Length 04 days
Popular Cultural
Omo Valley
Omo Valley
Four days in the Lower Omo, from Ari farms around Jinka to the Karo village on its bluff above the river.
Southern Ethiopia
Omo Valley
A river valley home to many distinct cultures, with colourful weekly markets.
Overview
About Omo Valley
The lower Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia is home to more than a dozen communities with their own languages, dress and traditions. Weekly markets are the best places to see daily life.
Visits should be made respectfully, through local guides and community-led arrangements, and with attention to how photographs are taken and paid for.
- Region
- Southern
- Best time
- July to September and December to February
- Tours here
- 3
- Tours from
- USD 1,045
Highlights
What makes it worth the journey
Highlights
- Weekly markets
- The terraced landscape of Konso
- Boat trips on Lake Chamo
- Village visits led by local guides
Things to do
- Visit a market with a local guide
- Explore the Konso cultural landscape
- Take a boat trip to see crocodiles and hippos
- Learn about traditional crafts
Plan your visit
Before you go
Best time to visit
July to September and December to February; roads can be hard after heavy rain
Getting there
Fly to Arba Minch or Jinka, or drive from Addis Ababa over two long days.
Getting around
By four-wheel-drive vehicle with a driver and local guide; distances are long and roads rough.
Good to know
- Always ask permission before taking photographs, and agree any payment first.
- Bring plenty of water, sun protection and insect repellent.
Gallery
A look at Omo Valley
Photos: Unsplash
Journeys
Tours that reach Omo Valley
Length 06 days
Cultural
Omo Valley
Lower Omo by River (Mago)
Three nights in a tented camp on a bend of the Omo, with boat days to riverside communities few travellers reach by road.
Length 10 days
Cultural
Omo Valley
Omo Valley and Arba Minch
Five days in the lower Omo, timed to its weekly markets, then crocodiles on Lake Chamo and Dorze weavers in the hills above Arba Minch.
Keep exploring
More places to see
Southern
Bale Mountains
Alpine moorland and forest, and the best place to look for the Ethiopian wolf.
Southern
Arba Minch
“Forty springs”: two Rift Valley lakes, crocodiles on Lake Chamo and the Dorze highlands above.
Southern
Konso
Stone-walled hill towns and hand-built terraces, a UNESCO cultural landscape still farmed.
Plan with us
Let us plan your Omo Valley trip
Tell us when you want to travel and what you love. A local specialist will reply with a suggested plan and a clear price.