| Ethiopia Omo Valley, Historic Route & Religious Festival
Tour In this Ethiopia holiday you travel to the Southern Omo Valley to explore indigenous Culture of diverse ethnic groups. The north tour takes you to visit Castles of Gondar, Rock Churches in Lalibela & Ethiopian Christmas festival Religious celebration. |
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| AAT 1116 | 12 DAYS/ 11 NIGHTS | OMO VALLEY & NORTH ETHIOPIA- HISTORIC ROUTE |
SURFACE & BY AIR |
ITINERARYTRIP DATE FROM- 29 December 2008 - 9 January 2009Guaranteed Departure with 2 participants minimum This trip begins with a rendezvous at the airport in Addis Ababa on Day 1. Please arrange your flight schedule so you will arrive on the correct day. But on your special request we can arrange other transfer for those arriving earlier. The Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia is a little visited area of Ethiopia containing some of the most colorful tribes and ethnic groups. The fascinating costumes, colorful ceremonies and celebrations, arts, crafts, music and dance of the Benna, the Hamer, the Mursi and Arbore people are very special. In the Omo Valley region many of the tribal groups have changed little over hundreds of years and they offer the visitor extraordinary insight into a variety of traditional cultures. On this trip, you get truly off the beaten track, exploring little visited villages and vibrant tribal markets of the southern Ethiopia. The trip also includes a visit to the historically important towns of Gondar and Lalibela. In Gondar the castle of Faselades, which is known as the Camelot of Africa, will be visited. In Lalibela, the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, often referred to as the 'Eighth wonder of the World', will be visited. Day 1: 29 December 2008: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis Ababa On arrival in Addis Ababa our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to Ambassador Hotel. An overview of the program and itineraries will be given. The rest of the day visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains when discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 meters and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis. Overnight Ambassador Hotel Day 2: 30 December 2008: Drive Arba Minch Drive to Arba Minch via Wolayta Sodo, about 505 km south of Addis Ababa. This drive will take us along some of the Rift Valley Lakes and we will stop shortly at Lake Ziway, best known for its birdlife. We will also drive through the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys. You arrive late in the afternoon at Arba Minch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arba Minch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town. Overnight Bekele Molla hotel that is situated on the hilltop having panoramic view over Lake Chamo, Abaya and Nech Sar National Park situated in between the two rift valley lakes Day 3: 31 December 2008: Nech Sar National Park and Boat trip on Lake Chamo Morning Visit Nech Sar National Park for game viewing and birding; afternoon boat trip on Lake Chamo. Boat trip on Lake Chamo is along the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Crocodiles (It is locally called as "Crocodile Market"). The water birds are great the scenery is truly unforgettable. Fishing for Nile Perch and many other species by locals on their traditional boat is by far the best in the country. Overnight Bekele Molla hotel Day 4: 1January Drive Jinka: If the day is Thursday, Key Afer Market can be visited en route. After break fast drive to Konso where colorfully costumed dress, impressive terracing of the Land and unusually engraved wooden statues used as grave markers can be seen. Further along the route visit the Woito people live in the area around Woito River and Tsemay village. Continue driving to Jinka for overnight in Jinka Resort Hotel. Day 5: 2 January Jinka- Mursi- Jinka After breakfast leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted. Proceed to Mago National Park. After a picnic lunch in the late afternoon drive back to Jinka. Overnight Jinka Resort Hotel Day 6: 3 January Jinka – Turmi After breakfast drive to Turmi through Dimeka for the visit of Hamer people and their village. Turmi is a small town, which is the base to visit the Hamer village. Hamers have remarkable hairstyles made from ochre, water, and binding resin. They rub the mixture into their hair then twist the strands repeatedly to create coppery-coloured locks. This is a sign of wealth and welfare. Hamers are considered to be masters of body decoration. Overnight camping at Turmi campsite. Day 7: 4 January Drive to Arba Minch Drive back to Arba Minch: on the way visit the Cushitic speaking Arbore people and their villages. The Abore people adorn themselves with beads and aluminum jewelry. Overnight Bekele Molla hotel Day 8: 5 January Drive to Addis Ababa: Early morning drive back to Addis Ababa. Visit en route the Ethiopian Rift-valley Lakes with their various colorful water birds. Then after proceed to Addis Ababa Overnight Ambassador Hotel. Day 9: 6 January Fly Gondar Tour of Gondar Morning: After breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport for flight to Gondar. Gondar is a town founded in 1636 by the great Emperor Fassiladas, set in a landscape of incomparable beauty. It was the Royal Capital of Ethiopia. Visit the Castles and Churches built by Emperor Fassiladas and his descendants. Later proceed to the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie Church (termed by United Nation’s Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the World’s heritage sights), its walls and ceilings decorated with scenes of Biblical lore and medieval history. The next stop will be at the Falasha Village where we visit the remaining Ethiopian Jews, those who choose not to be airlifted to Israel in the operation Moses. Overnight Goha Hotel Day 10: 7 January Fly Lalibela Morning: Be transferred to the airport for flight to Lalibela. Transfer to the Hotel Roha Lalibela. Lalibela is the second Jerusalem created by King Lalibela in the 12th century. Afternoon: we visit the first group of six churches lie in rock cradles one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mika'el, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel and Bet Medhane Alem. Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one, is built like a Greek Temple and its stone floor is so polished by the countless numbers of visitors that it reflects shafts of light from apertures in the walls high above. In a corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Day 11: 8 January: In Lalibela attend Ethiopian Christmas Festival in Lalibela Attend Ethiopian Christmas Festival and visit of rock churches in Lalibela. The procession starts early morning around dawn. In the afternoon, visit of a church out side the town. Drive to Nakuto Le’Abe Monastery. King Nakuto Le’Abe abdicated his throne in 1270 AD and went to a cave to lead a hermit’s life. This cave has ever since become a monastery and has a dramatic setting. It houses one of the most interesting collections of ancient crosses, illuminated manuscripts and other icons some of which are attributed to its founder Nakuto Le’Abe. Overnight Mount View Hotel. Day 12: 9 January 2009: Fly to Addis Ababa After breakfast you will check in to the Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Evening we will have a fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurants for cultural dinner and dances from the different ethnic groups. Then after transfer to the airport for flight back home. Make An Enquiry And Get More Details About This Package Note: |
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