Waterfall, where the Web and Wolla rivers meet. In this area, you will have your first chance to spot Ethiopian wolves, raptors, Rock Hyrax, and endemic birds such as the blue-winged goose, which will surely leave you excited and in awe of the true wilderness of the Bale Mountains. Enjoy a coffee or tea break on arrival at the campsite.

Overnight at Sodota campsite (3,500 masl).

• Trek to Wassam through a beautiful landscape with stunning views. Pass through Mararo Valley, where lammergeyer and Verreaux's eagle nest. There will also be a chance to see Ethiopian wolves and numerous birdlife. The trek takes around 6-7 hours.

Overnight at the Wassam campsite (4,000 masl).

• In this next section, the wilderness becomes especially striking as you see how the Bale Mountain massif was formed by a supervolcano long ago. The Ice Age and glacial activity also played a major role in shaping the mountain. The walk between Wassam and Rafu highlights this volcanic influence, with incredible rock formations, basalt pipes, and granite boulders scattered across the high country, making this 5-6 hour trek a stunning experience.

Overnight at Rafu campsite.

• After breakfast, leave beautiful Rafu and head to the Sanetti Plateau. Falcons, raptors, and possibly Ethiopian wolves may be visible along the way. Pass through the most beautiful Afro-alpine moorland, with wild alpine scenery and lakes on the plateau. Here, meet the vehicle and continue driving to the nearby town of Robe or Goba for the night. The trekking takes 6-7 hours.

Overnight at the hotel.

• After breakfast, leave Bale Mountain and drive toward the southern part of the country to Arba Minch town, with some stops along the way. Arrive in Arba Minch and transfer to your accommodation for the night.

• After breakfast, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo and view some of the world's largest crocodiles on the lake's banks. Hippopotamus and birdlife are also abundant. Later in the afternoon, drive to visit the Dorze tribe on Guhe Mountain. The Dorze are renowned for their cotton weaving techniques and their beehive-shaped houses constructed entirely from organic materials. In their village, you can see these unique huts, observe their exceptional cotton weaving skills, and learn about their life and traditions.

Overnight at one of the best accommodations in Arba Minch.

• After breakfast, drive to Turmi, a small centre for visiting the Omo Valley tribes. On the way, stop at Konso and visit their village. The Konso are famous for their agricultural terracing methods and wooden totems honouring the dead. The Konso village is a World Heritage-listed site for its cultural significance. The village is surrounded by high stone walls that enclose separate compounds. After lunch, continue further south through the acacia forest to Turmi. The Hamer are known for the fine pottery they produce, as well as their remarkable hairstyles. The women are striking, wearing beautiful colourful beaded goatskin ornaments, necklaces, and metal bangles around their wrists and ankles. This decoration indicates the wealth and prestige of a woman's husband.

Overnight in Turmi at one of the best lodges.

• In the morning, travel toward Omorate on a 75 km asphalt road to visit the Dassanech tribe. Omorate lies on the banks of the Omo River, close to the border with Kenya. Cross the Omo River by local boat and walk to one of the Dassanech villages. The Dassanech are semi-nomadic people living on the shores of the Omo River, and their clans stretch across Sudan, Kenya, and southern Ethiopia. They are known for their very unique ornate hair buns. They grow crops and fish. Afterwards, return to Turmi, continue to the lodge for lunch, and then, depending on time, continue for the next sightseeing.
• Drive to Jinka, arrive there, and visit the village of the Ari people. The Ari live in the lush surroundings of Jinka and grow coffee and fruits for trading and self-consumption. Their village is green and surrounded by bananas, mangoes, and avocados, and it is described as one of the most beautiful in the country.

Overnight at one of the best accommodations.

• Early in the morning, drive through Mago National Park to visit one of the villages of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi are possibly the most well-known tribe in the area and are famous for both their women, who practice extending their lower lips with clay discs, and their men, who engage in stick-fighting rituals called Donga. The Mursi are probably among the last tribes in Africa for whom it is still the norm for women to wear large pottery or wooden discs or plates. Afterwards, return to Jinka and transfer to the airport for your return flight back to Addis Ababa.