HISTORY & CULTURE with SURMA 20 days

01. Arrival in Addis Ababa. Transfer to the chosen hotel. Have a free morning. Afternoon (1400 hrs from the hotel) tour of the capital: visit Entoto mountain with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church and the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa.
Meals free. ON (overnight) hotel.

02. Fly to Bahirdar. Morning drive to visit the Blue Nile falls (it takes about 1 hour drive and then 15 minutes walk). Admire these spectacular falls.
Afternoon make a boat excursion on lake Tana to visit the monasteries over its islands, as Ura Kidane Mehret and Asua Mariam.
Meals & ON hotel in Bahirdar.

03. Morning drive to Gondar. It takes about 2 hrs driving, visit on the way very nice landscapes, lake Tana and Amhara people villages.
Afternoon visit the castles, King Fasiladas bath, the Debre Birhan Selasie church (light of Trinity) with wonderful murals and Empress Mentewab palace.
Meals & ON hotel in Gondar.

04. Drive to the Semien mountains, for a very interesting full day excursion: admire spectacular views and with the chance to spot endemic animals as the Lammergeyer, the Gelada baboons, the Walya Ibex and more.
Lunch box; dinner and ON hotel in Debark (clients which request Semien lodge or Limalimo lodge can inform us on time and we can book & quote as supplement).

05. Drive to Axum, admiring very nice views over the Semien mountains and visiting Tigray people villages and culture.
Lunch box on the way; dinner & ON hotel in Axum

06. Morning in Axum. Visit the steles, St Mary of Tsion church (where legend says the Ark of Covenant is deposited), the bath & palace of Queen of Sheba & more.
Afternoon drive to Wikro. On the way make very interesting visits, as Yeha pre-Christian temple and Wikro Cherkos church.
Lunch on the way. Dinner & ON lodge

07. Full day visit of the very interesting Tigray region churches, with also spectacular views. Visit Micael Imba, Debre Selam Atsbi and Micael Barka churches. (otherwise can also be Abreha Atsbeha, Degum Selassie and TecleHaimanot Hawsen)
Lunch on the way. Dinner at a traditional restaurant in town. ON hotel in Mekele

08. Drive to Lalibela, visiting on the way the very interesting church of Yemerehenna Kristos. Reach Lalibela late afternoon.
Lunch on the way; dinner & ON hotel

09. Full day visit of the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, defined as the 8th wonder in the world. Churches built in the 12th century; the African Jerusalem.
And late afternoon take part of the coffee ceremony in a traditional house or the hotel.
Meals & ON at your hotel

10. Fly to Addis Ababa; Drive to Jimma, the coffee region (with change to visit coffee plantations), and proceed to to Bonga.
Lunch box on the way; dinner & ON Coffee Land local hotel or camping

11. Proceed to Mizanteferi for permits, visiting Dizi people on the way. Then drive to ShoaGhimira to visit the Menit and Surma people.
Lunch on the way; dinner & ON camping in Tum.

12. Visit Surma people. The Surma are famous for their traditions, women wearing plates into their lips and men different scarification all over their body. With luck you could find a donga: the Surma people stick fighting game.
Lunch box; dinner & ON camping.

13. Proceed to Nyangatom villages and visit this very interesting tribe.
Drive then to the other very colorful Karo people and visit their villages; fantastic view from Kortcho village.
Lunch on the way; dinner & ON camping near to a Karo village

14. Drive to visit the colorful KeyAfer village market of the Tsemay & Erbore prople. Then drive to Turmi for the very colorful Hamer people, famous for the decorative hairstyles and ornaments.
Lunch box on the way; dinner & ON Emerald lodge Turmi

15. Morning drive to Omorate, at Omo river bank, to visit the Dassanech people. Afternoon visit a Hamer village and with luck we try to visit the marriage ceremonies as bull jumping & Evangadi dances.
The Hamar are known for their unique custom of “bull jumping,” which initiates a boy into manhood. First, female relatives dance and invite whipping from men who have recently been initiated; this shows their support of the initiate, and their scars give them a right to demand his help in time of need. The boy must run back and forth twice across the backs of a row of bulls or castrated steers, and is ridiculed if he fails. Meals & ON Emerald lodge Turmi

16. SAT. Full day in & around Turmi. Drive also to Dimeka village market of the Hamer, Karo & Tsemay prople. Then remaining time for Hamer people, eventual bull jumping, etc
Meals & ON Emerald lodge Turmi

17. Drive to visit Erbore people villages. Then cross then the Weyto river valley and visit a Konso people village, which are famous for the terracing agriculture, way of life and traditions (is UNESCO heritage). Continue then to Arbaminch.
Lunch on the way; dinner & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch, with spectacular views over Chamo & Abaya lakes.

18. Morning drive to the Netch Sar national park and spot endemic animals as the Swaynes Hartbeest, then numerous zebra and spectacular views.
Afternoon boat excursion on Chamo lake to admire the biggest crocodiles in Africa (reach 6 meters of length), hippos and birds.
Meals & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch.

19. Morning drive to Chencha mountain to visit the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses and traditions.
Afternoon free enjoying the facilities at the Swaynes hotel Arbaminch & relax.
Meals & ON Emerald Resort Arbaminch.

20. Drive or fly back to Addis Ababa (cost of the flight is to be added on the price; inform us of your choice during the booking).
Late afternoon time for final visits or souvenir shops.
Dinner invited by the Green Land Tours & Hotels in a traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Transfer then to the airport for departure.