11 Days Omo Valley Tours

Day 01: Arrival – Sightseeing Addis (The new Flower)

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Refresh and begin your sightseeing of Addis with a drive up to mount Entoto for a panoramic view of Addis. Descend down and drive to National museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of ‘Lucy’ fossil. Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during the WWII. Then proceed to Ethnographic museum, which use to be the palace of Emperor Hailesellase. To wrap up you drive to merkato, the biggest market in East Africa. Overnight in Addis.

Day 02: Drive Addis – Chencha – Arba Minch

Morning, drive to the town of Arba Minch visiting en route the Dorze village who are expert in weaving called Shammas. This is the first of the many Omo Valley tribes you’ll be visiting during the tour. The shape of their house looks Elephant, in order to remember the existence of these animals around the area many years ago. Enset “fake banana” is the stable food for these peoples. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Day 03:  Drive Arba Minch – Konso – Jinka

After having your breakfast you will take a boat cruise on the Lake Chamo, the third biggest Lake in Ethiopia. On the Lake you may have a chance to see the Nile crocodiles, hippos and different types of birds. Visit and proceed southwards to Jinka passing through the Konso village, one of the UNESCO site in Ethiopia know by their terracing. One of the best types of coffee for the country is also from this village. Proceed to the Bana village. The Bana who are indigenous pastoral and semi-nomadic people living in the harsh environment of lower Omo Valley. The men often have their hair dressed up with a colorful clay cap that is decorated with feathers. Drive to the Ari people, the largest population in the lower omo valley. The women wear skirts from the banana like tree, called Enset are expert in pottery. Overnight in Jinka.

Day 04: Drive Jinka – Mago – Jinka – Turmi

Take a day excursion to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi village. The Mursi are one of the exotic ethnic groups in Ethiopia. They live in very low huts made of straw leaves. The women like to wear terra cotta on their enormously stretched lower lips and ear lobes. Drive back to Jinka for lunch. Then proceed to the Turmi where the Hamer people live. Overnight in Turmi.

Day 05: Excursion to Murulle and Nyangatom

This day you will drive to Murulle where you can find the Karo people.  Karo People is very famous for their splendid body decoration, which they paint their bodies and faces with white chalk to prepare for a ceremony. The women scar their chest believing it makes them beautiful. The men’s scars represent an enemy or dangerous animal killed. Visit and proceed to Nyangatom people, 17 kms away from the Murulle area. To adore their long and lean bodies, the Nyangatom women wear numerous necklaces and long skirts from goatskins that are richly decorated. Overnight in Turmi.

Day 06: Excursion to Omorate (75kms 2hrs drive)

After having your breakfast, you will have an excursion to Omorate to visit the Dassanech people ‘people of the Delta’, who lives on the northern shore of Lake Turkana. Visit and drive back to Turmi. Overnight in Turmi.

Day 07: Drive Turmi – Yabello

Depart Turmi and proceed to Yabello visiting en route the Arobre tribes and Borena pastoralists who own innumerable cattle. Overnight at the Yabello Motel/similar.

Day 08: Drive Yabello – Yirgalem

This day you will drive to Yirgalem passing through the coffee plantation. Overnight at the Aregash Lodge/similar.

Day 09: Drive Yirgalem – Goba (267kms 5 – 6hrs drive)

After having your breakfast you will drive to Goba having a stop at Dinsho, headquarter of Bale Mountains National Park. Here you may encounter the endmics of Mountain Nyala, Menelik Bushbuck.  Overnight at the Bale Mountains Lodge/similar.

Day 10: Excursion to Sanetti Plateau and Harrena Forest (100 kms 6 – 7hrs drive)

Today you will have an excursion to Sanetti Plateau, the highest plateau in Africa. Here you may encounter the endemics of Ethiopia Wolf. Visit and proceed to Harrena Forest, the second dense forest in Ethiopia. Overnight at the Bale Mountains Lodge/similar.

Day 11: Drive Goba – Addis – Departure

After breakfast, drive to Addis sightseeing en route.

In the evening attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The traditional coffee ceremony will also be served.  Later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.