Tour Code : ATT30

14 DAYS TOUR TO THE NORTH HISTORIC ROUTE & SOUTH OMO VALLEY

TRANSPORTATION: LAND & AIR ☀ DESTINATION: BAHIR DAR, GONDER, SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, AXUM, LABELLA, AWASSA, ARBAMINCH, DORZE VILLAGE, LAKE CHAMO, JINKA, MURSI VILLAGE, TURMI & OMORATE

DAY.01: ARRIVAL OF ADDIS ABABA AND SIGHT SEEING

Arrival Addis Ababa, Meet Karmel Tour and Travel representatives then transfer to the hotel. Depending on your arrival time make sightseeing in Addis Ababa. The sightseeing includes the national museum (where you can see the Lucy fossil skeleton found) the Ethnological museum, Trinity cathedral church, Entoto hills and Merkato.

DAY. 02: FLY TO BAHIR DAR & EXCURSION IN LAKE TANA AND BLUE NILE FALLS)

Morning after breakfast transfer to airport to fly to Bahir dar. After check in and short break in the hotel make boat trip on Lake Tana and visit two or three of its beautiful and interesting islands with their medieval period monasteries. Covering over 3500sq km, Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake and is famous as the home of the monasteries established on some 20 of its 37 islands. Most churches in the monasteries have interesting paintings and contain a collection of church treasures and beautiful old manuscripts.

In afternoon drive to Tis Isat (smoking of Fire) waterfall, Previous it was one of the most spectacular falls in Africa, 400m wide when in flood and dropping over a sheer chasm more than 45m deep, the thunderous noise could be heard long before arrival and the spray that is thrown up could be felt up to a kilo meters away. But since a dam has been built upstream, the waterfall is reduced and has lost some of its former splendor but specially now in the rain time, it is still impressive. And also the walk to the waterfall is nice and you can enjoy nature and watch birds. Keep an eye out for parrots, bee-eaters, lovebirds and Turacos.

DAY. 03: DRIVE TO GONDAR AND VISIT THE SIGHTSEEING OF GONDAR

Early in the morning after breakfast drive to Gondar. In Gondar you will visit the Royal Enclosure that is surrounded by high stone walls containing the ruins of 17th century palaces of king Fasiladas, king Iyasu and queen Mentewab and different other buildings. The castles are a mixture of Ethiopian, European and probably Indian styles. According to descriptions of 17th century travelers, the interior of the castle of king Fasiladas was extremely luxurious, decorated with gold, ivory and precious stones.

Also visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church meaning Trinity at the Mount of Light. It has rectangular structure and ceilings are decorated with beautiful winged angels, and its walls with impressive scenes depicting biblical events, including the life of Christ, Mary, and the saints and martyrs. There is also a painting of the church’s founder, Emperor Iyasu I.

DAY.04: DRIVE – GONDAR / SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Today we drive to the jagged panorama of the Simien Mountains National Park, famed for its exclusive landscape, afro-alpine vegetation, and unique wildlife, where you may spot the endemic Wallia Ibex, Gelada Baboon troops, Bushbuck, Klipspringer. However, as we stay for one night we will enjoy the dramatic scenery and a troop friendly Gelada Baboon at very close distance and Birds such as Chestnut-napped Francolin, Mountain Thrush, Thick-billed Raven, Lammergeyer, White-collared Pigeon and Ankober Serin just to name a few. Arrive to the lodge check in, have lunch, after short rest, for those who interest in hike/Trek we will trek for about 2-3 hrs on the edge and beautiful escarpment to view the beautiful and green valley, wondering the long day eating and grooming of Gelada Baboon families and then trace back to the Lodge.

DAY. 05: DRIVE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS – AXUM

In the morning after breakfast drive to Axum via Tekeze Valley.

DAY. 06: FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING IN AXUM

Morning after breakfast explores the city. Visit the interesting museum in stelae field, the impressive Stelae Fields and also the grounds of the 16th-century Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion, home of the original Ark of the Covenant, Queen of Sheba ruin palace and Tomb of Kaleb and Gebre Meskel at certain place will be dropped for souvenir and stretching your legs to the Hotel.

DAY. 07: FLY TO LALIBELA AND SIGHT SEEING

Early in the morning fly to Lalibela Addis. After short break in the hotel excursion to visit the first group of the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which are carved out of living volcanic tuff with super architectural skill that the world has never seen, yet elsewhere. UNESCO registers these churches as world heritage. Among churches of this group Bete Medahine Alem (house of the redeemer) is the largest with 5 aisles, 72 pillars, vaulted dome and molding decoration. Bete Mariam (house of St. Marry) is the most decorated among the rock hewn churches.

DAY. 08: MORE EXCURSIONS IN LALIBELA

In the morning excursion to Yemerhane Kirstos cave church outside of Lalibela through beautiful mountainous land scape of last region. Back to the hotel for lunch and after noon visit the second group of the rock-hewn churches; Bete Emanuel (house of Emanuel) is architecturally the finest. Bete Giorgis (the house of George) is the finest of all the churches in Lalibela for which reason art historians conclude that this church is carved at the end of the cluster, after the masons have developed their skill to carve the church in such extraordinary perfection.

DAY. 09: FLY BACK ADDIS ABABA AND TRANSFER TO AWASSA

In the morning after break fast transfer to the Air port and fly to Addis Ababa. Meet the vehicles at the airport and have some short break in Addis for lunch and transfer to Awassa, on the way Visit Lake Zeway of rift Valley lakes region.

DAY. 10: DRIVE TO ARBA MINCH VIA DORZE VILLAGE

In the morning after breakfast visit daily fish market at Awassa then proceed driving to Arba Minch through Dorze tribe village on the way. Dorze tribe has unique culture and among their very interesting cultures are their houses built from bamboo way of life and cultivation of the false banana (from which they extract their local bread, called Kotcho).

DAY. 11: BOAT TRIP ON LAKE CHAMO AND DRIVE TO JINKA

In the morning after breakfast make boat trip excursion on Lake Chamo to see some crocodiles, Hippos and a lot of water birds.Then drive to Jinka on the way visit Konso tribe village. Konso tribe is known for their unique social life structure and practicing the agriculture terracing.

DAY. 12: EXCURSION TO MURSI VILLAGE THE DRIVE TO TURMI

Early morning excursion to Mursi tribes village. Mursi tribes is the most famous tradition includes the lip plate worn by the women. The origin of this tradition is not known but the Mursi themselves consider it as something that makes them distinguish from the surrounding tribes.

Then drive to Turmi on the way visit Alduba local market. in the afternoon to visit the nearby hammer tribe village, also possibility to see special occasion ceremonies like wedding and ritual.

DAY. 13: EXCURSION TO OMORATE THEN DIVE BACK TO ARAB MINCH

Excursion to Omorate to visit the Dasenach tribes across the Omo river by wooden local boat then come back to Araba minch.

DAY. 14: FLY BACK TO ADDIS & DEPARTURE

In the morning relaxation morning at paradise lodge. In the afternoon Transfer to airport and fly back to Addis. Depending up on time final shopping at souvenir shop. Evening have welfare dinner at traditional restaurant with folkloric dance then transfer to airport to fly back home