Jinka → Mursi Village → Turmi

Turmi - Turmi Hamar Tribe Town & Evangadi Dance

Arrive in Turmi, the central region of the Hamar people — semi-nomadic pastoralists known for cultivating honey, vegetables, tobacco, and cotton, as well as raising large cattle herds. Hamar women are easily identifiable by their leather skirts adorned with shells, numerous copper bracelets, heavy iron necklaces indicating social rank, and hair styled with ochre and animal fat. Men who have achieved a victory or hunting success style their hair with clay and adorn it with a single ostrich feather, maintained with a special wooden neck-rest called a borkotos. In the evening, there might be a chance to experience the Evangadi — a traditional Hamar dance held after dark where young men and women gather to sing, dance, and participate in courtship rituals central to Hamar social life. It is a genuine expression of community identity, not a performance for visitors. Attendance depends on availability on the evening of arrival.

Mursi Village - Travel from Jinka to meet the Mursi, one of the Omo Valley’s most visually distinctive communities. Mursi women are recognized for their clay lip plates, inserted after the lower lip is pierced and gradually stretched. The size of a woman’s plate has direct social and economic importance: a large plate is valued at 60 cattle in bride wealth, a smaller one at 40. The men are formidable warriors, with bodies marked by battle scars. Village decisions are made by a men’s assembly, guided by elders and a komoru — a ritual chief chosen by consensus from a single clan.

The Donga stick-fighting ceremony — a ritual combat involving 20 to 30 fighters per side, overseen by arbiters who enforce strict rules — serves as both a rite of passage and preparation for real inter-tribal conflicts that characterize life in this part of the Omo Valley. Your professional guide ensures respectful introductions throughout.

Turmi → Karo Territory → Nyangatom → Turmi

Turmi - Journey from Turmi to the Karo village of Korcho, located on the banks of the winding Omo River. The Karo are one of the smallest ethnic groups in the entire Omo Valley, with a total population of only 1,500 to 2,000 people living across just three villages: Koricho, Duss, and Labuk, each 14 kilometers apart. Their survival relies on the Omo River through a mix of agropastoralism and fishing. The Karo are immediately striking due to their body art: intricate patterns painted with chalk, charcoal, and ochre applied directly onto the skin, representing daily life, status, and identity. Their hairstyles are decorated with ostrich feathers — symbols of warrior bravery earned through conflicts with neighboring groups, including the Bume and Nyangatom. The Karo also perform a bull-jumping ceremony for marriage, conducted as a group — unlike the Hamar, who perform theirs individually. Your guide provides explanations of these cultural differences.

Departure: Turmi to Jinka

Turmi - Morning drive from Turmi back to Jinka

Jinka - Morning drive from Turmi back to Jinka. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel or Jinka Airport. End of ground services. Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner not included on departure day.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Domestic Flights

This engaging 3-day tour offers more than just standard sightseeing, granting exclusive access to the region’s varied tribes and their distinctive traditions.

Discover the hidden gems of the Omo Valley with our expertly crafted itinerary, which allows special access to multiple tribes. Experience, when possible and culturally respectful, the Hamer bull-jumping ceremony and observe the unique customs of the Karo, Mursi, Nyangatom, and Dassanech communities.

Visit lively markets, enjoy picturesque drives, and engage in a cultural journey like no other. The tour emphasizes responsible tourism and ethical interactions.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.