Ethiopia Holidays & Tours: Omo Valley + Lalibela + Simien Mountains + Bale Mountains Park
Ethiopia holidays & tours to the Omo Valley and Lalibela will introduce you to the land of the Queen of Sheba and the Ark of the Covenant. It is a country steeped in history, with over 80 different languages and many colourful tribes in the Omo Valley. The castles and palace of historic Gondar will astound you and the rock-hewn churches of sacred Lalibela are breathtaking.
You can view endemic wildlife in the Simien Mountains & in Bales Mountains National Park. The Blue Nile Falls near Lake Tana are the second largest in Africa and Lucy, the world's oldest almost intact hominid skeleton, was discovered here.
Import Christian festivals in Ethiopia include Easter, Christmas, Timkat, which takes place on 19 January (20 January on leap years) to celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and Meskel in late September, which celebrates 'Finding the True Cross'.
Combine your ideas with our expertise and let us help you create a holiday of a lifetime. We offer a wide range of options at different price points, all of which can be tailor made to your needs.
For expert advice on Ethiopia holidays & tours to the Omo Valley, Lalibela & the wilidlife of the Simien Mountains & Bale Mountains National Park, email or call us on +44 (0)1582 766122 to speak with a specialist travel consultant. Download our Ethiopia brochure (PDF 0.5 Mb)
We have been arranging Ethiopia holidays & tours to Omo Valley, Lalibela, Simien Mountains & Bale Mountains Park for over 20 years.
ALL OUR ETHIOPIA HOLIDAYS AND TOURS TO OMO VALLEY, LALIBELA, SIMIEN MOUNTAINS & BALE MOUNTAINS PARK ARE FINANCIALLY PROTECTED wherever in the world you live.
More information on Ethiopia holidays & tours to the Omo Valley, Lalibela & the wilidlife of the Simien Mountains & Bale National Park:
Ethiopia's historic sites are truly breathtaking. The country is also home to some of the continent’s highest mountains, beautiful flamingo-filled Rift Valley lakes, mighty rivers and rare wildlife.
On Ethiopia holidays & tours you can visit more than nine official World Heritage Sites, with a further five waiting for authorisation. Dating from the 16th century, the castles and palaces of historic Gondar and the astonishing subterranean rock-hewn churches of sacred Lalibela are some of the most famous. The monasteries at Bahir Dar on the islands of Lake Tana, Axum’s 4th century giant stone obelisks and the chapel that is said to house the Ark of the Covenant, are all notable highpoints on Ethiopia’s classic historic circuit.
With over 80 languages spoken and many different religious affiliations, on Ethiopia holidays & tours you will see that the country's heritage and culture are incredibly diverse. The many tribes of the Omo Valley are testimony to this cultural richness, including the Dorze with their distinctive beehive shaped homes, the Karo who live in wooden hilltop fortresses and sculpt totem poles and the Turmi who decorate their hair with red clay and on special occasions hold bull jumping ceremonies.
The colourful Orthodox Coptic festivals of Timket and Meskel are two of the most fascinating national celebrations and can be experienced countrywide on Ethiopia holidays & tours. Celebrating the Epiphany, three-day Timket is Ethiopia’s most important festival. Held in January, there are huge colourful processions accompanied by music and dancing. The annual festival of Meskel falls in September and celebrates the discovery of the True Cross. Large bonfires are decorated with daisies prior to the celebrations, which take place in the early evening.
Formed by volcanic activity, Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source of the Blue Nile, one of the major tributaries of the Nile. The Blue Nile Falls are worthy of a visit on Ethiopia holidays & tours, even though the level of water at the falls has been reduced by the construction of a hydroelectric dam.
For those interested in archaeology, Lucy, the world’s oldest almost intact hominid skeleton, was discovered in the Awash Valley & an interesting display can be seen in Addis Ababa museum.
Ethiopia has two important national parks. In the north, Simien Mountains National Park was created to protect the critically endangered Walia Ibex, which clings to sheer rock faces. It is also home to the Gelada (bleeding heart) monkey and the rare Simien wolf (also known as the Simien fox or Abyssinian wolf). On Ethiopia holidays & tours, the open afro-alpine moorland of Bale Mountains National Park is another good place to see a range of endemic mammals, including the Simien wolf. As wildlife is relatively sparse, combining a big-five safari in Kenya with a cultural experience in Ethiopia is a popular choice.
![Cultural Tour Ethiopia Tribes Omo Valley Hamer Karo Turmi Jinka Arba Minch]()
This escorted cultural tour to Ethiopia visits the fascinating tribes of the remote Omo Valley in the south, travelling via Lake Langano to Arba Minch, where we visit the Dorze tribe & see Nile crocodiles in Lake Chamo. We continue to Turmi, the home of the Hamer tribe, where young men "jump the bulls" to prove their manhood & visit the Mursi & Karo tribes. Departs once a month (min 2 / max 7).
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• Dorze Village
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• Lake Langano
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• Hamer Tribe
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• Lake Chamo
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• Omo Valley Tribes
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• Karo Tribe
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• Addis Adaba
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• Arba Minch
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• Cultural Tour, Ethiopia
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• Turmi & Jinka
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![Ethiopia Private Tours Cultural Holidays Tribes Omo Valley Photography]()
Our tailor made Ethiopia private tours & cultural holidays visit some of the fascinating tribes of the Omo Valley. Starting from Addis Ababa, travel south with your own private driver/guide to Lake Langano and Arba Minch. Visit the Dorze, Konso, Mursi, Ari & Karo tribes, as well as the Omo Museum. In Turmi we visit the Hamer tribes, where young men 'jump the bulls' when they come of age. Ideal for photography.
![Escorted Small Group Tours Ethiopia Guided Simien Lalibela Addis Ababa]()
Our escorted small group tours in Ethiopia are fully guided and will introduce you to the historic treasues of this ancient country. Visit the Lake Tana monasteries, the Simien Mountains which are home to the Gelada baboon, Walia ibex, Ethiopian wolf & other endemic wildlife, Axum, sacred Lalibela with its astonishing rock-hewn churches & Addis Ababa. Departs once a month (min 2 / max 7).
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• Rock Hewn Churches
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• Axum
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• Simien Mountains
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• Addis Ababa
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• Small Group Tours, Ethiopia
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• Lalibela
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Escorted Small Group Tours Ethiopia
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• Group Tours: Ethiopia (Guided)
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• Gondar
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![Ethiopia Tour Lake Tana Simien Mountains Gondar Axum Lalibela Churches]()
Explores the historic sites of this ancient country on this privately guided Ethiopia tour. Starting in Bahir Dar, visit the Lake Tana monasteries & Blue Nile Falls, then drive to the Simien Mountains to see gelada baboons. Visit Gondar with its palaces & castles, fly to Axum & Lalibela with its astonishing rock-hewn churches. All transfers, sightseeing & private English speaking guides included.
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• Blue Nile Falls
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• Lalibela Churches
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• Simien Mountains
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• Gondar - Palaces & Castles
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• Addis Ababa
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• Gelada Baboons
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• Bahir Dar
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Ethiopia Tour (private)
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• Axum - Ark of Covenant
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![Wildlife Holidays Ethiopia Guided Tours Simien Bale Mountains Lalibela]()
Our wildlife holidays to Ethiopia & private guided tours explore the unique Alpine flora, fauna & birdlife of this beautiful high altitude country. In the Simien Mountains you can hope to see the rare Walia ibex and colourful Gelada baboon, whilst Bale Mountains National Park is the best place to see the Ethiopian wolf. Also visit historic Gondar & Lalibela. All transfers & English speaking guide included.
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• Ethiopia Guided Tours
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• Simien Mountains
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• Bale Mountains National Park
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• Gondar
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• Gelada Baboon
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• Wildlife Holidays, Ethiopia
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• Addis Ababa
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• Lalibela
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• Walia Ibex
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• Lake Langano & Lake Awasa
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![Holiday Ethiopia Tour Blue Nile Gondar Lalibela Kenya Safari Masai Mara]()
This holiday to Ethiopia combines a private tour of its key sights with a thrilling Big Five Kenya safari in the famous Masai Mara. Take a boat ride to see the ancient monasteries on Lake Tana, view the Blue Nile Falls, vsit the Simien Mountains, castles & palaces of Gondar & rock-hewn churches of sacred Lalibela. English speaking guides, all transfers, game drives & park fees included.
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• Simien Mountains
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• Holiday to Ethiopia: Private Tour
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• Lalibela
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• Blue Nile Falls
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Big Five Game Drives
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• Rock Hewn Churches
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• Gondar
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• Kenya Safari, Masai Mara
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• Bahir Dar
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![Birding Holidays Tours Ethiopia Bird Bale Mountains Yabelo Lake Awasa]()
Our birding holidays & tours to Ethiopia will take you to a fascinating country that offers some of the best bird watching in all of Africa, with over 950 different species & 30 endemics. Visit the central grasslands, Bale Mountains, Lake Langano & Lake Awasa in the Rift Valley, Yabelo & Arba Minch in the south, before flying to Lalibela to view its famous rock-hewn churches. Birding guide, all transfers & park fees included.
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• Bale Mountains
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• Addis Ababa
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• Birding Holidays & Tours, Ethiopia
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• Arba Minch & Tribes of South
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• Sululta Plains + Debre Libano
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• Ethiopia Bird Watching
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• Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary
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• Lalibela Churches
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• Lake Langano
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• Lake Awasa
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![Holiday Gorillas Ethiopia Lake Tana Simien Mountains Lalibela Churches]()
This holiday combines gorillas with Ethiopia, to provide a fascinating contrast. Enjoy the cultural highlights of Ethiopia on this private tour, including the ancient monasteries on Lake Tana, endemic wildlife in the Simien Mountains, the palaces of Gondar & the rock-hewn Lalibela churches. Afterwards fly to Uganda to trek to see magnificent mountain gorillas. All transfers, gorilla permits & specified sightseeing included.
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• St Georges Church
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• Kigali
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• Holiday: Gorillas & Ethiopia
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Simien Mountains
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• Gorillas of Uganda
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• Lalibela Churches
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• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
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• Addis Ababa
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• Gondar Palaces
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![Ethiopia Tour: Simien Mountains Lalibela Omo Valley Tribes Private Guide]()
This comprehensive Ethiopia Tour combines the key sights of the north, including the wildlife of the Simien Mountains, the palaces of Gondar & rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, with the fascinating Omo Valley tribes in the south, travelling with your own private guide. Ideal for culture, birding, botany & photography. English-speaking guides & all transfers included.
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• Axum
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Addis Ababa
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• Tiya Stelea / Melka Kunture
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• Lalibela Churches
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• Gondar Castles & Palaces
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• Omo Valley Tribes
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• Ethiopia Tour
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• Simien Mountains
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• Private Guide
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