Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer by road to Gondar.

Emperor Fasiladas founded Gondar as his imperial seat in 1636 and, until the 19th century, the city was the capital and main commercial center of the region.

Lunch at the local Four Sisters restaurant.

After lunch, visit the Royal Enclosure, or Fasil Gibbi, and the six castles built by the various emperors who ruled Gondar. 2 km from the city center are the baths of King Fasilidas where, during Timkat (Epiphany in Ethiopia), a nearby river is diverted to fill an area the size of a small pool. Worshipers and pilgrims plunge into the cold water in a re-enactment of the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River. Next, visit the Debre Berhane Selassie Church, the only church to have survived the Mahdist invasion in the 1880s. According to legend, a swarm of bees drove away the invaders who wanted to loot the church. The walls and ceiling of this church are completely covered with murals – the faces of angels on the ceiling have become a common motif in Ethiopian design.

Dinner and overnight at Gondar Hills Resort

Breakfast at the hotel and departure towards the Simien mountains.

Arrival and lunch at the lodge.

In the afternoon we will go by vehicle to the Sankaber sector of the park, with the option of taking an easy walk of adaptable duration, to appreciate the landscapes and fauna of the park. In the afternoon, return to the lodge

Dinner and overnight at Simien Lodge.

Breakfast and departure very early in the morning (ideally at 6:00), in the direction of Lalibela.

Today’s trip runs along a paved road, and crosses one of the most spectacular mountainous landscapes in the country.

After passing through Gondar, a stop will be made to visit the village of Awra Amba, an Ethiopian community of approximately 450 people. It was founded in 1980 with the aim of solving socio-economic problems through mutual aid and equality between women and men, in stark contrast to the traditional norms of Amhara society. Founded by Zumra Nuru, who currently serves as co-chair of the community, along with 19 others who shared her vision, Awra Amba is hailed as a model of economic and social organization to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality in a country where women are generally subservient to men.

Lunch at a local restaurant on the route.

The journey to Lalibela continues through spectacular mountain scenery.

Before arriving in Lalibela, if time permits, we will make a stop to visit the Nakuta Laab Monastery, built inside a large cave, which houses important religious and historical treasures.

Dinner and accommodation at Mezena Lodge

Breakfast at the hotel

Between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century, King Lalibela, of the Zaghwe dynasty, ordered the construction of a series of churches carved into the rock, calling the place “New Jerusalem”. Today, Lalibela is deservedly recognized as one of the greatest wonders of the world. In the town, named in memory of the emperor, there are 11 churches, while other rock-hewn churches are in the vicinity. All are in use today.

A visit to the first group of churches in Lalibela is scheduled for today morning; Bet Golgotha, Bet Mikael, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, Bet Denagel and Bet Medhane Alem. The latter, the largest, resembles a Greek temple. On one corner are three empty tombs, symbolically dug for the Biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In the late afternoon, visit Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant church of all, accessible only through a tunnel.

Being Saturday, we will visit the weekly market of Lalibela.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon you will visit the second group of churches in Lalibela, located south of the Jordan River. Which includes the churches of Bete Emanuel, Bete Mercurios, Bete Abba Libanos and Bet Gabriel-Rufa’e.

Finally, visit a traditional house of a local family to witness the Ethiopian coffee preparation ceremony.

Dinner and accommodation at Mezena Lodge

As it is a Sunday, it will be possible to attend the Sunday mass inside the Medhane Alem church, which begins at 06:00 and lasts until approximately 08:30. Pilgrims and residents of Lalibela attend this mass, and it is probably the best opportunity of the trip to experience the fervor of the Ethiopian faithful. 

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, departure by road in the direction of Dessie, via the town of Woldia. On the way you will stop to explore the Hayk Lake area, where you can visit the local monastery and enjoy the birdlife of the area. Hayq Lake, or Haik, is a freshwater lake located north of Dessie, in the Debub Wollo area of the Amhara region, and is 6.7 km long, 6 km wide, and has an area of 23 km².

Lunch at local hotel in Weldiya 

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Leul Mekonnen

Breakfast at the hotel.

The first part of the day will be dedicated to visiting the spectacular weekly market in the town of Bati (40 km, 1 hour), which is only held on Mondays. This exotic market is considered the largest in the country, and its particularity lies in the wide spectrum of cultures and ethnic groups that come together every week, including members of the Afar ethnic group, inhabitants of the area known as the Danakil depression. The Afar are famous for their strong personality, fierceness, and the use of large camel caravans to transport and trade the salt extracted from the salt flats in the interior of the Danakil region and which they exchange in Bati for food and all kinds of food and artifacts. of first necesity. Along with the Afar, you can find members of other ethnic groups, such as the Oromia, the largest group in the country, and the Amhara, inhabitants of the mountains in the center of the country, and even citizens of neighboring Djibouti. In this huge market there are sections specially dedicated to the sale and purchase of animals (cows, sheep, goats, donkeys and camels), fruits, vegetables, fabrics, kitchen utensils, “chat” and all kinds of handicrafts.

Picnic lunch, or at a local restaurant in Bati.

Later, transfer by road to the city of Semera (160 km, 3 hours), where permits are processed to enter the region of the Danakil Depression.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel LEVA Afar Semera

Breakfast at the hotel

Departure towards Lake Afrera, at the southern end of the Danakil Depression. Surrounded by a landscape dominated by volcanic lava, the trip takes about 5 hours on an irregular track. Arrival at the lake area, and excursion to the salt extraction area. The Afrera salt-lake, measuring 100 square kilometers and located about 102 meters below sea level, is the place where the Afar collect the salt slabs, using the traditional method, as well as the home of the island located low in the world, the island of Frachetti.

Picnic lunch

Then drive in the direction of the Erta Ale volcano. After a little more than three hours by car through an unstable path, a mixture of lava and sand, arrival at Dodom, the base camp of the volcano. Early dinner at the camp. After a rest, during which the camels are loaded and attempts are made to avoid the hottest hours of the day, the ascent to the Erta Ale volcano begins. The gentle hike to the rim of the volcano’s caldera takes about three hours through interesting lava formations. From the crater lip you can see the impressive spectacle of this active crater containing a lake of boiling lava.

Free camping night in the vicinity of the volcano crater

In the morning there will be time to continue enjoying the fantastic natural spectacle. Descent of the volcano (10 km, 4 hours).

Later, we will drive to Hamedela, which takes about four hours by car. Hamedela, with about 500 inhabitants of the Afar ethnic group, is the only proper town located in this desert. All the caravans that enter the area must pass through here, to pay the taxes for the extraction of salt, and therefore it is the best place to observe the camel drivers and long caravans of several hundred camels.

Picnic lunch.

Next, excursion to the Dallol depression. On the way you can enjoy views of small mountains belonging to the Erta Ale massif, and colorful thermal waters made up of different minerals that, together with sulphides and potash, create spectacular colors. Dallol is known worldwide for being the hottest place on Earth; between 1960 and 1966 an average annual temperature of 34°C was recorded. Long caravans of camels carrying salt are likely to be seen again along the way. Finally return to our camp in Hamedela.

Dinner and camping.

Breakfast at the camp

Beginning of the transfer, through sandy tracks, in the direction of Semera.

The journey, about eight hours, offers us the last opportunity to observe the camel caravans of the Afar tribe. It is estimated that more than a million camels pass through this route every year.

Picnic lunch.

Arrival in Semera and direct transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Addis Ababa.

Dinner and overnight at Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to the airport to catch an early flight to Jinka. 

Arrival and direct transfer to Mago National Park (40 km, 1 hour), where it is possible to observe animals such as the push-back, dik dik, baboons and colobus monkeys. Continue to the Mursi tribe (60 km, 1½ hours) known for their body scarification and the use of lip plates among their women. The Mursi are one of the most eccentric and original branches of the original peoples of Ethiopia, known as the Nara Surma.

Lunch at Jinka’s lodge

In the afternoon, departure towards Turmi (120 km, 3 hours).

Dinner and overnight at Lodge Paradise Turmi

Breakfast at the lodge, and departure to the town of Omorate, about 70 kilometers from Turmi (1 hour), where we will cross the Omo River by canoe to visit the Dasenech villages, belonging to the Galeb tribe. These tribes are the southernmost in the country, and are known for their skin scarification.

After the visit, return to Turmi and lunch at the lodge.

In the afternoon, transfer to the town of Muruelle, from where you will visit the Duss village of the Karo tribe (only about 1,500 members), the smallest group in the Omo Valley. They are related to the Hamers and, like them, are specialists in the art of body painting for special celebrations. They use chalk, mostly white, and then paint on their face and body, and use some white feathers as a headdress, and have scarifications all over their bodies. From the Korcho village you can also enjoy a spectacular view over the Omo River. Finally, return to Turmi.

Dinner and overnight Lodge Paradise Turmi

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure to Jinka (120 km, 3 hours).

On the way there will be a stop to visit a village of the Hamer tribe.

The Hamers are a strongly built, attractive people, where women and men alike take pride in and take care of their appearance. They usually dye their hair with colors, moisturize their skin with oils, and decorate their bodies with necklaces and bracelets on their arms and legs. After the visit, transfer to Jinka (120 km, 4 hours)

Lunch at Jinka’s lodge.

In the afternoon, visit the daily market of Jinka, which is very colorful, and visited mainly by the Aari, the predominant tribe in this area. We can also visit the Jinka Ethnographic Museum.

Dinner and overnight at EcoOmo Lodge

Breakfast at the lodge and transfer to Jinka airport to take flight to Addis Ababa.

Arrival in Addis Ababa, registration at the hotel for day use of the room at Magnolia Hotel

Free afternoon to rest (the car and the guide will be available to make a purchase or last visit).

From 7:30 p.m., farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Finally, transfer to the airport to take the return flight.

NOTE:
In case that day there wasn’t a flight from Jinka to Addis Abeba, the group could drive to Arba Minch (275 km, 5-6 hours) to catch the afternoon daily fight ET134 15:45-16:55. In this case, lunch would be a picnic lunch organized at the hotel in Jinka or Arba Minch.

Note:Driving hours are for reference, and will largely depend on the number and duration of stops requested by passengers during the route.