14-Day Ethiopia Cultural Tour with Omo Valley and Lalibela Churches

Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel. Later, enjoy a city tour of the capital, including a visit to the National Museum, where Lucy is located, Mount Entoto, and Merkato, the largest and busiest open-air market in Africa. Overnight at the hotel.

Take the morning flight to Dire Dawa and drive 42 km to Harar. After checking in at the hotel, go out for a city tour of Harar and visit the old city, where the Harari people, the first settlers of the city, still live.

Explore colourful markets filled with several kinds of commodities, including chat, a green leaf with nicotine content that people chew to stimulate themselves and relieve depression. Also visit ancient mosques, private Harari houses decorated with basketry works and earthenware materials, and more.

In the evening, entertain yourself by feeding wild hyenas pieces of meat and bone. Overnight at the hotel.

Check out of your hotel and drive to Dire Dawa to catch the flight to Addis Ababa, then connect onward to Arba Minch. Later, drive to Dorze village, where you will visit the Dorze people and their beautiful villages, known for false banana plants. Overnight at the hotel or lodge.

After breakfast, proceed to Lake Chamo for a boat cruise to see hippos and African crocodiles. Return to your vehicle and drive to Konso village for lunch.

After lunch, continue to Turmi with a stop at Keyafer market, where the Bena, Tsemay, and Ari people trade their goods on Thursdays. Overnight at the lodge.

Spend the whole day in Turmi. In the morning, drive to Karo village to visit the Karo tribe, known for body painting and scarification.

Return to the hotel, then after lunch head to Omorate to see the Dassenech people living on the other side of the Omo River. In the late afternoon, continue with more visits to a Hamer village and experience their way of life.

Optional bull-jumping ceremony if available. Overnight at the lodge.

Today, drive to Jinka with stops at any available marketplaces along the way. In the late afternoon, visit an Ari village on the outskirts of Jinka town.

If it is Saturday, walk around the town and visit Jinka market. Overnight at a basic hotel.

After an early breakfast, drive to Mursi village and visit the Mursi tribe, whose women are known for ear and lip-plate insertion. Return to Jinka for lunch, then head to the airport for the flight to Addis Ababa and connect onward to Bahir Dar. Overnight at the hotel.

Spend the whole day in Bahir Dar.

In the morning, take a boat ride on Lake Tana to visit 13th- and 14th-century churches and monasteries such as Ura Kidanemihiret, Aziwa Mariam, Kibran Gabrieal (only men), and Aziwa Mariam (only women). These churches are endowed with religious and traditional mural paintings. Return to the hotel via the outlet of the Blue Nile River.

In the afternoon, drive to the Blue Nile Falls and walk for about 1 hour to the full falls. Overnight at the hotel.

Drive to Gondar with a stop at Awramba community village. After lunch, visit the royal enclosure, the bath of King Fasiledes, the Church of Trinity, and the monastery of Kuskuam Mariam. Overnight at the hotel.

Enjoy a full-day trip from Gondar to Simien Mountains National Park. After breakfast, head to the small town of Debark, where the headquarters of the Simien Mountains National Park is located. Complete the necessary paperwork, pick up local guides and scouts, and then drive into the park.

Trek for 3-4 hours and enjoy the endemic Gelada baboons and the magnificent landscape of the Simien escarpments. Late in the afternoon, return to Gondar with a stop at the former Jewish village where Ethiopian Jewish communities once lived. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Lalibela. After lunch, visit at least the first group of churches, including Bete Medhanialem (the house of the Saviour of the World), Bete Mariam (House of St. Mary), Bete Denagil (House of the Virgin Martyrs), Bete Emanuel, Bete Giyorgis (House of St. George), and more. Overnight at the hotel.

Spend the whole day in Lalibela. In the morning, take a day trip either to the monastery of Yimrehan Kirstos or go mule trekking to the church of Asheton Mariam, both located outside Lalibela town.

In the afternoon, continue visiting the remaining churches in Lalibela, such as Bete Gabriel and Raphael, Bete Merkoriw, Bete Emanuel, and Bete Abba Libanos. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Aksum. Check in at the hotel, then go out for sightseeing and visit the stele park and the tombs of King Kaleb and Gebre Meskel.

After lunch, continue with more visits, including St. Mary Zion Church, the ruined palace of the Queen of Sheba, and more. Overnight at the hotel.

Today, we wrap up our trip in Ethiopia, and it is time to fly back home. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Addis Ababa.

Before your farewell dinner at one of the traditional restaurants, enjoy more city touring in the capital and other activities. Finally, you will be dropped at the airport for your departure home. End of the tour.