Departs 17 Jan
Popular 4 days, 3 nights Cultural
Addis Ababa
Timket in Addis Ababa
Walk beside the tabots to Jan Meda on the eve, then stand in the crowd at dawn as the blessed water falls.
Cultural journeys
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.
Overview
The journey in brief
- Duration
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Where
- Southern · Omo Valley
- Travel style
- Private tour
- Best season
- June to March, outside the long rains
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Price
- USD 2,295 per person
On market days in Key Afer, Dimeka, Turmi and Jinka, Banna, Hamer and Ari families come in to trade, and the south’s mix of peoples is easiest to see. Most Omo trips rush the valley in two or three days; this one gives it five, with local guides who know the Mursi, Hamer and Karo families, then flies to Arba Minch for Lake Chamo and the Dorze weavers.
Flights replace the long Konso road, and a rest night in Addis breaks the trip in two. The days are hot, dusty and unhurried, for travellers and older children who would rather spend time with people than photograph them.
Highlights
- Weekly markets at Key Afer, Dimeka, Turmi or Jinka, depending on your days
- A Mursi village in Mago and a Hamer homestead near Turmi, with local guides
- Korcho, a Karo village high above a bend of the Omo River
- Nile crocodiles and hippos from a boat on Lake Chamo
- Dorze weavers at their looms, and kocho made from enset
What is included
- 9 nights’ accommodation, twin share
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Domestic flights Addis Ababa–Jinka and Addis Ababa–Arba Minch, both round trip, at the Ethiopian Airlines discounted fare
- 4WD vehicle and driver
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Local guides in every community
- Park and entrance fees
- Omorate permit if you take the Dassanech option
- Airport transfers
- Bottled water
What is not included
- International flights
- Ethiopian visa
- Domestic fare difference if you do not fly Ethiopian Airlines internationally (about USD 300 for this tour)
- Photo fees in the Omo, paid directly to the people you photograph
- Single room (optional extra)
- Ethio-Jazz Night (optional extra)
- Meals not listed
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Travel insurance
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1 Arrive in Addis AbabaAddis Ababa
We meet you at Bole International Airport and take you to your hotel. If you land early, we can arrange a short coffee ceremony nearby; otherwise the day is yours to rest.
Activities
- Airport welcome and transfer
- Trip briefing with your guide
- Coffee ceremony if you land early
Day 2 Jinka, the Museum and an Ari VillageJinka
A morning flight takes you south to Jinka. After lunch, the South Omo Museum and Research Center sets the scene, then you walk through an Ari village among coffee and enset gardens and the work of local potters.
Activities
- Flight to Jinka
- South Omo Museum and Research Center
- Ari village walk
Day 3 With a Mursi Community in MagoJinka
You leave early for the rough half-day round trip into Mago National Park. In a Mursi village, a local guide who knows the families introduces you and translates as you talk about cattle and seasonal moves; photos only with consent, fees paid to the person. Afternoon rest, or Jinka market on a Saturday.
Activities
- Drive into Mago National Park
- Mursi village visit with a local guide
- Jinka market (Saturday)
Day 4 Market Towns on the Road to TurmiTurmi
A half-day drive south runs through Key Afer (market on Thursday) and Dimeka (market on Saturday). In the late afternoon you visit a Hamer family at their homestead near Turmi.
Activities
- Key Afer market (Thursday)
- Dimeka market (Saturday)
- Visit with a Hamer family
Day 5 Korcho, Above a Bend in the OmoTurmi
With a local guide you drive to Korcho, a small Karo village on a bluff where the Omo bends far below. Or cross the river by dugout canoe from Omorate to a Dassanech community; this needs a permit from the Omorate immigration office, which we arrange.
Activities
- Karo village at Korcho with a local guide
- Or a dugout canoe to a Dassanech community from Omorate
Day 6 Turmi Market and the Road NorthJinka
On a Monday the day starts at Turmi market. From August to November a Hamer bull jumping may be held nearby, on no fixed dates; if a family welcomes visitors, your guide will try to arrange it. Then the drive back north to Jinka.
Activities
- Turmi market (Monday)
- Hamer bull jumping, if one is held
- Drive to Jinka
Day 7 A Rest Day in Addis AbabaAddis Ababa
A morning flight to Addis and a free afternoon. Do the laundry, sleep long in a proper bed, or book the Ethio-Jazz Night add-on.
Activities
- Flight from Jinka to Addis Ababa
- Free afternoon
- Ethio-Jazz Night (optional)
Day 8 Crocodiles and Hippos on Lake ChamoArba Minch
You fly to Arba Minch, whose name means “forty springs”, set between Lakes Abaya and Chamo. In the afternoon a boat takes you along Lake Chamo, past Nile crocodiles and hippos on the Nechisar National Park shore.
Activities
- Flight to Arba Minch
- Boat trip on Lake Chamo
- Nile crocodiles and hippos
Day 9 Bamboo Houses and Looms of the DorzeArba Minch
You drive up into the cool Chencha hills to a Dorze village. A Dorze family shows you their tall bamboo houses, shaped like beehives, the looms where they weave cotton shamma cloth, and how kocho, a flatbread, is made from enset.
Activities
- Dorze bamboo houses
- Weaving on traditional looms
- Making and tasting kocho
Day 10 Last Lunch in Addis, Then HomeAddis Ababa
You fly back to Addis Ababa for a farewell lunch and a last coffee. Your guide then takes you to Bole for your international flight.
Activities
- Flight from Arba Minch to Addis Ababa
- Farewell lunch
- Airport transfer
Itineraries can change with weather, road and flight conditions. We will tell you promptly if they do.
Gallery
A look at the trip
Photo: Unsplash
Good to know
Before you book
- Guide languages
- English, Amharic
- Minimum age
- 8 years and over
- Group size
- 1 to 12 travellers
- Meeting point
- Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa. Your guide meets you in arrivals with a name sign.
- Accessibility
- Omo roads are rough and dusty, village ground is uneven, and the low-altitude days are hot. Not suitable for wheelchairs.
What to bring
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- Light long sleeves
- A refillable water bottle
- Comfortable closed shoes
- Small notes in Ethiopian birr for photo fees
Dress code: Light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees, plus a warmer layer for the Chencha hills.
Cancellation policy
This tour follows the Strict policy. Days are whole calendar days before departure.
| When you cancel | What you get back |
|---|---|
| 30 or more days before departure | 50% refund |
| Fewer than 30 days before departure | No refund |
A non-refundable USD 300 per traveller (domestic flights) is deducted before these percentages are applied.
Questions
About this tour
How do photos work in the Omo?
Always ask first, through your guide. Most people expect a small fee per photo, paid to them directly; some will say no.
Are the market days fixed?
Not always. We confirm them locally and build your days around them.
Can the order change?
Yes. Jinka has flights about six days a week, so we may swap the Omo and Arba Minch sections to fit the schedule.
Can we add Hawassa?
Yes. Two extra days and a flight to Hawassa add the early-morning fish market, the Wondo Genet hot springs and a coffee farm.
Can I travel solo?
Yes. This is a private tour, so it runs for one traveller; add a single room as an optional extra.
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