5 Days Cultural tour to Omo valley cultural route (SET23)

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The southern cultural route usually known as Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia is a little visited area of Ethiopia containing several of the most vibrant and fascinating tribes and ethnic groups. The charming costumes, colorful rituals and celebrations, arts, crafts, music, local market and dance of the Dorze, Konso, Ari, Benna, Hamer, Mursi, Karo, Geleb, Arbore and Borena people are special ones to name a few. In the Omo Valley region many of the tribal groups have changed little over hundreds of years and they offer the visitor extraordinary insight into a variety of traditional cultures. On the trip, you get truly off the beaten track, exploring little visited villages and vibrant tribal markets of the Southern Ethiopia.

The lower valley of the Omo unlike any other place on Earth has the largest diversity of ethnically different groups in the whole of Ethiopia and possibly in Africa. A voyage to the Omo Valley is a true expedition to encounter some of the most remarkable tribal peoples on Earth! To this day, the Omo Valley remains rich in traditional culture and human history. It’s been said: “If Africa was the mother of all humanity then the Omo River acted as a main artery!” The valley is also rich in paleo-anthropological fossils; the latest hominid remains to be discovered date back over four million years in the Omo Valley—evidence of an almost continuous “human” presence. More than ten different languages are spoken (excluding dialects) .Experts believe that for thousands of years it was a crossroads of a wide variety of cultures where early humans of many different ethnicities passed as they migrated from and to lands in every direction. To this day, the cultures and people of the Lower Valley of the Omo are focus of study for their incredible diversity, driving through the Great Rift Valley with the chain lakes and boat trip make trip unforgettable.

Accommodations/ Hotels

Your choice of Up market/ Midrange/Budget with camping during trekking & adventure trip as per your preferred program

Meal plans

Your choice of meal- BB/HB/FB with all meals during trekking and adventure trip with professional cook at camping.

Transportation (Ground Drives & Domestic Flights)

Your choice of transportation based on the route you pick with Minivans/ Buses/ 4x4s & Domestic flights with walking/hiking, and pack animals during trekking and adventure trips

Entrance fee

All Entrance fee in the sightseeing’s, villages & National parks

Guiding services

Option 1- Professional licensed federal English or your preferred languages speaking guide throughout the trip with a local guides in each destination and scout in the case of attraction sight and national park

Option 2- English speaking driver guide throughout the trip with a local guides in each destination and scout in the case of attraction sight and national park

All activities & services based on your preferred program

Boat trips, pack animals, camel & horse ridding hyena man performance, camping equipments & other activities based on your preferred programs

Water

Daily bottled water

Government tax

Since our company is legal our price include government tax

  • International air/flight tickets,
  • Alcohol beverages,
  • Tourist Insurance,
  • Video filming and photography fees,
  • Tips and items of personal nature like laundry, souvenirs, etc
  • All expense that are not mentioned in the included part

Tour Title

Cultural tour to Omo valley cultural route

Tour Type

Culture, scenery, Boat trip, tribes, live culture. people

Activity level

Easy

Tour Code

SET 23

Tour Duration

5 Days & 4 Nights

Mode of Transportation

All Drive-/Minivans/Buses (4x4s is recommended )

No of traveler

Private/Groups/ Joining

Type of accommodation

Option of -Up market/ Midrange/ Budget

Attraction Highlights

The Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia is a little visited area of Ethiopia containing some of the most colorful tribes and ethnic groups. The fascinating costumes, colorful ceremonies and celebrations, arts, crafts, music and dance of the Bena, Hamer, Mursi, and Karo, Gelebpeopl / Dasench and much more are very special. In the Omo Valley region many of the tribal groups have changed little over hundreds of years and they offer the visitor extraordinary insight into a variety of traditional cultures. On this trip, you get truly off the beaten track, exploring little visited villages and vibrant tribal markets of the southern regions.

Day 1- FULL DAY DRIVE ADDIS aBABA - arbaminch

Morning after breakfast meet with SET staffs (driver and guide) at your preferred departure point and time, start drive down to south, the drive will take you along the scenic farmlands of Gurage People stop at UNSCO Tiya Steal Filed to visit the 12th century, We will also drive through the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys, late afternoon arrival at Arbaminch- meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arbaminch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town, Overnight hotel

DAY 2- DRIVE ARBAMINCH- JINKA ON THE WAY BOAT TRIP ON LAKE CHAMO AND UNESCO REGISTERED KONSO

Early in the morning after breakfast drive to the Lake shore to have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, Boat trip on Lake Chamo is along the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Nile Crocodiles which measure about 6 meter with the water birds are great the scenery is truly unforgettable, continue drive on the way stop at KONSO to visit the Konso tribe with their king- UNSCO registered site for their extensive terracing and practice of making a wooden grave mark for their hero and kings, after lunch break continue driving and late afternoon arrival to Jinka after check in to the hotel walk to the visit southern Omo cultural center, overnight Lodge.

DAY 3- JINKA EXCURSION TO MURSI TRIBE DRIVE TO TURMI ON THE WAY KEY AFER MARKET (THURSDAY)

After breakfast early in the morning leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted, then drive to KEY AFER- Tribal Market- one of the best market in the OMO VALLEY since at list four different tribes are coming to attend these weekly market arrival to the small town and escort a local guide walking around the market and explore different section of the market including animal, vegetable, cereals and much more. Then continue drive to Turmi, overnight hotel.

Remark: - if there is any ceremonial activity like traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony

Day 4- TURMI-excursion TO DASENCH TRIBE DRIVE BACK ARBAMINCH

These day early in the morning after breakfast drive 73 km west to visit the Dassench/Geleb people; who inhabited in the bank of Omo River and we cross the Omo River by locally made boat to see the village these tribes are semi nomadic with very little agriculture on the bank of the Omo River, then drive to ARBAMINCH on the way enjoy the interaction of different tribes with their way of life, overnight Lodge.

DAY 5- DRIVE ARBAMINCH ADDIS ABABA ON THE WAY VISIT DORZE VILLAGE- DEPARTURE

Early in the morning after breakfast start drive back to Addis Ababa on the way visit the Dorze tribe and their village, famed for their bee hive shaped houses and their weaving skills. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze. They are also farmers, who prevent soil erosion by ingenious terracing of the mountainsides. Around their huts they have their own little garden with vegetables, spices; tobacco and Enset (false-banana or musa Ensete). Continue drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley with lunch break on the way late afternoon arrival at Addis Ababa, evening traditional farewell cultural dinner in cultural restorunt with live tribal music then transfer t the airport for your departure.

END OF THE TOUR

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