LLT009 - Northern Historic Route and Omo Valley and Awash National Park
Duration: 16 night/17 days
Day 1:
Arrival to Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa, this is the world’s third highest capital city. Meet our local tour guide at the airport. After checking in at the hotel, set out a sightseeing tour of the city of 4 million people, taking in the Trinity Cathedral and excellent National Museum, with its archaeological discoveries including the famous hominid “Lucy”. Drive up Mt Entoto, the highest part of the capital, for the panoramic view, and then explore the Mercato, the largest open-air market in East Africa, Back to hotel. Overnight at Addis Ababa;
Day 2:
Fly to Axum, a town steeped in more than 2500 years of history. You will visit the palace and tomb of King Kaleb (6th Century AD), the extraordinarily Stella’s Files (WHS), the tomb of King Remhay (1st to 4th Century AD), and the church of St. Mary of Tsion (17th Century AD), the church in which is deposited the Arc of the Covenant. You will then drive out of the town and 4km on the way to Gonder, you will walk up to see rock carved lion, and the palace from where the Stellas were hewn- some still lie there, half finished. From here you visit the palace of the queen of Sheeba. Late in the afternoon, Overnight at Axum.
Day 3:
Drive from Shire to Debark via Tekeze Gorge on the route you will see dramatic Semien Mountains from the view points (World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1978) Lunch will be served in lunch boxes on top of the main view point late in the afternoon arrive at Gonder. Overnight Gonder.
Day 4:
Morning tour in Gonder (World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979), population 210,000, at 2210m. start the exploration of the 17th century city which was the country's capital dating from the Reign of Fasiledes from 1632; at that time Gonder had become the second largest city in Africa after Cairo. Impressive medieval castles and palaces were built by various emperors over the course of 236 years and have given Gonder the title of the “Camelot of Africa”. Visit the palaces, residences and baths of Fasiledes which became UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1979. Then visit the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity), which is located at the summit of a hill; “this is one of the most stunning churches in the nation”. The interior is decorated with beautiful frescos. A high stone wall with 12 round towers, representing the 12 Apostles, surrounds the church compound. Afternoon after finishing the drive to Bahir Dar. Overnight Bahir Dar.
Day 5:
Morning board of Boat on Lake Tana, visit the church of, Urakidane Mehret, Mahal zeghie Gyorgis Asua Mariam on lake Tana Around 10:30AM leave Bahir Dar to Lalibela by surface. Overnight hotel.
Day 6:
Morning after breakfast visits the first group (consisting of 6 rock-hewn churches to the north); as the churches are still in use, shoes have to be removed, and dress modest. afternoon, make a visit to the second group of Lalibela churches (consisting of 4), and the third group consisting of only one, but the most beautiful (“Lalibela’s masterpiece”) - the monolithic cruciform church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George); “It is a 15m-high three-tiered plinth in the shape of a Greek cross”. Overnight Hotel.
Day 7:
Morning visit the cave church of Natuto Le’ab then drive to Airport to Fly back to Addis Ababa upon arrival Addis Meet by the bus then drive to Debre zeyit , Afternoon visit the interesting creator Lakes of Debre Zeyit area. Overnight Lodge or Hotel.
Day 8:
Morning meet the 4WD jeeps at the Resort then drivers set out for tribal lands of southern Ethiopia, driving down the Great Rift Valley. See the two small crater lakes of Debre Zeit, and stop for lunch in a restaurant. Further south, pass by five large rift valley lakes; see Koka and Ziway Lakes, explore the area around two Lakes Abijatta and Shalla. where flamingos are usually seen in a National Park, and spend the night at Lake Langano. Stay 1 night: Overnight Lodge or Hotel.
Day 9:
Morning relax at the sabana Lodge around 10:00AM depart for Arbaminch on the way pass different scenery of the landscape and afternoon visit the Alaba people village, Late in the afternoon arrive at Arbaminch. Overnight Hotel.
Day 10:
Morning visit the Dorze village and then a visit to the traditional village of Chencha, where you will be fascinated by the waving style of the Dorze people, here you will also see the panoramic view of the two Rift valley Lakes. Afternoon make a boat excursion on Lake Chamo admire the longest African crocodile and the biggest hippos. Overnight Hotel.
Day 11:
Drive from Arbaminch to Jinka on the way to Jinka you will visit different Ethnic groups of people like Bena, Tsemai, and the Hamer tribal people, upon arrival at Jinka you will visit the Ethnological museum of Jinka which will give you the hightlight about the sotuthe Ethiopian ethnical groups . Overnight Hotel or Comping.
Day 12:
Drive to Mago National Park on the east bank of the Omo River. Visit a village of the Mursi tribal people who number about 8000 and are nomadic pastoralists; the women are famous for the lip-plates they wear made of clay; these can be up to 15cm in diameter, and are inserted into a slit separating the lower lip and jaw. Due to the obvious discomfort, the women only wear the lip-plates only occasionally, leaving their distended lips swaying below their jaws. Then drive to Turmi for the Overnight. Overnight Lodge.
Day 13:
Morning excursion Turmi to Omorate, 70 Km away from Turmi, then cross the river by local boat to go visit the Omo Geleab people. Afternoon visit the Turmi village the Hammer peopel. Overnight Lodge.
Day 14:
Drive from Turmi to konso on the way admire the landscape and the scenery of the Omo valley upon arrival at Konso make check in at Kenta Lodge have lunch, then afternoon visit the Konso one of the world heritage site in Ethiopia, the visit includes the traditional community village, meeting the Konso king and their famous trussing system which makes this community to recognize by UNESCO as a world herniate site. Overnight Kenta Lodge.
Day 15:
Early in the morning depart Konso to Awassa on the way visit farm land of Arbaminch area late in the afternoon arrives at Awassa the lake side city lay on the Rift valley system, have lunch in Awassa then then make a boat trip on Lake Awassa, Relax at Haile Resort Awassa. Overnight Hawassa.
Day 16:
Morning relax at Wondo Genet then drive to Awash National park for overnight on the way to Awash National Park lunch will be serviced at Bethlehem Lodge at Ziway, late in the afternoon arrive at Awash National Park. Overnight Awash Fall Lodge.
Day 17:
Morning visit the Awash National park you will have some game driving in the national park. Then drive back Addis Ababa make some shopping and evening day use rooms at Bole Ambassador Hotel before leaving to the airport. departed to the airport.
