How to choose your trip to Ethiopia
Tours to Ethiopia usually focus on one of two main travel regions. The Historical Circuit in the north explores the amazing sites of Lalibela, Gonder and Axum in addition to the beautiful Simien Mountains, Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls. Southern Ethiopia is renowned for its colourful and diverse traditional tribal groups as well as a number of national parks for wildlife viewing. Dedicated trekking tours to the Simien Mountains are available which include an ascent of Africa's fourth highest mountain, Ras Dashen. Ethiopia also lies along the Nile and Rift Valley route, a remote overlanding journey connecting Cairo to Nairobi.
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Standard Tours of Ethiopia Historical Circuit
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Get beyond the tourist façade of the countries you visit. Focus on the local culture, past and present, and discover the lifeblood of any country – its people. Discovery and culture tours uncover different ways of life, and offer the opportunity to meet and sometimes stay with local people or tribal groups. Our discovery tours explore cultural sites – both ancient and modern – and help you learn about the people and their culture. Visit the remote tribes of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley, live the nomad life in desert camps or meet the local people of the high Andean altiplano in Peru. There’s no better way to get to the true heart of a country than through its people. Blue Nile & Lalibela 14 days
from £1795 excl. flights*   Join us for a journey through one of Africa's least explored countries. On our journey along the Historic Route we visit rock-hewn churches, ancient obelisks and the forbidden medieval town of Harar. We also see many of the country's astonishing natural wonders, from the dramatic Tississat Falls (the source of the Blue Nile) to the rugged Simien mountain range. | ||
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Why not join a tour led by a guest specialist who can help you understand and appreciate your chosen destination or activity in greater depth? Working with a team of carefully chosen specialist lecturers, all of whom have a deep knowledge and passionate enthusiasm for their subject, we have developed a range of specialist led holidays all over the world. You could enjoy travelling to the fabled highlands of Ethiopia, to explore the rock-cut churches of Tigray and Lalibela as well as the obelisks, temples and palaces of Axum, the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Or why not discover the fascinating but little known sites of Maidum, Amarna, Beni Hassan and Abydos in Egypt’s Nile Valley, ignored by mainstream tourism but full of interest for enthusiasts? As well as specialist history tours you could travel in the company of an expert astronomer to the Iceland, in search of the spectacular Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). As the most sparsely populated country in Europe, with almost negligible levels of light pollution and positioned on the edge of the Arctic Circle, Iceland is the ideal place to view the Aurora Borealis, described by some as the most spectacular natural phenomenon in the world. Our expert astronomer has great experience in aurora-tracking, making sure we're in the right place at the right time not just to witness the show, but also to explain the phenomenon and give tips on how to film or photograph it. Ethiopia's Historical Highlights 13 days
from £2269 excl. flights*   On this tour lecturer, writer and photographer Chris Bradley will guide us through Ethiopia's unique history, myths and legends. We visit many of the country's natural and cultural highlights, including the Tississat Falls and the rock-cut churches of Tigray and Lalibela. We also explore Fasiliadas' castle complex at Gondar and the 3000-year-old temple at Yeha. | ||
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Our Discovery collection draws together the best of our holidays that focus on the culture of a destination, as well as on visiting iconic sights and embracing local traditions. Some of these Discovery holidays will also have an element of activity, combining sightseeing with short walks, for example. Others might have a multi-activity holiday format, including biking and/or rafting, for instance, and these holidays are specifically designed for the adrenaline seeker! Also within our discovery collection are those of our holidays with a wildlife emphasis, photographic workshops, and polar cruise holidays. Never too physically demanding, these are predominantly touring holidays and their grade (usually towards the lower end of our 1 to 12 scale) reflects, in part, the remoteness of the area visited and the conditions likely to be encountered. Our Discovery holidays allow the discerning traveller to get right to the heart of many of the world's most stimulating destinations. Ethiopia - Addis to Axum 13 days
from £1895 excl. flights*  North of the pleasant capital of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia can boast a wealth of historical and cultural treasures unlike anything else on Earth. Our 'Northern Circuit' starts out with a short flight to Bahir Dar, where we visit the Blue Nile Falls and take a cruise on Lake Tana. Proceeding to Gondar, we have a day there to explore the Royal Enclosure, with its ruined fairy-tale castles. Heading north-east, we spend time in the Simien Mountains, famous for far-reaching views and for rare wildlife species. Our next port of call is Axum, home to giant engraved obelisks, the Queen of Sheba's palace and the Saint Mary of Zion Church, the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. We have time to check out more of Tigray's amazing rock churches before heading south to Lalibela, a medieval city that ranks amongst the wonders of the world, thanks to its outrageous complex of 12th century rock hewn churches. The landscapes, people and history of northern Ethiopia are a revelation! | ||
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* Prices are either exclusive of international flights or inclusive of flights from and to the UK as stated. Prices may vary depending on the specific departure date. Some tours may include an additional local payment to be paid in cash (USD or EURO) to the tour leader at the beginning of the tour. Please refer to the tour website for details.