Book your 8 days Omo Valley Ethiopia tour with the #1 best local tribal tour operator based in Jinka, South Omo Valley, SNNPR, Ethiopia.

8 Day Omo Valley Ethiopia Trip Description

Our 8-day Omo Valley Ethiopia tour takes you to all the best attractions in southern Ethiopia. In addition to the unique villages of over 10 Omo Valley tribes, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Konso Cultural Village, the Dorze culture and the natural attractions in and around Arba Mince, you will discover the Sidamo village and culture as well as Lake Awassa. You are sure to discover several colorful tribal markets and unique ceremonial events in the Lower Omo River Valley of Southern Ethiopia.

Day 1 :

Fly Addis - Jinka: Visit Jinka and the Aari tribe village

Your guide will meet you at Jinka Airport and transfer you to the best restaurant in town. Today you will visit the Aari tribe Village outside Jinka. The Aari tribe boosts the largest population in Omo Valley. They are famous for their pottery making skills. If it is a market day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) you will visit a tribal market in Jinka or the nearby towns.

Eco-Omo Lodge in Jinka (from newly built rooms)

Day 2 :

Jinka - Mursi Tribe - Turmi

Embark on a day excursion to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi village, home to one of Ethiopia's most distinct ethnic groups. The Mursi live in low straw-leaf huts and are known for their unique body adornments, with women wearing terracotta plates in their stretched lower lips and earlobes. Following lunch, drive to Turmi while stopping to visit the Banna tribe village making a stopover at the bustling Kako, Keyafer, Alduba Banna tribal market along the way.

Paradise Lodge in Turmi (the best in Turmi)

Day 3 :

Turmi to Omorate (and back)

Following breakfast, depart to Omorate town 75 km south on an asphalt road to meet with the Dassanech tribe whose name means people of the delta. Omorate is the last border town in southern Ethiopia. Immigration officials will examine your visa and passport, then continue to one of the best non-touristy Dassanech villages and experience the Dassanech people. You will return to Turmi for lunch and get rest. You will visit Hamar Village in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Paradise Lodge in Turmi

Day 4 :

Turmi - Karo Tribe (and back)

After breakfast, drive to Korcho, home to the Karo people, who are well-known for their striking body decorations. They adorn their bodies and faces with white chalk, often in preparation for a ceremony. Karo women create scars on their chests as a symbol of beauty, while the men's scars represent an enemy or dangerous animal they have killed. Depending on the event on the day, you may see the Hamar tribal market and/or the Bull Jumping Ceremony.

Paradise Lodge in Turmi

Day 5 :

Turmi - Konso

Drive 200 km to Konso village on partial gravel and partially asphalt road. On the way, you will visit the available tribal market (if preferable and available to be decided by your guide by considering the previous day's activities) and stop for lunch either in Key Afer or Woyto town depending on your morning activity. In the afternoon, you will visit Konso village, the Konso King at his traditional palace, the graveyard in a sacred forest where his ancestors are barred, and a grave mark called Waka erected.

Kanta Lodge in Konso

Day 6 :

Konso - Arba Minch - Dorze (and back to Arba Minch)

Day 7 :

Arba Minch - Yirgalem

Arba Minch is a town that is decorated by the two largest rift valley lakes, Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo. You will go for a short boat trip on Lake Chamo to see Crocodiles, Hippos and some lake birds. You will continue driving 250 km (4 hours) to Yirgalem via Sodo and visit the Sidama village by hiking from the peaceful Aregash Lodge.

Overnight: Aregash Lodge (Yirgalem)

Day 8 :

Fly Awassa - Addis Ababa

After breakfast, depart on a 50 km (1 hour) drive to Awassa (Hawassa) to visit the bird life of Lake Awassa and the fish market. Around noon, you will be dropped off at Awassa Airport and fly to Addis Ababa.