22 days/21 nights Highlights of Ethiopia Tour

Day 1. Addis

– You will be welcomed by your guide/a member of Magma Flow Team at Bole International airport Addis and transfer to your hotel/resort.

Overnight hotel/resort in Addis

Day 2. Addis – Mekelle – Danakil Depression (Erta Ale)

– In the morning, fly to Mekelle, pick up from the airport and drive to the Southern part of the Danakil Depression (Erta Ale area) in route, meet local people in Kesrawad (a village in a middle of unexpected remote area).

– TREK (30-40min) to the top of the Erta Ale Mountain.

– Visit Erta Ale Volcano (Lava Lake) during the night.

Overnight outside/inside local huts made up of lava rocks near to the rim.

Day 3. Danakil Depression (Erta Ale – Afdera – Lake Asale/Karum – HamadEla)

– 2nd visit of the Erta Ale Volcano during the sunrise (if interested).

– Trek (30-40min) back, meet cars and drive to Afdera.

– Swim in Lake Afrera & take a bath in hydrothermal springs.

– Drive to the Northern part of the Danakil Depression (Dallol area).

– Visit:

• Camel caravans heading back from the salt mining area to HamadEla & highlands (if available)
• Sunset on Lake Asale/Karum.

Overnight outside under the stars in HamadEla 

Day 4. Danakil Depression (Dallol) – Wukro/Hawzen

– In the morning, visit:

• Dallol Volcano
• Salt Mountains (Canyons)
• Sulfur Lake/Yellow Ponds
• Camel Caravans & Local Salt Mining (if available)

– Afterwards, drive to Wukro/Hawzen.

Overnight hotel/lodge Wukro/Hawzen

Day 5. Wukro/Hawzen – Gheralta – Hawzen

– Visit:

• Abune Yemata Guh (total trek & climb: 2 hours)
• Maryam & Daniel Korkor (total trek: 2-2.5 hours)

Overnight hotel/lodge in Hawzen

Day 6. Hawzen – Teka Tesfay – Yeha – Axum

– Drive to Axum in route, visit:

• Medhane Alem AdiKosho (total trek: 1 hour)
• Mikael MelhayZengi (total trek: 1 hour)
• The ruins of Yeha Temple.

Overnight hotel in Axum

Day 7. Axum – Debark

– Morning, visit sites in Axum:

• The famous Obelisks
• Archeological museum
• Queen of Shebas Bath
• Ezanas enscription
• King Kalebs tomb
• King Bazens tomb
• Queen of Shebas Palace
• Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept.

– Afternoon, drive to Debark in route, enjoy by the wonderful views of the landscapes.

Overnight hotel/lodge in Debark

Day 8. Debark – Simien Mountains (Sankaber – Jinbar Valley) – Wolleka – Gondar

– Trek (total 3-4 hours) from Sankaber to Jinbar Valley in route, visit: 

• The place where the Jinbar Waterfall plunges into Geech Abyss.
• Jinbar Waterfall & its adorable landscape.
• Endemic Gelada Baboons 

– Car picks us up from Jinbar Valley and drive to Gondar in route, visit Wolleka (Falasha Village).

Overnight hotel/lodge in Gondar

Day 9. Gondar – Bahir Dar

– Morning, visit sites in Gondar:

• The Royal Enclosure
• Fasilidass Pool, still used for Timket celebrations
• Ras Gimb Palace Museum
• Debre Birhan Selassie church

– Afternoon, drive to Bahir Dar.

Overnight hotel/lodge/resort in Bahir Dar

Day 10. Bahir Dar

– Morning, take a boat trip on Lake Tana.

Visit:

• ZegePenninsula
• AzuwaMaryam
• UraKidaneMehret
• DebreMaryam

– Afternoon, visit Blue Nile Falls & walk around to enjoy the beautiful views of the area.

– Sunset on the best viewpoint of the Lake.

Overnight hotel/lodge/resort in Bahir Dar

Day 11. Bahir Dar – Awra Amba – Lalibela

– Drive to Lalibela in route, visit Awra Amba community.

Overnight hotel/lodge in Lalibela

Day 12. Lalibela

Morning, visit half of the 11 rock-hewn churches (Northwest cluster):

• BetMedhaneAlem
• BetMaryam
• BetMeskel
• BetDanaghel
• BetMikael
• BetGolgotha (entry not permitted for women).

Afternoon, visit the rest half (Southeast cluster):

• BetGabriel-Rufael
• BetMerkorios
• BetAmanual
• BetAbbaLibanos
• BetGiyorgis until the sunset (the most famous of all)

Overnight hotel/lodge in Lalibela

Day 13. Lalibela – Addis – Butajira

– Morning, fly to Addis.

– Pick up from Addis airport and drive to Butajira in route, visit:

• Archeological sites of Tiya
• Archeological Melka Kunture
• Adadi Maryam rock-hewn church

Overnight hotel in Butajira

Day 14 (Saturday). Butajira – Dorze – Arba Minch

– Drive to Dorze.

• Attend Chencha market.
• Visit the Dorze Village& the industrious Dorze Tribe.

– Afterwards, drive back to Arba Minch.

Overnight hotel/lodge/resort in Arba Minch

Day 15. Arba Minch – Chamo – Turmi (Hamer Tribe)

– Drive to Turmi, in route:

• Boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit Crocodile market, and local Hippos.

– Visit:

• Hamer Tribe in Turmi Village.
• The Hamer Tribe’s Traditional Dancing (Evangadi).

Overnight hotel/lodge in Turmi

Day 16 (Monday). Turmi – Omorate (Dassenech Tribe) – Turmi

– Morning, cross Omo River by a Local Boat to Dassenech Village and visit the Dassenech Tribe.

– Afterwards, return to Turmi.

• Attend Turmi the biggest market in Omo Valley.
• Visit the Hamer Tribe, and their Traditional Bull Jumping Ceremony (if available).

Overnight hotel/lodge in Turmi

Day 17 (Tuesday). Turmi – Dimeka – Alduba – Jinka

– Drive to Jinka.

– In route, attend:

• Dimeka market.
• Alduba market.

Overnight hotel/lodge in Jinka

Day 18. Jinka – Mago National Park (Mursi Tribe) – Jinka

– Morning, Drive to Mursi through the Mago National Park.

– Visit the Mursi Tribe.

– Afterwards, return to Jinka.

• Visit the South Omo Museum and Research Centre.
• Walk around the surroundings of Jinka to visit the Ari Tribe.

Overnight hotel/lodge in Jinka

Day 19 (Thursday). Jinka – KeyAfer – Konso

– Drive to Konso in route,

• Attend KeyAfer market.

– Attend Konso market in Konso.

Overnight hotel/lodge in Konso

Day 20. Konso – Awassa

– Visit:

• Konso Tribe in Konso Village.
• Cultural Museum.

– Attend Konso market, if today is Monday or Thursday.

– Drive to Awassa.

Overnight hotel/lodge/resort in Awassa

Day 21. Awassa – Abidjatta-Shalla Lakes National Park – Lake Langano – Lake Ziway – Addis

– Morning, visit Fish market around Lake Awassa.

– Afterwards, drive back to Addis.

– In route, visit:

• Abidjatta-Shalla Lakes National Park: to see several Bird Species such as, lesser and greater Flamingos, African Pochard, Avocet, Gull billed Tern…
• Lake Langano: to swim (if interested), walk along the shores of the lake and/or go bird watching in the forests along the lake shores.
• Lake Ziway: to see several Bird Species such as, African Pygmy Geese, Yellow-billed Storks, Collared Pratincoles, Lesser and greater Jacanas, African Jacanas, White Pelicans, Fish Eagles, crowned and common cranes.

Overnight hotel/lodge/resort in Addis

Day 22. Addis

– City tour in Addis to visit:

• Panoramic view of the city from Entoto Mountain.
• Entoto Maryam Church & Museum
• The city’s largest market for traditional clothes.
• The ethnographical museum, with great displays of the many cultures of Ethiopia, housed in the former palace of Haile Selassie.
• National Museum, where Ethiopias oldest resident, Lucy, is housed.
• The Selassie (Trinity) church, one of the most important churches of Addis Ababa and the final resting place of Haile Selassie, to whom there is a dedicated museum on site.
• Merkato, Africas largest open-air market.

– Evening, cultural dinner invitation at a traditional restaurant with local folkloric dances.

– Transfer to Bole International airport Addis to fly back home or your hotel for overnight