Itinerary > Ethiopia > Ethiopia Historical and Cultural Holidays
IT05- Ethiopia the best: North, East & South - 16 nights
An adventurous itinerary offering a full spectrum of what Ethiopia has to offer. This itinerary encompasses the historical route in the North, Harar in the East and the cultural South. A hard going trip not for the faint hearted as the roads are shocking (particular in the South) and accommodation is very basic.
Itinerary: 16 nights
- DAY 1: Addis Ababa
Arrival in Addis Ababa. On arrival you will be met by our English speaking agents and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel. After breakfast do a city tour of Addis Ababa. Overnight stay at the Sheraton Hotel.
Sheraton Hotel *****
The Sheraton combines Ethiopia's richest cultural elements and traditions with international and neo-classical architecture. The Sheraton offers upscale banquet and conference facilities for up to 1,500 guests. The hotel has a full business centre offering secretarial services, computer services, and e-mail and fax facilities. Conveniently close to the capitals key attractions and historic sites. The United Nations Centre is just 5 km from the hotel, and 7 km to Bole International Airport...
The hotel offers 293 deluxe guest rooms - including 33 suites, 20 classic suites, nine junior suites, and four luxurious executive suites. For added convenience, each room features a private safe and 24-hour room service. All rooms have: fax machines, air conditioning, private balcony, Hairdryer, Handicap Accessible Room, Data Port, and DVD/CD Player
Come and discover The Aqua Club, a recreational facility which includes outdoor swimming pools featuring underwater music, sauna, massage, and Jacuzzi, outdoor heated pool and massage treatments, outdoor children's pool.
The hotel also offers a car rental service and computer rental.
Some of the services and facilities above may not be available on a 24-hour basis or without advance request. Fees on certain facilities/services may apply. Some of the amenities above may not be available in all rooms. Fees on certain amenities/services may apply.
- DAY 2: Addis Ababa - Dire Dawa - Harar
Fly from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa. On arrival you will be met by our agent and driven to Harar. The walled city of Harar was founded in the 7th century and is one of the country's oldest cities. After having checked into your hotel, take a stroll through the ancient twisted streets between tall balconied houses, absorbing the customs and visit the colourful Shoa Gate Market, the Adre-houses, and the National Museum of Harar and the House of the French Poet Arthur Rimbaud. In the evening view the city's unique attraction: the Hyena Men who make their living by collecting offal and bones, which they feed to the hyenas who live in the surrounding hills and answer to their names. Overnight stay at the Belayneh Hotel (full board).
Belayneh Hotel *
Popular because of its location near the old town of Harar and easily picked out by the parasols on the roof. Large rooms with ensuite bathrooms with hot/cold shower (hot water not guaranteed)
- DAY 3: Harar - Dire Dawa - Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar
After break fast, drive from Harar to Dire Dawa, en route visit the "chat" Kat Market at Awedai and proceed to Dire Dawa in time to check in for your flight to Addis Ababa and then check in for your connecting flight to Bahir Dar is situated on lovely Lake Tana. On 20 of this lake's 27 islands, there are monasteries. Great birding to be had in the lush forest surrounding much of the lake. Later in the afternoon, city tour of Bahir Dar. Overnight stay at the Tana Hotel (full board)
Tana Hotel **
This Ghion government hotel lies on the lake shore a couple of kilometres out of town. Its grounds are thickly wooded and home to a rich variety of birds. Rooms are with bathroom ensuite shower. The Tana Hotel has hot water for a few hours in the morning and in the evening only.
- DAY 4: Bahir Dar
Full day in Bahir Dar. After breakfast, an excursion to the Blue Nile Falls, not far from the source of the mighty Blue Nile River. Along the walk to the falls, birding is excellent. Afterwards, you will be taken across the river by 'tankwa', the traditional papyrus boats. After lunch at the hotel, boat trip on Lake Tana to the Church of Ura-Kidane-Mihiret and Azua Mariam. Overnight stay at the Tana Hotel (full board)
A special note: Unfortunate consequences of a recent hydroelectric development have led tothe virtual disappearance of the Blue Nile Falls. As well as destroying the beauty of the falls the project is likely to have severe long-term effects on both the plant and bird life of the region. While at this stage the bird and plant life is still spectacular, visitors need to be aware that the falls are not what they once were. At this stage, when electrical demand is low and in rainy season, the diversion through the hydroelectric plant is switch off for several hours at the time allowing the falls to resume some of their former glory.
- DAY 5: Bahir Dar - Gondar
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Gondar. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Goha Hotel. Balance of the day, visit the Royal Compound, where enchanting 17th century castles stand, the bath of King Fasil and the Church of Debre-Brehanselassie. Overnight stay at the Goha Hotel (full Board).
Goha Hotel ***
This 64 room hotel is perched on top of a hill with great views over the city. Goha Hotel is also part of the Ghion Hotel chain. Large veranda great for sundowners.
- DAY 6: Gondar - Lalibela
After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. This is the most important stop on the historical route and even from the air; the 11 rock-hewn churches carved into the rugged mountainside present an awesome spectacle. Balance of the day, excursion to the spectacular churches. No-one is quite sure how these churches were built. Legend has it that King Lalibela received divine instruction in a dream, after which construction commenced and that Angels completed the work by night. Overnight stay at the Roha hotel (Full Board).
Roha Hotel **
The Roha hotel (another Ghion hotel chain) is situated about 2 km from the centre of town and the main cluster of churches. There are 64 basic rooms with ensuite bathrooms, but there is only hot water during specified hours - just check with reception when booking in.
- DAY 7: Lalibela - Addis Ababa
In the morning visit the remaining churches which have not been visited on the first day and if time allows, take an excursion to the Church of Neakuto Leab. After lunch, transfer to the airport and fly to Addis Ababa. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at the Sheraton Hotel (Bed and Breakfast).
- DAY 8: Addis Ababa - Arbaminch
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arbaminch (meaning 40 springs) and transfer to the Swaynes Hotel. After check-in, drive to the Dorze-village at Chencha where you can visit the unique beehive shaped houses and the traditional Cotton weaving centre, offering items on display and for sale on the roadside. Overnight night stay at the Swaynes Hotel(Full board).
Swaynes Hotel ***
Swaynes Hotel adopted its name from the endemic Swayne's hartebeest. It boasts a spectacular hilltop setting overlooking the forest of Netch Sar National Park and two lakes in the Rift Valley basin (Chamo and Abaya). The hotel is not only an ideal base for excursions, it is also the gateway to remote southern villages, unspoiled cultures, lifestyles, artefacts and ceremonies, and to the magnificent Omo Valley with its scenery and ecologically diverse conservation areas including Mago and Omo National Parks.
The hotel has 40 rooms all furnished with artistically designed Dorze furniture. The outside of the bungalows is bamboo, resembling the Dorze houses with their very high roofs up to 12m. They are covered with intersecting bamboo and the roof is thatched with leaves from the false banana tree or 'enset.' The design in front resembles an elephant trunk, a typical Dorze style. There is a restaurant offering lovely food plus an inside/ outside bar.
- DAY 9: Arbaminch - Turmi
Drive from Arbaminch to Turmi via Konso and Woyito. On the way, at Berhaile/Woyito, you will see the friendly Tsemai Tribe. Lunch at Woyito. After lunch, proceed to Turmi, visiting on the way the wonderful Er-bore tribes. Camping at Turmi (Full board).
- DAY 10: Turmi - Murule
After breakfast, visit the colourful Monday Market of the Hammer Tribe at Turmi; then, proceed to Murule. Camping at Murule (Full board).
The Hammer are a handsome, photogenic and friendly tribe. The Karo and The Hammer are related in culture and they are the only people in the Omo Valley who are allowed to inter-marry between the two tribes. Like all small ethnic groups in the far South Omo area, they practice a combination of pastoralism which is the artistic treatment of rural life. The main part of their life and economy is based on cattle herding and great wealth is measured by the number of cattle. These tribes are famous for their hair styles, body painting and if you are lucky it may be possible to see the amazing "Bull-Jumping" done by young men qualifying for marriage.
- DAY 11: Murule - Mago National Park
Drive from Murule to Mago National Park. On the way visit the Karo Tribes. East of the Omo River and stretching south towards the Chew Bahir basin lies the Mago National Park, rich in wildlife and very few inhabitants. The vegetation is mainly savannah grassland and bush, extending across an area of 2,160 square kilometres. Mammal species total 81, including Hartebeest, Giraffe, Roan Antelope, Elephant, Lion, Leopard and perhaps even a rare black Rhino. Camping at Mago Park (Full board).
- DAY 12: Mago National Park - Jinka
In the morning, drive from Mago National Park to the Mursi Village. The Mursi Tribe is the one tribe in Southern Ethiopia where the ladies mutilate their lips as a sign of beauty. This is a great opportunity to take photographs (for a fee) and then drive to Jinka. Overnight stay at Jinka resort (Full board).
Jinka Resort **
The lodge lies in large green grounds a short distance from the town centre next to a garage. The basic but comfortable rooms have ensuite bathrooms with hot/cold showers. The restaurant serves a selection of western and local dishes.
- DAY 13: Jinka to Konso Village
Drive from Jinka to Konso. The Konso were the first people in Ethiopia to practice agriculture and their way of life & house construction is one of a kind. The landscape and position of houses from a distance are magnificent. On arrival, visit the Konso Village and the house of King of Konso. O/n camping in tents or local Hotel (very basic)(Full board).
- DAY 14: Konso Village - Arbaminch
After breakfast, drive to Arbaminch. Lunch at the hotel and in the afternoon take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to see the numerous Crocodiles and in particular the Crocodile named' Market'. Other animals to see are Hippopotami and birds. The fishing is renowned here for Nile perch, Tilapia and Tiger fish. Overnight stay at the Swaynes Hotel (full board).
- DAY 15: Arbaminch
Drive to the Nechisar National Park where you will see the, Black Backed Jackal, Secretary Bird, the endemic Swayne's Hartebeest, Burchell's Zebra, Klipspringers, Olive Baboons, black and white Abyssinian Colobus Monkeys and more. Nechisar National Park has registered sightings of more than 380 bird species. Among these are the Kori Bustard, the African Fish Eagle, the endemic Thick-Billed Raven, and the Black-Headed Forest Oriole. Balance of the day, free to relax. Overnight stay at the Swaynes Hotel (Full board).
- DAY 16: Arbaminch - Addis Ababa
Fly from Arbaminch to Addis Ababa. Balance of the day, city tour of Addis Ababa. O/n Sheraton Hotel (Bed and breakfast).
- DAY 17: Flight out
Transfer to the airport for your flight out.
Prices include:
International (ex Johannesburg) and domestic flights with Ethiopian airlines, hotel accommodation and meals as indicated, meet and greet on day of arrival and all airport-hotel transfers, all accommodation, full board throughout the tour, all excursions to sites of interest as per itinerary, English speaking guides for all the historical places and entrance fees for all sites.
Not included:
Visa fees, drinks, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance, airport taxes.
Below is an approximate price per person sharing (October 2008):
- ex Johannesburg USD 6948 EUR 5350
ex Addis Ababa USD 6568 EUR 5058
International based travel agents, tour operators and residents click here for an accurate online quote.
