14-Day Grand Ethiopian Expedition: North, Danakil Depression & Omo Valley Tribes

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa

Arrive in Ethiopia’s capital and enjoy a city tour featuring the National Museum (home of “Lucy”), Mount Entoto’s panoramic views, and a vibrant local market. Overnight in Addis.

Days 2–4: Omo Valley – A Journey into Living Traditions

Day 2: Fly to Arba Minch – Dorze Village Visit
Fly south to Arba Minch. Visit the Dorze people, known for their unique bamboo huts and weaving traditions. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Day 3: Drive to Jinka via Konso
Explore the Konso Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring terraced agriculture and ancestral totems. Continue to Jinka for the night.

Day 4: Visit the Mursi Tribe – Jinka to Turmi
Travel into Mago National Park to meet the Mursi, famed for their lip plates and body art. Drive to Turmi, home of the Hamar people, with the possibility of witnessing a bull-jumping ceremony—a rite of passage.

Days 5–6: Omo Valley Deep Dive – Hamar, Karo & Dassanech

Day 5: Karo Tribe Excursion
Visit the Karo people along the Omo River, known for intricate body painting and decorative scarification. Return to Turmi.

Day 6: Dassanech Village Visit – Return to Arba Minch
Explore a Dassanech village, a nomadic group living near Lake Turkana. Then drive back to Arba Minch for your flight back to Addis Ababa.

Days 7–9: Danakil Depression – Earth’s Hottest Wonderland

Day 7: Fly to Mekele – Drive to Dallol
Begin your Danakil adventure from Mekele. Journey into the salt desert and explore the surreal, color-splashed Dallol geothermal fields. Overnight in basic camp or local lodge.

Day 8: Camel Caravans & Salt Flats – Trek to Erta Ale Volcano
Witness Afar salt miners working with camel caravans. In the afternoon, drive to Erta Ale Volcano and begin a sunset trek to the crater. Watch glowing lava from the summit. Overnight in a basic campsite.

Day 9: Descend & Return to Mekele
Hike down from Erta Ale and return to Mekele, passing breathtaking desert landscapes. Overnight in Mekele or fly to Axum/Lalibela (depending on route).

Days 10–14: North Ethiopia – Ancient Civilizations & Highland Wonders

Day 10: Fly to Lalibela – Explore the Rock-Hewn Churches
Arrive in Lalibela, home to 12th-century monolithic churches carved from solid rock. Tour the famous St. George’s Church and interconnected cave churches. Overnight in Lalibela.

Day 11: Lalibela – Asheten Maryam Hike or Yimrehane Kristos Excursion
Choose a morning hike to the hilltop Asheten Maryam Monastery or visit Yimrehane Kristos, an ancient cave church outside Lalibela. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 12: Fly to Gondar – Castles & Frescoes
Visit Gondar, the former royal capital. Explore the Royal Enclosure, Fasilides’ Bath, and Debre Berhan Selassie Church, known for its angel-covered ceiling. Overnight in Gondar.

Day 13: Bahir Dar – Lake Tana Monasteries & Blue Nile Falls
Drive to Bahir Dar. Cruise Lake Tana to visit centuries-old island monasteries. Then head to the Blue Nile Falls, a stunning natural spectacle. Overnight in Bahir Dar.

Day 14: Return to Addis Ababa – Departure
Fly back to Addis. Enjoy a farewell cultural dinner with traditional music and dancing. Airport transfer for your international flight.

Tour Highlights

• Explore the Omo Valley, home to over a dozen indigenous tribes with ancient customs

• Witness the lava lake at Erta Ale and the otherworldly sulfur fields of Dallol

• Discover Ethiopia’s legendary north: Lalibela, Gondar, and Lake Tana

• Interact respectfully with tribal communities and learn about their living traditions

• Expert local guides, comfortable transport, and authentic cultural experiences