15 Days Historic Ethiopia , South Ethiopia & Danakil Depression

Arrive to bole international airport,   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 hotel.

In the morning after breakfast Transfer to bole international airport and catch your flight to Bahir Dar. , Arrive at the beautiful palm city of Bahir- Dar at the shore of Lake Tana, Pick up from the airport and transfer to your hotel, after check in to your hotel, you will 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 A.D.

Overnight resort.

In the morning breakfast, leave the beautiful city of Bahir Dar to lalibela. Enjoy a scenic drive to the African Petra traveling through a fertile landscape of wide open fields; a perfect African tableau punctuated by undulating hillsides and valleys.  Enjoy the breathtaking views of Abyssinian Mountains and admire how Ethiopia is a mountainous country.

Late afternoon arrive at the holy town of lalibela overnight.

Lalibela’s churches are collectively referred to as ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’. Legend has it that Emperor Lalibela had been instructed, in a vision from God, to build the New Jerusalem after returning from Jerusalem which was sacked by the Muslims.

Visit the 11 majestic, rock churches that are still used as places of worship by Lalibela. Since its relatively remote location, Lalibela has yet gained worldwide exposure and has been compared as the “Petra of Africa”. Today you have a full day city tour in Lalibela. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the first and the third group of churches, which have seven rock churches. After lunch visit the second group of churches, which have four rock churches.   The ancient town of Lalibela is Ethiopia’s holiest places and one of the country’s most remarkable destinations. Famous for its 11 monolithic churches hewn out of the red volcanic rock, it has been a destination for pilgrims since the 12th Century.  Easter (or Tinsaye – “Resurrection” – as it is known locally) is the most moving festival to witness in Lalibela.

It combines deeply spiritual rituals with an exuberant feasting that marks the end of Lent.Throughout Holy Week pilgrims gather in the town. Robed in white, they move from church to church, praying and worshipping. Thousands of pilgrims gather, and Lalibela’s Saturday market takes on particular significance as people prepare for the feast that marks the end of the 55-day-long Lenten fast. Local residents and pilgrims alike make you feel very welcome, as they’re used to visitors joining in festival celebrations. Our retreat provides you with the opportunity to take part in many of the Easter traditions and celebrations, while also creating the space and opportunities to worship, pray and reflect in a beautiful place. Lalibela is surrounded by mountains, with long views that lead your gaze out and up.

Overnight hotel.

In the morning after breakfast, we will drive to Yemrehane Krestos church [Christ Show us the way] Yemrehane Krestos was also built up to 80 years before the rock-hewn churches in central Lalibela. Unlike the churches in the center of town, Yemrehane Krestos was not excavated from the rock face, having been built more conventionally. It was constructed from layers of stone and wood panels, expertly designed to prevent the monastery from sinking into the marshy ground beneath. This design contributes to the monastery’s characterful aesthetic.The gravitas of the church is enhanced by its location. Situated in a cave whose roof was formed by basalt lava flows, the monastery is shrouded in darkness, granting it a solemn and somewhat bewitching atmosphere. This cave is itself surrounded by juniper trees, where vervet monkeys are sometimes found. The interior of the church is spectacularly ornate, the walls of the church display carved geometric designs and colorful murals portraying various biblical scenes. It is very well-preserved, although there are a few structural problems that have developed over the years. Like most ancient churches in Ethiopia, Yemrehane Krestos is still in use today. There is something quite fascinating - and often deeply moving - about witnessing this more than 800 year-long continuity in religious practice and heritage.  Drive back to the city and walk in the center as per your interest as you will have free time.

Overnight hotel

On this day we will leave lalibela to the afar region. Fly to Addis Ababa and connect to semara the capital city of Afara region, the city where we will start our desert expedition, Here where we will arrange all the permits and arrangements.

Overnight hotel.

Early in the moring after breakfast , board your 4*4 car drive to then Drive  heading to the Danakil  Depression ( The yellow Desert ) the lost pint in the earth) Stop By Lake Afdera ,Lake Afdera (also transliterated as Lake Afdera) is a hyper saline lake in northern Ethiopia. Located in Administrative Zone 2 of the Afar Region, it is one of the lakes of the Danakil Depression. According to its entry in Lakenet, it has a surface area of 100 km2 (39 sq. mi), although another source states the area is 12,500 hectares. An unconfirmed report gives its depth as 160 m (525 ft.); the lake is fed by underground streams. It is also known as Lake Gillette, the name Raimondo Franchetti bequeathed it, after the Italian explorer Giuseppe Maria Gillette who was slain by Afar southwest of the lake. Another name for this body of water is Lake Egogi (or Egogi Bad), which is the name L.M. Nesbitt's Afar guide gave it when the Italian explorer became the first European to see it in 1928, Further Drive to HamedEla , where you will pick up police scouts, road guides and permits for the Afar region. On this day, if we have a chance we will see the camel caravans along the way, carrying salt from the salt lake to Semra for sale. We will also walk in ale assle with beautiful sunset.  Overnight camping in HamedEla (Ahmed Ela)

Overnight Camping

Early in the morning, explore the Danakil Depression and The surroundings, Dallol, which at 116m below sea level is the lowest point on the African continent. Here the landscape is beautiful, the ground many shades of red and yellow from the hot water, acids and minerals spurting up from the ground. You will also visit Lake Asale, which is the salt lake from which the Afar nomads extract salt. You will witness (and even try) their laborious task of removing salt from the ground as hundreds of camels. After we visit the dallol depression drive to Erale the active volcano.  Drive to Dodom and Trek 15 kilometers to the Erta Ale volcano lake, 613 meters above sea level. Arrive at Erta Ale.  In the night walk to see the spectacular volcanic eruption. Back to the base camp and set up our camp.

Overnight Camping

Early in the Morning, desnade from the volcano and drive to semera to catch your flight to Addis Ababa. On the way we will stop by Lake Afdra hot springs and swim and relax. After lunch we will drive to Semerea to catch our flight to Addis Ababa.

Overnight hotel

Fly to Arbaminch, and pickup from the airport and transfer to your hotel, after an hour of relax in the hotel a short drive to the village of the Dorze tribe. Walk amongst the Dorze people and appreciate their beehive-shaped homes. This tribe is respected as expert weavers. Also, they are expert farmers and witness their ingenious terracing technique, allowing them to farm efficiently along the mountainside and yet prevent soil erosion. After lunch, enjoy a refreshing boat trip on Lake Chamo, home to huge crocodiles, hippos and a variety of bird-life.

Overnight hotel.

In the morning after breakfast enjoy a refreshing boat trip on Lake Chamo, home to huge crocodiles, hippos and a variety of bird-life. Keep drive deep in omo valley Ethiopia. Admire the omo valley landscape, on the way if market day you will meet many different tribes in the market.  Late afternoon arrive in turmi for your overnight stay.

Overnight lodge.

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.  In the afternoon we will visit hamer tribe village.

Overnight same lodge

Drive to Kenya border and cross Omo River to the dasnech tribes, The Daasanach tribe are found in the most southern part of the Omo Valley and have a population of around 20,000. They live at the point where the Omo River delta enters Lake Turkana, in fact their name means ‘People of the Delta’. They are primarily pastoral people, growing maize, beans, and pumpkins at the time of year when the delta floods. During dry seasons they rely on their cattle and goats for milk, meat, and hides. Their homes are dome-shaped, made from branches covered with hides with mats covering the floor, and they have their own unique language.  The lower class of the tribe are called Dies, and are the people who have lost their cattle and hence their livelihoods. Rather than living with the rest of the tribe, they live near Lake Turkana and find food by fishing or hunting crocodiles. Drive back to Turmi for lunch. After lunch, drive to Jinka at the foot of mago national park, the capital city of omo valley which is the small African and the center of lower omo valley people.

Overnight lodge

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. Back to jinka for lunch. After lunch visit the ari tribe village and the jinka ethnographical museum where you will get many insights and knowledge about the omo valley tribe. Overnight lodge.

Catch your flight back to Addis Ababa, Shopping and have a coffee ceremony, Late this evening enjoy a “farewell dinner” and coffee ceremony with Ethiopian traditional dance from different nations at a famous traditional Ethiopian restaurant. After sampling the various national dishes and enjoying an Ethiopian Folkloric dance and live Music from different nation, then transfer to the airport and fly back home.

End of The tour!