Trip Info
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normal 4x4 vehicle
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2-20
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To be provided for during the trip
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game drives, nature hikes/walks & boat trip
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Addis Ababa
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English, French, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish
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To be provided for during the trip
Overview
Our brief Southern Ethiopia itinerary highlights the region’s remarkable cultural diversity. Unlike the longer itinerary, this tour skips Bale Mountains National Park, focusing instead on the Great Rift Valley and lesser-known communities. By intentionally omitting some of the typical “must-see” attractions, the tour offers a deeper, more immersive experience of authentic Southern Ethiopia, leaving lasting impressions of its off-the-beaten-path gems.
Trip Highlights
- Mid-range tour: This mid-range tour uses lodges and hotels.
- Private tour: This tour will be organized exclusively for you and won't be shared with others.
- Can start any day: If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
- Can be customized: You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
- Suitable for solo travelers: Solo travelers can book this private tour.
- Minimum age of 18 years: The minimum age for this tour is 18 years.
Itinerary
Travel: 1 h, 30 km
After your arrival & immigration, you will meet with your guide at the airport and you will be transferred to your hotel/lodge for some refreshment. Depending on your arrival time your guide will go on a city tour through Ethiopia’s vibrant and lively capital. In the National Museum, you can discover the cradle of mankind where the skeleton of “Lucy” is kept. Entoto Mountain with its Eucalyptus forest is a nice short escape out of town to see Mariyam Church and Menelik Palace, the place where the Emperors resided. Others might enjoy one of the city’s weekly markets. You can choose your itinerary with your guide.
Main Destination:
Addis Ababa (City)
Accommodation:
Sunspot Hotel
Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Flight time: 1 h
Travel: 2-3 h, 130 km
You will be transferred to your domestic flight to Arba Minch. The town is the hub for Southern Ethiopia and from here your journey moves on along Lake Chamo through fertile regions where most of the countries tropical fruits are grown to the Konso highlands where your cultural adventure can start. Kanta Lodge will be your getaway to visit the people of the Konso tribe.
Main Destination:
Arba Minch (City)
Accommodation:
Kanta Lodge
Mid-range lodge located in Konso (Cultural Village)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Travel: 3-4 h, 160 km
Today you have a full day to visit some of the non-touristic Konso villages in the surrounding highlands. Strolling around the fortressed villages your guide will explain a lot about Konso's beliefs and cultures. Generation trees are erected on a central court in the village not only telling the history of the villages but also being used as sacrificial sites for the locals. The Konso are among only a few peoples in Ethiopia that established permaculture as a means of getting more and better harvests in dry environments which makes them well off compared to other tribes in this region. These are just some of the interesting things to discover while visiting the Konso. A meeting with their friendly king (if available) will also give you another chance to learn more about the Konso before you will set off in the late afternoon to Arba Minch.
Main Destination:
Konso (Cultural Village)
Accommodation:
Kanta Lodge
Mid-range lodge located in Konso (Cultural Village)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Travel: 3-4 h, 100 km
This morning you will have a sunrise breakfast overlooking Nechisar Nationalpark crammed between the two lakes Abaya and Chamo. Certainly, one of the best breakfast spots in Ethiopia! After breakfast, a motorboat will sway you to crocodile beach on Lake Chamo to see the massive Nile crocodiles warming up in the morning sun. You will have good chances to see hippos and plenty of waterbirds as well.
Back in town for lunch before you head for your next cultural experience with the Dorze people that live up in the Chencha highlands. Your car brings you to meet the villagers and their homesteads. The false banana tree supplies them with their staple food "kocho". How? You will learn about its amazing technique. The Dorze are also skillful weavers that market their cotton shawls all over Ethiopia. Late afternoon return to Arba Minch to the lodge.
Main Destination:
Arba Minch (City)
Accommodation:
Haile Resort Arba Minch
Mid-range hotel located in Arba Minch (City)
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Travel: 5-6 h, 250 km
Another gorgeous breakfast overlooking nature awaits you this morning before you will start heading north where the huge Lake Abaya accompanies your journey for quite some hours before you reach the coffee forests of the Sidama region where some of the finest coffee beans grow. In the early evening you will get a chance to experience your first Ethiopian coffee ceremony watching, smelling, and tasting while hyenas lace from the woods and their laughter echoes all over the place.
Main Destination:
Yirga Alem (Town)
Accommodation:
Aregash Lodge
Mid-range lodge located in Yirga Alem (Town)
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Hiking: 2-3 h, 6 km (difficulty: easy, altitude difference: ↑100m, ↓100m)
This morning you awake in your traditional bamboo-woven house (traditional Sidama houses) surrounded by the sounds of birds and hyenas. Early birds are welcome to go on a nature walk with the lodge guides to spot some black and white colobus monkeys in the treetops. After breakfast, your guide will take you on a village tour on foot to the Sidama villages. A truly unique experience close to the locals and their culture on lush forest trails and through farmlands. Free afternoon at the beautiful lodge.
Main Destination:
Yirga Alem (Town)
Accommodation:
Aregash Lodge
Mid-range lodge located in Yirga Alem (Town)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Travel: 2-3 h; 100 km
Today is a rather short drive to Lake Langano which gives you plenty of time to make stops along the way. The lake town Hawassa with its vibrant fish market is an excellent stop to try fresh fish. And before reaching Lake Langano you can discover the lakes of Abijata-Shalla National Park with their resident population of the thousands of Lesser and Greater Flamingos. A rather more impressive savannah landscape is the Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary which can be visited instead. Famous for its endemic population of about 300 Swayne’s hartebeest antelopes it is the only sanctuary over the country where this game still survives.
Discuss with your guide the night before what you prefer for today’s activity. Some relaxing at Lake Langano, the only lake in Ethiopia that is suitable for swimming, can be another alternative towards the end of the trip.
Main Destination:
Great Rift Valley (Ethiopia)
Accommodation:
Hara Langano Eco Lodge
Mid-range lodge located at Lake Langano
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Travel: 6-7 h; 260 km
Your last day takes you back to the capital but along the way there lies some lush green highlands where the Gurage people live. Their homesteads are well kept and inviting and your guide is happy to make stops along the way. In the Gurage region lies also one of Ethiopia’s mysterious UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The steale field of Tiya is almost a must although archaeologists quarrel about the cultures that buried their dead people there. A controversial stop before you return to the capital. After a nice traditional farewell dinner, your driver will transfer you to the airport.
Main Destination:
Great Rift Valley
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water (On all days)
Cost Excludes
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
FAQs
The 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure includes accommodation, meals as per the itinerary, guided cultural visits, transportation, entrance fees to villages and sites, and professional local guides. The 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure is designed to give you an in-depth look at the region’s unique traditions and communities.
During the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure, you will explore various cultural groups such as the Hamar, Ari, Banna, Konso, and Dorze. The 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure also takes you through the Great Rift Valley and other authentic, non-touristic areas.
On the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure, you will stay in a mix of comfortable lodges, eco-friendly guesthouses, and boutique properties that reflect the character of Southern Ethiopia. Each night on the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure provides a balance of comfort and cultural charm.
For the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure, pack lightweight clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, and a light jacket for cooler evenings. A camera and extra batteries are essential to capture memorable moments on the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure.
Yes, the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure can be family-friendly, especially for families interested in cultural immersion and learning about indigenous traditions. Children on the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure should be prepared for long drives and outdoor activities.
Travel on the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure can include long drives and visits to remote villages. While not overly strenuous, the 8-Day Southern Ethiopia’s Cultural Treasure requires flexibility and a sense of adventure due to varying road conditions and rural environments.
