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Discover Ethiopia with Awaze Tours
These tours cover Ethiopia's most famous cultural and historical sites. All of these tours go to the main historical sites in the north and the Omo Valley. At this time none of our tours can go into Tigray (Axum and Mekele) nor into the Danakil.
To view an itinerary, select a tour name below. We can customize or alter certain itineraries upon request. (Tours are listed in order of duration.)
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Featured Itinerary:
The Historic North and Omo Valley; 17 Days / 16 Nights (CO16a)
Tour SummaryThis tour covers many of Ethiopia's most famous cultural and historical sites. We offer variations of this tour that are a bit shorter or longer. Let us know if you would like to see these options. At this time we are not going into the Tigray region until the situation there improves.
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Arrival Bole International Airport
Awaze Tours meets all guests arriving at the airport regardless of arrival time. For morning flight arrivals you may begin your tour after checking into your hotel. For afternoon or evening arrivals, you may begin your tour the following day.
Awaze Tours meets all guests arriving at the airport regardless of arrival time. For morning flight arrivals you may begin your tour after checking into your hotel. For afternoon or evening arrivals, you may begin your tour the following day.
Tour Itinerary CO16a
Statue of King Menelik II in Addis Ababa
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Day 01 Addis Ababa
Visit Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Tour the Ethnographic Museum, a wonderful introduction to Ethiopian culture and history. Take a short drive to the Entoto Hills for a view of the city and visit Maryam Church. En-route, stop at Sheromeda traditional cloth market. Visit either the Mercato or the Sholla Market, two of Addis Ababa's main markets. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
A traditional papyrus boat or "tankwa" on Lake Tana.
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Day 02 Addis Ababa - Bahar Dar
Fly to Bahar Dar on Ethiopian Airlines. Take a boat tour on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, and tour ancient monasteries on the Zege Peninsula. We will visit two of the following monasteries: Ura Kidane Mehiret, Azwa Maryam, Mehal Zege Giorgis, and Bete Maryam. End the day with a sunset visit to Bezawit Hills overlooking the Nile River. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
The Blue Nile Falls or "Tis Abey"
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Day 03 Bahar Dar - Gondar
Morning excursion to "Tis Abey" the Blue Nile Falls. After lunch, drive to Gondar, north of Lake Tana. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
The Royal Enclosure in Gondar, a UNESCO World Heritage site
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Day 04 Gondar - Simien Mountains
Tour the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five castles built by a succession of Ethiopian kings beginning in the early 17th century. Having survived several wars, including air raids during World War 2, the castles are a testament to the resilience of this once mighty empire. Visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie, famous for its religious art and especially its iconic ceiling depicting angels. Overnight Lodge Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
A pair of the endemic Geladas in the Simien Mountains
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Day 05 Simien Mountains - Gondar
Sightseeing and light hiking (2 - 3 hours) to take in the spectacular scenery and spot wildlife such as the endemic Gelada Baboons. Return to Gondar by evening. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
The Church of St. George in Lalibela
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Day 06 Gondar - Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela on Ethiopian Airlines 700 kilometers north of Addis Ababa. Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group of eleven monolithic churches were carved directly into the stone mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings. In the late afternoon, enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony and learn the process for baking injera (a staple food for much of Ethiopia.) Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
An orthodox priest in Lalibela
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Day 07 Lalibela
For the morning you have two choices: Take a morning hike with mules to Mount Asheton, with its 13th century rock-hewn monastery and great views of the town; - OR - Drive to Yemrehanna Kristos, a beautiful church situated in a shallow cave that predates the churches of Lalibela. The drive to Yemrehanna will also give you the opportunity to view the rural countryside and villages of the Ethiopian highlands. Following either option above continue with tour of Lalibela’s churches in the afternoon. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
The open-air restaurant at the Sabana Lodge.
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Day 08 Lalibela - Addis Ababa - Lake Langano
Fly to Addis Ababa and then drive to the Rift Valley Lake Langano. Relax at the Sabana Lodge. Lake Langano is safe for swimming. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
The beehive shaped homes of the Dorze
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Day 09 Lake Langano - Arba Minch
Drive to Arba Minch (“Forty Springs”) located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region. En route, visit a Dorze Village in the Guge Mountains. The Dorze are known for their tall, beehive-shaped bamboo houses. If the base becomes infested with termites, the entire house can be lifted and moved to another location. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
Making pottery in an Ari village.
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Day 10 Arba Minch - Jinka
Take a boat trip on Lake Chamo and view some of the largest crocodiles in the world sunning on the banks of the lake. Hippopotami and birdlife are also abundant. Drive to Jinka visiting various peoples such as the Gamo and Derashe. Stop at Key Afar's weekly market (if on a Thursday) and wander among the various tribes such as the Benna and Ari that have gathered to barter their goods. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
A girl of the Mursi tribe
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Day 11 Mago National Park Excursion
Early morning drive to the Mago National Park to visit the Mursi people. The Mursi women are known for the clay plates they insert into their lower lips. Time permitting, visit the Omo Valley Museum in Jinka. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
Hamer women decorating their hair with red clay
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Day 12 Jinka - Turmi
Drive to Turmi to visit the Hamer people who are well known for the scarring of their bodies, using clay to shape their hairstyles, and the unique practice of "bull-jumping" which every young man must accomplish prior to marriage. En route to Turmi, visit the Benna and Ari people. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
A young man from the Dassanech tribe
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Day 13 Omorate Excursion
Excursion from Turmi to Omorate. Crossing of the Omo River via a traditional canoe (a recently built bridge now also allows for optional crossing via tour vehicle.). Visit the Dassanech, a semi nomadic people who are one of the more numerous tribes (population about 70,000) in the Omo. A highly egalitarian society, involving age sets and clan lineages, the Dassanech are primarily "agro-pastoralists” and cultivate sorghum, maize, and beans and raise livestock such as cattle and sheep. To supplement their crops and livestock Dassanech men will also fish and hunt crocodiles at night. Return to Turmi for the evening. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
Karo children decorated with body paintings
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Day 14 Murele and Kangatan Excursion
Drive to Kangatan and visit a Nyangatom village. Divided into roughly 20 patrilineal descent clans, the Nyangatom live on sorghum, maize, beans, and tobacco cultivation. The Nyangatom are know for their “oratory” gifts and songs. Continue towards Murele and visit the Karo people, known for their elaborate body-painting by both the men and women. Karo women will also create intricate patterns of scars on their bodies but cutting with a knife or razor. Scars on a man’s chest indicate he has killed an enemy or dangerous animal. A small tribe, the Karo population is estimated at between 6,000 and 9,000. Return to Turmi for the evening. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
A Hamer boy milking his goats
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Day 15 Turmi - Konso
Drive to Konso, recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A highland people, the Konso are known for the ancient and intricate terraces that encircle their well-planned villages. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
The "generation pole" in a Konso village
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Day 16 Konso - Hawassa
Drive to Hawassa via the Shenkele game reserve. This Park is the the last pocket of the original Ethiopian Savannah. You will have a chance to spot the endemic Antelope called Swayne`s hartebeast, one the rarest and most elegant animals in all of Africa. Continue to Hawassa and relax at a lakeside resort. Overnight Hotel Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
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Day 17 Hawassa - Addis Ababa
Drive to Addis Ababa stopping at Rift Valley Lakes that are renowned for their endemic birdlife. Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, optional souvenir shopping if time permits. Enjoy a Farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country's many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure or additional hotel night booked upon request. Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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End of Tour
(Awaze Tours will arrange additional hotel nights in Addis Ababa upon request.)
(Awaze Tours will arrange additional hotel nights in Addis Ababa upon request.)
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Inclusions
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Exclusions
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Departure Dates: CO16aPlease contact us regarding current prices for our tours. If you book a tour we will not cancel the tour or increase the price.
*If these dates do not fit your schedule, check with us about additional departures.
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