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Omo Valley Tribes Tour

A journey into one of Africa’s most culturally rich regions: from the green highlands and ancient sites of the Rift Valley down to the Omo River, home to the Hamer, Karo, Mursi and Dassanech.

10–12 days

Southern Ethiopia

Culture & photography

Private & tailor-made

Overview Highlights Itinerary What’s included FAQ Contact

About this tour

Meet the communities of the Omo Valley

If you’re looking for something a little different, our Omo Valley tours offer a chance to explore one of Africa’s most fascinating and culturally rich regions. Tucked away in southern Ethiopia, the Omo Valley is home to a wide range of indigenous communities, each with their own traditions, languages and ways of life that have been passed down for generations. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with groups like the Hamer, Karo and Mursi in a way that feels genuine and respectful.

The journey itself is just as rewarding, taking you from the green highlands and historic sites of the Rift Valley down to the dry, open landscapes along the Omo River. These tours are ideal for travellers who want something more meaningful than a typical trip: real insight into a unique part of the world.

Trip facts

Duration10–12 days

Best timeOctober – March

Ideal forCulture lovers, nature & photography

AccommodationHotels, lodges & some camping

Start / endAddis Ababa

StylePrivate, tailor-made

Highlights

Communities and places you will visit

Hamer people, Turmi

Known for ochre-and-butter hairstyles and intricate beadwork.

Karo people, Omo River

Famous for striking body painting and riverside settlements.

Mursi people, Mago National Park

Known for their lip plates and strong cultural identity.

Hamer ceremonies

A bull-jumping ceremony may be possible if the timing aligns.

Pastoral life along the Omo

Visit the Dassanech near the Kenyan border, and Arbore and Borana communities.

Yirgacheffe coffee region

Learn about traditional coffee growing and processing with Sidama communities.

Also on the route: the Melka Kunture prehistoric site, the rock-hewn church of Adadi Maryam, the UNESCO-listed Tiya stelae, the Dorze village of Chencha, Nechisar National Park and Lake Chamo, and the UNESCO-listed Konso cultural landscape.

Sample itinerary

Day by day

A 12-day example of the full southern loop. Shorter versions focusing on the Lower Omo are possible: we adjust every itinerary to you.

Day 1 · Arrival in Addis Ababa

Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel. Time to rest, or take an introductory walk in the city, depending on your arrival time. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

Day 2 · Addis Ababa to Hosana

Drive south through the Gurage region. On the way, visit the Melka Kunture archaeological site, the rock-hewn church of Adadi Maryam and the UNESCO-listed Tiya stelae, offering insight into Ethiopia’s ancient civilizations and burial traditions. Overnight in Hosana.

Day 3 · Hosana to Arba Minch via Chencha

Continue south towards Arba Minch, stopping in the Dorze village of Chencha, known for its weaving traditions and tall bamboo houses, described as both beehive-shaped and elephant-shaped. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Day 4 · Arba Minch & Nechisar National Park

Explore Nechisar National Park, with savannah plains, wildlife and sweeping Rift Valley views. In the afternoon, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo, known for its crocodiles, hippos and birdlife. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Day 5 · Arba Minch to Jinka via Konso

Drive south into the Omo Valley, visiting Konso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its terraced fields and stone-walled villages, and the nearby Tsemay villages. Overnight in Jinka.

Day 6 · Mago National Park & the Mursi

Travel through Mago National Park to visit the Mursi community, known for their distinctive body adornment and traditional way of life. The visit is arranged with cultural sensitivity and local coordination. Overnight in Jinka.

Day 7 · Jinka to Turmi

Drive to Turmi, home of the Hamer people, renowned for their elaborate hairstyles, beadwork and ceremonial traditions. Time permitting, observe daily life or a cultural gathering. Overnight in Turmi (camping or lodge).

Day 8 · Turmi to Murulle

Continue through the Lower Omo to Murulle, visiting the Karo people, known for their striking body painting and settlements along the Omo River. Overnight in Murulle (camping or lodge).

Day 9 · Murulle to Omorate

Drive south to Omorate to visit the Dassanech, pastoralists living along the Omo River near the Kenyan border. Overnight in Omorate (camping or lodge).

Day 10 · Omorate to Yabello

Head north towards Yabello, stopping to visit Arbore and Borana communities and learn about pastoral traditions and the Borana Gada system of self-governance. Overnight in Yabello.

Day 11 · Yabello to the Yirgalem coffee region

Drive into the fertile highlands of southern Ethiopia. Visit Sidama communities and learn about traditional coffee growing and processing. Overnight in the Yirgalem area.

Day 12 · Return to Addis Ababa & departure

Drive back to Addis Ababa. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with Ethiopian food and cultural performances before your transfer to the airport.

Lodge accommodation can replace camping on request, and camping equipment can be provided if needed.

Good to know

What’s included

Included

Not included

Reviews

What our travellers say

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 94 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Dessislava M 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing!
Perfect organization! Very kind and helpful people! They are professionals, and you can be sure with them! Good hotels, comfortable cars, exellent drivers and guides! We were happy every day!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Stasys M 
 
 
 
 Verified From historical Lalibela to vibrant soutern tribes
Icredible trip: beutiful nature, fiery people. Well organized. Competent and helpful gides.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Regina R 
 
 
 
 Verified Highly recommended
Our group chose this company based on recommendations. It fully met our expectations. The accommodation was selected at a high level. The drivers and guides are professional. I can confidently recommend it.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Giedrius_19 
 
 
 
 Verified Two weeks trip in Ethiopia
Very interesting and full of impressions 14 day trip. Visited North and South Ethiopia. Well organized and managed. Schedule is quite tough so you have to be in good shape.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Loreta M 
 
 
 
 Verified Colorful Ethiopia
We visited northern and southern Ethiopia. The tour was organized perfectly. Habtu was constantly asking how we were doing. We thank him and the Vast Ethiopia team for a great time.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Zbigniew M 
 
 
 
 Verified Rock-hewn monasteries, nature and black Africa.
The overall impression of our private 15 day stay in Ethiopia is really good. We've founf what we expected most: living ancient history,monasteries and a visit to Natives in the South. Axum offers the great place of holy monuments, the morning processions held there are exquisite. Do not miss Balthazar's tomb. Wildlife; we were happy to ser hipos and crocodiles in natural environment. The Natl Museum in Addis is a must-see. We found the smartest and knowledgable guides in Gondar and Axum. Local flights and ca drives were ok. Roads are bad, yet this was not a surprise. Best hotels on our route were located in Lalibela and Gondar. Do visit this vibrant, unpretentious and friendly country. Zbyszek Miśkiewicz
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Leah O 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing trip with vast Ethiopia tours!! Highly recommend!
Our family of 6 traveled with VAST Ethiopia tours in March 2024 and had an amazing experience! We visited Addis Ababa and then took a trip through the southern region of Ethiopia, including Bale Mountains NP, Dorze Village Arba Minch, and Hawassa. The guides were skilled, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful. We loved every minute of it.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    osmoreno68 
 
 
 
 Verified Unforgettable and unique Ethiopia. Magic and diversity in one country
We have made a group of 30 people an unforgettable trip through the North and South of the country. It's all been very interesting. The North with its gem La LIBELA and the interesting places of Gondar and Simiens Mountains. And in the south the amazing wonders of the HAMER, DASSENECH, KARO and MURSI tribes along with the KONSO and DORCE people...With Vast we have not had any problems and we have made the trip as planned in the program... fulfilling the agreed and always trying the best for the group. It is the second time we have done ETHIOPIA in a group and for another one!!!!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Kevin S 
 
 
 
 Verified A great team! Book with them
For many years, I’ve had dreams of visiting Ethiopia. Finally, that opportunity arose for us in May, 2024.I asked friends for recommendations and we were pointed to Habtu Marye and Vast Tours. And we were lucky to find them.I spent some time online researching the things I wanted to see. But being the local experts, I relied on them to take our list, put it in the most logical order, and then they even added some things that I didn’t realize would be important for our visit.We had four full days in Addis. A short time considering everything there is to see in the country. We realized we had to limit ourselves. We spent three days in Addis and one day we headed out of town with Debre Libanos as our destination goal.We were partnered with Abay as our guide and Tesfaye as our driver. They were a great team and we thought we were fortunate to have them. They shared a wealth of knowledge about the sites we were visiting, took us places regular tourists never would have seen, and even gained entrance to several sites otherwise closed when we were there.we felt safe with Abay and Tesfaye. We were cared for. And they took us to restaurants offering wonderful local foods. We believe we saw everything we could in the short time we were on the ground. Of course, there still is a vast country beyond what we saw but that comes with a future visit.Without a doubt, I would use this tour company again and specifically the staff. And you know, that’s the strongest recommendation I can give!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Karim 
 
 
 
 Verified Best Agency for Planning Ethiopia Trip
My wife and I compared several agencies before booking. We found Vast to be the most responsive, most affordable, and most complete. Habtu and the Vast team planned our two week Ethiopia trip and were flexible in adding and removing activities although the schedule was already very complete. I am happy to say the trip was incredible. Vast takes safety first and prioritizes customer safety. The hotels we stayed at were always the best in the city we would visit. our trip was suitable for all ages and we will be recommending Vast to all travelers who want to visit Ethiopia!