The Omo Valley is a picturesque and extraordinary place to visit, inhabited by a diverse mix of tribes who’s associated traditions and cultures make for a vibrant and truly interesting trip.

Although please do bare in mind the tourist infrastructure in the South of Ethiopia is generally less highly developed and basic then that which can be found on the northern circuit and in the northern highlands.

On our trip we flew into the region and were met by 4×4 Toyota landcruisers with professional drivers who stayed with us until the end.

The South can be highly unpredictable and truly isn’t for the faint hearted.

Our itinerary provides a guide of what we intended to do although the reality of our trip was one that required constant ability to adapt to situations and change plans rapidly as the need arose. Be it due to impassible rivers, vehicle breakdowns, opportunities to see tribal ceremonies or indeed the cancellation of your return flight to Addis Ababa – all of the above happened to us. Fortunately our drivers saved the day on numerous occasions – not least embarking on the gruelling drive back to Addis with us in tow so we could reach our international flight. Coupled with our exceptional guide we had an incredible time in this truly remarkable region, but I would recommend ensuring you have the support of a good team if you chose to explore this region yourself. (You can read the write up of the trip in its entirety – here, as for simplicity I have not included in this article).

Arrive Addis Ababa – overnight Ghion Hotel

Day 1 – Depart Addis Ababa – Fly to Arba Minch – Overnight Swayne’s Hotel

Day 2 – Overnight Camp Turmi

Day 3 – Overnight Camp Turmi

Day 4 – Overnight Camp Turmi

Day 5 – Overnight Camp Mago

Day 6 – Overnight Jinka Resort

Day 7 – Fly back to Addis Ababa – Overnight Ghion Hotel/depart Ethiopia.