Ethiopia

Travel Portrait Masterclass

6-15 February 2026

CHF 4,495

€ 4,700 S$6,800

All-inclusive except international flight

RESERVE YOUR PLACE

10 DAYS

4-7 PEOPLE

LODGES

CAMPING

Welcome to one of the most fascinating and culturally diverse countries on Earth. Home to authentic indigenous tribes and some of the world's most unique man-made wonders. We will sample as much of it as is possible to pack in 10 days. This may well be the most emotionally thrilling trip of your lifetime.

From deep spirituality of Lalibela to hair-raising encounters with Omo Valley tribes, Ethiopia is one of the most rewarding places for travel portrait photography. The people, the mood, the ambience - I will show you how to bring this all to life in your images.

Ethiopian people are used to tourists and to being photographed - but they always expect to be paid for the privilege. In Lalibela, we pay people individually through our guide, while in Omo Valley villages we make collective payments to the village, also arranged through our guide (all photo tips are included in the trip price).

No entry restrictions.

Covid Regulations

Level of Difficulty

Lalibela is easy as almost everything is within town, with very short driving distances in a private van.

However, visiting Omo Valley tribes is an adventure trip in a rough, undeveloped area, with hours of driving on dirt tracks. Generally, the further we drive, the more authentic and untouristy the experience gets - hence we will tend to visit more remote villages. We will be staying at a simple Buska Lodge in Turmi, plus 1 night camping near a tribal village on the scenic bank of Omo River.

You need to be prepared for:

Many hours of driving in 4x4 vehicle on dirt tracks (up to 3h at a time)
1 night camping near tribal village (in individual tents), with mobile flush toilet and shower
Early morning starts to catch the best light
4 domestic flights in 10 days

Locations

Lalibela

800 years ago, 11 full-sized churches were carved underground out of a whole rock by an Ethiopian king Lalibela. Complete with inside naves and columns. All using only hammer and chisel. These underground places of worship, still actively used for religious ceremonies, are guarded by Orthodox Catholic priests, silently appearing from darkness to greet you as you enter.

Omo Valley

In an epic tour of Omo Valley, we will come face-to-face with 5 tribes - including Mursi lip-plate tribe and Hamer, who inspired Mad Max movie costumes. Expect real, raw Africa - limited facilities with shower only every other day, lifetime experience with indigenous people, waking up to the sounds of a village, stunning landscapes, striking poverty - and tonnes of smiles.

Itinerary

The Omo Valley part of the itinerary may change to accommodate village events and ceremonies which are typically announced only a few days in advance.

Fri 6 Feb - Lalibela
Arrival in Addis Ababa (early morning)
Flight Addis Ababa - Lalibela 8:10-9:10
Lalibela underground churches

Sat 7 Feb - Lalibela
Saturday market
Lalibela underground churches

Sun 8 Feb - Lalibela
Outdoor morning mass at St. Georges church
2h trip to a church built in a cave

Mon 9 Feb - Lalibela
Visit church on a high cliff
Street photography

Tue 10 Feb
Flight Lalibela - Addis 12:00-13:15
Overnight in Addis Ababa

Wed 11 Feb - Omo Valley
Flight Addis - Jinka 7:40-8:55
Hamer village
Overnight at Buska Lodge in Turmi

Thu 12 Feb - Omo Valley
Dassenech village
Mursi village
Overnight camping near Kara village

Fri 13 Feb - Omo Valley
Kara village
Overnight at Buska Lodge in Turmi

Sat 14 Feb - Omo Valley
Arbore village
Weekly Hamer market in Dimeka
Overnight in Jinka

Sun 15 Feb - Addis Ababa
Flight Jinka - Addis Ababa 13:25-14:35
Departure (evening)

Omo Valley Tribes

Mursi

The famous lip-plate tribe is perhaps the best known of the Omo Valley tribal groups. Women of the Mursi tribe have their lips cut around the age of 15. A small clay plate is then inserted into the lip. Through the years, larger plates are inserted into the lip causing it to stretch. The larger the clay plate, the more the woman is worth before she gets married. Mursi men have a reputation as the fiercest warriors in the Omo Valley, and they occasionally fall into conflicts with neighbouring tribes.

Hamer

Married Hamer women have characteristic copper-coloured braided hair painted with ochre. In addition, first wives wear easily recognisable heavy metal necklaces. Traditional bull jumping is an initiation ceremony for boys coming of age. The boy must jump over a line of 10 to 30 bulls four times completely nude without falling. During this ceremony, the women provoke men to whip them on their bare backs. This is extremely painful and causes severe scars - which are a symbol of their devotion to men in their tribe.

Kara

Kara women decorate their faces with beautiful, elaborate dot patterns - while men do decorative body chalk paintings. We will visit a more remote Kara village, which only sees tourists a couple of times a month. We will witness the face painting process, and participate in a morning coffee drinking ceremony with the village elders. Get ready for some questioning - Kara people are a curious lot!

Dassanech

Dassanech tribe lives in the fertile Omo River delta, close to Kenyan border and Lake Turkana where they hunt crocodiles (the villages are actually beyond the border check so we need to take our passports with us!). Dassanech girls have beautiful hair bead patterns, while men wear leopard skins and tall fur hats for major ceremonies. It is permissible for a man to take up to 12 wives, each costing a dowry of up to 50 heads of cattle.

Arbore

The Arbore perform many traditional ritual dances, they believe that singing and dancing eliminates negative energy and that by expelling it the tribe can flourish. Their dancing is mostly in the form of synchronised jumping - with men jumping really high. Women dance bare-chested by adorned with plenty of beaded necklaces, while young men sport headscarves or fashionable hats. The Arbore build elaborate houses with additional covered patio for socialising in a shade.

Optional Extension:

+5 Days (16-20 March), CHF 1,900

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Suri

The incredibly photogenic Suri are known for striking artistic face paintings, and adorning their heads with intricate floral headdresses - producing some of the quintessential images of tribal Ethiopia. This most colourful of Omo Valley tribes is also one of the most difficult to reach - requiring 10-hour drive one-way on bumpy roads, and 5 nights of camping. It's more hardcore than the rest of our Omo tour - hence I offer it as an optional extension. We will 3 days of shooting in several Suri villages, plus 1 day travel each way.