Day 1 on the 5th of January: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis
On arrival in Addis Ababa you will be meet us and transferred to the hotel before your first day to to Addis Abeba.
Haile Grand
Day 2 on the 6th of January: fly to Lalibella to see Ethiopian Christmas
Fly to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lalibela – the Jerusalem of Ethiopia, and Africa’s own ‘Petra’.
In a fitting finale to your Ethiopian adventure, explore the monolithic red-hued churches incredibly carved into the rock.
Your guide will lead you through the network of crevices and tunnels linking each of the churches. The churches are still in use today.
Day 3 on the 7th of January: Lalibela
Today your guide takes you to the eastern group of rock hewn churches: smaller in size, these are no less impressive,
with intricate carvings and many dark tunnels to explore! Travel further afield to the Nakutelab rock-hewn church,
built into the side of a hill in a natural cave. The afternoon culminates in a visit to a private home to participate in an Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
Day 4: Gondar on the 8th of January: fly to Gondar
On this day we will fly to Gondar, it has a rich history with its beautiful and strategic mountain setting,
the 17th-century capital was once the crossroads of several major caravan routes, and was also occupied by the Italians during World War II.
The Art Deco buildings surrounding the Royal Enclosure with its medieval castles and churches are a reminder of this heritage.
This afternoon, explore Gondar’s castles and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its iconic ceiling of painted angels
Day 5 on the 9th of January: Gondar-Sankaber (3250 m), 3-4 hours
On this day Early morning we drive from Gondar to the park headquarters in Debark, the 100 km journey will take around three hours.
At the headquarters we will arrange our permits to the park and pick up our scout.
After that we will drive for another hour before we will start our first day introductory walk.
This first hike is an easy one along the northern edge of the escarpment with a nice view points over the foothills and plains of northern Ethiopia.
You will encounter gelada baboon along this hike. Drive back to Debark for overnight.
Day 6 on the 10th of January: drive back to Gondar//Addis
On this day, we will visit Entoto Hills and the church, if we still have time, we will visit The open Market of Merkato. Night Haile grand
Day 7 on the 11th of January: Drive to Langano and AbyJata-Shalla National park
On this day we will drive to Langano and we will see the twin lakes called AbyJata and Shalla National park, this is the place where we can see a lots of flamingos on the lake, hot spring, ostriches, and a few kind of wild Goats.
Night Langano
Day 8 on the 12th of January: drive to the beautiful of Hawassa
On this day drive to Hawassa and continue by Boat to the lake to see Hippos and birds, then drive back to The hotel, in the afternoon we will visit the park to see some monkeys and Hyenas, we will do also a short trek on the side of the lake night Hotel
Day 9 on the 13th: drive to Arbaminch
On this day we will drive to Arbaminc via Dorzie, On this day afternoon, visit to a village of the Dorze people who are well known with their craft of weaving as well as their 12-meter high huts made up of bamboo and false banana leaves.
24 km away from Arba Minch is a hilly mountain about 2700 m above sea level. You will have nice scenery from the top of the Dorze and you will have a 360 degree view of Arba Minch including both lakes of Chamo and Abaya. We drive further down. Overnight at hotel in Arba Minch.
Day 10, on the 14th of January: Arba Minch
This Day in the morning drive from Arba Minch to Nech Sar National park to have a game view of various kinds of wild animals such as zebras, Swain’s hartebeests, Greater kudu, gazelle, Secretary bird, etc.
From the top of the Arba Minch National Parks plain you will have a closer view of both lakes. (Lake Chamo and Lake Abaya)
Afternoon after lunch break we drive about 8 km to Lake Chamo to make a boat trip in order to visit giant crocodiles on the shore of the lake, moreover hippos in large numbers are accessible on the same lake, and you may have a closer look at them.
Overnight: Arba Minch.
Day 11, on the 15th of January: Drive Sodo
On this day drive, we will drive to Sodo, drop our luggage and and drive for another 1 hour and half to see the twin water falls of Ajora.
It is one of the best attraction in the surrounding. Late afternoon drive back to Sodo for overnight.
Day 12 on the 16th of January: Drive to Chebera National park
The park boasts an abundance of rivers and streams, along with four small creator lakes (Koka, Shasho, Keriballa) that contribute to its rich wildlife resources.
The Zigina River originates from the northeastern highlands and traverses the central part of the park from north to south, eventually feeding into the Omo River.
Additionally, the park is crossed by various perennial rivers that also flow into the Omo River.
On this day afternoon, we will see the park with its Elephants, Buffalos, Lions, and other kind of will Goats.
Day 13 on the 17th of January:
On this day morning will drive to this game park to see Animals, then back to the lodge to collect our luggage and drive back to sodo for over Night.
Day 14 on the 18th of January, drive back to Langano
On this day drive to Langano, vial Tiya standing stones. Tiya is an archaeological site in central Ethiopia.
It is located in the Soddo woreda, in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region south of Addis Ababa
It is best known for its archaeological site its large stone pillars, many of which bear some form of decoration.
The archeological site was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980, due to the unique nature of these monolithic monuments.
Day 15 on the 19th of January drive back to Addis to be ready for December Epyphany (Timket) eve
On arrive to Addis we will go to direct to the hotel to drop our luggage then continue to the ceremony eve.
Janmeda in Addis is one of the best place to see this ceremony.
Day 16 on the 20th of January half day to see the ceremony
On this day early Morning we will go back to Janmeda to see when people goes to baptize, this is breath taking part of the ceremony.
Then we will go back to the hotel to have breakfast. After some rest we will go back to ceremony to see the activities for the whole day.
Day 17 on the 21st of January
On this day morning you will visit some of the uncovered activities in Addis, if there is anyone who want to do Shopping before they go back to home, we will have some time to do that.
Then we will transfer you to the airport for fly back.
✅ Included Services
- 🚗 4W Drive Vehicle: with driver and fuel included
- 🎟️ All Entrance Fees: access to all attractions mentioned in the itinerary
- 💧 Bottled Water: stay hydrated during your tours
- ☕ Cultural Coffee: experience traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies
- 🗣️ English Speaking Guides: expert guidance throughout your journey
- 🍽️ All meals Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: enjoy delicious meals at selected locations
- 🏨 Hotel Accommodation: any unlisted or personal stays
- 👨🏫 Professional Guide Service: personalized assistance and local insights
📸 Camera & Video Charges: personal photography or filming with special fees
❌ Excluded Services
- 🍷 Alcoholic Drinks: not included in the package
- ✈️ Any Flight: international or extra flights are excluded
- 🛡️ Personal Insurance: travel or medical insurance not included
- 💰 Personal Tips & Gratitude: for guides, drivers, or staff
- 🛍️ Shopping Items: souvenirs or personal purchases
📝 SMT Tour – Cancellation Policy
🙋♂️ Cancellation by You (the Traveler)
- 📅 More than 30 days before the tour: Full refund minus a 10% administrative fee.
- 📅 15–30 days before the tour: 50% refund of the total booking amount.
- 📅 Less than 15 days before the tour: No refund.
🏛️ Cancellation by SMT Tour
In rare cases, if SMT Tour must cancel a tour, you will receive a full refund. Whenever possible, we will also offer alternative dates or similar tour options.
🔄 Changes to Your Booking
Changes such as dates or number of travelers are subject to availability and may incur additional charges. Please contact us as early as possible to make adjustments.
🌪️ Force Majeure
SMT Tour is not responsible for cancellations due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters, political unrest, or pandemics. We will assist with rescheduling or providing credit for future tours.
💳 Refund Process
Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7–14 business days after cancellation confirmation.
💡 Travel Tip
We recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover unexpected situations that may affect your travel plans.