Includes: Vehicles on tour: minibuses/buses in Addis Ababa and the Northern region with a capacity of 22 people per vehicle; Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD for the southern regions with capacity of 4 people per vehicle ; 4* hotel (DeLeopol or Ghion or Imperial) in Addis Ababa on BB basis (bed and breakfast) and 2-3* hotels out of Addis Ababa on FB basis (full board) in double room occupancy; Meals out of Addis Ababa including non-alcoholic drinks during meals; Qualified English Guide(s) <rb> Entrances fees; Cook when needed; Boat on Lake Tana and Chamo Lake as per program; Government taxes

Excludes: Drinks and meals in Addis Ababa; Alcoholic drinks and other drinks not included with meals throughout the tour; Any flights, including embarkation fees, airports porters and taxes (quoted separately); Tips & all personal expenses.

**Flights - Due to airfare changes, the internal flights mentioned in this itinerary are not included in the tour costs.

An Adventurer Accommodated Safari through Ethiopia from Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa. This unforgettable tour highlights the fascinating and sometimes humbling history and culture of the real Ethiopia. 
 

Day 1: You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After meeting up with the rest of the tour group we depart on an afternoon city tour. Visit the National Museum, St George Church and the Entoto Mountains with a great magnificent view of the city.

Day 2: Fly (**) to Bahirdar, and transfer to your hotel for check-in. On a morning drive to admire the Blue Nile falls. These amazing waterfalls are 400 metrs wide and more than 45 meters in height. Return for lunch in Bahirdar. Take an afternoon boat trip of about 4-5 hours on lake Tana to admire the beautiful monasteries ( as Ura Kidane Mehret, Mahal Zeghie Gyorgis and if time permits Asua Mariam too). The lake has an amazing network of 37 islands scattered over the surface of 3000 square km. We should pass by some papyrus canoes that are still used by the locals as transportation. [BLD]

Day 3: Take a morning drive to Gondar, the 17th Century capital of Ethiopia. Gondar has now become one of Ethiopia?s largest and most impressive cities, with its walled royal enclosure. This enclosure contains several well-preserved castles and other old buildings. Spend the afternoon exploring castles and churches in Gondar: castle's compound, the Debre Birhan Sellasie church (light of Trinity), the King Fasiladas bath, old Qusquam monastery, Empress Mentewab palace. [BLD]

Day 4: Morning flight (**) to Lalibela. Declared a world Heritage site by Unesco, the stone hewn churches are again quite marvelous. You will spend the afternoon stepping back in time and exploring the remarkable churches described as "the creations of angels" in and around Lalibela. [BLD]

Day 5: A morning excursion by mules to the Asheten Mariam church in the nearby mountains, or by vehicle to the cave church of Naktuleab. This afternoon there will be time to visit the remaining churches in lalibela. [BLD]

Day 6: Morning flight (**) to Addis Ababa. Drive to the Rift Valley Lakes of Shala, Abyata and Langano, admiring wonderful views, many birds, pelicans, flamingoes, hot springs and more. Relax then at the Wenney eco-lodge, secluded in a natural paradise on the shores of Lake Langano, near Munessa forest. [BD]

Day 7: Proceed traveling through the Wolayta villages and admiring spectacular green hills, continue to Arbaminch, in Amharic meaning 40 springs. Afternoon drive to Chencha, to visit the highland people of Dorze, with their unique culture, houses, and traditions. Overnight at Swaynes hotel, with spectacular views over Chamo and Abaya lakes. [BLD]

Day 8: Drive to Jinka, admiring on the way the interesting Konso, Derase, Ari, Benna and Tsemay people, very famous for hairstyles, their unique culture and traditions, as the ornaments all over their body. Konso people famous for their terracing agricultural works and villages traditions. [BLD]

Day 9: Enter into the Mago National park to visit the Mursi people and villages. Here beautiful women used to put round plates into their lips and men have different scarification based on the number of enemies or wild animals killed in a battle. [BLD]

Day 10: Depart for Turmi to visit the Tsemay and Erbore people's colourful market at KeyAfer village. Proceed then to the beautiful region home to the Hamer people, with unique hairstyles, different cultural traits, ornamental traditions and more. [BLD]

Day 11: Cross the Karo people region and visit their village of Kortcho, with beautiful views over the Omo River. Karo people are famous for the men's extravagant hairstyles and for the different ornaments and painting all over the bodies of men, women and children. Proceed to Kangate and cross the Omo River by small boat (only affluent of lake Turkana), to admire the Bume people and villages. Return to Turmi for overnight stay. [BLD]

Day 12: A morning excursion to Omorate village, on the banks of Omo river, to visit the Dassanech people and the market Dimeka Village on Saturdays. Admire the Hamer tribe's dances (Evangadi) and with luck the marriage ceremonies with bull jumping performed by men. [BLD]

Day 13: Cross and visit the Erbore tribe's villages, stopping to admire the agricultural traditions of the Konso. Then proceed for your overnight in Arbaminch. [BLD]

Day 14: Start with a morning visit to the Netch Sar National park, sanctuary of the endemic Swaynes Hartbeest, numerous zebras and more. Take an afternoon boat cruise on Chamo lake to look for hippos and crocodiles with a length that reaches 6 meters. [BLD]

Day 15: Return to Addis Ababa where the tour ends with an evening of traditional dinner with folkloristic dances. [BLD]

Day 16: You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. [B]