Winter Holiday - 15 Days

Historic and Cultural

Tour type: combination Historic and Cultural route

Duration of stay: 15days/14nights winter Holiday

Means of transportation: flight & surface

Description: Ethiopia is a country where one can enjoy three in one touristic commodities, History, culture and nature. This trip focus on mainly historic route where one can enjoy the rock hewn churches of Lalibela which makes the place to be called “the African pertra, the 14th c Ad churches with beautiful churches with magnificent wall and window paintings painted in the 14th, 15, 17th c castle compound in Gondar known as “chamelot of Africa “and that of the Omo-valley which makes Ethiopia to be known as the Mosic of culture.

Day 1. Addis Ababa

Arrival in Addis and transfer to the hotel for some rest. After noon city tour of the capital of Ethiopia: visit the national museum, the merkato, the biggest openair market in Africa and St. George church. Overnight in Capital hotel

Day 2. Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar

Morning fly to Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara region which takes one hour flight from Addis Ababa, up on arrival meet the car for the transfer service to the hotel for some refreshment, Boat trip on Lake Tana, the biggest high land lake of Ethiopia, to peninsula to visit two of the 14th century churches called Ura kidanemihiret and Aswa Mariam which involves 30 minutes walking through the jungle of the coffee plantation. In each of the church you can enjoy the traditional mural paintings of 14th ,17th and 18th century.  After noon excursion drive 30kms out of the town to the Blue Nile fall. Overnight Kuriftu lodge  

Day 3. Bahir Dar – Gondar

Morning drive to Gondar, which is 180 kms paved road and which takes three hours including photo stops of the landscape and visit of the Amhara village. In this village you can see how these people refine skin of animals in a traditional way. Gondar is the 17th century capital of Ethiopia. After having lunch and some rest in the hotel visit the 17th century castle compound within which there are six independent castles for each emperor, the church of Debrebirhan silase for its wall and ceiling painting of the 17th century and the bath of Fasillades (the first king of the Gondarean period and the founder of Gondar). Overnight in Goha hotel

Day 4. Gondar – Semein Mountain National Park

Drive to Semien Mountain national park which is100kms from Gondar and takes three hours’ drive. On the way, we will admire the amazing landscape which makes Ethiopia to be called the roof of Africa and we'll see some wildlife like Gelada Baboon or bleeding-heart baboon which is endemic for this place, the clip springer, bush bucks and birds. Overnight in Semien lodge

Day 5. Full day in Semien mountains

Full day excursion Semien Mountain National Park admiring the amazing landscape which makes

Ethiopia to be called the roof of Africa and some wild life like Gelada Baboon or bleeding heart

baboon, clip springer, bush buck and birds. Enjoy walking for a couple of hours enjoying the

breath-taking view of the land scape. Later in the afternoon drive back to Gondar.  Overnight Goha

Day 6. Fly Gondar – Lalibela

Transfer to Gondar airport for the flight to Lalibela which 30 min flight. Check in to the hotel afternoon the first group of the rock hewn churches carved out of rocks during the 13th century by king Lalibela which makes Lalibela to be considered as the holiest city of Ethiopia and the African Petra with the adjacent museum which has got a collection of treasures of 13th century   AD. Overnight in Mountain view hotel    

Day 7. Lalibela    

Morning excursion to Yimrehane Kirstos church, situated 45kms away from the town of Lalibela. To visit the 11th C AD constructed church in a cave by King Yimrehane, the church has unique architectural beauty from that of the Axumit period.  This church is constructed inside a cave in the 11th century adapting the Axumite architecture.  Back to Lalibela after noon second group of Lalibela church which are known as the heavenly Jerusalem.  Overnight in Mountain view hotel

Day 8 Lalibela – Addis Ababa

Fly back to Addis Ababa. In the afternoon do some shopping and have some rest. Overnight in hotel.

Day 9. Addis – Arbaminch

 Arba Minch admiring very green views, visiting the Guraghe people and their village as well as making some stops for the Wolaita people. Reach late afternoon to Arba Minch. Overnight in Haile resort 

Day 10. Arbaminch

Morning drive to Chencha to visit the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses and traditions. Afternoon boat trip to Chamo to see some crocodiles (biggest in Africa – 6 meters long), hippos & birds. Overnight in Haile resort  

Day 11. Arbaminch – Turmi

Drive to Turmi , small town of the  Hammer people  which 300 kms  which four to five hours drive  on the  way visit Konso  people village , which are famous for the terracing agriculture, way of life in the villages, traditions and more .  visit Thursday market of the Bana and Tsemay people at the village called Key Afar. Overnight in Buska lodge 

Day 12. Turmi

Drive to visit the Karo people, admiring they’re very interesting and authentic body decoration and body scarification. From their village, we have a spectacular view over Omo river. Back afternoon to visit the very interesting Hammer people and their village. With luck we’ll try also to participate their marriage ceremonies with bull jumping and other traditions. Overnight Buska lodge.

Day 13 Turmi 

Early in the morning drive 75 kms from Turmi to Omorate to visit the Dassanech tribe, these are sometimes called people Delta since they live in Omo river delta which enters Lake Turkana   here by luck we may attend Dime celebration when the family have a female child reached puberty.  Proceed to Dimeka for Saturday hammer tribe market. If we are lucky, we make attend the bull jump ceremony, the age transformation ceremony for young boy to be adult.  Overnight night Buska Lodge in Turmi

Day 14 Turmi - Mursi -Jinka 

Enter in to Mago National Park, admiring different wild animals and birds on the way and proceed to visit the Mursi people and villages. For the beauty, the Mursi women used to put round plates into their lips and men do body scarification. After noon back to Jinka. Visit the Jinka museum and walk to visit the village of the Ari people. Overnight in Nasa or Jinka resort hotel. (Local hotel)

Day 15. fly back to Addis Ababa 

Transfer to Jinka airport for the flight back to Addis Ababa. You will have day use room for some refreshment and packing your luggage. evening you will be invited with farewell dinner. Transfer to the international airport.