Ethiopia Tours

Cultural tour to Omo Vally tribes

• Day 1

  Arrival at Bole International Airport. Reception by IETT guide and driver anTransfer to hotel for check-in. City tour of Addis Ababa including the panoramic view point Entoto Mountain, Merkato, said to be Africa’s largest market of its kind, and the National Museum (home of Lucy, hominid skeleton dating back 3.2 million years) and the ethnographic museums. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

• Day 2

  Depart south from Addis via the Great Rift Valley, stopping on the way at Lake Ziway to visit the bountiful birdlife on the shores of the lake. Continue driving to Arba Minch via Sodo, overnight in Arba Minch.

• Day 3

  In the morning, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the crocodile market and hippo pods. In the afternoon Ascend into the Gughe Mountains to visit the Dorze people, who are known for their tall beehive-like houses and their fine cotton weaving. Market days in Dorze village are Mondays and Thursdays and in Chencha on Tuesdays and Saturdays. After the visit, continue to Arba Minch for overnight in Arba Minch.

• Day 4

  After the visit, continue driving to Jinka via Weyto (market day Sunday) and Key Afar (market day Thursday). Overnight in Jinka.

• Day 5

  After breakfast drive to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe, who are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates. Afterwards, return to Jinka to visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center for more information about the tribes. Additionally, Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days in Jinka, which will be visited. Overnight in Jinka.

• Day 6

  Drive Jinka to Turmi, home of the Hamer people. On the way, stop in Dimeka for the local market, which is on Tuesdays and Saturday. This is one of the most colorful markets in the South Omo and is visited by neighborhood Hamer, Benna, Karo, Tsemai and Ari tribes. Overnight in Turmi. At night, see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer people, known as Evangadi.

• Day 7

  Morning, drive to Omorate and cross the Omo River by local boat to visit the Dasennech tribe (also known as Galeb tribe). Afterwards, return to Turmi and, if there is Jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer wedding ceremony, it will be visited. Monday is market day in Turmi. Overnight in Turmi.

• Day 8

  Today will be a day trip to visit the people of the Karo tribe. Depart from Turmi to the villages of Murulle, Kolcho and Dus on the shores of the Omo River. The Karo people are the smallest in number of all of the tribes of the Omo Valley, and they are known for their elaborate decorations, particularly during local ceremonies. Overnight in Turmi.

• Day 9

  Depart from Turmi to Arba Minch, via Erbore in the Weyto valley and Konso. Friday is market day in Erbore, so if passing on this day, the market will be visited. Stop in Konso for a visit with the Konso people, who are known for their totems erected in honor of the dead and their intricate agricultural terracing techniques. Afterwards, continue to Arba Minch for overnight in Arba Minch.

• Day 10

  Depart from Arba Minch to Addis Ababa. In the evening, farewell party with cultural dinner and traditional special buffet and local drinks to experience Ethiopia’s cultural meals and drinks. After farewell party transfer to airport for international departure. End of the Tour.