Lalibela - Rock-Hewn Churches

Catch Morning Flight which departs from Addis around 7:10 am to the holy land of new Jerusalem-Lalibela, We will met you at the Airport in Lalibela and drive about 23 km to the small town of Lalibela for check in and refreshment, after you will visit the Northern Group: Bet Medhane Alem, home to the Lalibela Cross and believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, probably a copy of St Mary of Zion in Aksum. It is linked to Bete Maryam (possibly the oldest of the churches), Bete Golgotha (known for its arts and said to contain the tomb of King Lalibela), the Selassie Chapel and the Tomb of Adam after break proceed to visit the second group of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela called Western Group: Bete Giyorgis, said to be the most finely executed and best preserved church &the third group called The Eastern Group: Bete Amanuel (possibly the former royal chapel), Bete Merkorios (which may be a former prison), Bete Abba Libanos and Bete Gabriel-Rufael (possibly a former royal palace).

Jinka

Arrival to Jinka by Ethiopian Airlines around 14:10. Meet with driver and guide at the airport. Transfer to hotel. Excursion to the Aari village near Jinka and to the ethnographic museum in the afternoon

Early departure from the hotel, driving to the village of Mursi people. Return to Jinka for early lunch, drive to Turmi Drive from Jinka via Dimeka to visit the market of the Hamer people. Continue to Turmi for overnight. Visit the cultural village of the Hamer people in the Turmi area. The Hamer people are famous for their typical hair dressings which the women decorate with red soil and butter. (afternoon Visit one of the markets)

An early morning drive will take you to Omorate to visit the Dassench/Geleb tribe (75 Km from Turmi). From there, you will take a boat trip on the Omo River and visit the Dassench/Geleb village. Later drive to Arba Minch via Konso. We continue our way to Konso (approx. 2 hrs.). Konso is another UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. We will visit the village compound and the local museum, and usually we are also welcomed in the Konso chief’s compound, which includes the family graveyard and house mummies. The Konso people have a rich agrarian culture and construct ingenious terraces and walls that encircle their fields and villages for protection against livestock damage and flooding.

Chamo Lake

Morning depart for a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market”, and the local hippos. Later before the airport, we drive to Chencha, to visit the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses, and traditions. Fly from Arba Minch to Dire Dawa via Addis which departs from Arba Minch around 14:00

Harar Jegol Wall

We will meet you at the Airport in Dire Dawa around 17:20. Continue by vehicle from Dire Dawa to Harar. Stroll through the 16th-century walled city of Harar, the fourth most important city in the Islamic World. In the evening see the “Hyena Man” feeding the hyenas that gather nightly outside the town.

Harar

Morning visit Harar. See the home of Arthur Rimbuad, renowned French poet who worked and lived in Harar as a “gun-runner” during the 19th century. Visit the colorful Islamic market. Tour the National and Harari museums and the house of Ras Mekonnen (father of Haile Selassie. Drive from Harar to Dire Dawa Visit the largest market of Dire Kefira, often attended by rural Oromo and Afar in traditional garb, the Awadai chat market, and the Ethio – Djibouti railway station. Over Night Selam Hotel. Catch 5:50 PM 6:50 PM ET-209 flight back to Addis.