Ethiopia's Omo Valley
10 Days / 9 Nights

Tour Summary

This tour visits several of the tribes of the Omo Valley including the Karo, the Desenech, the Mursi, the Hamer, and Konso Villages.

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.

Tour Itinerary OV09b

Statue of King Menelik II in Addis Ababa

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)

Lake Chamo in southern Ethiopia.

Day 02 Addis Ababa - Arba Minch
Drive to Arba Minch via Hoseana. En route visit Adadi Mariam, a 12th century rock-hewn church; and Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its mysterious stelae, thought to be grave markers, dating from the 12th century.

Overnight Hotel
Meals: (Lunch, Dinner)

Making pottery in an Ari village.

Day 03 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

Day 04 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

Day 05 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

Day 06 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

Day 07 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)

The "generation pole" in a Konso village

Day 08 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 "beehive" shaped homes of a Dorze Village

Day 09 Konso - Hawassa
Drive to the lakeside town of Hawassa. 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)

Day 10 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)

End of Tour
(Awaze Tours will arrange additional hotel nights in Addis Ababa upon request.)

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