Ethiopia, Kenya · Tribal Experiences

7 Days Private Tour to Omo Valley Cultural and Addis Ababa

7 Days Round trip from Pickup service provided in Addis Ababa. Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Addis Ababa’s major cultural sights
  • 02 Visit the National Museum and see Lucy
  • 03 Discover St. George’s Cathedral and Mercato
  • 04 Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Chamo
  • 05 Visit the Dorze village and see beehive-shaped houses
  • 06 Experience the UNESCO-recognized cultural landscape of Konso
  • 07 Meet Omo Valley communities including Hamer, Dassanech, Kara, Mursi, and Ari
  • 08 Attend an evening folkloric dinner and coffee ceremony in Addis Ababa

Discover Ethiopia’s cultural and natural diversity on this private 7-day journey through Addis Ababa and the Omo Valley. Begin in the capital with visits to major landmarks including the National Museum, St. George’s Cathedral, and Mercato, then travel south to explore lakeside scenery, traditional villages, and some of the country’s most distinctive cultural landscapes.

Along the way, experience a boat ride on Lake Chamo, visit the Dorze in Chencha, and continue through Konso, Turmi, Jinka, and Mago National Park. This itinerary offers opportunities to encounter several communities of the Omo Valley, including the Hamer, Dassanech, Kara, Mursi, and Ari, while also enjoying included breakfasts and dinners, accommodation, and private transport.

Hundreds of hippos come out to graze on the grassy beaches at night in the reed-fringed ports of Chamo's stunning azure waters.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Addis Ababa, Arba Minch, Omo National Park, Konso, Jinka, Turmi, Chencha, Mago National Park, Lake Chamo
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival of Addis Ababa and sightseeingThe museum houses Ethiopia's artistic treasures. It contains many precious local archaeological finds such as the fossilized remains of early hominids, the most famous of which is "Lucy," the partial skeleton of a specimen of Australopithecus afarensis.The panoramic view of Addis Ababa The peak is the highest on this mountain and overlooks the capital city. Legend has it that it is from here that Emperor Menelik II and his wife Empress Taitu saw Addis Ababa for the first time and decided to make it the capital of the country. The mountain offers a fantastic view of the capital city nestled in its foothills.Located at the northern end of Churchill Road, the St. George Orthodox cathedral is notable for its unique octagonal structure. Designed by Sebastiano Castagna and constructed by Italian prisoners of war who were defeated at Adwa in 1896, it was given the name St. George since the church's ark was brought to the battle of Adwa, where the Ethiopians prevailed over the Italians. The cathedral was destroyed by the Italian Fascist authorities in 1937, but the Emperor rebuilt it once the building was freed in 1941.The biggest open market In Africa. Spread out across many square miles, Mercato is home to over 7,000 enterprises and an estimated 15,000 people, making it the biggest open-air market in Africa. Coffee, building materials, clothes, vegetables, spiacess  and other locally grown agricultural items make up the bulk of the Mercato's merchandise, but there is also a fascinating and colorful re-cycle market that you may explore on foot with a guide.Overnight stay In Hotel

2
Day 02

Addis Ababa - ArbaminchThere will be a boat ride on Lake Chamo for you. Hundreds of hippos come out to graze on the grassy beaches at night in the reed-fringed ports of Chamo's stunning azure waters. Many  Nile crocodiles, some of which may reach lengths of up to seven meters from tip of tail to snout, call Chamo home.an hour drive uphill to Chencha to visit the Dorze, one of the many small segments of the great Omotic language group of southern Ethiopia. Once warriors, they have now turned to farming and weaving to earn a living. Their success in the field of weaving has been phenomenal and the Dorze name is synonymous with the best in woven cotton cloth. Each amazing Dorze bamboo house has its own small garden surrounded by enset (false banana plantation), beds of spices and cabbage, and tobacco (the Dorze are passionate smokers). The main house is a tall up to twelve meters bee-hived shaped building with an aristocratic ‘nose’, which forms a reception room for guests and is usually furnished with two benches. The vaulted ceiling and walls of the spacious and airy houses are covered with an elegant thatch of enset to form a smooth and steep unbroken domeOvernight stay paradise lodge

3
Day 03

Arbaminch - Konso - Turmion the way to Turmi visit Konso (one of the World Heritage sites in Ethiopia). Konso is known for its stone wall villages and Cultural landscape particularly recognized for their communal sustainable work of terrace system registered by UNESCOAfterwards, drive Jinka to Turmi, home of the Hamer people. The Hamer are a renowned Tribe of Omo Valley, particularly for their Women’s Striking hairstyles, and having the friendliest Tribe in Omo Valley, Ethiopia.Overnight at Emerald resort

4
Day 04

Excursion to Desanch ( Omo River )The Dassanech or Dasenech, also known as Geleb, are an indigenous Cushitic-speaking ethnic group residing in Ethiopia and Kenya. They have traditionally inhabited the southern region of the Omo Valley, specifically the Omorate District, which is in close proximity to the border between Ethiopia and Kenya. The population of the Dassanech community currently stands at 47,440 individuals.You will visit one of the Turmi villages today to learn about and experience their way of life, housing, music, coffee, and more; if it is Saturday, market day, you will also visit Dimeka.Overnight Emerald resort

5
Day 05

Turmi - Karo - JinkaThe Kara people of the Lower Omo River region use elaborate headdresses, body scarification, and body painting as forms of self-expression and cultural value in their ceremonies, which are steeped in rich cultural symbolism. In the southern Ethiopian region known as the Lower Omo Valley, there is a vibrant agriculturalist tribe that numbers fewer than a thousand people. Their environment may be lacking in advanced materials and natural resources, but it doesn't stop them from wanting to express themselves artistically and symbolically in unique waysOvernight - Nasa Hotel

6
Day 06

Jinka -Mago national Park - Ari villageVisit the Mursi settlement during a day trip to Mago National Park. One of Ethiopia's more unusual ethnic groupings is the Mursi. Their dwellings are composed of straw leaves and are quite low. The women like to adorn their earlobes and dramatically expanded lower lips with terracotta.the Ari, who constitute the most populous group in the middle Omo Valley. Women who wear skirts made from Enset, a tree resembling a banana, are pottery experts.Overnight Nasa Hotel

7
Day 07

Jinka To Addis Ababa + International DepartureAfter that, you'll be taken to Jinka Airport in preparation for your Addis Ababa trip. Attend a folkloric supper in the evening to witness the dances of Ethiopia's numerous ethnic groups and to sample a variety of traditional dishes. There will also be the customary coffee ceremony. You will be taken to the airport later to make your departure.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Pickup service provided in Addis Ababa. 9 cities · 7 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • All Fees and Taxes

Know before you go

  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • PASSPORT REQUIRED
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Not recommended for people with heart conditions
  • Our guide will wait for you at the airport with the sign of your name

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup service provided in Addis Ababa.
Tour start
Pickup service provided in Addis Ababa.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 7 days finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in Addis Ababa..

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