Omo Valley Tour -- 7 days 6 nights

Day 1:  Guests fly from Addis Ababa to Lalibela and are met at the airport. Lalibela is one of Ethiopia’s most sacred sites, with a network of 11 churches hewn into the bed rock. It was constructed in the late 12th century by King Lalibela. Previously it was known as Roha. Guests will arrive on the first available flight  and have a full day exploring the rock hewn churches of Lalibela. 

Day 2:  In the morning we begin our excursion to the beautiful cave church of Yemrhanne Kristos. Guests return in the afternoon to visit any remaining churches in Lalibela town including the most famous St. George's. 

Day 3:  Guests arrive in Arba Minch in the late afternoon. We take a short drive to visit the village of Dorze people; they are famous for their beehive bamboo houses and weaving skills. In their society, only the women do the spinning of the cotton, while only the men are allowed to weave the traditional cloth. 

Day 4:  After breakfast, we start the drive to Turmi via Kay Afer. On the way, you will visit a Konso village. Konso people are known for wearing colorful costumes and cultivating on steep terraced mountainside land. We also visit a traditional Konso three-story community house called Mora; all boys above 12 years old sleep there every night till they get marry. 

Day 5:  The day begins with a morning excursion to visit the Dassanech. We cross the Omo River to visit this indigenous tribe living close to the border with Kenya. We drive back to Turmi for lunch in the afternoon and visit a Hamer village. The Hamer are known for a bull jumping ceremony. This ceremony is a rite of passage for boys to become men. During the ceremony, you will see a Hamer traditional dance called Evangadi, as well as the family's women being whipped by the jumper’s friends to show he is ready for adulthood. There is never a guarantee to see a bull jumping ceremony as they are not scheduled. Everything will depend on when you book your tour. 

Day 6:  In the morning drive to visit the Karo tribe, known for their body painting. After lunch drive to Jinka on the way to visit the Bena tribe. Like most indigenous tribes in the Lower Omo Valley, the Bena practice ritual dancing and singing.  The men often have their hair dressed up with a colorful clay cap that is decorated with feathers.  Both the men and women wear long garments and paint their bodies with white chalk. Women of the tribe wear beads in their hair that are held together with butter. 

Day 7:  After a relaxed breakfast, we drive to Jinka. Jinka is the biggest town in the Omo Valley region. In the afternoon guests visit the Ethnological Museum of Jinka. 

Day 8:  We take a day trip to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe. The women are known for the large clay discs they insert in their lower lip, while the men are known for being warriors. They often have a stick fighting ceremony called Donga. In the afternoon guests fly to Addis Ababa from Jinka, and have leisure time before their flights home.