Early 6am rise this morning as you set-off to Gondar by road. Enjoy breakfast on-route. Arrive at the hotel for check in and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon your Gondar discovery will commence, discover Gondar Castle, the Fasil Pool, and Debre Birhan Trinity Church. Known as "the Camelot of Africa" it’s famous for its medieval castles and churches, and also known as the Imperial City of Fasilides. The Kings of Ethiopia based their power in Gondar for two centuries. The city was the first capital of the Ethiopian empire, there are a number of castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. Many picturesque ruins lie in the royal enclosure like fairytale castles, dating back to the 17th century. The castles reflect the glory of Gondarine kings and are characterized by lime mortar style. Transfer back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Gondar.

After breakfast, drive from Gondar to Bahir Dar. The drive will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture and the traditional agricultural methods still in use today. Lunch included. Embark on a boat to visit the ancient island monasteries on the lake. The monasteries are famous for their typical Ethiopian religious paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and other ancient church treasures. The monasteries you visit include; Ura Kidane Mihret famed for its iconic paintings, and continue onto the southern end of the heart-shaped lake to the 14th century island monastery of Kibran Gebriel. End the day watching the sunset at Bezawit Hill where you can see the outside of Emperor Haile Selassie I’s summer residence. Transfer back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Bahir Dar.

After breakfast, your adventure continues to the Gughe Mountains. Transfer to Bahir Dar airport and fly to Addis Ababa where you will take another flight to Arba Minch. Upon arrival in Arba Minch, lunch and ascend into the Gughe Mountains to visit the Dorze people, known for their tall beehive-like houses and their fine cotton weaving. Have the unique opportunity of meeting the Dorze, a minority ethnic group known for their durable beehive huts that can stand up to two stories high, some even feature fireplaces and are only made of bamboo, enset and other local materials. The Dorze were once warriors, but today they are famous for their cotton weaving and making brightly coloured clothes. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Arba Minch.

After breakfast, depart Arba Minch and travel by road to Turmi. On-route, stop in Konso for a visit with the Konso people, known for their totems built in honour of the dead, as well as their intricate agricultural terracing techniques. The Konso are agricultural people, cultivating subsistence crops on terraces that reduce soil erosion, leading a way of life that goes hand in hand with nature. The lands of the Konso have been declared as a World Heritage Site. Lunch included. After the visit, continue to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribes. Finally, visit the Hamer village in Turmi. The Hamar, found mostly in the fertile Omo Valley, are pastoralists who place great importance on cattle. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Turmi.

After breakfast, drive to Omorate to meet the Daasanach tribe. The Daasanach range across a large territory following the western banks of the Omo River to Lake Turkana. Lunch included. Local tradition, reinforced by that of the Turkana, recounts that the Daasanach migrated to their current homeland from a region called Nyupe, to the west of Turkana. Like the Turkana, Samburu and Gabbar of northern Kenya, the Dasenech or Geleb were originally herders, living an almost nomadic lifestyle. The abundant water frontage and fertile soil of their present territory has subsequently pushed them towards a more diverse subsistence economy, based around fishing and agriculture as well as herding livestock. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Turmi.

Early in the morning, depart Turmi and head to Mago National Park by road via Jinka and enjoy breakfast on-route and lunch included. The most renowned of the tribes that live in Mago are the striking Mursi with their distinctive body ornamentation, such as lip plates, piercings and face paintings and are featured often in travel publications. The Mursi women, like the Suri, insert discs into their lower lips adding to their unusual appearance, adorned with beads, strange and elaborate headdress creations and scant beaded-leather clothes. After visiting the Mursi village, transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Jinka.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Jinka airport and fly back to Addis
Ababa. Lunch included. Located at the foot of the Entoto Mountains, Addis is the capital of Ethiopia, founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik. Known locally as the "new flower", the city is dotted with Eucalyptus trees and surrounded by mountains. Addis is a regional hub with quite a cosmopolitan feel, offering interesting sights and delicious Ethiopian cuisine. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Addis Ababa.

Breakfast* at the hotel. Sadly, it’s time to bid farewell to Ethiopia after a truly unforgettable experience. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Nosy Be. Known as the 'perfume island' for its scents of Ylang Ylang, sugar cane and spices, Nosy Be is the main island of Madagascar's archipelago. After your arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to start discovering this beautiful island. Overnight stay in Nosy Be.

* Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

After breakfast, your guide will greet you at your hotel ready for your Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely Tour. First, you head for the stunning volcanic island of Nosy Komba by speedboat. Once you arrive, visit the artisanal fishermen’s village and its traditional dugouts, with its embroidery and crafts market. Then, visit the small private park and discover some incredible species that inhabit the island, such as the boa constrictor, chameleons and land tortoises, but most significantly the macaco lemur. Next, your excursion takes you towards the protected underwater natural reserve of Nosy Tanikely. Swim and snorkel in the warm, crystal-clear waters, and look out for the magnificent spectacle of corals and anemones, myriads of multicolored fish, crustaceans, groupers and with luck spot some sea turtles. Finally, take a stroll to the lighthouse to discover the dogfish and lemurs perched in the trees, lizards, chameleons and butterflies that will accompany you along the way. Lunch included. After this adventurous day, head back to your Nosy Be hotel. Overnight stay in Nosy Be.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you have the whole day at your leisure. Choose to spend the day relaxing, swimming in the ocean or soaking up the sun on the soft, white-sand beaches, while you recharge and take in the beautiful natural surroundings of this magical island. If you are really wanting to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime trip, we recommend one of the exciting excursions listed below. Overnight stay in Nosy Be.

* Lokobe Reserve Excursion with Boat Transfers and Picnic Lunch: A nature lover's dream. Visit this natural reserve that shelters several endemic animal species. In addition to the black lemur, see the weasel lemur with yellow stripes that lives on Lokobe. Discover endemic reptile species, in particular the Malagasy tree boa, the short-tailed chameleon, the panther chameleon as well as the Mantella frog.

** Nosy Iranja Excursion with Boat Transfers and Picnic Lunch: Nosy Iranja is a paradise island formed by two small islets connected by a 2 km long, idyllic white-sand bank. Known as ‘Turtle Island’ as turtles lay their eggs on the beaches. It’s a natural paradise, whales can even be seen there from July to December. Enjoy a seafood lunch.

*** Sunset in Mont Passot: End your day by enjoying the sunset at Mont Passot, the second highest point of Nosy Be. From the top of the hill, you can enjoy a 360 degree view of the Indian Ocean and some of the twelve volcanic lakes of the island. The most beautiful moment is at sunset, the sky takes on a range of colors from orange to pink, fuchsia to red and blue: a truly exciting moment. This excursion can be done after the Lokobe Reserve or Nosy Iranja Excursions.

Please note: Due to the timings, it is not possible to do both the Lokobe Reserve Excursion and Nosy Iranja Excursion, please choose one of them.

Breakfast at the hotel.* Today, sadly it's time to end your adventure to Madagascar and its islands. Bid farewell to the spice-scented island of Nosy Be and you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the UK/Ireland. 

* Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.