30 days/29 nights Highlights of Ethiopia Tour

Day 1 (Saturday). Addis

– You will be welcomed by your guide/a member of Magma Flow Team at Bole International airport Addis and transfer to your hotel. If arrival time is in the morning, after check-in your hotel and quick refreshment, you will have Addis city tour.

Meal plan:

Overnight: Zola International hotel Addis

Day 2. Addis – Kombolcha

– Drive to Kombolcha. En route, visit:

• The unique Houses & local people of Simien Shewa villages.
• Atse Menlik’s Valley.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Yogofe hotel Kombolcha

Day 3 (Monday). Kombolcha – Bati – Weldiya

– Morning, drive to Bati and attend best of the best market of Bati.

– Afterwards, proceed driving to Weldiya.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Lal hotel Weldiya

Day 4. Weldiya – Lalibela

– Drive to Lalibela. En route, visit Yemrahanna Kristos church a different of all churches in Ethiopia for it’s built in a cave.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Lal hotel Lalibela

Day 5. Lalibela

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

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

– Afternoon, visit the rest half (Southeastern cluster):

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

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Lal hotel Lalibela

Day 6. Lalibela – Awra Amba – Bahir Dar

– Drive to Bahir Dar. En route, visit the unique community of Awra Amba who have a utopian world vision of total equality, regardless of gender, age, race, social standing etc.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Rahnile hotel Bahir Dar

Day 7. Bahir Dar

– Take a boat for a full day trip on Lake Tana to visit:

• Narga Selassie
• Betre Maryam
• Ura Kidane Meret

– After visit, drive to a place where we can have best view of sunset over the Lake.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Rahnile hotel Bahir Dar

Day 8. Bahir Dar – Gondar

– Morning, drive to Gondar

– Afternoon, visit sites in Gondar:

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

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: AG hotel Gondar

Day 9. Gondar – Simien Mountains (Buyit Ras – Sankaber)

– Drive to Buyit Ras via Debark.

– Trek (3-4h) from Buyit Ras to Sankaber. En route, visit:

• The wonderful scenario of the landscapes
• Endemic Gelada Baboons

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner

Overnight: Camping at Sankaber

Day 10. Simien Mountains [Sankaber – Jinbar Waterfall (Geech Abyss) – Geech]

– Trek (total 5-6 hours) from Sankaber to Geech. En route, visit:

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

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner

Overnight: Camping at Geech

Day 11. Simien Mountains (Geech – Imet Gogo – Ambaras) – Axum

– Trek (total 5 hours) from Geech to Chennek in route, ascend to:

• Imet Gogo (3,926m): To see the spectacular views over the Valleys.

– Afterwards, descend to Ambaras, car picks us up and drive to Axum.

Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Armah/Ethiopis hotel Axum

Day 12. Axum

– Today,  full day visit of sites in Axum.

• 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.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Armah/Ethiopis hotel Axum

Day 13. Axum – Yeha – Teka Tesfay – Hawzen

– Morning, drive to Hawzen. En route, visit:

• Ruins of Yeha Temple (if interested)
• Medhane Alem AdiKosho: Requires 1h easy trekking
• Mikael MelhayZengi: Requires 1h easy trekking

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Vision hotel Hawzen

Day 14. Hawzen – Gheralta – Hawzen

– Morning, visit Abune Yemata Guh which requires 2h challenging trekking and climbing – not recommended if you have height phobia.

– Afternoon, Maryam & Daniel Korkor which requires 2.5h challenging trekking.

– Afterwards, return to Hawzen.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Vision hotel Hawzen

Day 15. Hawzen – Danakil Depression (Dallol – HamadEla)

– Drive to the Northern part of the Danakil Depression (Dallol area) and visit:

• Sulfur Lake
• Camel Caravans & Local Salt Mining
• Sunset on Lake Asale/Karum

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner

Overnight: Outside under the stars at HamadEla

Day 16. Danakil Depression (Dallol – Erta Ale)

– Morning, visit:

• Dallol Volcano
• Salt Mountains (Canyons)

– Afterwards, drive to the Southern part of the Danakil Depression (Erta Ale area).

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

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

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner

Overnight: Outside/inside local huts made up of lava rocks

Day 17. Danakil Depression (Erta Ale – Afdera) – Afdera – Semera

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

– Afterwards, proceed driving to Semera, pick up security and proceed driving to Alelopad an area known for its unique landscapes, colourful hydrothermal springs & mud volcanoes.

– After visit, return to Semera.

Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Ardi Ethiopia hotel Semera

Day 18. Semera – Awash

– Drive to Awash.

– Visit:

• The beautiful landscapes of the park around the Gorge.
• Wildlife in the park (Game Drive).

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Genet hotel Awash

Day 19. Awash – Harar

– Morning, visit & take a bath in Deho spring water.

– Afterwards, drive to Harar.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Ras hotel Harar

Day 20. Harar

– Visit:

• The colourful markets of Harar
• The House of Rimbaud
• Ras Tafari’s House
• Ras Mekonnen’s Palace
• The Harari National Cultural Center
• The tomb of Emir Nur, who built the famous Jugol (The City Wall)
• A man feeding Hyenas

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Ras hotel Harar

Day 21. Harar – Nazret

– Full day drive (7-8h) to Nazret.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Kereyu Hill resort Nazret

Day 22. Nazret – Dinsho – Goba

– Drive to Dinsho and trek (total 2-3h) to see:

• Amazing views of the landscapes.
• Several wildlife and Bird species.

– Afterwards, drive to Goba.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Wabe Shebelle hotel Goba

Day 23. Goba – Senatti Plateau – Harenna Forest – Goba

– Morning, Ascend (2-3h) to Senatti Plateau (3,500-4,000m high) to see:

• Afro-alpine Moor land with beautiful wild alpine scenery
• Ethiopian Wolf

– Afternoon, trek (2-3h) in Harenna Forest.

– Afterwards, drive back to Goba.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Wabe Shebelle hotel Goba

Day 24 (Monday). Goba – Dorze

– Drive to Dorze via Arba Minch.

• Attend the colourful market of Dorze.
• Visit the industrious Dorze Tribe.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Tsehaye Dorze lodge Dorze

Day 25. Dorze – Chamo – Turmi

– Drive to Chamo and take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit Crocodile market & local Hippos.

– Afterwards, proceed driving to Turmi and visit Hamer Tribe at Turmi village.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Camping at Turmi village which would allow you to take as many photos as you want without people nagging you. This also makes the trip less touristy and enable you to see something natural, without people posing and going about their day to day life.

Day 26. Turmi – Karo – Nyangatom – Turmi

– Morning, drive to Karo and visit Karo Tribe.

– Afternoon, visit Nyangatom Tribe.

– Afterwards, return to Turmi.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Camping at Turmi

Day 27 (Thursday). Turmi – Dassenech – KeyAfer – Jinka

– Morning, take a local Boat on Omorate to visit Dassenech Tribe.

– After visit, return to Turmi and proceed driving to Jinka. En route, attend KeyAfer market one of the famous markets in Ethiopia.

– Trek around Jinka to visit:

• Ari Tribe
• South Omo Cultural Museum (if time permits).

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: NASA hotel Jinka

Day 28. Jinka – Mursi – Konso

– Morning, drive through Mago National Park and visit Mursi Tribe.

– After visit, return to Jinka and proceed driving to Konso.

– Visit Konso Tribe and village.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Konso Korebta lodge

Day 29. Konso – Sidama – Awassa

– Drive to Awassa. En route, visit Sidama Tribe.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight:

Day 30. Awassa – Abidjatta-Shalla Lakes National Park – Lake Langano – Lake Ziway – Addis

– Morning, visit Fish market over the Lake shores.

– Afternoon, drive to Addis. En 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.

–  In the evening, cultural dinner invitation at a traditional restaurant with local folkloric dances. Afterwards, transfer to Bole International airport.

Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner