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.

• 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

Day 1- FLY ADDIS aBABA - arbaminch –PM DORZE VILLAGE

Meet with SET staffs’ driver at your preferred departure point and transfer to the airport to fly to 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 upon arrival meet with your driver and guide who arrived in advance and directly drive to Chencha to 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 Ensetethe) then drive back to Arbaminch, overnight hotel/ lodge

DAY 2- ARBAMINCH- TURMI ON THE WAY BOAT TRIP AT LAKE CHAMO AND KEY AFER MARKET (THURSDAY)

Early in the morning 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, then drive further 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 late afternoon arrival at 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 3- EXCURSION TO OMORATE-DASENCH TRIBE PM HAMER VILLAGE

Friday This 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, late afternoon walk from the lodge to the village to visit the HAMER tribe with their own way of life interaction with their way of life, overnight Lodge.

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- DRIVE Turmi- ARBAMINCH– ON THE WAY KARO TRIBE AT MURULLE, DIMEKE MARKET (SATURDAY/ TUESDAY) & KONSO TRIBE

Early in the morning after breakfast excursion to Murulle to visit the Karo tribe, famous for their body panting (they prepare the ink for the painting from locally available material like flower, soil and animal blood) we will also admire the scenery view of the Omo river from the edge of the village, then drive to Dimeka Market to attend the weekly colorful market of the HAMER tribe then drive back to Turmi after that drive to Arbaminch on the way stop at KONSO to have lunch and 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, continue driving and late afternoon arrival to Arbaminch, overnight hotel.

DAY 5- MORNING GAME DRIVE TO NECHSAR NATIONAL PARK –FLY ARBAMINCH – ADDIS ABABA- DEPARTURE

Early in the morning after breakfast drive to Nechisar is named after the white grass that covers the undulating Nechisar plains and contrasts with the black basalt rocks of the Amaro Mountains to the east, and the black soils of the plains. Around 15% of the park comprises portions of Lakes Abaya to the north and Chamo to the south. The water of Lake Abaya is always brown or red-brown due to iron-ferric, in contrast with Lake Chamo which has strikingly blue water and white sandy beaches. The park also covers the neck of land between the lakes which supports groundwater forest. At the foot of Mt Tabala in the south-east there are hot springs. During game drive you will have a chance to observe different wild life include Zebra, lesser and greater Kudu, gazelle, baboons and various bird lives then drive back to the town for a quick lunch break and transfer to the airport to fly back to Addis Ababa arrival and free time for shopping and finally cultural dinner with live cultural dance performances in one of the best Ethiopian traditional restaurant. Then transfer to the airport for your departure.

END OF THE TOUR