| 14 Jan | Malta - Abbis | Malta to Istanbul 09.25 - 13.55. on TK 1370 in 7D & 7 E Istanbul - Addis 18.15 - 23.40 on TK 676 in 6D & 6E |
TFMGMI |
Day 1 Friday, 15 January |
Addis Ababa | Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Airport, met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in begin your introduction to Ethiopia with an exploration of its vibrant capital. Addis Ababa, meaning “New Flower” in Amharic. Situated at an altitude of more than 2,300 metres, it is one of Africa's highest capital cities. Your sightseeing begins at the National Museum of Ethiopia. The museum houses an exceptional collection spanning Ethiopia's heritage. Its most famous resident is Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old fossilised remains of Australopithecus afarensis, which provide an extraordinary link to the earliest chapters of human evolution. Continue to Holy Trinity Cathedral, the highest- ranking Ethiopian Orthodox cathedral in the city. The cathedral contains the tombs of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen Asfaw and shows the country's deeply rooted Orthodox Christian traditions. | Getfam Hotel Meals: Dinner |
Day 2 Saturday, 16 January |
Addis Ababa – Jinka – Turmi flight: 1 hr 25 mins road 115 km / 2 hrs 30 mins |
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight ET 271 at 07:40 to Jinka, the gateway to the Lower Omo Valley. The Omo Valley is one of Ethiopia's most culturally fascinating regions, home to numerous communities whose traditions, social structures and relationship with the land have remained remarkably distinctive. The region's cultural diversity is one of its greatest attractions. From Jinka, drive towards Turmi, travelling through increasingly remote landscapes. En route, visit a Mursi community, one of the best-known ethnic groups of southern Ethiopia. The Mursi are traditionally pastoralist and semi-nomadic, and their distinctive cultural traditions have made them a symbol of the Omo Valley. Continue to Dimeka Market, held every Saturday. This lively market brings together the surrounding communities, providing an excellent opportunity to observe everyday life. Rather than being simply a tourist attraction, the market remains an important meeting place for the communities of the region. Continue to Turmi and check in to your lodge. Later this afternoon, visit a nearby Hamer village, where you will gain an introduction to the community's traditions, daily life, and cattle-based culture. |
Buska Lodge, Turmi Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
Day 3 Sunday, 17 January |
Karo & Nyangatom Communities 120 km / 5.5 hour round trip |
A full-day excursion into the remote Omo Valley, travelling through spectacular semi-arid landscapes towards the Omo River. Your first destination is a Karo village. The Karo are renowned for their elaborate body painting, scarification and decorative traditions, using natural pigments. During your visit, learn about their semi- pastoral lifestyle, river-based agriculture and the importance of the Omo River to them. Continue towards the Nyangatom community, a pastoral people whose lives are closely connected to cattle and the surrounding landscape. Discover their distinctive beadwork, and traditional ornaments while learning about their social customs. Return to Turmi later in the afternoon. Depending on local circumstances, there may also be an opportunity for a visit to a Hamer community. This provides additional insight into one of the Omo Valley's most distinctive cultures, including traditional hairstyles, clothing, dances and cattle-centred customs. | Buska Lodge, Turmi Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
Day 4 Monday, 18 January |
Excursion to Omorate & the Dassanech 150 km / 3.5 hours |
Today travel south towards Omorate, situated close to the Ethiopian–Kenyan border and on the banks of the Omo River. Crossing the surrounding dry landscapes, you will reach the homeland of the Dassanech, one of the southernmost communities of Ethiopia's Omo Valley. The Dassanech have adapted remarkably to the region's semi-arid environment, combining pastoralism with agriculture based on the seasonal flooding of the Omo River. During your visit, learn about their traditional lifestyle, relationship with cattle and methods of adapting to one of Ethiopia's most challenging environments. Return to Turmi during the afternoon. The remainder of the day is free to relax at the lodge or enjoy a gentle walk in the surrounding area. | Buska Lodge, Turmi Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
Day 5 Tuesday 19 January |
Turmi – Arbore – Konso – Arba Minch 280 km / 5 hrs 50 mins |
After breakfast, leave Turmi and begin the journey north towards Arba Minch. The route passes through dramatic landscapes as the dry lowlands gradually give way to the greener and more elevated scenery of the Great Rift Valley. En route, visit an Arbore village, where you will learn about the community's traditions, pastoral lifestyle and distinctive cultural identity. Continue towards the remarkable Konso Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, generations of careful agricultural management have transformed steep hillsides into extensive terraces, creating a landscape that is both practical and visually spectacular. Explore the traditional stone-walled settlements and learn about the remarkable agricultural and cultural traditions that have enabled the Konso people to thrive in this challenging environment. Continue to Arba Minch and check in to your lodge. | Paradise Lodge, Arba Minch Meals: Breakfast and dinner |
Day 6 Wednesday 20 January |
Arba Minch – Lake Chamo – Dorze – Hawassa 250 km / 4 .5 hours |
Rise early for a boat excursion on Lake Chamo, one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in southern Ethiopia. The lake forms part of the Nech Sar National Park ecosystem and supports significant populations of Nile crocodiles, hippopotamuses and waterbirds. Cruise along the lake's shoreline, keeping watch for enormous crocodiles basking in the sun and hippos emerging from the water. Afterwards, continue north towards Hawassa. En route, visit a traditional Dorze village, situated in the highlands above the Great Rift Valley. The Dorze are renowned for their remarkable bamboo houses, traditionally constructed in a distinctive beehive- like shape. The community is also celebrated for its weaving traditions and sophisticated use of local agricultural products. Continue to Hawassa and check in to your hotel. | Haile Resort Hawassa Meals: Breakfast and dinner |
Day 7 Thursday 21 January |
Hawassa – Bale Mountains 215 km / 5 hours |
Begin the day with a visit to Hawassa Fish Market, located on the shores of Lake Hawassa. This lively market offers an insight into everyday life around the lake as fishermen bring in their catches and local traders gather to buy and sell fresh fish. The lake is also an excellent place to observe waterbirds. Continue eastwards through the dramatic scenery of the Great Rift Valley towards the Bale Mountains. As the road climbs into the highlands, the landscape changes dramatically, with cooler temperatures, open grasslands and increasingly mountainous terrain. Upon arrival in the Bale region, enjoy a short-guided walk, with opportunities to look for some of the area's endemic wildlife, including Mountain Nyala, Menelik's bushbuck, warthog, reedbuck, duikers and baboons. | Nurobe Hotel, Bale Meals: Breakfast and dinner |
Day 8 Friday 22 January |
Bale Mountains National Park – Sanetti Plateau – Harenna Forest 165 km / 5 hours |
Today is dedicated to exploring Bale Mountains National Park, one of the highlights of the journey. Travel into the spectacular Sanetti Plateau, one of Africa's highest extensive areas of Afro-alpine habitat. As you climb, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic, with vast open moorlands, volcanic landscapes and changing weather conditions. The high altitude can produce strong, cold winds and rapidly changing weather, adding to the sense of wilderness and adventure. The plateau is one of the world's best places to search for the endangered Ethiopian Wolf, Ethiopia's most iconic endemic mammal. Keep watch for wolves hunting rodents across the open grasslands, as well as a variety of highland birds and other wildlife. Continue towards the southern escarpment and the extraordinary Harenna Forest. Here, the landscape changes dramatically as the high-altitude grasslands give way to dense montane forest. The forest is home to Bale monkeys, along with an impressive variety of bird species and other wildlife. | Nurobe Hotel, Bale Meals: Breakfast and dinner |
Day 9 Saturday 23 January |
Bale Mountains – Addis Ababa – Dire Dawa | Transfer to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa, ET 176 at 11:20. On arrival in Addis Ababa, connect with your onward flight to Dire Dawa, ET 208 at 14:00. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and begin exploring this fascinating eastern Ethiopian city. Visit the historic Dire Dawa Railway Station, a reminder of the city's important role in the development of the railway linking Addis Ababa with Djibouti. Continue to Kefira Market, where you can experience the sights, sounds and colours of one of the city's busiest commercial areas. Explore the Kezira Quarter, known for its distinctive architecture and historic French influences. | Samrat Hotel, Dire Dawa Meals: Breakfast and dinner |
Day 10 Sunday 24 January |
Dire Dawa – Harar 55 km / 1.5 hours |
Drive to Harar, one of Ethiopia's most atmospheric and historically fascinating cities. Founded as an important centre of Islamic learning and trade, Harar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within its historic walls lie a maze of narrow alleyways, colourful traditional houses, mosques, shrines and bustling markets. After lunch, begin exploring the historic city, discovering its fascinating mixture of Islamic, Christian and indigenous traditions. In the evening, experience one of Harar's most extraordinary traditions: the Hyena Feeding Ceremony. For generations, local hyena men have established a relationship with wild hyenas that visit the outskirts of the city. Watching these powerful animals being fed at close quarters is an unforgettable experience. Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Overnight: | Rawda Harari Guest House Harar Meals: Breakfast and dinner |
Day 11 Monday 25 January |
Harar – Dire Dawa – Addis Ababa
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After breakfast, continue exploring Harar and discover more of the city's rich cultural heritage. Walk through the colourful markets and narrow alleyways before visiting the House of Ras Makonnen, the former residence of Ras Makonnen, father of Emperor Haile Selassie. Continue to the Harar Museum, where you will gain further insight into the city's history, culture and traditions. Your final cultural experience will be a traditional Harari coffee ceremony. Coffee occupies an important place in Ethiopian culture and hospitality, and the ceremony provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on your journey through the country's diverse regions and communities. After lunch, return to Dire Dawa and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Addis Ababa connecting with your onward international flight. | |
| Departure | Ethiopian Dire - Addis 20.15 - 21.25 seat 12A & 12C on ET221 | SQYFIU | |
| 26 Jan | Addis-Mad 23.35 - 05.25 seat 23B & 23C on ET 740 Mad - Alc 11.55-13.10 on IB1011 seat 11D & 11F |
KWXJP |