25 days:  Southern Omo people, in the Historic Route & trekking 
TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
AAT-MT-008 25 DAYS/24 NIGHTS OMO PEOPLE, HISTORIC ROUTE & TRKKING IN SIMIEN MOUNTAINS FLIGHT & SURFACE

Itineraries

Day 1:  Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis:
On arrival in Addis Ababa you will be met by our representatives and transferred to Ghion Hotel.
Day 2:  Drive Arba Minch: 
Drive to Arba Minch via Wolayta Sodo. En route, visit Chencha for Dorze villages. The village sits high in the mountains north of Arba Minch. The Dorze are recognized in Ethiopia as master weavers and live in interesting igloo- shaped houses. We 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:  Nech Sar National Park and Boat trip on Lake Chamo:
Morning to Nech Sar 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 Abyssinia Hotel.
Day 4:  Drive Jinka  en route visit  Key Afer Market:
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:  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, you will have game drive to see big mammals and different species of birds and in the late afternoon drive back to Jinka. Overnight Jinka Resort Hotel
Day 6:  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. Overnight camping at Turmi campsite.
Day 7:  Turmi –  Murulle excursion – Turmi:
After break fast drive to Murule and visit the Karo People. You will be driving through the Hamer village, which is good opportunity to know the way of life of the Hamer people. The Karos are famous for tattooing, scaring and body painting. They reside by the side of the Omo River. After your visit  drive back to Turmi. Overnight Turmi campsite.
Day 8:  Turmi:
Morning drive to Omorate to visit the Gelab (Dassanech) tribe inhabiting the riverbanks of Omo River. We cross Omo River by a small boat and walk fifteen minutes to visit their village. The Gelabs are also known for their body painting as their neighboring. Today is a market day continue driving back to Turmi and then to Dimeka for its colorful Market attended by the Hammer, Karo and Benna tribes. The market is the best place to see the different ethnic groups, what they produce, buy, sell and the way they interact. Late afternoon drive back to Turmi. O/n camping at the same campsite
Day 9:  Turmi – Yabello:
Drive to   Yabello visiting the Arbore and the Tsemay people en route. After lunch stop at Konso, continue to the region of Oromo Borena and visit their village. The drive this day will let you to experience the life of the Oromo Borena People who is well known in cattle rearing. You also visit the Oromo Borena People villages and their 'singing well' from which they cater water to their own thousands of cattle by singing.   Overnight Yabello Motel
Day 10:  Day 10: Yabello /Yerga Alem:
Drive from Yabello to Yerg Alem over a beautiful Sidamo mountains &   coffee plantation.    In the late afternoon visit the Hyenas around the loge.  Overnight Aregash Loge.
Day 11:  Yerga Alem / Addis Ababa:
Drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley lakes Via Awassa. At Awasssa visit the fish Market where the local people buy fish from the fisher men. En route we will stop on the viewpoints for the Rift Valley Lakes of Shala, Abyta and Langano. Overnight Ghion Hotel
Day 12:  ADDIS ABABA-DEBRE MARKOS:
After breakfast drive to Debre Markos via Dejen (the famous area for growing Teff, which is staple food of Ethiopians), after 103 kms drive, visit the 13th C monastery of Debre Libanos and the 17th C Portuguese Bridge. Enroute have stop over to visit the Oromo tribal village.  Further down, you will enjoy the fabulous Blue Nile Gorge. Similar to the Grand Canon of USA. Overnight Debre Markos Shebel hotel.  
Day 13:  DEBRE MARKOS-BAHAR DAR:

Drive about 250kms to Bahar Dar through the beautiful scenery and visiting the Amhara people & their villages. Have a lunch at Bahar Dar, the capital of the Amhara National Regional State. Afternoon, city tour that includes: Colorful market where someone could find the baskets, pottery, traditional hand-made woven clothes, etc: The Woito village where the local people make the papyrus boat, which is used for means of transportation to each island of Lake Tana and very useful for local fisher men. Finally our visit will proceed to Mount Bezawit where the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie is gracefully situated. This hilltop is the best place for view of the town the lake and the Blue Nile River. Papyrus Hotel.

Day 14:  BAHAR DAR:  
After breakfast fly to Bahar Dar. After check into the Hotel and refreshment, we take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit ancient monasteries. We will visit two of the most accessible and representative of the monasteries, still serving their original function, Ura Kidane Mehret, and Azwa Maryam. In the afternoon we pay a visit to the impressive Blue Nile Falls, locally known as Tis Isat or 'Smoke of Fire’. Overnight Tana Hotel
Day 15:  GONDAR:
After breakfast drive 180kms to Gondar, the 17th and 18th century capital of Ethiopia. After check into the hotel you will have a sightseeing tour of the town of Gondar that includes: the Castle Compound of different emperors constructed in the European middle age architectural style, Debre Berehan Silassie church (Light of the Trinity), which is unique church with its ancient paintings, Bath of Fasildes at which thousands of Ethiopians celebrate Timket festival every January, and the 18th century Quskuam monastery. Overnight BelegezHotel.
Day 16:  DRIVE SANKABER. OVERNIGHT CAMP IN SANKABER: 
After breakfast departure for Debark town (100 Kms from Gondar), where the head quarter of Semien Mountains National Park is found. Here we pay the entrance fees and a scout and a local guide will accompany us. Then we continue driving to Sankaber (31 Kms) the first campsite of the National Park. On this drive you will gain your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region, the extraordinary scenery, enjoying the endemic Gelada Baboons and the bone breaker giant bird Lammergeyer roaring around. O/n Camping at Sankaber. - (3200 m)
Day 17:  SANKABER TO GEECH CAMP SITE - CAMP FOR OVERNIGHT:
This day is the day that we arrange all the trekking staff including mules and Muleteers for packing and transport of camping gears and all foodstuffs for the trek. It is this day that we start to walk in the national park. We walk from Sankaber to Geech, which will take between 5 - 6 hours. After about 1 and half hours walk we see the Jinnbar River and falls, we will cross the river later in the day. After crossing the river, we ascend for about two hour to Geech, which is full of Giant Lobelias. The scenery is wonderful, and heard of the endemic Gelada Baboon can be seen on our way. O/n Camping at Geech Campsite (3600m).
Day 18:  GEECH – IMETEGOGO – GEECH:
This day we will be waking to the best viewpoints in the National park. First we walk to Imetegogo, the view here enables one to look 3600 to all directions this one of the best view in the national park. After a short stay here continue walk to Seha, the other terrific viewpoint in the National park. We will have our picnic lunch and we continue to the last viewpoint, Quedadit. After some stay we walk back to Geech camp site. The walk this day is not hard; it takes about 4 - 5 hours. It is the day that we will be walking in the best part of the national park. If we are lucky we might have the chance to see mammals like the Simien wolf, Walia Ibex and Klipspringers.   O/n Camping at Geech Campsite - (3600m).
Day 19:  CHENEK. OVERNIGHT CAMPING:
We trek to Chenek, we will be walking through the Giant lobelia trees and under these trees, and African field Rats are common. After picnic lunch we walk on the edge of Enatye escarpments (4000m. above sea level), which is another breathtaking view in the national park; finally we descend to Chenek. Chenek is the best place to see the endemic Waliya Ibex and more Gelada Baboon. It takes 6-7 hours walk.  O/n Camping at Chenek. - (3600m)       
Day 20:  AROUND CHENEK:
This day you will be wandering around Chenek. This site of Chenek has the best view from all camp sites and it is also the best spot to observe the Walia Ibex.
Day 21:  Drive to Axum:
On this day, you drive long (280kms) but enjoying very beautiful and spectacular landscape along the Semien Mountains and Tekeze Gorge. The road descends from 3100 metres through hairpin bends down the mountain side to 1400 metres in just 40kms! The drive down and back up to Adi Arkay showcases not only the immensely beautiful Simien Mountain massifs but also the people who eke out an existence in this unforgiving countryside.  The drive continues through the Tekeze valley, crossing the Tekeze River, and onto Askum in the far north.  Overnight Remhay Hotel
Day 22:  Visit of historical and archaeological sites in Axum:
The   ancient city of Aksum is found close to Ethiopia's northern border. It marks the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the Kingdom of Aksum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The archaeological and historical attractions in Axum include: The archaeological museum,The magnificent monolithic steles or obelisks, the tombs of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskal, and the legendary Bath of the Queen of Sheba, and the ruins of ancient palace of  Queen Sheba.The 16th Century Cathedral of St Mary of Zion was probably built on an earlier 4th century church, and is the holiest church in Ethiopia. In its sanctuary is said to rest the original Ark of the Covenant. The churches and monasteries of Axum house are richly endowed with icons, and some of the historical crowns of ancient emperors. Overnight Remhay Hotel
Day 23:  Fly   to Lalibela visit of rock churches in Lalibela: 
We take a short flight to Lalibela then drive 23kms to the town where all the 11 monolithic Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela are situated. Today 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. Overnight Roha or Jerusalem hotel.
Day 24:  Morning Mule ride trip afternoon visit other churches
Mule ride to the 13thc rock hewn monastery of Asheten Mariam.  The church is situated on  a top a mountain  at an altitude of 3150 metres. The 13th century monastery is built on a ridge, excellent views over the surrounding countryside. Inside the monastery you will find the 13thc hand and processional crosses of king Na’akutola’ab who ruled Ethiopia for 40 years just after king Lalibela. This will take about 4 hours. We return back to the town for lunch. After lunch visit of the other groups of Rock churches of Lalibela Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches, lies somewhat isolated in the southwest part of the village on a sloping rock terrace. It can only be reached through a tunnel. The group of four, south of the Jordan River, comprise of Bet Emanuel, Bet Mercurios, Bet Abba Libanos and Bet Gabriel-Rufa'el. Bet Emanuel's elaborate exterior is much praised by art historians. Overnight Roha or Jerusalem hotel
Day 25:  Fly to Addis Ababa 
After breakfast you will check in to the Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. In the Evening a fare well diner party in one of the Traditional Ethiopian restaurant with dances from the different ethnic Groups. Then after transfer out to the airport for departure back to home.

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