7 DAYS TOUR OMO VALLEY

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Beyond WordsExplore the cultural diversity

A short trip to southern Ethiopia of the Omo valley. Ethiopia has a diverse population of indigenous peoples, the most of whom live in the country’s lush southern region, in the heart of the Omo Valley where you can learn about the rites and cultural practices of these famed tribes. A wonderful itinerary that offers visitors the extraordinary chance to travel through Ethiopia’s untouched Southern region, where you will have the opportunity to meet and learn about some of the more isolated, colorful, and enigmatic ethnic groups of this incredibly diverse region of Ethiopia.

Tour Itinerary

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Trip To South

Day-01 Addis Ababa

Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your reserved hotel. After time to refresh, take a guided city tour of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital and the third highest capital in the world. You will start the tour with a visit to the National Museum, home to one of the world’s most important paleontological exhibits in the world; ‘Lucy’. Next, you will visit Entoto Mountain, which overlooks the whole of Addis Ababa. Marvel at the panoramic views of the capital amidst the fresh breeze of the eucalyptus forests. Then visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church. As the final resting place of much-loved Emperor Haile Selassie, Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the country’s most sacred places of worship. The city tour will end with an exploration of the colorful Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market.

Day-02 Addis Ababa to Arbaminch

After early morning breakfast, start a full day drive to scenic Arbaminch, a town spectacularly perched on the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, overlooking the twin lakes of Abaya and Chamo. Arbaminch town is the portal to the South Omo Valley, a place hosting the densest concentration of distinct tribes in Ethiopia. Along the way, first, you’ll visit Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage site that contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stelae covered with enigmatic symbols. In the afternoon, before reaching Arbaminch, you’ll go on a cultural safari as you drive to explore an authentic Dorze village, set in the mountains overlooking Arbaminch, and learn about the Dorze people. The Dorze are best known for the design of their homes (tall beehive-like houses) and their weaving abilities. Late in the afternoon you will arrive at Arbaminch and transfer to your reserved accommodation.

Day-03 Arbaminch to Turmi

In the morning, you will have a boat safari out onto Lake Chamo to see the Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, and Birds that call the region home. This boat ride takes you to the “crocodile market”, an area of the lake nicknamed as such due to the impressive crocodile population usually found there, and the local hippos. Then leave Arbaminch and start to drive towards Turmi town, home of the famous Hamar tribe and center to explore the Omo Valley Tribes. Along the way, visit a local village of Konso Tribe. The Konso people are famous for their intricately terraced hillsides, fine woven materials, and the carved totems with which they decorate their graves. A site of immense cultural importance, these old villages stand as a testament to the enduring adaptability of the people who have called these lands or hills home for generations. Konso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Proceed to Turmi and transfer to your Accommodation.

Day-04 Turmi

Full-day excursion from Turmi to meet the Karo and Nyangatom (Bumi) Tribes. Your morning is dedicated to visiting the village of the Karo people, who are best known for their skin scarification and ornamental painted body and face decorations. They use white chalk, black charcoal, and red and ochre earth and are considered the masters of body painting. In the afternoon, cross the Omo River to learn about and spend time with the Nyangatom or Bumi tribe. The Nyangatom tribe lives near the town of Kangate on the west side of the Omo River and further towards Kibish. The Nyangatom are specialized crocodile hunters, using harpoons from a dugout canoe. Like the Hamer Tribe, they are the friendliest and most welcoming tribal groups in Southern Ethiopia. In Nyangatom’s culture body ornaments and scarification are symbols of status and strength. In the Omo Valley, the Nyangatom have a reputation as feared warriors. Late in the day return to Turmi.

Day-05 Turmi

Another full day in Turmi to meet and visit the Hamer and Dassenech. First, depart to Omorate town to visit a village of the Dassenech tribe who settled adjacent to the Omo River. The Dassenech live in the fertile Omo river delta, close to Kenya and Lake Turkana where they hunt crocodiles. You will cross the Omo River by a local boat to reach and visit their village. Because they are semi-nomadic they live in small, lightweight huts, designed for easy movement if the village changes location. Return to Turmi for lunch and break. Late in the afternoon, you will visit the Hamer Tribe. The Hamar people are best known for their Bull-Jumping ceremony and to be the friendliest tribe of the Omo Valley. The Hamer women are renowned for their magnificent ochre-colored hair braids, skirts of cowrie-decorated goatskin, and tight copper bracelets. They rank amongst the most beautiful of all South Omo ethnic groups. Finally, transfer to your Accommodation in Turmi.

Day-06 Turmi to jinka

Leave Turmi and travel towards Jinka. Arrival and you will be transferred to your accommodation. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ari Tribe. Live on the hills around Jinka, the Ari people are the largest tribe in the Omo Valley and are well-known for their pottery and distinctive scarring. You will take walk through the village, learning about different aspects of their lives, including blacksmithing and distillation of the local liquor, known as Areki. Then visit the South Omo Tribes Museum (South Omo Research Center).

Day-07 Jinka to Addis Ababa & Departure

Start early in the morning and drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe. Famous around the world for their instantly recognizable ‘lip plates’, the Mursi is one of Ethiopia’s most famous tribal people. They are pastoralists who keep herds of cattle and goats and are most famed for the lip-piercing custom of their women who, at the coming of age, insert clay disks into incisions made in their lower lips. In addition, they are the warrior tribe of the Omo Valley. Return back to Jinka and transfer to Airport to catch the return flight to Addis Ababa. After a lunch break, you will have time for shopping. Then you will be transferred to your hotel to prepare your luggage and get ready for your return flight back home. In the evening, before your international flight, farewell dinner at Ethiopian Cultural Restaurant. Finally, your driver will take you to Bole International Airport and take your flight back home. Your Ethiopian Adventure ends here.