Please note, everything in this tour package is fully customisable! Bemnet Tours do NOT offer lock-in group tours - each tour is personalised to you and your travel companions. Our objective is to give you an authentic experience in the Omo Valley, teach you about our culture and history, and to encourage you to teach the world about the beauty of our people. Tell us what you want to do and what your ideal budget is, and we will customise the trip for you. You are welcome to request changes and amendments!

Duration & Cost

For all Omo Valley Tours, we recommend:

RECOMMENDED: 7-day tour Sufficient time to visit each of the Tribes of the unique Omo Valley. 

OPTIMAL: 10-day tour Ideal for any adventurer who would like to have some rest days and travel at a comfortable pace! 

BARE MINIMUM: 4-day tour Absolute minimum duration - you will only get to visit a couple of villages and won't have much time to experience the Omo Valley, and we can guarantee you will leave with the need to return. But this is the minimum "taster" amount of time for a time-poor traveller. 

Transportation

The "Budget Backpacker Tours" are done on motorbikes to keep the costs low. Depending on the season and availability, motorbikes can cost USD$25-35 per day, plus fuel. Speak with Bemnet about your comfort level on a motorbike. One person can sit on the back of Bemnet's motorbike if preferable. 

Helmets will be provided for all travellers, however knee pads and arm pads are not available for purchase in the Omo Valley. You can purchase these online from Temu/Shein/AliBaba/eBay for as little as USD$10 and bring them with you. 

This type of tour is not advised if you have never ridden a motorbike before, although if you are interested, you could consider learning how to ride a bike in your home country before you travel. Otherwise, look at the Omo Valley Comfort Adventurer Package, which is very similar but with an air conditioned 4x4 landcruiser!

The roads in Omo Valley are mostly dirt and full of potholes. If you like motorbiking or dirt biking, this may be the most exciting adventure of your life! There are goats and cows all over the road and it's a lot of fun to navigate between them, with the fresh Omo air blowing in your face.

Things to bring for your motorbike adventure include:

• Dust masks / neck gaiter / dustproof scarves! (Bring 2 or 3 so you have spares)

• Riding gloves - protect your hands from sunburn and help with grip 

• Knee and arm pads (optional)

• Eye drops (for the dust)

• Sunglasses with dustguards/safety glasses (to keep the dust out of your eyes)

• Camelbak or water bottle holder

• Bum bag/fanny pack/waist bag (for easy access items and mobile phones)

Accommodation

For the "Budget Backpacker Tours", you will be either camping in a tent, or in budget local accomodations (generally USD$10-20 per night more expensive than camping).

For camping, we will provide you with a tent, but you will need to bring a sleeping bag with you. It can be absolutely incredible and liberating to sleep outside in the Omo Valley and to truly experience Africa in this way. If you enjoy camping, we can't recommend this option enough! 

Budget local accommodations generally offer a room with a double bed, mosquito net, private toilet, and a shower. The water in the showers is often cold though and we cannot guarantee hot water as this will depend on whether the owners of the accommodation have fuel to run in their generators. 

Food 

You will be eating at a range of local restaurants - whilst some may have western style options (i.e. bread, egg, and avocado), many will offer primarily traditional meals, including injera (ethiopian sour bread), tibs (goat meat), shiro (chickpea stew), misir wot (lentils), kik wot (split peas), and cabbage. 

If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know before you travel so that we can plan and accommodate for you. 

Is This The Tour Option For You?

Questions that you should ask yourself are: 

• Are you at that point in your life where you want a dusty, low budget adventure?

• Do you like motorbike riding and are you comfortable on the back on a motorbike on dirt roads?

• Would you describe yourself as an "adventurous" traveller?

• Does comfort matter to you? 

• Do you need to nap during the day time? As you'll be on a motorbike, you'll be driving and adventuring during the day and won't have opportunities to sleep during the day. 

• Are you happy with budget accommodations (camping or budget hotels)? Can you sleep comfortably on a firm bed or on the ground?

• How much do warm showers matter to you? Or showers at all? Budget hotels will have cold water showers, but hot water cannot be guaranteed.