Omo 7-Day Itinerary

Here is an example of a comfort adventurer 7-day tour departing from Arba Minch. Please keep in mind - this itinerary is a sample of what you may want to visit, it is fully customisable to you and your interests!

The dates and order that you visit each village may change depending on what day of the week you arrive in the Omo Valley. There are markets in different areas of the valley on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays where local tribes come to trade and sell goods. Bemnet Tours will plan your trip around these market days to ensure that you can experience them for yourself.

Day 1: Arrival in Arba Minch – Explore Dorze Village & Lake Chamo

• Distance: Arba Minch ↔ Dorze Village – 30 km round trip

• Highlights:

  • Visit the highland Dorze tribe, renowned for their beehive-shaped bamboo huts and intricate weaving.

  • Enjoy a scenic boat safari on Lake Chamo, spotting hippos, massive Nile crocodiles, and abundant birdlife.

  • Rest and relax in Arba Minch for the night.

• Overnight: Arba Minch

Day 2: Arba Minch → Konso → Jinka – Gateway to the South Omo

• Distance: Arba Minch → Konso – 87 km | Konso → Jinka – 102 km

• Highlights:

  • Discover the Konso Cultural Landscape (UNESCO World Heritage Site), known for its stone-walled villages and terraced agriculture.

  • Continue to Jinka, the base for exploring the South Omo tribes.

• Overnight: Jinka

Day 3: Jinka → Ari Village → Turmi – Pottery & Countryside

• Distance: Jinka → Turmi – approx. 97 km

• Highlights:

  • Morning visit to the Ari tribe, known for their skilled pottery, traditional body art, and vibrant village life.

  • Afternoon drive through the lush countryside to Turmi, heartland of the Hamar people.

• Overnight: Turmi

Day 4: Turmi → Dassanech Tribe Excursion

• Distance: Turmi ↔ Omorate (Dassanech village) – 70 km round trip

• Highlights:

  • Cross the Omo River to reach the Dassanech tribe, semi-nomadic pastoralists living near Ethiopia’s southern border.

  • Learn about their unique architecture, dress, and lifestyle shaped by the harsh environment of the Omo Delta.

• Overnight: Turmi

Day 5: Turmi → Arbore Tribe Visit

• Distance: Turmi ↔ Arbore village – approx. 100 km

• Highlights:

  • Journey to the remote Arbore tribe, a peaceful community near Lake Chew Bahir known for their black shawls and striking adornments.

  • Return to Turmi for rest and reflection.

• Overnight: Turmi

Day 6: Turmi → Hamar Village → Konso – Tribal Rituals & Return North

• Distance: Turmi → Konso – 185 km

• Highlights:

  • Visit a traditional Hamar village. With luck, witness a bull-jumping ceremony, a coming-of-age ritual unique to this tribe.

  • Afternoon drive back to Konso, retracing the diverse landscapes of the valley.

• Overnight: Konso

Day 7: Konso → Arba Minch – Tour Wrap-Up

• Distance: Konso → Arba Minch – 87 km

• Highlights:

  • Return to Arba Minch, where your unforgettable journey through Ethiopia’s tribal heartland concludes.

• End of Tour