The Ethnic Tour - Great Rift Valley and Omo Valley
 Expedition of marvelous nature and the mosaic of culture

                             


Key Information:
Tour duration: 10 days ( 9 nights)
Tour customizable: Yes
Transportation: 4 x 4 land-cruiser with AC

People of the Great Rift Valley and Omo Valley:  The Alabar, Ari, Banna, Bumi, Dorze, Dessanech, Erbore, Gamo, Hadiya, Hamer, Karo, Kembata, Konso, Mursi, Sidama, Tsemay and more.

Day 1:  Addis Ababa
Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel.  City tour of Addis Ababa.
Accommodation:  Your preferred hotel in Addis Ababa

Day 2:  Addis Ababa – Melka Kunture – Abadi Maryam – Tiya - Hossana
Drive to Melka Kunture, an archeological site famous for the prehistoric stone-tool factory and then to Adadi Maryam rock- hewn church. Proceed to the stelae of Tiya, the World Heritage site. En route, see the farmland of the Gurage people and their thatched-roof circular houses. Also see the Hadiya and Kembata peoples. Stay at Hossana town.
Accommodation:  Heme Hotel in Hossana

Day 3:  Hossana – Wolayta Sodo - Arba Minch
Drive to the village of Wolayta people. En route, see the practice of coffee cultivation. Drive through the superb mountain terrain to Arba Minch with forty springs.
Accommodation:  Swaynes Hotel in Arba Minch

Day 4:  Arba Minch – Nech-Sar National Park – Chencha - Arba Minch
Drive to Nech-Sar National Park with the pale savanna plains and the habitat of the endemic Swayne’s hartebeests, zebras, bushpigs, baboons, war hogs, greater kudus, Grant’s gazelles and more. In the afternoon at the beautiful Lake Chamo, boat excursion to see huge crocodiles and hippos. Or drive to Chencha to see the beehive huts of Dorze people and depending on the day, visit their market with colorful woven products.
Accommodation:  Swaynes Hotel in Arba Minch

Day 5:  Arba Minch - Jinka
Drive to Jinka and on the way, visit the people of Ari, Banna and Tsemay. If on Thursday, visit the Key Afar market filled with Erbore, Tsemays people and more.
Accommodation:  Goh Hotel or Jinka Resort Hotel in Jinka

Day 6:  Jinka – Mago National Park - Jinka
Drive to Mago National Park and climb the Mursi Hills to meet the Mursi people and see their lifestyles.
Accommodation:  Goh Hotel or Jinka Resort Hotel in Jinka

Day 7:  Jinka – Turmi
Drive to Turmi and visit the town of Hamer people and if on Monday, explore Turmi market and meet the Hamer, Karo, Dessanech people and more. Hamer’s dances and bull-jumping ceremony may be seen. If on Tuesday or Saturday, visit the Dimeka market and meet the Hamer, Tsemay people and more.
Accommodation : Camping in Turmi

Day 8:  Turmi – Dessanech - Turmi
Drive to Dessanech and across the Omo river by the traditional boat to visit the Dessanech people in the other side of the river.
Accommodation : Camping in Turmi

Day 9:  Turmi – Elbore Village – Konso Village – Arba Minch
Drive via Elbore and Konso people’s villages and back to Arba Minch.
Accommodation : Swaynes Hotel in Arba Minch

Day 10:  Arba Minch – Addis Ababa
Drive back to Addis Ababa. On the way, see the Oromo people’s farming practices.  At night, dinner with Ethiopian traditional shows. Transfer to the airport.