Discover the wonders of Ethiopia with our comprehensive 18-day tour, a journey through the nation’s rich history, diverse cultures, and stunning natural landscapes.
From the historic Gondar and Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches to the breathtaking Simien Mountains and the culturally vibrant Omo Valley, this Ethiopia tour offers an all-encompassing Ethiopian experience.
Ideal for travelers seeking to explore the depth and breadth of Ethiopia’s heritage and natural beauty.
18-Day Ethiopia Tour Highlights
- Day 1. Bahir Dar
- Day 2. Drive to Gondar (Camelot of Africa)
- Day 3. Explore Simien Mountains National Park
- Day 4. Simien Mountains National Park
- Day 5. Drive to Lalibela (Eight Wonders of the World)
- Day 6. Visit of Lalibela Churches Fly to Addis
- Day 7. Flight to Semera – Dallol
- Day 8. Drive to Erta’ale Volcano
- Day 9. Drive Erta Ale – Semera Fly to Addis
- Day 10. Fly To Arbaminch And Visit The Dorze Tribe
- Day 11. Drive to Turmi Visit Konso and Hammer Tribe
- Day 12. Drive To Omorate Visit Dassenech And Karo In the Afternoon
- Day 13. Drive to Jinka
- Day 14. Discover The Mursi Tribe Drive to Arbaminch
- Day 15. Drive to Awassa
- Day 16. Drive to the Bale Mountains
- Day 17. Bale Mountains Sanneti Plateau and Harenna Forest
- Day 18. Return Back to Addis
Detailed 18-Day Ethiopia Tour Itinerary
Day 1. Bahir Dar
Take a quick internal flight in the morning to Bahir Dar.
Surrounded by 37 islands, most of which are monasteries from the 14th and 19th centuries, Bahir Dar is situated on the edge of Lake Tana, the largest lake in the country.
Mediterranean-style weather prevails in Bahir Dar.
The streets of Bahir Dar are adorned with palm trees, making it one of Africa’s most picturesque cities.
This city serves as the regional capital for the Amhara people.
It takes us about an hour to reach the small village of Tissisat after we arrive.
We stroll slowly here in the fresher morning air.
Upon traversing the Nile via the Portuguese Bridge, which dates back to the 17th century, we get to know the locals as we stroll towards the falls.
After seeing the falls, we cross the Nile in a little boat to reach our waiting vehicle.
The afternoon boat ride across Lake Tana takes us to the Zeghie peninsula.
After taking a brief walk around the peninsula, we visit two 14th-century monasteries, Azwa Mariam and UraKidaneMehret.
The two monasteries have Ethiopian Orthodox Church architectural features, such as their circular architecture, mud walls, and conical straw roofs.
There are Columbus Baboons and several bird species living in Zeghie’s forest.
Hotel Stay for the Night.
Day 2. Drive to Gondar (Camelot of Africa)
We travel the final 185 kilometers through the breathtaking Amhara region to Gondar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Many Ethiopian emperors resided in Gondar during the 17th and 18th century.
The village is the gateway to the Simien Mountains.
The well-known castles in the town will be shown to us; these were built as numerous mansions for the kings’ families by their predecessors.
After lunch we’ll take a tour of the town’s well-known castles, where past kings built numerous mansions for themselves and their families.
We will next go to the location of the annual Timkat Fest, King Fasilidas’ bath. Timkat is an annual celebration of Jesus Christ’s baptism that is one of Ethiopia’s most well-known holidays.
To cap the day, we go to the DebreBerhan Selassie church, which is well known for its beautiful ceiling paintings.
Eventually, Ethiopian art was associated with the angelic face motif.
Hotel Stay for the Night.
Day 3. Explore Simien Mountains National Park
After breakfast, take a car trip to the UNESCO-designated Simien Mountains.
The route between Gondar and Debark offers plenty of picturesque driving opportunities.
Many endemic birds, such as the Wattled Ibis and Thick-billed Raven, as well as the critically endangered Ethiopian Gelada Baboon, can be found in the Simien Mountains.
Apart from its breathtaking scenery and plethora of wildlife, the park is highly recognized for its Afro-montane forest, Hypericum woodland, Afro-montane grassland, and Afro-alpine moorland, which is dominated by giant lobelias.
We will go on a short hike through the beautiful Simien Mountains in order to find the endemic Gelada Baboons.
Gelada Baboons, sometimes called “lion-monkeys” or “bleeding heart baboons,” are indigenous to Ethiopia and can still be found in great numbers in the Simien Mountains for reasons that will soon become evident to all.
Spend the night in Gondar after returning there.
Stay the night at the hotel.
Day 4. Simien Mountains National Park
Start the day by exploring the other sections of the magnificent Simien Mountains National Park.
Their deep valleys and sharp peaks make these mountains a sight to behold.
We shall now proceed to Chenek Camp, the residence of the Ethiopian Wolf and the Walia Ibex.
Spend the night in Gondar and retrace your steps.
Have a hotel stay for the night.
Day 5. Drive to Lalibela (Eight Wonders of the World)
After breakfast in the morning, travel through the picturesque Northern region to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Lalibela.
Because of its eight globally recognized rock-hewn churches, which are literally praised from the rock in which they stand, Lalibela is frequently referred to as “The New Jerusalem”.
Both in scale and concept, these monumental constructions seem to have been created by superhuman craftsmanship.
If time allows, start touring the remarkable king Lalibela’s hewn churches.
See the churches at Bet Abba Libanos, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Gabriel-Rufael in the southeast.
Go to the hotel for the night.
Day 6. Visit of Lalibela Churches Fly to Addis
In the morning, following breakfast, visit churches that have been carved out of the rocks they stand on.
Based on their size and concept, these monumental constructions seem to be the result of exceptional craftsmanship.
As soon as you arrive, check into your hotel.
Begin your discovery of the remarkable rock-hewn cathedrals of King Lalibela by visiting the churches in the Northwestern Cluster: Bet Danaghel, Bet Golgotha, Bet Mikael, Bet Maryam, Bet MedhaneAlem, & Bet Meskel.
Finally, see the most famous of all the churches, Bet Giyorgis.
Built to honor St. George, Ethiopia’s patron saint, this massive monolithic cross was created.
You will next be driven to the airport in order to catch your flight to Addis.
Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 7. Flight to Semera – Dallol
Upon your arrival at Semera Airport, you will be met by your guide and taken to Erta’ale after being briefed about the program and general geology of Ethiopia.
Before moving on to Dallol, we’ll make a lunch stop in Afdera town.
Traveling through the desert is primarily done off-road.
After a long journey to other towns, the salt caravans assemble in Ahmedela, a small settlement that we will reach in the evening.
The Assale Salt Lake, which is relatively shallow, provides stunning sunset views, and you will be able to see many camel caravans.
Outside Camping for the Night.
Day 8. Drive to Erta’ale Volcano
Before we eat breakfast, we make our way to Dallol, a place known for its vibrant geothermal pools and salt domes.
Dallol is a strange place with unique geysers, sulfur pools, and colorful mineral deposits.
We’ll have the morning to explore this strange place.
Additionally, we will make a stop at the unusual salt canyons before continuing towards the volcano.
Somewhere along the route, we may be able to see the tedious process of manually extracting salt and loading it onto camels.
A salt layer covering approximately 1,200 km2 covers the Danakil Depression.
Once we reach basalt rock, which was formerly formed by lava flows, we continue on through the desert. It’s a slow, bumpy drive that finally ends at the base of the Erta Ale volcano.
We will walk for thirty minutes to reach the Erta Ale Summit Crater from our camp after enjoying a leisurely, light dinner, when we arrive.
While there isn’t much of a gradient, it is important that everyone stays together and carries a flashlight.
Enough distance separated us from the lava for safety as we set up camp on the crater rim!
Camping outside all night long.
Day 9. Drive Erta Ale – Semera Fly to Addis
We start our climb back to the cars after a beautiful sunrise over the lava lake, from whence we will continue our journey to Lake Afdera.
Beyond seeing the traditional ways that salt is mined in the region, we can relax in the natural hot springs following our hike.
There are naturally occurring hot springs close to Lake Afdera where you can take a bath.
Drive yourself to Semera so you can return to Addis by plane.
Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 10. Fly To Arbaminch And Visit The Dorze Tribe
Fly to the southern region of Ethiopia, Arbaminch.
It is well known that the Southern region is home to a wide variety of peoples and cultures.
After you meet your driver upon arrival at Arbaminch, proceed to your lodging.
Later that afternoon, take a quick drive to see the Dorze Tribe who live atop Guge Mountain.
The Dorze people are well-known for their cotton-weaving skills and their beehive-shaped houses constructed entirely of organic materials.
Come to their village to learn more about their way of life, marvel at their incredible skill at weaving cotton, and see their characteristic beehive huts.
After midnight: Arbaminch.
Day 11. Drive to Turmi Visit Konso and Hammer Tribe
See the tribes of the Omo Valley by taking a morning drive to Turmi, a small town, following breakfast.
Stop and explore the village of Konso while en route.
The wooden totems honoring the deceased and the Konso tribe’s agricultural terracing technique are well-known.
Because of their significant cultural value, the Konso villages are listed as a world heritage site.
Comprising distinct compounds, the villages are encircled by towering stone walls.
Follow the acacia forest southward to Turmi after lunch.
In the vicinity of Turmi, visit the village of the renowned Hammer tribe.
In addition to their exquisite pottery, they are well known for their amazing hairstyle.
Wearing intricate necklaces, vibrant goatskins beaded in various colors, and metal bracelets around their wrists and ankles, the women look amazing.
A woman’s husband’s status and wealth are disclosed by these ornaments.
Hotel for the night.
Day 12. Drive To Omorate Visit Dassenech And Karo In the Afternoon
See the Dassenech tribe by traveling 75 km on a paved road towards Omorate in the morning.
On the bank of the Omo River, Omorate is situated close to the Kenyan border.
Arriving at a Dassenech village, you will take a local boat across the Omo River and walk there.
The Dassenech people reside along the banks of the Omo River and are a semi-nomadic tribe.
Across southern Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan, their clans are distributed.
They are known for their intricate and eye-catching hair buns.
They fish and grow crops.
Next, make your way back to Turmi for lunch.
After lunch drive to the Kara Tribe, who live on the banks of the Omo River.
The Kara regularly paint their faces and bodies, making them masters at the art.
Before they perform their rituals and dances, they painstakingly paint their faces, bodies, and the faces of their friends using different colors of soil, minerals, plan pigments, flowers, and black charcoal.
Men have spent days getting ready for this occasion, and most of them are dressed elegantly in red clay hair buns.
Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 13. Drive to Jinka
Proceed to Jinka after breakfast, stopping along the way to visit a vibrant market where we can observe some of the Omo Valley tribes gathered in one area.
Visit the village of the Ari People before traveling to Jinka.
Set in the verdant environs of the Jinka, the Ari people grow fruits and coffee for trade and their own consumption.
It is the most beautiful place in the nation, with verdant communities encircled by avocado, mango, and banana trees.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 14. Discover The Mursi Tribe Drive to Arbaminch
Explore the expansive wilderness of Mago National Park on a morning drive.
Encompassing open Savannah areas and dense acacia forests, this national park was established in 1960 and is home to nearly 100 species of mammals and 300 species of birds.
See a Mursi village where people live.
It is well known that the women inserted clay plates into their lower lips.
Head to Jinka’s ethnographic museum, which focuses on the languages of the South Omotic tribes.
Jinka, a thriving hub of commerce, acts as a sort of capital for the numerous ethnic groups that call this region home.
Stay the night at a hotel.
Day 15. Drive to Awassa
Immediately after breakfast, take a boat ride on Lake Chamo to witness some enormous crocodiles, hippos, and aquatic birds. Next, travel via the lush Wolayta and Sidama regions to reach Awassa.
Move to a hotel for the night after arriving in Awassa.
Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 16. Drive to the Bale Mountains
Drive in the morning to the Bale Mountains National Park in the southeast of the nation.
Mammal species unique to Ethiopia’s southeast mountain range will be visible as we approach the park’s boundary.
The magnificent endemics of the Mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck are the reason behind the exceptional beauty of the Bale Mountains National Park.
On the gassay grasslands, we will look for Serval Cats and caracals.
Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 17. Bale Mountains Sanneti Plateau and Harenna Forest
After breakfast you’re going to the Sanetti Plateau.
With the rising of the sun, the Ethiopian wolf-the canid that is most endangered in the world-begins its hunt.
The winding road at its top, one of Africa’s highest all-weather routes, provides excellent viewing opportunities.
Ethiopia’s plateau offers the best views of this elegant animal.
The largest rodent on the plateau is the giant molerat, which is confined to the Bale Mountains.
There are many other rodents here as well.
On your journey, you will stop at Tulu Dimtu, also called the “Red Mountain.” 4,377 meters is the height of the park’s highest mountain.
In the afternoon, take a drive to Harenna Forest, the country’s second-largest tropical rain-forest.
Our accommodation is situated further downhill from the small village of Rira, which is situated at the base of the escarpment.
Explore the forest on foot. Walk up to two almost stacked waterfalls and a bamboo-lined canyon.
Look out for other mammals, including the elusive Bale monkey, the Warthog, the Tree Hyrax, and the black-and-white Colobus monkey.
After returning the vehicle, spend the night in Robe.
Overnight hotel
Day 18. Return Back to Addis
Following an early breakfast, drive out of Bale Mountains National Park and back to Addis via the Asela Road.
We’ll make a quick stop at the Arsi Mountains National Park to see the Greater Kudus before continuing on our journey to Addis.
We eat our last dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant in the evening after arriving in Addis, where dancers and musicians from various ethnic groups perform.
Proceed to the airport to board your flight for your international destination after that.
