Omo Valley Photo Tour
Omo Valley Photo Tour
9th – 18th Jan 2026
View Dates & Prices
Group Size
4 Participants
Location
Omo Valley & Lalibela,
Ethiopia, East Africa.
TOUR OVERVIEW
In the southwest of Ethiopia, the Omo Valley is the home to some of the last true indigenous tribal people in all of Africa. The region has been a cradle of human civilization and a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its historical and anthropological significance since the discovery of human remains dating back nearly 2.5 million years.
Isolated for millennia from the rest of the world, the beautiful Omo Valley is home to an exciting mix of many small and distinctive tribal groups including the Hamer, Suri, Dassanech, Karo, Nyangatom, Bena and Mursi tribes – all of whom have retained their unique customs and traditions. In the face of their ever-changing world, each of these tribes is struggling to maintain their traditions of dress, dance, decoration and way of life. A visit to Ethiopia’s Omo Valley is to visit a world that is fast disappearing. A world of beauty, diversity and strength that has vanished from great tracts of Africa.
PRE-EXTENSIONS:
6 days Lalibela Extension – Lalibela (Amharic: ላሊበላ) is a town in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Lasta district and North Wollo Zone, it is a tourist site for its famous rock-cut monolithic churches. The whole of Lalibela is a large and important site for the antiquity, medieval, and post-medieval civilization of Ethiopia. To Christians, Lalibela is one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities and a centre of pilgrimage.
Lalibela (ላሊበላ) is history and mystery frozen in stone, its soul is alive with the rites and wonders of Christianity at its most ancient and unbending phase. No matter what you’ve heard about Lalibela, no matter how many pictures you’ve seen of its breathtaking rock-hewn churches, nothing can prepare you for the reality of seeing it for yourself. It’s not only a World Heritage site but truly a World Wonder.
TOUR OVERVIEW
In the southwest of Ethiopia, the Omo Valley is the home to some of the last true indigenous tribal people in all of Africa. The region has been a cradle of human civilization and a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its historical and anthropological significance since the discovery of human remains dating back nearly 2.5 million years.
Isolated for millennia from the rest of the world, the beautiful Omo Valley is home to an exciting mix of many small and distinctive tribal groups including the Hamer, Suri, Dassanech, Karo, Nyangatom, Bena and Mursi tribes – all of whom have retained their unique customs and traditions. In the face of their ever-changing world, each of these tribes is struggling to maintain their traditions of dress, dance, decoration and way of life. A visit to Ethiopia’s Omo Valley is to visit a world that is fast disappearing. A world of beauty, diversity and strength that has vanished from great tracts of Africa.
PRE-EXTENSIONS:
6 days Lalibela Extension – Lalibela (Amharic: ላሊበላ) is a town in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Lasta district and North Wollo Zone, it is a tourist site for its famous rock-cut monolithic churches. The whole of Lalibela is a large and important site for the antiquity, medieval, and post-medieval civilization of Ethiopia. To Christians, Lalibela is one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities and a centre of pilgrimage.
Lalibela (ላሊበላ) is history and mystery frozen in stone, its soul is alive with the rites and wonders of Christianity at its most ancient and unbending phase. No matter what you’ve heard about Lalibela, no matter how many pictures you’ve seen of its breathtaking rock-hewn churches, nothing can prepare you for the reality of seeing it for yourself. It’s not only a World Heritage site but truly a World Wonder.
TOUR LIMELIGHT
- 9 days of enthralling experience of meeting and capturing various ethnic groups in Omo Valley.
- 6 days of exclusive photo shoot in Lalibela during the Ganna festival.
- Special attraction (Omo Vally) – A chance to visit some of Africa’s most elaborately decorated indigenous people including the Suri, Mursi, Hamer, Gnangatom, Karo, Bena and Daasanach tribes.
- Shooting extraordinary tribal portraits of beautiful old-aged people will add a very good collection to your portfolio.
- Special attraction (Lalibela) – The night candle ritual is one of the most appealing events to photograph since it allows you to capture some magnificent photographs of thousands of pilgrims holding candles.
- Street Photography – Shooting people dressed in vibrant clothes on the streets of Lalibela.
- For photographers, it is an unparalleled & unforgettable experience to capture the vibrancy of the entire Lalibela in one place. The frame captures the culture, religious legacy, ancient rituals and rustic core natural beauty.
- A local English-speaking guide who is highly knowledgeable about the natural and human history of the Omo Valley and Lalibela.
ITINERARY
Day X
Pre-tour briefing about the attractions of the tour, safety precautions for the equipment and photographer during the tour, travelling instructions etc. These discussions can be made via WhatsApp group, e-mail, or telephone after the reservation of a seat.
Day 1: 09.01.2026
After arriving on your international flight, our driver will bring you to the hotel situated in the centre of Addis Ababa. After taking a shower and food we’ll proceed to money exchange for local currency. In the evening, we will enjoy a traditional meal at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel in Addis Ababa.
Day 2: 10.01.2026
Fly from Addis Ababa to Jimma, the largest city in the southwestern Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Drive to Mizan Teferi. On the way, we will see most green areas in Ethiopia with nice forests and with biggest coffee farm. Overnight accommodation at Salayish International Hotel.
Day 3: 11.01.2026
After breakfast, we will drive to the Suri tribe which lives around the town of Kibish. After reaching Kibish once we settle our camping area, we’ll visit the Suri tribes. We’ll shoot some tribal portraits in the village; we will come back to our camp to have tea and coffee. In the afternoon also we’ll visit the village again to shoot portraits. Once we finish the shoot we’ll come back to our camp to have dinner and rest for the night. Overnight stay will be in a camp near Kibish town.
Day 4: 12.01.2026
Today we’ll drive to another Suri village to meet different women with big plates and colorful flower decorations. Full-day shoot of different portraits. Overnight stay will be in a camp near Kibish town.
Day 5: 13.01.2026
Today we’ll shoot the Nyangatom tribe, also known as the Bume or Gnangatom, one of the most colourful tribes in Omo Vally. They leave near to South Sudan border. The Nyangatom tribe migrated from Northern Uganda to Southern Ethiopia about 150 years ago. Overnight stay will be in a camp at Kangatan.
Day 6: 14.01.2026
After breakfast drive to Karo tribes. This tribe is a well-known, colourful body panting karo tribe. They are the smallest tribes in Omo Valley. Afternoon we’ll drive to Turmi and overnight accommodation will be at Emerald Lodge.
Day 7: 15.01.2026
Today morning shooting pictures with Hammer tribes who are the most famous tribes in Omo Valley. Afternoon drive to the Kenyan border to visit the Dassanech tribe. Here we will learn about their hunting and farming lifestyle, as well as visit their unique villages and learn about the construction behind them. The Dassenech are known for their dancing and you will hopefully get to see it. In the evening we will drive back to Turmi and stay at Emerald Lodge.
Day 8: 16.01.2026
Early morning, we will be visiting the unique Mursi tribe crossing through Mago National Park to reach their village. Mursi women are famous for putting clay made circular lip and ear plates which symbolize beauty in honor.
After shooting the Mursi tribe we’ll drive back to Jinka. Afternoon drive to one of the biggest and oldest colourful markets in Omo Valley. In the market, we’ll have the opportunity to shoot many other tribes including Bena tribes, Tsemehay tribes. At night stay at NASA hotel at Jinka.
Day 9: 17.01.2026
Today domestic flight back from Jinka to Adiss.
Day 10: 18.01.2026
Tearful goodbyes as our support team drop you off at the airport to connect with your international flight. Have a safe trip!
A note about this itinerary: Many factors can cause this itinerary to change. For this reason, we have allowed a few days on either side of the trip.
Also, special activities or rituals like the Bull Jumping Ceremony or Wedding Ceremony in which many South Omo Valley tribes attend to barter and exchange goods is not including the tour cost.
EXTENSIONS
Lalibela Extension – 6 Days extension to rock-hewn churches Lalibela (ላሊበላ) which is not only a World Heritage site but truly a World Wonder.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EXTENSION STARTS BEFORE THE MAIN TRIP. To join the Pre-Extension, you’ll have to reach Addis Ababa by 04.01.2026 afternoon and check in at our pre-booked hotel.
The tour is divided into two parts, if anyone does not want to join the complete tour and wishes to do only the Lalibela extension or only the Omo Valley Tour that can also be arranged.
Pre-Extensions
Day 1: 04.01.2026
After arriving on your international flight, our driver will bring you to the hotel situated in the centre of Addis Ababa. After taking a shower and food we’ll proceed to money exchange for local currency. In the evening, we will enjoy a traditional meal at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel in Addis Ababa.
Day 2: 05.01.2026
Fly from Addis to Lalibela and transfer to the town which is 25 km away from the airport. In the afternoon we’ll visit the Northwestern Cluster of churches: Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael and Bet Golgotha. At night we’ll visit a local house to witness the preparation of local food where they will celebrate Ganna in the festival.
Day 3: 06.01.2026
After breakfast, we’ll continue exploring the rest of the churches of Lalibela – Bete Amanuel, Bete Abba Libanos, Bete Gabriel-Rufael and Bet Giyorgis (Church of St. George) which is the most elegant of all Lalibela churches.
After lunch we’ll take a rest at the hotel and night, we’ll go back to one of the churches of Bet Maryam again. We’ll stay there to cover some rituals for 3 to 4 hours and come back to the hotel.
Day 4: 07.01.2026
Today morning after breakfast, we’ll visit Bete Marqorewos, Bete Abba Libanos and Bete Gabriel-Rufael.
After lunch, we’ll have a good rest at the hotel till evening. We’ll have an early dinner today and after that, we’ll go to Bet Giyorgis (Church of St. George) to witness one of the most spectacular events candle ceremony where after midnight all the pilgrims will light candles to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Before sunrise, we’ll come back to the hotel and have a good rest.
Day 5: 08.01.2026
Today is our final day in Lalibela. We’ll cover the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth with pilgrims.
Day 6: 09.01.2026
Today we’ll fly back to Addis Ababa. After breakfast our support team will drop you at the airport for your flight and we’ll conclude the Lalibela Photo Tour.
Date
OMO Valley Photo Tour – 10th to 18th January 2026
Pre-Extension (Lalibela) – 4th to 9th January 2026
Price
10th - 18th Jan 2026 | Tour Pricing |
Double Occupancy | 5500 USD |
Single Occupancy | 6350 USD |
4th - 9th Jan 2026 | Pre Extension Pricing |
Double Occupancy | 3500 USD |
Single Occupancy | 3850 USD |
Meet your mentor
Apratim Saha
Apratim Saha is the ideal mentor for the Omo Valley Photo Tour, having successfully led numerous Omo Photo Tours in Ethiopia. With extensive experience in organizing photo tours in Ethiopia, he is well-connected with many local tribes and agents, allowing him to guide you to the core of the indigenous people. Moreover, his in-depth knowledge on the people photography enhances the overall tour experience. Internationally renowned photographer Apratim Saha has been living his dream of travelling to various countries for his photographic assignments and workshops for the past three decades. Apratim is a contributing photographer for National Geographic, Getty Images and Stocksy United. He is a Canon Brand Ambassador and the Global Brand Ambassador and Mentor for Datacolor, Nisi, Godox, Vanguard, Dxo and Blackrapid. He has over 38 years of experience, from traditional film to digital photography. He is a commercial photographer specializing in people photography, portraiture, lifestyle & editorial clients.. Read More…
Meet your mentor
Apratim Saha
Apratim Saha is the ideal mentor for the Omo Valley Photo Tour, having successfully led numerous Omo Photo Tours in Ethiopia. With extensive experience in organizing photo tours in Ethiopia, he is well-connected with many local tribes and agents, allowing him to guide you to the core of the indigenous people. Moreover, his in-depth knowledge on the people photography enhances the overall tour experience. Internationally renowned photographer Apratim Saha has been living his dream of travelling to various countries for his photographic assignments and workshops for the past three decades. Apratim is a contributing photographer for National Geographic, Getty Images and Stocksy United. He is a Canon Brand Ambassador and the Global Brand Ambassador and Mentor for Datacolor, Nisi, Godox, Vanguard, Dxo and Blackrapid. He has over 38 years of experience, from traditional film to digital photography. He is a commercial photographer specializing in people photography, portraiture, lifestyle & editorial clients. Read More…
FAQs
Can I join this trip as a non-photographer?
Sure! If your significant other wants you there by their side then be our guest! Similarly, if you just want to come alone without a camera then don’t feel that you need to be into photography. This photo tour is designed to be an immersive experience for everyone and we have hosted many non-photographers on previous photo tours. During my previous trips to Ethiopia, I spent many hours just spending time with the tribes and walking alongside them rather than shooting photographs. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of things to occupy your time as a non-photographer.
What kind of things should I bring?
This is not a cold-weather trip, so you don’t have to bring warm clothing, but for the Lalibela, only bring light warm clothing like a windcheater because at night at churches it will be slightly cold.
This is a suggested packing list to make your trip a fulfilling and comfortable experience.
- Backpack or suitcase
- Comfortable light boots for walking
- Headlamp/flashlight
- Lightweight trousers
- Sunglasses
- Sun care cream
- Mosquito repellent
- Water bottle with 1 litre of capacity
- Wet tissues
- Insurance confirmation copy
- Emergency contact number
- Carry your essential and basic medicines for headaches, fever, stomach upset, etc.
- Extra battery for the camera
- Adequate storage media
Suggested Equipment
You should bring cameras, a laptop (for editing in the evenings), and a head torch these kinds of things instantly spring to mind. Don’t worry about recharging since we will have generators to top up during each camping night. Once you confirm your booking with a 50% deposit, we will send you all the information you need to fully prepare yourself for this epic journey.
This is just an idea about the suggested camera and accessory:
- One or two DSLR or Mirrorless (Full Frame or Crop Sensor) cameras. If you use a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera, for much of the time, when photographing the tribes or rituals, you will want to cover focal lengths of around 24-70mm or 24-105mm. However, a kit lens (18-55/3.5 or 4.0) will also work.
- For photographing tribal portraits, consider bringing a prime telephoto lens of 85mm.
- If you bring a good quality bridge camera instead of a DSLR or mirrorless camera, it will be best if it has an optical zoom of 18-20x or more, combined with a reasonable wide-angle at the other end of the zoom range.
- Protector for your lens.
- Power Bank & Electric Socket Extension.
- Adequate memory card and Card reader.
- Be sure to bring plenty of spare battery power for your camera and external hard drive with adequate space and a card reader.
- A Computer with photo-processing software [Lightroom, Photoshop]. (If you are not having this software, don’t worry we’ll provide it.)
- Carry a small size soft cloth or towel which you may require to wrap your camera during the night shoot.
- Carry a microfiber to wipe the lens.
How fit do I need to be to join this expedition?
All of the places we visit on this trip will be accessible in our land cruiser vehicles so physical fitness is not a priority. Only if you are joining the Pre-Extension Lalibela Photo Tour then you’ll have to walk to reach different churches.
What should we expect?
- The altitude will be 2400 meters max.
- You may not be able to take a bath for two days however during our Suri tribe shoot our camp will be by the river, so if you wish you may take a natural bath in the river.
- In many places, we will face issues with the Internet and mobile networks.
Climate
During this season, the weather conditions in Omo Vally are usually warm and sunny, with typical daily maxima being between ranging from +30°C to +19°C.
Terms and Conditions
What is included?
- All domestic flights
- Transportation from Addis Ababa to Ulan Addis Ababa, overland transport, translators.
- Accommodations in a Double Occupancy in Hotels. But we have the option of Single Supplements also, please check the price.
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner on all days including non-alcoholic drinks.
- Expert guidance on Photography.
- English speaking guide
- All entrance, zone and camera fees
- Local model donations
- Everything mentioned is included; beyond that, from the moment we pick you up at Addis Ababa Airport, we will take care of everything for you – things you can think of and probably quite a few things you can’t.
What is not included?
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Your personal travel insurance
- Gifts, personal treats
- Any tips
- Any alcoholic drinks
- Laundry Services
- Medical Expenses
- All expenses of a personal nature
- Special activities like the Bull Jumping Ceremony or Wedding Ceremony.
Important points to be noted
- The expedition is designed from Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa.
- The Omo Vally Photo Tour is conceptualized in such a way so that personal attention can be given to each and every photographer and for that, the group will be restricted to 4 participants only.
- This tour has been specifically designed for photographers. Non-photographer spouse/friend may be accommodated on the expedition but at full cost and on agreeing to stick to the schedule of the expedition.
- While all care would be taken to stick to the schedule, unforeseen circumstances and time consistency might lead to some changes.
Deadlines
Registration is open from 15th February 2024 till 25th November 2025 or till the seat reservations end.
Conditions
Only a maximum of 4 participants will be selected for this photo tour. This is not a fancy tour so your physical fitness is very important.
Participants will be granted the expedition based on email confirmation on a first come first serve basis. Feel free to call +91 8509333385 or WhatsApp at +918900702900 for any further assistance.
Booking
To reserve your spot 50% of the full tour amount is required to pay at the time of your booking. Balance amount to be paid 60 days before the tour. You can pay using the online payment link on our website or ask for the account details or PayPal to transfer the payment. Your reservation may be cancelled if full payment has not been received by the last date specified and communicated. Once the payment is done, please send us a copy of the bank receipt (a screenshot is also fine) of your payment details. Once we confirm your payment, we will send you the confirmation email along with the Rules and regulations of the tour, which makes you, a confirmed candidate for the photo tour.
Cancellation and Refunds
All cancellations must be made in writing (email is acceptable) and will become effective as of the date of the postmark (standard mail or electronic). In the unlikely event, that EXPOSURE has to cancel a tour/workshop for lack of participants, a full refund including the deposit amount will be given. Once the tour begins, there can be no refunds for anything unused, including rooms, meals, flights, tour days, events, or services. Please note the cancellation penalties described below are based on costs incurred by EXPOSURE on your behalf, including non-refundable deposits or payments by agents, hotels, airlines, etc.
In the event of a cancellation or modification of your confirmed booking, Exposure’s Cancellation and Refund Policy for Photo Tours / Workshops will be applicable, and you need to fully agree to be bound by them. Any refunds will be made within 15 working days from the date of written confirmation of cancellation, via the same mode with which the payment was made to us.
Cancellation deductions will be as per the following policy of full fees:
- 40% cancellation of the total fee if cancelled 90 days before the start of the expedition or earlier than the expedition.
- 100% cancellation of the total fee if cancelled 59 days on or before the start of the expedition.
Please read all details on this page and the Detailed Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer / Undertaking in the Registration cum Booking Form.