From the African Great Rift Valley to the tribes of the Omo Valley
Through the Great Rift, from dry stone terraces to the labial plateaus of the Mursi, Éthiopie reveals its last tribes.
Duration
12 days
From
€1,680/pers.
Ideal seasons
Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec
Style
Guided tour
Comfort
classique
Travelers
Couple, Solo, With friends
The spirit of travel
It is a journey out of time to reach one of the last tribal regions on the planet: the Omo Valley.
Between the Red Sea and the Blue Nile, the great African rift gave birth to landscapes as breathtaking as they are diverse.
We will descend following the Great Rift Valley which threads lakes inhabited by hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and a multitude of birds.
Arriving in the Omo Valley, cradle of humanity, set out to meet different tribes. Each tribe has its own language, its own customs, its own beauty criteria. They gather on market days, the main place of socialization.
The stages of your journey
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Departure of your international flight to Éthiopie
Addis Ababa, the "new flower"
Arrival at Addis Abeba airport: welcome and transfer to your hotel.
Discovery of the Éthiopie capital in full transformation: from the historic Piassa district to the latest city developments.
Drive to the Entoto Mountains for a panoramic view of the city.
Discovery of Entoto Mariam Church and Emperor Menelik's first palace.
Visit to the National Museum housing the skeleton of the famous Lucy (hominoid fossil dating back 3.4 million years)
THE GREAT AFRICAN RIFT VALLEY
Addis-Abeba → Parc National Abijatta-Shalla
Route following the Great Rift Valley, a major tectonic fault line that cuts through East Africa from end to end. Superb panoramic views over the valley dotted with numerous lakes.
Visit of the Abijatta National Parkof the Abiata & Shalla lakes : Hiking around the crater lakes frequented by colonies of pink flamingos.
Parc National Abijatta-Shalla → Awassa
Arrival in awassa, capital of the Sidamo region, famous for its coffee.
A stroll along the lakeshore frequented by marabous and in Amor Gedel park and its many monkeys
The Dorze Land
We continue down the Rift Valley.
Road towards the Guge mountains, at 2700 m altitude to reach the villages of Les Dorze.
Once formidable warriors, they have converted to weaving and the cultivation of enset (or false banana) which they use for multiple purposes, from food to dwellings.
Discovery and visit of a village with its surprising traditional beehive-shaped huts standing about ten meters high.
Panoramic view of two of the largest lakes in the Rift Valley of Éthiopie: the Chamo and Abaya lakes which are separated by a strip of land called the "Bridge of God".
Arrival at Arba Minch, bordered by verdant mountains, means the forty springs
The Konso Country
Road to the hills of Konso country.
Discovery of the Konso ethnic group, sedentary farmers who have carved numerous terraces on hillsides for their crops (millet, sorghum, cotton, maize, papaya…) with an ingenious irrigation system optimizing rainwater (landscape listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site).
The Konso are divided into nine clans, each possessing their own wagas (or wooden carved funerary totems).
Visit to Konso villages, structured in districts, with actual basalt enclosure walls protecting them from wild animals and mud flows.
Key Afar Market and the Mursi
Jinka → Key Afer
Visit of the weekly market of Key Afer, a meeting point of many ethnic groups, including the Bana, Meeting with the Ari, Tsemay and Hamer, who often walk for several days to reach the market to exchange food, spices, butter, goats, …
Encounters with the ethnic group Mursi. Agro-pastoralists with shaved heads, pierced ears, scarified arms and thorax, the men are warriors renowned for being very impressive.
The women, for their part, wear a clay plate inserted in the lower lip, as well as ear plates (the size of the lip plate being proportional to the dowry required by the family).
Key Afer → Turmi
Route towards the small town of Turmi. Stronghold of the Hamer, semi-nomadic herders living from livestock raising and cultivation of sorghum, millet, tobacco and cotton.
The Karo Country
Route through the savanna (hiking opportunity) where you will have the opportunity to observe giant termite mounds, many birds including African guinea fowl or even mini baobabs.
Discovery of the Karo ethnic group on the banks of the Omo River.
The Karo are famous for their body paintings with colored ocher, white chalk, yellow mineral rock or any other natural resource. The hairstyle of Karo men is very elaborate and each element has a meaning.
Route through the brushy savanna towards the small town of Jinka.
The Ari benefit here from a green and fertile region allowing them to grow cereals, coffee and fruits.
The Dasanetch Country
Turmi → Omorate
Route to Omorate and crossing of the Omo River by canoe to reach the land of the Dassenech.
Close to the Kenyan border, this tribe far from the world benefits from the fertile and silty lands of the Omo River delta to cultivate sorghum.
This lower valley of the Omo is a major prehistoric site (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site), where numerous hominid fossils of essential importance for the study of human evolution have been discovered.
Stroll along the East bank of the Omo, discovery of a traditional village composed of small huts made of branches, corrugated metal and animal hides. The hairstyle of the Dassanetch is very sophisticated.
Omorate → Turmi
Return to Turmi.
The Hamer Country
Discovery of a Hamer village and their way of life and daily activities largely devoted to caring for their herds. Cattle is a key element of the Hamer people's life where each boy receives a cattle name at birth.
Bare to the waist, women cover their hips with cow hides encrusted with colored beads and shells. They coat their hair, skillfully braided, with butter and red earth.
The great market of Turmi
Visit to the great market of Turmi, where Hamer women sell vegetables, spices, butter, milk as well as traditional items such as carved gourds, stools, bracelets and goat skins, decorated with beads and shells.
Road to Arba Minch
The Crocodiles of Lake Chamo
Boat excursion on the Lake Chamo to observe an incredible variety of birds as well as Africa's largest crocodiles (which can reach up to 6 m long) that coexist with hippos, pelicans and fish eagles.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Addis Abeba
Opportunity for shopping and/or visit to a craftsmen's workshop and/or market
Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Departure of your return flight
Price per person
Indicative price per person, based on double room. Each trip is customized according to your preferences.
This trip can be tailored to your preferences
This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages
- The rights of photos for the tribes
- Tips and Personal Expenses
Included
- Domestic flights (on the basis of reduced rates with an Ethiopian Airlines international flight)
- Private transport with a chauffeur-driven vehicle
- Hotel or guesthouse accommodation with breakfast (on a double room basis)
- Lunch and dinner meals with a non-alcoholic beverage
- An English-speaking tour guide
- The boat excursion on Lake Chamo
- Entrance fees to the various sites, permits and activities as mentioned in the programme
Practical Information
Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.
The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.
See our specific terms of sale for full details.
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:
- Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
- Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
- Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.
The information below concerns travelers who are nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, and Canada traveling to Ethiopia for a tourism stay. As entry rules may change, we recommend verifying this information with the official authorities before your departure.
Passport
To enter Ethiopia, your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of entry into the country and must include at least two blank pages for immigration stamps.
The document must be in good condition (no damaged, torn, or altered pages).
Visa
Nationals of the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and Canada must have a visa to enter Ethiopia. There is no visa exemption for tourism stays.
Two main options are available:
the electronic visa (e-Visa), to be requested online before departure via the official Ethiopian immigration services portal, for entry by air, in particular at Addis Ababa International Airport;
the visa on arrival, available at certain official entry points, particularly at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, subject to changes in access conditions.
The tourist visa is generally granted for stays up to 30 days, with the possibility of extension on site through Ethiopian immigration services.
The authorities may request:
an outbound travel ticket (return flight or onward connection),
proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of the stay,
an accommodation reservation for the duration of the stay.
Health and Vaccinations
No vaccination is required to enter Ethiopia, except in the case of arrival from a country at risk of yellow fever, in which case proof of yellow fever vaccination (international vaccination certificate) is required upon entry.
The following vaccinations are nonetheless strongly recommended before departure:
yellow fever (depending on areas visited),
hepatitis A and B,
typhoid,
meningitis,
update of routine vaccinations (tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles).
Malaria is present in many regions of Ethiopia, particularly outside Addis Ababa. Antimalarial prophylaxis is strongly advised. Consult your doctor or a travel medicine center before departure.
Travel with Children
Minors must hold their own valid passport and an individual visa covering the duration of the stay.
In some European countries, when a minor travels without one of their parents, an exit authorization from the territory may be required according to the regulations of the country of residence.
Other Nationalities
Entry conditions may vary depending on nationality. Travelers concerned should inquire with the embassy or consulate of Ethiopia in their country of residence.
To participate in our trips, it is strongly recommended to have evacuation assistance and foreign medical expenses coverage.
Your local agency encourages you to review the specific policy developed with our partner CHAPKA ASSURANCES and AXA ASSISTANCE.
To subscribe to insurance, learn about coverage and rates, follow the link below.
CAP EXPLORER: The complete insurance solution designed for a worry-free trip!
Choose the plan that best suits you:
Explorer'Multirisque
Explorer'Annulation
Explorer'Assistance
Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire
Specific to our trips, we strongly recommend subscribing to one.
If you choose to subscribe to one of these plans, the policy detailing all coverage and claims procedures are available on the insurer's website.
Your local agency will be aware of it, but only the participant is responsible for complying with claims notification procedures. The participant must therefore keep this policy with them throughout their trip.
Chapka — Cap Explorer
Our insurance partnerTravel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.
Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insuranceFrequently asked questions
An e-visa is required and must be applied for online before departure. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned entry date. Processing is usually quick (2-3 business days). Before booking your trip, check with the consular authorities of your destination regarding entry requirements applicable to your nationality, including visa fees and authorized lengths of stay.
Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.
You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.
For a tailor-made quality trip, plan between 160 and 260 euros per day and per person, including accommodation, meals, internal transport (with domestic flights), English-speaking guide and activities. International flights (700-1100 euros round trip) are additional. The Omo Valley tribe trip is a unique experience.
Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.
Absolutely. We adapt each itinerary to travellers' profiles. For families, we prioritize relaxed paces, family-friendly accommodations, engaging and educational activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our English-speaking local guides know how to capture children's attention with age-appropriate anecdotes.
It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You adjust every detail together until you reach the perfect version. You confirm and depart with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.
In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.
Payment is generally made in two installments.
Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST guarantee (Association Professionnelle de Solidarité du Tourisme) which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on the ground throughout your stay.
Let's talk about your adventure — Omo Valley Southern Peoples
Weaver of encounters in Ethiopian lands, based in Addis-Abeba
Ethiopia calls for curiosity and openness. What I love is helping travelers move beyond first impressions to dive into the depth of the country.
— Anna
