North historical Ethiopia and southern Ethiopia cultural tour

Trip highlights.

Oral tradition traces the birth of Ethiopia to Ethiopic, the great grandson of Noah. That’s some biblical lineage! History and the bible are the common threads you will hear repeated again and again

throughout your journey in northern Ethiopia. Religion plays such a strong role in modern Ethiopia, but it

also molded its past and the antiquities of Lalibela and Axum are settings for this tour. The Ark of the

Covenant is not made up by the ingenious mind of Steven Spielberg, the filmmaker of Raiders of the Lost

Ark – it resides in Axum! Learn how it got there.

This unique expedition of northern Ethiopia offers 4 unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites, highlighting its

17 centuries of Christianity, experiencing Ethiopia’s own Jerusalem, Lalibela and its rock-hewn churches.

Lalibela was the center of the Zagwe dynasty, as Axum was the center of the earlier and more powerful

Axumite Kingdom. The third UNESCO site on this trip, Gondar, was Ethiopia’s capital beginning in the

16th century, marking the beginning of the country’s modern era. This tour also enables you to discover

Bahir Dar, where it is believed Syrian monks built the island monasteries on Lake Tana, the source of the

Nile. This program offers to visit the sites and villages, while experiencing the culture and hospitality of

the Ethiopian people.

Omo valley Ethiopia, National Geographic magazine has called the Omo Valley “Africa’s last frontier.”

Home to approximately 225,000 people, the valley is bustling with diversity; there are nine main tribes

and many smaller ones all speaking their own language, practicing unique customs and rituals that

identify them only. Life has evolved slowly here as tribes have clung to their life practices while the world

around them has changed. Now their beauty and fanciful dress are attracting attention as they welcome

you to their villages, interact at local markets and dance with you at nightly rituals.

Itinerary at A Glance.

Duration = 14 days and 13 nights.

Destination- Historic Ethiopia Northern Ethiopia + South Ethiopia + Tribal Village + land landscape tour +

rift Valley + The simien mountain national park( The roof of Africa)

Accommodation - Both Hotel and lodge

Transportation - Both flight and Surface

Day 1 - Arrive Addis Ababa and City Tour

Upon arrival at Bole international airport our representative will welcome you and transfer to the hotel.

On this day you will have a city tour in Addis Ababa. Visit historical sites including the National

Archaeological Museum, to view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy” whose skeleton was

discovered in 1974. Continue to the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University; a great insight into

the many different peoples of Ethiopia and their respective cultures. After visiting Holy Trinity Cathedral,

we will end the day with a drive to the top of Mount Entoto, which rises to an altitude of 10,500 feet and

offers a panoramic view of the metropolis. Overnight will be a hotel.

https://ambassadorhotelethiopia.com/ . the best four star hotel which is ideal to walk and 5 minute

from the air port or http://hotelcelesteethiopia.com/ very great hotel with beautiful view of the city .

Day 2 - fly to The palm city of Bahir- Dar at the shore of lake Tana.

Arrive to The lake side city of Bahir Dar at the shore of lake Tana , pick up from the airport and Transfer to

your hotel , after cheek in to your hotel have a boat trip on Lake Tana. There are 37 islands on Lake Tana

and 32 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit

the monastery churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret, which is the best known of the monasteries and has an

important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries. In the afternoon visit the magical blue nile falls.Overnight hotel

Day 3 - Drive to The Historical City of Gondar

In the morning Drive to Gondar Enjoy a scenic drive to the ancient Imperial city, traveling through a

fertile landscape of wide open fields; a perfect African tableau punctuated by undulating hillsides and

valleys. Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of

Fasilidas. In Gonder, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The

city seems more European than African. In afternoon after lunch visit Fasilidas Palace, probably the

most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! We continue on to the Church of

Debre Berham Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of Debre Berham Selassie is decorated with

beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berham Selassie is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant. over night hotel . www.gondarhills.com 360

degree view of the historical city of Gondar .

Day 4 - Day Trip to the Simien mountain national park ( The roof of Africa ) - Gondar

Today you have an excursion trip to the majesty of Semien Mountain National park. Early morning with

the lunch box drive to the roof of Africa , This is a small market town at an altitude of 2700 meters near

the boundary of the Semien Mountains National Park corrugated cardboard - iron - surrounded roofed

building its colorful and bustling market area. Before entering the park, you need to register at the park

headquarters just outside the city. Here armed Scout - joins one of the parking regulations, please. Then

go for the best view buying top. Heading through pretty Country Pass is at the foot of the mountains

Semen, with attention paid to field, open pasture with grazing horses, trees and distant rocky peaks. At

the height of the road there is a magnificent view of the strangely eroded foothills of the series, and you

can also lucky enough to spot at first bearded vulture and gelada baboons of the trip. kin the afternoon

drive back to Gondar for your over night . over night same hotel

Day 5 Gonadr - lalibela.

Fly to the second Jerusalem, pick up from the airport and visit the second group of the churches . overnight hotel .

https://www.panoramicviewhotel.com/ or www.hotelmaribela.com

Day 6 - Explore lalibela ( African Petra )

In the morning excursion to Yemerhane Kirstos cave church that is found some 12 miles outside of Lalibela through beautiful mountainous land scape of lasta region. Around 1071 AD, a powerful Christian king Yemrehane Kirstos has ruled over the highlands of Ethiopia. Sometime during his reign, story has it that the king was led by a vision to build a church within a mountain cave in the highlands. Yemerehane kirstos church, the biggest symbol of the kingdom's wisdom, still stands and attracts many visitors. It is not the fact that the church is built in a cave that makes Yemrhane Kiristos unique. The church was built on a lake going through the cave. With a unique technique, the church was built to float on to the lake. Although the lake has dried out through time there are still holes around the church where monks used to get water, considered holy, out from inside the church is as fascinating as the outside, with every inch of the wall filled with beautiful carved biblical paintings. Then back Lalibella and have a lunch break. In the afternoon visit the rest group of churches. https://www.panoramicviewhotel.com/ or www.hotelmaribela.com

Day 7 - Lalibela – Addis Ababa –Langano - Awassa .

Fly to Addis Ababa and, up on arrival in The airport , pic up and further drive to towards Ethiopian rift

valley , Drive to the beautiful brawn lake Langano at the heart of rift valley, arrive to the lake side city of

Ziway for lunch, After lunch we will visit lake Ziway which is one of the most well-known attractions for

aquatic birds, Drive to the lake side city of Awassa. over night hotel . www.lewiresrots.com

Day 8 - Awassa - Arba - Minch.

In the moring vsist Awassa fish market ,Hawassa one of the must not miss to be visited in Hawassa is the fish market. Locally known as “Amora Gedel”, the Fish Market at Hawassa Lake is a nice spot to see how locals eat fried and raw fresh catch fish for breakfast. It’s an interesting place to visit specially at weekends in the morning when all the fishermen meet up to sell their catches of various fish and exotic creatures. It’s a bit crowded and you would be bugged by many venders if you luck you can see a couple of hippos as they avoid the crowd. But various monkeys and birds especially pelicans and ducks are there. But still the main attraction is the market itself. Drive to Arbaminch . over night pardise lodge

Day 9 ) - Arba minch and the surroundings ( Lake chamo and the droze tribe )

Early in the morning Make a boat trip on Lake Chamo where the longest and fattest crocodiles of Africa

take a sunbath on the shores. Hippos hide themselves under the water and you will also see a good

range of birds including; weavers, sunbirds, waxbills and colonies of pelicans. in the after noon after

lunch a short drive willatek you dorse tribe , visit the Dorze Tribe village who live on the Gofa Mountain

and are famous for their beehive bamboo house and weaving skill; In their society, it is a taboo for men

to spin the cotton and also taboo for the women to make a traditional cloth. Overnight hotel..

Day 10 - Drive Arbaminch - Jinka / The capital of omo valley at the foot of mago national park.

Drive back to jinka on the way, Visit the colorful village of the Konso tribe. A pagan society, the Konso

erect eerie wooden totems, replete with phallic symbols over the graves of the dead. They also have

numerous cults based around the breeding and veneration of serpents. The cornerstone of Konso culture,

however, is a highly specialized and successful agricultural economy that, through terracing buttressed

with stone, enable these people to extract a productive living from the none-too-fertile hills and valleys

that surround them. This will be an excellent day to mingle among the people, take photographs with

them and learn firsthand about a culture virtually untouched by the outside world. Later in the afternoon

arrive in Jinka at the foot of mago national park. overnight Nasa hotel

Day 11 - Jinka to Murci tribe - turmi

This morning We will drive to Mago National park to visit Mursi tribal village. The tribe is renowned for

the now-uncommon custom of their women, upon reaching maturity, having their lower lips slit and

circular clay discs inserted. After lunch drive to Turmi via Dimeka. If the day is Saturday or Tuesday, will

have a chance to see the colorful weekly market at Dimeka. Overnight lodge.

Day 12 - All The Day Around Turmi ( the town of desert Rose )

Turmi is our new base as we explore the region and meet the different tribes who share this valley but

live a life uniquely their own. Drive to the Murulle area. Murile (also spelled Muelle and Murli) lies on the

banks of the Omo River, and is a popular base for exploring this area. The two main tribes who live here

are the Karo and the Hamer, both of whom practice scarification and have elaborate hairstyles. The Karo

are experts in body painting, using clays and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic

patterns on their faces, chests, arms and legs. These designs have no special symbolic significance but

instead are created for fun and aesthetic effect, as each artist tries to outdo another. Karo men also

sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes, with special ochre "caps" of hair usually containing

several ostrich feathers. Overnight same lodge.

Day 13 - Turmi - Arbaminch.

Early in the morning, wake up for the beautiful sunrise in Turmi and walk around the lodge , On the

return drive to Arba Minch visit the Arbore tribe who are known for herding cattle and depend on plant

cultivation for their basic food. They provide cereal grains for neighboring tribes through trading

partnerships. They are considered pastorals and have their own unique physical appearance with the

women covering their heads with black cloth and known to wear very colorful necklaces and earrings.

Body painting using natural colors is made from soil and stone. Traditional dancing is practiced by the

tribe and wealth is measured by the number of cattle a tribesman owns. Overnight hotel

Day 14 - fly back AAddis Ababa / Farewell dinner / Departure

fly back to Addis Ababa , pick up from The airport and shopping in Addis Ababa,Evening after the

farewell dinner program in one of the best known Traditional restaurant in the city , Experience

Ethiopian Traditional nation live dance shows , transfer to the airport for departure. Fly back home !

End of the Tour !