Day 8 (2Jan) Hawassa - Arbaminch (220km) - A scenic drive through Arsi and Bale Mountains to the rift valley lakes region takes you to Arbaminch. En route, pass close by the Arsi Mountains National Park. On the way to Arbminch, will experience the fascinating culture & unique life style of the people in the South Ethiopia people’s region. We stop at the Chencha villages( the home of the Dorze people, the renowned weavers having unique bamboo woven houses having 8 to 12 meters height) before reach Arbaminch, the city of forty springs', the gateway to the indigenous people and the largest trading center in the south. O/N Arbaminch.
Day 9 (3Jan) Arbaminch - Konso -Turmi (290km) - Boat excursion on Lake Chamo to see the biggest African crocodiles, hippopotamus as well as beautiful aquatic birds including the lovely Kingfisher and Fish Eagle. The Lake Chamo is part of the Nechisar National Park, the name Nechisar means "white grasses" and refers to the central grassy plain which was established as a sanctuary for the endemic Swayne Hartebeest, an endangered sub-species throughout Ethiopia. Other wildlife in the park includes hippo, zebra, crocodile and different kinds of birds. Drive to Turmi passing through different cultural people and their villages which includes, Gamo, Derashe and Konso people. Stop to visit the villages of Konso people. The Konso are famous for their old and unique terracing, unusual engraved wooden statues of Konso grave markers. The consolidation created a unique cultural landscape by terracing the hill slopes to the intensive cultivation and irrigation of crops. The unusual interaction between man and nature, was honored in June 2011 with the appointment as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After Konso we drive to Turmi.
[Optional: - If there is jumping of the Bulls (traditional Hamer coming-of-age) ceremony that will be visited when arriving at Turmi. This optional visit fees will be on OWN. This activity (Bull Jumping) is a seasonal activity and is rare to find, hence is taken as an optional in the program]. O/N Turmi
Day 10 (4Jan) Turmi - Karo - Turmi (130km)-Jinka: In the morning visit small ethnic group on the Omo River called Karo. Particularly impressive from Konso are their body paintings and decorations scars. The Karo Tribe is the smallest tribe in the Omo Valley, South Ethiopia, and resides along the banks of the Omo River. After the visit of the Karos we will continue our exploration of this region of the Omo Valley by visiting the Nyangatom. The Nyangatom community are predominantly pastoralists, relying on cattle herding as their main source of livelihood, which is deeply intertwined with their cultural identity and social structure. We will learn about the vibrant traditions of the Nyangatom people, including elaborate ceremonies, music, and dance, which play a crucial role in their communal life. One of the most notable aspects of Nyangatom culture is their distinctive body adornments, including intricate scarification patterns and colorful beadwork, which signify beauty, status, and tribal affiliation.
Drive back to Turmi for lunch. Afternoon drive to Jinka(120 KM ), along the way we stop at the villages of the Hammer people for a visit. Also well known as the Hamar, they are one of the most known tribes in Southern Ethiopia. Tourists visit the Hamer hoping to see a traditional leaping ceremony (the jumping of bulls). They are cattle herders and practice agriculture. Very colorful bracelets and beads are worn in their hair and around their waists and arms. We then then continue to Jinka. On our way to Jinka around Keyafer market we will stop to visit the newly settled villages of the Mursi people. The Mursi men are renowned warriors, and whose women are famous for the lip plates which is highly considered as sign of beauty. O/N Jinka.
Day 11 (5Jan) Jinka -Arbaminch (130km) : We drive back from Jinka to Arbaminch. Today morning we will arrange a visit to the villages of the Ari people located close to Jinka town. Ari are agricultural and pottery-making indigenous ethnic group inhabit the northern part of the Mago National Park in Southwestern Ethiopia. Ari women are famous for their pottery which they sell to support their families. The Ari villages have neat compounds in fertile and scenic land with Coffee plantations. They have large livestock herds and produce large quantities of honey. The women wear skirts from the banana like tree, called Enset. Walk in the farmlands and villages, visit craftsmen, and see how the Ari lives. O/N Arbaminch
Day 12 (6Jan) Arbaminch - Addis ; Drive from Arbaminch to Addis, via the Hossaena. On our way to Addis today we will visit the 12th to 15th AD stelae of Tiya, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, where we can see the northernmost example of a peculiar type of engraved, standing stelae which stretch across parts of southern Ethiopia. These stelae are believed to have been erected between the 12th and 14th centuries and are almost certainly grave markers, en route, enjoy the farmland of the Gurage people and their thatched-roof circular houses. The evening goes with a traditional meal with a beautiful dance performance at the end O/N Addis
Day 13 (7Jan) Fly to Semera : (ET110; 0645-0805AM) After breakfast in Semera, the crew (drivers, local guides, cook, & road leader
from the tourism authorities & police escort) starts its adventure tour to the Afar Danakil depression.
Danakil Depression (dallol and Erta Ale) ranks as one of the most alluring and physically challenging
natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and a 1km
square caldera at its summit. Drive directly to Hamedella town of Dallol. You will have your picnic lunch
en route at Afdera and continue to Hamedella to arrive in the afternoon around 4pm at our camp site.
After setting up camps, we may drive to Lake Assale, enjoy sunset late in the afternoon;
overnight open-air camping with clean beds, matress, bed sheets etc. We will provide enough volume of
water this morning when departing from Semera. O/N camping at Hamedella
Day 14 (8Jan) Hamedella - Erteala Early in the morning before sunrise drive to the lunar landscape of Dallo geothermal site for
an amazing wonder seen nowhere else in the planet. A chemical reaction happening right in front of you,
live face to face with row nature. After this drive to the salt and mud formed mountain cave right
underneath Dallol creator. Another 10 minutes’ drive further, we will be in a completely different world,
have a picnic breakfast near one of the caves. Then we continue to the vast salt plains, the Lake
Karum swimming salt-water cold pool in that scorching sun & finally visit the salt miners before leaving
back to Hamedella.
Walk about 30 minutes to the tip of the mountain
where will see the caldera. We start the hike around 5:30 late in the afternoon, and after the visit, we
will return to our camping site by 8:00 PM, camping facility arranged in an open-air camping on a flat
ground with suitable matress & bed sheets. O/N camping at Erteale
Day 15 (9Jan) Afdera Salt Lake - ADD : Wake up in the morning with the sun, and a�er having breakfast drive to Afdera Salt Lake town,
the major & biggest hub in Ethiopia for salt production & distribution on lying at 112 m below sea level; &
where you will experience the highest temperature in the Danakil depression. Have lunch in town, a
glimpse of the Salt Lake, a walk along the salt farms and after this we drive back to Addis to fly back to
Addis (ET165; 0540-0700PM). The evening goes with a traditional meal with a beautiful dance performance at the end. O/N
Addis Ababa O/N Hotel in Addis
Day 16 (10Jan) ADD - Fly Home : Short visit of the capital Addis Ababa for last shopping in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the airport and flight back to home. ET638 ADDKUL 0010AM (11Jan2026). O/N Plane
Day 17(11Jan) Home : Arrived Kuala Lumpur 1715pm late afternoon (11Jan2026).
