22 days:   Historic Route, Awash & Omo people in the South
TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
AAT-MT-007 22 DAYS/21 NIGHTS HISTORIC ROUTE & RIFT VALLEY LAKES SURFACE

Itineraries

Day 1:  ADDIS ABABA:
Arrive at the Addis Ababa Bole International airport & be met and welcomed by African Adventure Tours representative and transferred to Hotel (3* hotel).
Day 2:  ADDIS ABABA - BAHAR DAR:
Drive to Bahar Dar through the beautiful scenery at after 103 kms drive, visit the 13th C monastery of Debre Libanos and the 17th C Portuguese Bridge. And after 100 Kms from the monastery you will visit , you will enjoy the fabulous Blue Nile Gorge. Similar to the Grand Canon of USA. Proceed driving through the amhara rigion and late in the afternoon you will arrive at Bahir dar . Overnight Papyrus/Tana Hotewl.
Day 3:  BAHAR DAR:
After breakfast fly to Bahar Dar. After check into the Hotel and refreshment, we take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit ancient monasteries. We will visit two of the most accessible and representative of the monasteries, still serving their original function, Ura Kidane Mehret, and Azwa Maryam. In the afternoon we pay a visit to the impressive Blue Nile Falls, locally known as Tis Isat or 'Smoke of Fire’. Overnight Tana Hotel
Day 4:  GONDAR:
After breakfast drive 180kms to Gondar, the 17th and 18th century capital of Ethiopia. After check into the hotel you will have a sightseeing tour of the town of Gondar that includes: the Castle Compound of different emperors constructed in the European middle age architectural style, Debre Berehan Silassie church (Light of the Trinity), which is unique church with its ancient paintings, Bath of Fasildes at which thousands of Ethiopians celebrate Timket festival every January, and the 18th century Quskuam monastery. Overnight Goha Hotel.
Day 5:  DRIVE FROM GONDAR TO AXUM:
Drive from Gondar to Axum (375kms) along the foot of Semein Mountain, and an attractive land features, and Tekeze valley. After lunch from your lunch box continue driving and arrive at Axum (the most ancient city and it was considered as one of the greatest Empire that has existed in this world it was from here the ancient civilization had started). Overnight Rehmai hotel.
Day 6:  AXUM :
After breakfast city tour of Axum. Axum is the ancient capital of Ethiopia and the cradle of Ethiopian civilisation. Axum is famous for its more than 2000 year old Axumite steles measuring some of them up to 33m high, the bath and palace of Queen of Sheba, King Kaleb's and other kings tombs, archaeologicalmuseum which is widely rated as Ethiopia's best, the church ofSt. Mary of Tsion, where the original Ark of  covenant is housed in. Legend has it that the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon of Israel, King Menelik I brought the original Ark from Israel to Axum. Overnight Remhai Hotel. 
Day 7:  DRIVE FROM AXUM TO MEKELE:
After breakfast through the historical town of Adwa, which is the major African battlefield and drive to the very small town of Yeha to visit the 5th century B.C imposing ruins of Yeha’s temple though roofless still stand. It was a large pre-Christian temple consisting of a single oblong chamber. The temple is believed to be the oldest standing building in the country. You will also visit the 6th century A.D church of Aba Afse –the church, sharing the same compound with the temple, is rectangular in shape. Continue driving to Mekele-the capital of Tegray region en route visit Rock church of Wekro Cherkos and Abreha WE Asbeha. Overnight Mekele Axum Hotel. 
Day 8:  MEKELE-LALIBELA:
On this day, you will have the longest drive through the rough nature of road but nice to experience along with the magnificent scenery (gigantic, ups and downs landscape). You will have a chance to visit Lake Ashenge and good for birding. Proceed to Lalibela for dinner and overnight at Jerusalem Hotel Hotel.           
Day 9:  LALIBELA:
Full day sightseeing tour of Lalibela:  Lalibela, famous for its rock hewn churches dating back 800 years, There are no less than 1000 churches in the Lasta Region of Lalibela, some hidden in enormous caves, but it's exceptional to find 11 churches of such master craftsmanship in one locale. These brilliant feats of engineering and architecture are often referred to as the "Eighth wonder of the world". The afternoon is spent exploring the atmospheric subterranean complex of passages and the 11 remarkable rock-hewn churches. Overnight Jerusalem Hotel.
Day 10:  LALIBELA- KOMBOLCHA:
After breakfast drive through the highland area of Dell where you can see the endemic mammal of Gelada Baboon. Have stop over at Hayk to visit the 13th C monastery of Hike Istifanos on the island of Lake Hike. Proceed to Kombolcha for dinner and overnight atTekle Hotel.
Day 11:  KOMBOLCHA TO AWASH
Drive to Awash National Park the best game viewing reserve in Ethiopia.  A magnificent 150m deep gorge carved by the Awash River forms a substantial waterfall where the river spills into the gorge Combination of habitats to the national park, including riverine forest, acacia woodland, Savanah and wetlands, and it harbours a similar variety of birds.  Over 460 species of bird have been recorded in this area. Wild life seen in the vicinity of the park includes Beisa Oryx, lesser kudu, warthog, salt’s dik-dik, Hamadryad Anubis Baboon, spotted hyena and more. On the way visit the small town of Bati, between the central highlands and low-lying Rift Valley, where it forms an important cultural crossroads for the Amhara, Oromo and semi-nomadic dessert-dwelling Afar people, being Sunday visit Bati colorful Market and proceeds for Awash.  Over night Genet Hotel
Day 12:  Awash Langano:
Start early drive from Awash to Langano. En route you will enjoy birding on the crater lakes of Beseka. Overnight Langano Bekele Molla
Day 13:  Langano: / Arba Minch:
Leaving Addis Ababa behind, early in the morning we will drive to the other end of the Rift Valley, stopping at Shashamene town for lunch.Then drive  to Chencha to visit the Dorze people. The village sits high in the mountains north of Arba Minch. The Dorze are recognized in Ethiopia as master weavers and live in interesting igloo- shaped houses. We arrive late in the afternoon at Arba Minch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arba Minch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town. If time permits we can visit the springs. From your hotel you can enjoy panoramic views of the Guge Mountain range, Nech Sar National Park and its bordering lakes of Chamo and Abaya - an area of outstanding beauty and considered as Ethiopia's last great surviving wilderness. O/n Bekele Molla Hotel that is situated on the hilltop having panoramic view over Lake Chamo, Abaya and Nech Sar National Park which lies in between the two rift valley lakes.
Day 14:  Nech Sar National Park and Boat trip on Lake Chamo:
Morning to Nech Sar for game viewing and birding; afternoon boat trip on Lake Chamo. Boat trip on Lake Chamo is along the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Crocodiles (It is locally called as "Crocodile Market"). The water birds are great the scenery is truly unforgettable. Fishing for Nile Perch and many other species by locals on their traditional boat is by far the best in the country. Overnight Abyssinia Hotel.
Day 15:  Drive Jinka  en route visit  Key Afer Market:
After break fast drive to Konso where colorfully costumed dress, impressive terracing of the Land and unusually engraved wooden statues used as grave markers can be seen. Further along the route visit the Woito people live in the area around Woito River and Tsemay village. Continue driving  to Jinka for overnight in Jinka Resort Hotel.
Day 16:  Jinka- Mursi- Jinka:
After breakfast leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe they are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted. Proceed to Mago National Park. After a picnic lunch, you will have game drive to see big mammals and different species of birds and in the late afternoon drive back to Jinka. Overnight Jinka Resort Hotel
Day 17:  Jinka – Turmi: 
After breakfast drive to Turmi through Dimeka for the visit of Hamer people and their village. Turmi is a small town, which is the base to visit the Hamer village. Overnight camping at Turmi campsite.
Day 18:  Turmi –  Murulle excursion – Turmi:
After break fast drive to Murule and visit the Karo People. You will be driving through the Hamer village, which is good opportunity to know the way of life of the Hamer people. The Karos are famous for tattooing, scaring and body painting. They reside by the side of the Omo River. After your visit  drive back to Turmi. Overnight Turmi campsite.
Day 19:  Turmi:
Morning drive to Omorate to visit the Gelab (Dassanech) tribe inhabiting the riverbanks of Omo River. We cross Omo River by a small boat and walk fifteen minutes to visit their village. The Gelabs are also known for their body painting as their neighboring. Today is a market day continue driving back to Turmi and then to Dimeka for its colorful Market attended by the Hammer, Karo and Benna tribes. The market is the best place to see the different ethnic groups, what they produce, buy, sell and the way they interact. Late afternoon drive back to Turmi. O/n camping at the same campsite
Day 20:  Day 20: Turmi – Yabello:
Drive to   Yabello visiting the Arbore and the Tsemay people en route. After lunch stop at Konso, continue to the region of Oromo Borena and visit their village. The drive this day will let you to experience the life of the Oromo Borena People who is well known in cattle rearing. You also visit the Oromo Borena People villages and their 'singing well' from which they cater water to their own thousands of cattle by singing.   Overnight Yabello Motel
Day 21:  Day 21: Yabello /Yerga Alem:
Drive from Yabello to Yerg Alem over a beautiful Sidamo mountains &  coffee plantation. In the late afternoon visit the Hyenas around the loge.  Overnight Aregash Loge.
Day 22:  Yerga Alem / Addis Ababa:
Drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley lakes Via Awassa. At Awasssa visit the fish Market where the local people buy fish from the fisher men. En route we will stop on the viewpoints for the Rift Valley Lakes of Shala, Abyta and Langano. In the Evening a fare well diner party in one of the Traditional Ethiopian restaurant with dances from the different ethnic Groups. Transfer out to the airport for departure back to home.

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Make sure you read the travel related documents: Terms and Conditions, Pre-Departure Info, Things to Consider first.