01. THU. Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the chosen hotel. Have a free morning. Afternoon (1400 hrs from the hotel) tour of the capital: visit Entoto mountain with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church and the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Meals free. ON (overnight) hotel

02. FRI. Drive to Tiya steles, then proceed to the Rift Valley lakes of Zway & Langano, for relax, very nice views & many birds. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel in Langano

03. SAT. Drive to the Arbaminch & visit a Wolayta people village on the way. Afternoon drive to Chencha mountain to visit the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses and traditions. The Dorze are famous for their elephant truck shaped houses, their cultivation of the false banana (from which root they extract their traditional bread called Kotcho), the weaving works, cultivation of sorghum and more. If time permits visit also their Saturday’s market. Meals & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

04. Drive to Turmi, admiring on the way the Konso, Tsemay, Erbore & Hamer people and visit of Erbore people village. Visit a Konso people village, famous for their traditions and also being the first in Africa to start the terracing agriculture. Is also a UNESCO heritage site. Late afternoon visit the colorful Hamer people and a village. Have lunch on the way. Dinner & ON Emerald lodge Turmi www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

05. MON. Morning drive to Omorate, at bank of Omo river, to visit the Dassanech people villages and culture, with very interesting ornaments & traditions. Back then to Turmi & visit the very colorful Hamer, Karo and Tsemay people market. Afternoon visit the Hamer people and their villages. After the market, with luck we’ll try also to participate to ceremonies as the bull jumping and the Evangadi dances. The Hamar are known for their unique custom of “bull jumping,” which initiates a boy into manhood. First, female relatives dance and invite whipping from men who have recently been initiated; this shows their support of the initiate, and their scars give them a right to demand his help in time of need. The boy must run back and forth twice across the backs of a row of bulls or castrated steers, and is ridiculed if he fails. Have meals & ON Emerald lodge Turmi www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

06. Morning drive about 1 hr to visit the Karo people, for their very interesting decoration and scarification all over their body. From Kortcho village you’ll enjoy also a spectacular view over the Omo river. Afternoon free for the Hamer people and villages. Have meals & ON Emerald lodge Turmi www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

07. Drive to Jinka town; then enter into the Mago National park and admiring different mammals and birds on the way, drive to visit the Mursi people and their villages. Here for beauty women use to put round plates into their lips and men different scarifications all over their body. Finaly drive back to Jinka and if time permits visit the Ethnological museum. Have lunch box; dinner & ON hotel in Jinka.

08. THU. Visit one Ari people village with very interesting traditions. Later drive to visit the colorful Tsemay & Erbore people market at KeyAfer village. After the market’s visit, proceed to Arbaminch. Have lunch on the way. Dinner & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

09. Morning boat excursion on Chamo lake to admire the biggest crocodiles in Africa (reach 6 meters of length), hippos and birds. Afternoon free enjoying the facilities at the Emerald Resort Arbaminch & relax. Meals & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

10. SAT. Drive or fly back to Addis Ababa (cost of the flight is to be added on the price; inform us of your choice during the booking). Late afternoon time for final visits or souvenir shops. Dinner invited by the Green Land Tours & Hotels in a traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Transfer then to the airport for departure.

01. SAT. Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the chosen hotel. Have a free morning. Afternoon (1400 hrs from the hotel) tour of the capital: visit Entoto mountain with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church and the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Meals free. ON (overnight) hotel

02. SUN. Drive to visit the Tiya steles. Proceed then to Arbaminch (in amharic meaning forty springs) visiting Guraghe + Wolayta people villages and through spectacular green hills. Have lunch on the way. Dinner & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

03. MON. Morning drive to Chencha mountain to visit the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses and traditions. Afternoon boat trip on Chamo lake, to visit the biggest crocodiles in Africa (reach till 6 meter lenght), hippos, birds & a very nice sunset. Meals & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

04. TUE. Drive to the Konso people villages, which are famous for being the first in Africa to start the terracing agriculture. Visit a Konso people village, unique traditions & culture: is also registered as UNESCO heritage. Proceed then to the Weyto valley visiting Tsemay people on the way & spectacular views. Reach so on time for the weekly Hamer, Tsemay & Karo people market at Alduba village. After the market visit, proceed to Turmi, to visit the very colorful Hamer people villages. Lunch box on the way; dinner & ON Emerald lodge Turmi www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

05. Morning drive to the Karo people to visit their villages and culture. Visit the Kortcho village with spectacular views over the Omo river. Afternoon walk to visit a Hamer people village and have time with the very interesting Hamer people. If we get information of the bull jumping ceremony happening we can visit this, with the bull jumping & Evangadi dances ceremonies. The Hamar are known for their unique custom of “bull jumping,” which initiates a boy into manhood. First, female relatives dance and invite whipping from men who have recently been initiated; this shows their support of the initiate, and their scars give them a right to demand his help in time of need. The boy must run back and forth twice across the backs of a row of bulls or castrated steers, and is ridiculed if he fails. Meals & ON Emerald lodge Turmi www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

06. THU. Morning drive to Omorate, at bank of Omo river, to visit the Dassanech people and villages. After their visit drive to KeyAfer village to visit the colorful weekly Tsemay and Erbore people market. Continue then to Jinka. Lunch box; dinner & ON hotel in Jinka

07. Enter into the Mago National park and admiring different mammals and birds on the way, drive to visit the Mursi people and their villages. Here for beauty women use to put round plates into their lips. Men different scarifications all over their body. After the visit, drive back to Jinka town & proceed to Arbaminch. Have lunch box on the way. Dinner & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch www.emeraldresortandlodge.com

08. SAT. Drive or fly back to Addis Ababa (cost of the flight is to be added on the price; inform us of your choice during the booking). Late afternoon time for final visits or souvenir shops. Dinner invited by the Green Land Tours & Hotels in a traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Transfer then to the airport for departure.

01. SUN. Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the chosen hotel. Have a free morning. Afternoon (1400 hrs from the hotel) tour of the capital: visit Entoto mountain with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church and the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Meals free. ON (overnight) hotel.

02. Fly to Bahirdar. Morning drive to visit the Blue Nile falls (it takes about 1 hour drive and then 15 minutes walk). Admire these spectacular falls. Afternoon make a boat excursion on lake Tana to visit the monasteries over its islands, as Ura Kidane Mehret and Asua Mariam.
Dinner & ON hotel in Bahirdar

03. Morning drive to Gondar. It takes about 2 hrs driving, visit on the way very nice landscapes, lake Tana and Amhara people villages. Afternoon visit the castles, King Fasiladas bath, the Debre Birhan Selasie church (light of Trinity) with wonderful murals and Empress Mentewab palace. Dinner & ON hotel in Gondar

04. Drive to the Semien mountains, for a very interesting full day excursion: admire spectacular views and with the chance to spot endemic animals as the Lammergeyer, the Gelada baboons, the Walya Ibex and more. Dinner and ON lodge in the park

05. Drive to Axum, admiring very nice views over the Semien mountains and visiting Tigray people villages and culture. Dinner & ON hotel in Axum

06. Morning in Axum: visit the steles, St Mary of Tsion church (where legend says the Ark of Covenant is deposited), the bath & palace of Queen of Sheba. Afternoon drive to Wikro or Hawsen. On the way visit the Yeha pre-Christian temple and DebreDamo monastery (where to reach the monastery men have to climb 16 meters by ropes). Dinner & ON hotel at Wikro or Hawsen

07. Full day visit of the very interesting Tigray region churches, with also spectacular views. Visit Micael Imba, Debre Selam Atsbi and Micael Barka churches. Dinner & ON hotel in Mekele

08. Drive to Lalibela, admiring very nice views. Dinner & ON hotel

09. Full day visit of the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, defined as the 8th wonder in the world. Churches built in the 12th century; the African Jerusalem. And late afternoon take part of the coffee ceremony in a traditional house or the hotel. Dinner & ON at your hotel

10. Fly to Addis Ababa; have your free afternoon for shopping, souvenir shops and relax. We offer a visit at artist Vittorio Morello show room too. Lunch free. Dinner invited in a traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Then transfer airport for departure

01. SAT. Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the chosen hotel. Have a free morning. Afternoon (1400 hrs from the hotel) tour of the capital: visit Entoto mountain with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church and the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Meals free. ON (overnight) hotel.

02. Drive to Bahirdar crossing very nice views. Visit on the way the Jemma river gorge, with the chance to spot endemic Gelada baboons, and visit the Debre Libanos monastery and the Portuguese bridge. Proceed then to Bahirdar crossing the Blue Nile river gorge, to reach late afternoon. Dinner and ON hotel

03. Morning drive to visit the Blue Nile falls (it takes about 1 hour drive and then 15 minutes walk). Admire these spectacular falls. Late morning drive back to Bahirdar. Afternoon make a boat excursion on lake Tana to visit the monasteries over its islands, as Ura Kidane Mehret and Asua Mariam. Dinner & ON hotel in Bahirdar.

04. Morning drive to Gondar. It takes about 2 hrs driving, visit on the way very nice landscapes, lake Tana and Amhara people villages. Afternoon visit the castles, the Debre Birhan Sellasie church (light of Trinity) with wonderful murals, King Fasiladas bath and Empress Mentewab palace. Dinner & ON hotel in Gondar.

05. Drive to Lalibela, admiring very nice views. Before reaching Lalibela have a stop to visit the Naktuleab cave church. Dinner & ON hotel in Lalibela.

06. Full day to visit the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela and late afternoon have a coffee ceremony in a traditional house. Dinner & ON hotel

07. Drive to Hayk lake and visit the DebreEstifanos church over the island. Then proceed to Kombolcha & Dessie. Dinner & ON hotel in Dessie.

08. SAT. Drive back to Addis Ababa. Have day use room. Dinner invited in a traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Transfer then to the airport for departure

1) HISTORIC ROUTE 7 days

01. SAT. Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the chosen hotel. Have a free morning. Afternoon (1400 hrs from the hotel) tour of the capital: visit Entoto mountain with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church and the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Meals free. ON (overnight) hotel.

02. Fly to Bahirdar. Morning drive to visit the Blue Nile falls (it takes about 1 hour drive and then 15 minutes’ walk). Admire these spectacular falls. Afternoon make a boat excursion on lake Tana to visit the monasteries over its islands, as Ura Kidane Mehret and Asua Mariam.
Dinner & ON hotel in Bahirdar.

03. Morning drive to Gondar. It takes about 2 hrs driving, visit on the way very nice landscapes, lake Tana and Amhara people villages. Afternoon visit the castles, the Debre Birhan Sellasie church (light of Trinity) with wonderful murals, King Fasiladas bath and Empress Mentewab palace. Dinner & ON hotel in Gondar.

04. Fly to Lalibela. Transfer hotel. Afternoon visit the rock-hewn churches, defined as the 8th wonder in the world. Dinner & ON hotel

05. Morning drive to visit Naktuleab cave church. Or you can choose to walk (or with mules) to the Asheten Mariam church, with spectacular views too. Afternoon visit the remaining churches in town. And then take part of the coffee ceremony (the coffee ceremony in an important part of Ethiopian culture). Dinner & ON (overnight) hotel

06. Fly to Axum. Visit the steles, St Mary of Tsion church (where legend says the Ark of Covenant is deposited), the bath & palace of Queen of Sheba, and more. Dinner & ON hotel

07. FRI. Fly to Addis. Have day use room. Dinner invited in a traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Transfer then to the airport for departure