Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the chosen hotel. At 10 am tour of the capital: visit Entoto Mountain with views over the capital and the National museum, where Lucy is visited. Lunch restaurant in town, Afternoon relax at the hotel. Dinner & ON (overnight) hotel
Day 2: Flight to Bahirdar. Morning make a boat excursion on lake Tana to visit one or two monasteries over its islands, as Ura Kidane Mehret and/or Asua Mariam. Afternoon drive to visit the Blue Nile falls & admire wonderful views. Meals & ON hotel in Bahirdar
Day 3: Drive to Gondar, the African Camelot, visiting a village on the way and the preparation of the enjera as well local way of life. Afternoon in Gondar visit the castles, King Fasiladas bath and Debre Birhan Selasie church (light of Trinity) with wonderful murals. Dinner & ON hotel
Day 4: Fly to Lalibela. Full day visit some of the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, defined as the 8th wonder in the world. Churches built in the 12th century; the African Jerusalem. Late afternoon take part of the coffee ceremony in a traditional house (coffee’s is an important ceremony in Ethiopia). At 06:00 pm have a sun downer with fantastic views. Meals & overnight hotel
Day 5: Fly to Axum, to visit the steles, St Mary of Tsion church (where legend says the Ark of Covenant is deposited), the bath & palace of Queen of Sheba, afternoon fly to Addis Ababa & leisure time at your hotel. Lunch in Axum. Dinner at your hotel Overnight hotel in Addis Ababa
Day 6: Morning (9am from the hotel) make a tour of the capital: visit the Ethnographic museum and Trinity. Afternoon relax at your hotel. Lunch in a restaurant in town; dinner we offer the choice in the hotel or at a traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances of the different Ethiopian regions. Overnight hotel
Day 7: Chartered flight to Arbaminch (in amharic meaning forty springs). Drive then to Chencha Mountain to visit the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses and traditions. If is Saturday enjoy also their colorful market. Visit also how they produce their traditional bread, the kotcho, from the tree of the false banana, and how they produce their traditional dresses. Relax then at the Resort with a nice swimming pool, spa & spectacular views over Chamo and Abaya Rift Valley lakes and the Netch SAR National Park. At 06:00 pm enjoy the sunset with a sun downer. Dinner & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch www.emeraldresortandlodge.com
Day 8: Morning enjoy and relax at the Emerald Resort, with its facilities, spa, indoor and outdoor games and more. Have a boat trip on Chamo Lake, to visit the biggest crocodiles in Africa (reach till 6 meter length), hippos, birds & a very nice sunset. Late afternoon relax then at the hotel with a nice swimming pool, spa & spectacular views over Chamo and Abaya Rift Valley lakes and the Netch Sar National park. At 06:00 pm enjoy the sunset with a sun downer.
Day 9: Drive to Konso, to visit the Konso villages. They are the first in Africa to start terracing agriculture. They have unique culture and are registered under UNESCO heritage. Continue your drive to the Omo valley and if TUE or THU or SAT visit respectively the Hamer, Karo & Tsemay people market at Alduba village or the Tsemay & Erbore people market at KeyAfer village or Hamer, Karo and Dassanech people market at Dimeka village. Reach then Turmi, to visit the very colorful Hamer people villages. At 06:00 pm have a sun downer looking at the Hamer village and the savannah. Dinner & ON Emerald lodge Turmi www.emeraldresortandlodge.com
Day 10: Morning excursion to Omorate, at Omo river bank, to visit Dassanech people, their culture and villages. Afternoon time for the very colorful Hamer people; walk to visit a Hamer people village and have time with the very interesting Hamer people. If Monday visit the very colorful Hamer, Karo & Dassanech people market. If we get information of the bull jumping ceremony happening we can visit this, with the bull jumping & Evangadi dances ceremonies. The Hamar are known for their unique custom of “bull jumping,” which initiates a boy into manhood. First, female relatives dance and invite whipping from men who have recently been initiated; this shows their support of the initiate, and their scars give them a right to demand his help in time of need. The boy must run back and forth twice across the backs of a row of bulls or castrated steers, and is ridiculed if he fails. At 06:00 pm have a sun downer looking at the Hamer village and the savannah. Dinner & ON Emerald lodge Turmi www.emeraldresortandlodge.com
Day 11: Drive to visit the Karo people, with ornaments and scarifications all over their body. Admire nice view over the Omo river from the Kortcho village. Fly then to Addis Ababa. Dinner and overnight at your hotel
Day 12: Morning (9am from the hotel) make a tour of the capital: visit the Ethnographic museums and the Trinity church. Afternoon relax at your hotel.Lunch in a restaurant in town; dinner we offer the choice in the hotel or at a traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances of the different Ethiopian regions. Later transfer to the airport for your departure
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