Day 1: Welcome to Ethiopia! As we wait for all of our guests to arrive, you can take the day to rest after our long journey, or start exploring the city! Tonight, we will have our group welcome dinner at a local culture house.

Day 2: This morning we take a short flight from Addis to Semera (about 1.5 hours) to being our Danakil expedition. After meeting our local drivers and stopping for breakfast, we make our way through the rugged moonscapes and stop for lunch in Afdera. After enjoying our lunch, we head to base camp at the bottom of Erta Ale. We will hike up to the caldera (the rim) and have ample opportunity to watch and photograph the bubbling volcano until nightfall before returning to camp.

Day 3: Optional early morning hike to observe the volcano once more before leaving Erta Ale. After breakfast, we depart for Hamadela. Our drive will take us through incredible vast salt flats. We will observe the locals harvesting salt bars and transporting them back to town on camelback against the dramatic landscape. Our afternoon stop will be Lake Karum, where you will get the chance to swim in the salty waters. Enjoy a beautiful sunset drive back to camp and enjoy an evening under the stars.

Day 4: After breakfast, we will drive to Dallol to see the amazing sulphuric pools. This part of the Danakil is said to be one of the hottest and lowest points on Earth, 410 feet below sea level! Even with the harsh conditions, our team is here to ensure you have the safest visit possible with ample opportunity for photography. This is truly the most spectacular landscape in Ethiopia! After the pools, we continue our drive and head to our hotel in Axum for the evening.

Day 5: After an early breakfast we leave our hotel and make our way to Tigray. Tigray is a cradle of Christianity and you will find more than 120 rock churches tucked away among the cliffs and stunning rock formations that dominate this region. Our target for today is Abune Yemeta Guh (“The Church in the Sky”). It is nicknamed after its height and tough accessibility. Climbing up there involves cliff edges and walking on narrow ledges. It is not for the faint hearted, however once you make it to the top you will find it was worth all the effort. The church is over 1500 years old and inside of it, the sandstone walls are covered in intricate paintings. After our visit, we return to town and check into our hotel for the evening.

Day 6: We will spend our morning visiting the incredible historical sites in Axum. Ancient ruins, modern cathedrals, and the oldest Christian site in Africa dating back to the 4th century. After lunch, we depart back to Addis to relax for the evening.

Day 7: Today, we catch a morning flight down to Arba Minch. After we check into our hotel, we will drive to some natural springs where we can observe and photograph monkeys, baboons, warthogs, and various bird species! In the afternoon, we will visit the Dorze village. This tribe is well known for their cleverly designed huts that are supposed to resemble the heads of elephants that once roamed these plains. The Dorze’s are Ethiopia’s most talented weavers. They also produce a multitude of baskets, pottery, and leather products. You will be invited to a Dorze family house to learn their way of life and see a traditional dance before returning to our lodge for the evening.

Day 8: Arbaminch is a beautiful city with mountains behind it and the Rift Valley lakes shining below. Enjoy breakfast at the lodge with this incredible view from the terrace restaurant. After breakfast, we set out for a day at Lake Chamo. Here we will observe hippos, birds, and some of the largest Nile crocodiles on Earth. We return to the lodge for dinner and our final night staying here.

Day 9: After breakfast we depart to Turmi. Upon arrival, we check into our lodge and set out to spend the afternoon with the Hamer tribe. We return to our lodge for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Day 10: After breakfast, we head to meet the Karo Tribe. The Karos are best known for their elaborate body paintings made from white chalk, black charcoal, red iron ore, and plant pigments. After visiting the Karo, we drive back to Turmi for lunch and visit the local markets in the afternoon. We will have dinner and spend our final night in Turmi.

Day 11: After breakfast this morning, we checkout from our lodge and drive to a local village and meet with members of the Mursi Tribe. Because of their distinct appearance, the Mursi tribe is the most sought after and photographed in Omo Valley. Mursi women are known for inserting wooden plates in their lower lip and expanding them larger and larger over time. After our visit, we drive to Jinka for dinner and to spend our final night in Omo Valley.

Day 12: After breakfast this morning, our journey comes to an end. We leave Jinka, return to Addis, and start departing for our journeys back home.

NOTE: You may choose to depart Addis on November 14th or take the opportunity to have a free day in the city and look for a departing flight out the morning of November 15th. Please note that all additional meals once back in the city are no longer included in the tour cost. Should you want to stay the additional night, we have an affordable hotel we recommend. We are able to help make these reservations for you.

The full experience is $4,500 USD per participant.

Cost includes all lodging, meals, transportation costs (drivers, fuel, etc.), domestic airfare, park and reserve entry fees, village payments, and local guides.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: International flights to and from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, alcoholic beverages, travel insurance, and extra spending money for snacks/meals not mentioned in itinerary.

Secure your space with a $1,000 deposit and request a payment plan for the remaining balance. All balances must be paid in full 90 days BEFORE tour start date. Credit cards are accepted for an additional 5% processing fee. All payments made are non-refundable. We recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect you in the event of any emergency that leads to a cancellation. Please see the “Travel Insurance” tab on our main menu.

Ready to join this once-in-a-lifetime adventure? Please contact us at info@mundialecotours.com to register for this experience! Want to discuss things with us further? Email us to schedule a call and let’s make this dream a reality!