Prime bundle

Board a morning flight at 7:15 AM from Addis Ababa to Jinka. Upon arrival, meet your #primeEthiopiaTours tour guide, Casa, and the driver(s) waiting for you at the parking lot. Hop into your Landcruiser and begin your excursion to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe, whose women are known for stretching their lips with circular plates. Return to Jinka and drive to Turmi. Once in Turmi, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of an authentic tribal open market, where the nomadic Hamar tribe gathers. The Hamar shares cultural traditions with their close relatives, the Bana tribe.

Start the day early with a drive to the Karo village of Korcho. The Karo people are renowned for their body-painting tradition — beautifying their faces and bodies with ochre, white chalk, and yellow mineral rocks. After exploring Korcho, drive to the Nyangatom village of Kakuta. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to photograph the tribespeople before returning to Turmi.

After an early breakfast, head to the Arbore tribe’s village. The Arbore people have distinct traditions — Arbore girls, for instance, shave their heads to distinguish themselves from married women. They wear dark robes and adorn themselves with colorful beads. Return to Turmi. If you’re fortunate, you may witness a bull-jumping ceremony, a rite of passage among the Hamar tribe.

After breakfast, drive to Omorate and cross the Omo River using an improvised wooden boat to visit one of the Dasanech tribe’s villages. Afterward, return to Turmi and drive along an 85 km rough road to Keyafer town. Here, you will experience a bustling open-air market where Bana, Aari, and Tsemay tribes trade alongside merchants from Jinka and neighboring towns. After lunch, continue to Konso.

Start the morning with a visit to a Konso village. The Konso people are revered for their centuries-old tradition of terracing and unique housing styles — an engineering adaptation to the rocky environment and steep terrain. Visit the village of Gamole to explore these authentic cultural practices. Continue to Arbaminch for lunch, then drive uphill to visit the Dorze tribe’s village. The Dorze people are famous for their weaving tradition and their beehive-shaped houses, which resemble elephants' faces. Take the 5:15 PM flight from Arbaminch to Addis Ababa. Overnight 

After your arrival at Dire Dawa airport jump into our vehicle/s then drive to Harar, settle for breakfast then begin your sightseeing of the little gem of the orient, our Harar town exploration will include a spice market, if lucky explore an open -air market, roam the streets inside the Jogol walls and its tight alleyways, the French poets house, the Harar museum etc.  Later in the evening feed a Hyena.  Overnight 

On this day, you drive to Dire Dawa passing through Awday chat market.

In Dire Dawa catch a 14:05PM flight to Semera with a 2 hours stopover in Addis Ababa. Once we have landed in the Afar regional capital, we shall be driven to our designated hotel. Overnight

Wake up early morning pack up your luggage’s, breakfast then meet your expedition team soon begin a scenic drive toward Lake Afdera. Along the way, there will be a stop to visit the saline lake where locals harvest salt in the traditional method. After a brief swim and lunch near the lake, the journey continues toward Dodom, the base camp for Erta Ale volcano. In the late afternoon, you will begin a guided 3-hour trek up the volcano. Upon arrival at the crater rim, you'll witness the glowing lava lake (if active) and set up camp near the summit for the night under the stars.

After descending from the volcano at sunrise, breakfast is served back at Dodom. The group then sets out across the desert, driving through vast lava fields and salt basins toward Hamed Ela. Along the way, there will be chances to see camel caravans and observe the harsh yet fascinating terrain of the Danakil. Hamed Ela is a simple Afar settlement near Lake Asale and serves as the base for visiting Dallol. The evening is spent relaxing at a local campsite with basic facilities and enjoying the quiet of the salt flats at sunset. Overnight camping 

The day begins with an early morning excursion to Dallol, one of the hottest and most geologically active places on Earth. Here, you’ll explore colorful sulfur springs, acidic hot pools, salt mounds, and bizarre mineral formations. Afterward, the tour continues across the salt flats of Lake Asale where traditional salt miners cut slabs of salt and load them onto camels. In the late morning, the journey proceeds northward as you ascend from the lowlands into the Tigrayan highlands. You’ll arrive in Mekele by late afternoon for an overnight stay at a comfortable hotel, where you can unwind and reflect on the desert adventure.

After breakfast in Mekele, the journey continues toward the Gheralta Mountains, home to Ethiopia’s most iconic rock-hewn churches. The day’s main activity is the ascent to Abuna Yemata Guh, perched high on a cliff face and accessible only via a short but exhilarating climb with support from local guides. Inside, the church is adorned with vibrant frescoes dating back to the 6th century. In the afternoon, you may also visit other remarkable churches such as Maryam Korkor or Daniel Korkor, depending on energy and timing. The day ends with a stay at a peaceful eco-lodge or guesthouse in the Gheralta area, offering a chance to enjoy the serenity of the highland landscape.

Early morning breakfast then drive toward Axum, but not without a historical stop en route. Near Adwa lies the Temple of Yeha, believed to be the oldest standing structure in Ethiopia, built in the 8th century BCE in the Sabaean style. After exploring Yeha’s archaeological site, the journey continues into the ancient capital of the Aksumite Empire. Time permitting, you’ll explore Axum’s main archaeological sites, including the obelisk park, the ruins of the Queen of Sheba’s palace, and the Church of St. Mary of Zion, which is claimed to house the Ark of the Covenant. Overnight.

 Wake up early in the morning pay a visit to St. Mary of Zion Church, breakfast Then transfer to the airport for your flight to Lalibela via Addis Ababa. Once we have arrived at the airport we shall be picked by our new driver and transferred to a charming lodge nestled in the highlands. Overnight

After a morning breakfast, the journey begins with an introduction to Lalibela’s awe-inspiring northern cluster of rock-hewn churches. These medieval architectural marvels, carved directly into the red volcanic rock, include Bet Medhane Alem—the world’s largest monolithic church—Bet Maryam, and the connected churches of Bet Mikael and Golgotha. As pilgrims in white garments begin to flow into the holy sites, the atmosphere becomes charged with devotion and quiet anticipation.

Lunch break, then in the afternoon, take a cultural walk-through a nearby village, witness rural highland life, local weaving traditions, and may even enjoy a homemade Tej tasting—honey wine poured from a handcrafted glass beaker.

As dusk descends, return to the sacred church complex to prepare for the mesmerizing Christmas Eve vigil. Beginning around 9 PM, the celebration intensifies with candlelight processions, hypnotic chants, drumbeats, and priestly rituals that stretch through the night. Pilgrims fill the stone courtyards, their voices rising in ancient hymns as deacons and priests, robed in brilliant colors, perform sacred liturgies under the stars. The rock-hewn walls resonate with spiritual power, making this night not just an event, but a deeply moving experience. Overnight 

In the early morning, take a last glance of the churches and the closing moments of the Christmas celebration. The sunrise casts golden light over Bet Giyorgis, the iconic cross-shaped church dedicated to Saint George. Carved down into the ground and hidden from view until one reaches its edge, it offers a perfect finale to the spiritual experience. Pilgrims gather here in song and celebration, while local children play the traditional Genna game—a kind of Ethiopian stickball—across the open fields.

After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, served with freshly brewed Ethiopian coffee, there is time to reflect and relax before we you are transferred to the airport. Catch a midday flight to Addis Ababa.

In the late afternoon, take a short drive to Merkato to experience the busiest open-air market in all of Africa. Follow this with a visit to St trinity cathedral church and the national museum.  Enjoy dinner at Yod Abyssinia Restaurant, accompanied by a traditional music and dance performance. Transfer to the Bole international Airport to catch a flight back home.