The Northern Ethiopia Experience

WHY IT'S DIFFERENT?

Northern Ethiopia offers some of the best hiking in Africa combined with fascinating culture and tradition and of course the gelada monkeys.

Ethiopia
Jan - Dec
7 nights

From $2,242pp

Based on two people sharing, not including international flights (just domestic) learn more

AVAILABILITY

December 2024

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

The Mountain Scenery

The Mountain Scenery

With Ethiopia or the "roof of Africa", containing 70% of Africa's mountains, you can't fail to notice just how beautiful and vast the landscape is and with such contrasting scenery it's hard to comprehend it's all in one country.


The Gelada Monkeys

The Gelada Monkeys

Troops of up to a few hundred monkeys roam the meadows of the Simien mountains. The gelada baboon, also known as the ‘bleeding heart’ baboon for the distinctive bright red marks stamped onto their chests.


The Rock-Hewn Churches

The Rock-Hewn Churches

Lalibela’s extraordinary UNESCO rock-hewn churches is a unique experience and it's difficult not to be impressed with manor in which they were built. There are 11 medieval churches, you'll be taken to the most impressive.


Coffee

Coffee

Coffee originated in Ethiopia, with the first coffee plant believed to come from Harar. It's now ingrained in Ethiopian culture and you will experience a coffee ceremony which is interesting and tasty in equal measure.


“We had a fabulous time in the northern region of Ethiopia with Shigo. Tigray and the Simiens offered some truly amazing hiking and we loved our time with the monkeys."


Simon Smith - Guest

TRIP OVERVIEW

YOUR EXPERIENCE

Ethiopia is a country with so much variation and contrast, the perfect mix of stunning landscapes, culture, wildlife and amazing people. Travel to the Simien Mountains, sit amongst its Gelada monkeys, explore the 12th century Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela and Tigray. A country beautiful in so many ways complemented by the some of the friendliest people you’ll meet and breathtaking scenery – an unforgettable experience.


YOUR EXPERTS

SHIGO

SHIGO

The Inspiring One - Meet Shigo


James

James

The Brains Behind the Operation - Meet James

NEED TO KNOW

DESTINATION Ethiopia
DURATION 7 nights
GROUP SIZE 8 people
ASSISTANCE Hands on
AIRPORT(S) Addis Ababa
FLIGHTS For more information on flights from the UK please refer to the Trip Details section.
VISA UK, EU & US required
VACCINATIONS Yes

TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive in Addis

Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel for a rest, followed by lunch. Afternoon visit to the National History Museum where you will see primitive human remains believed to be 3.2 million years old and Red Terror Museum, a memorial to the martyrs of the Derg regime.



INCLUDED

  • Airport Pick-up
  • Entry and visit to the National History Museum
  • Entry and visit to the Red Terror Museum

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Food Tour
Day 2 Travel to Hawzen

Morning transfer to Addis airport for your flight to Mekele beforing transfering to Hawzen for lunch. Optional afternoon hike up to one of the many hidden mountain Rock Hewn Churches.



INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Airport transfers
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Hike to Rock Hewn Churches
Day 3 Day at your leisure

Day at your leisure with optional hikes either side of lunch or a long hike with a picnic lunch.



INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Hike
  • Picnic Lunch
Day 4 Travel to Axum

Transfer to Axum, the home of the Ark of the Covenant, optional Church & Stelae Tour.



INCLUDED

  • Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Church and Stelae Tour
Day 5 Hike along the Simien Mountains

Morning transfer to Debark for lunch. Transfer to the Simien Mountains to hike along the ridge and spend the afternoon with the Gelada monkeys.



INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Simien Mountains hike
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Day 6 Travel to Gondar

Optional morning trek, lunch at your hotel. Afternoon transfer to Gondar, evening at your leisure.



INCLUDED

  • Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Morning trek
Day 7 Travel to Lalibela

Morning transfer to the airport before flying to Lalibela. Afternoon tour of the Unesco Rock Hewn Churches dating as far back as the 12th century.



INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Airport transfers
  • Tour of the Unesco Rock-Hewn Churches
Day 8 Travel to the airport

Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Dinner in town before returning to the airport for your evening flight.



INCLUDED

  • Breakfast
  • Airport transfers

TRIP ACCOMMODATION

A selection of our accommodation, which is subject to availability, however alternatives are always of a similar price, grade and location.

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

All our hotels are conveniently located near the main sights and close to the airport giving you more time to relax when not exploring.
Typical Accommodation: Hotel Hub or similar 

Gondar

Gondar
Ethiopia

Our selection of comfortable hotels are perfect for relaxing after an afternoon drive and a morning hiking in the Simien mountains.
Typical Accommodation: Mayleko Lodge or similar 

Simien Mountains

Simien Mountains
Ethiopia

Either located in the National Park or by the entrance we choose from the very best on offer. The more intrepid you can even camp in the park.
Typical Accommodation: Semien Mountain Lodge or similar 

Axum

Axum
Ethiopia

This religious city is rumoured to house the Ark of the Covenant, this is disputed by many outside of Ethiopia, especially as it's not on public display.
Typical Accommodation: Sabean Hotel or similar 

Hawzen

Hawzen
Ethiopia

Situated in the most northern region of Tigray, Hawzen is the perfect location to explore the stunning landscape and hidden churches.
Typical Accommodation: Gheralta Lodge or similar 

Lalibela

Lalibela
Ethiopia

Our hotels are situated on a ridge overlooking the plains below, just a short transfer from the UNESCO rock-hewn churches.
Typical Accommodation: Maribela Hotel or similar 

Mekele

Mekele
Ethiopia

With all our selection of hotels comfortable and central, they are perfect for relaxing after a long day travelling.
Typical Accommodation: Debre Amo Guest House or similar 

TRIP LOCATION

WHERE YOU'RE GOING

When you think of Ethiopia, you may be inundated with images of extreme poverty set against an unforgiving desert landscape ravaged by war. Put the preconceptions aside, however, and you’ll discover a colourful nation that stands apart from every other country on the African continent. Along with being the only African country to have resisted colonisation, scientists have declared Ethiopia to have been the beginning of mankind thanks to the discovery of the 3.5 million year old fossils from ‘Lucy’, the first human being on record. Ethiopia rests on a plateau at 2,500 metres above sea level and boasts staggering landscapes rich in natural beauty with gushing waterfalls and winding rivers set amongst fertile highlands and the flat-topped peaks of the vast Simien Mountains.


DID YOU KNOW
  • The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months so Ethiopia is approximately 8 years behind us! The 13th month is five days long, or six in a leap year
  • More than 70% of Africa’s mountains are found in Ethiopia. Hence its nickname as ‘the roof of Africa’
  • There are over 80 different languages spoken in Ethiopia. The most widely spoken of these are Oromo and Amharic
  • Minus Arabic, Ethiopians are the only people in Africa with their own indigenous written alphabet

FAST FACTS

CAPITAL Addis Ababa
POPULATION 114.96 million
CURRENCY Ethiopian birr
TIME DIFFERENCE UTC+03:00

"Hiking boots are essential but it's also important to bring warm clothes as it can get very cold in the mountains."


Shigo - Untravelled Paths

TRIP TIPS

tips image

Hygiene

Be sure to wash your hands regularly to ensure you don't catch or pass on germs as hygiene standards aren't as high as they could be. On such a busy adventure you don't want to be unwell.


tips image

Responsible Tourism

We work hard to maintain mutual respect between local and visitor to ensure an authentic visit, so we ask that you avoid giving gifts to the locals, you donate by visiting.


tips image

Visa Application

As a UK / EU passport holder you can get an e-visa or obtain one on arrival. However as rules tend to change fairly regularly it's always prudent to double check as one of our team can testify!


tips image

Vaccinations

Ethiopia does require vaccinations, so please book an appointment with your nearest clinic. Some take time to take effect, so be sure to allow plenty of time before departure.SEE MORE


TRIP DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • ALL TRANSFERS
    • Airport transfers
    • In-country transfers
    • Domestic Flights
  • ALL ACCOMMODATION
    • 4 nights B&B accommodation
    • 3 nights Full Board accommodation
  • MEALS
    • All breakfasts
    • 3 lunches
    • 3 dinners
  • ACTIVITIES
    • Entry to the national park
    • Visit to the National History Museum
    • The Red Terror Museum
    • Entry into Lalibela Rock Hewn Churches
    • All walking tours
  • THE SERVICES OF A BI-LINGUAL GUIDE
  • UNTRAVELLED PATHS EXPERIENCE EBOOKLET
GETTING THERE

As a tour operator we are not able to offer inclusive flights as part of our experiences however we are more than happy to help you find the most appropriate incoming and outgoing flights for you. All the listed airports fly in and out of Addis Ababa with multiple different airlines to choose from. We highly recommend using Ethiopian Airlines as they are very affordable, the only airline that flies direct and most importantly will give you up to a 50% discount on internal flights if you have booked your international flight with them. They are the only domestic carrier in Ethiopia.

LONDON TO ADDIS ABABA
  • Ethiopian Airlines
INTERNAL FLIGHTS
  • Addis Ababa to Mekele
  • Gondar to Lalibela
  • Lalibela to Addis Ababa

Internal flights typically cost £100 - £150 per person for all the connections listed above. We can reserve your international flights and domestic flights for you, provide a quote and then you simply call the reservations centre and they will take your payment.

FURTHER INFORMATION

INSURANCE

In order to be fully covered on your trip should anything happen, we suggest getting an insurance before you travel. We recommend True Traveller, designed especially for adventure travel, who will be able to tailor an insurance package based on your needs. You can find out more here.

SOLO TRAVELLERS

Our prices are based on people sharing, for solo travellers who would prefer a private room the price per person will include a solo occupancy fee.

EXTRA NIGHTS

If you wish we can also organise extra nights at either end of your trip for you.

HOW IT WORKS

Book your trip in a few easy steps.

1

ENQUIRE ONLINE

Once you’ve chosen the dates you’d like to travel on using our availability calendar all you need to do is head over to the booking page and fill in the enquiry form. 

2

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS

We will get back to you answering any questions you might have and confirming availability. If all is good, we can hold the places for you for 48 hours while you book your flights. Please note that this stage does not represent a guarantee of the booking. 

3

BOOKING FORM

Once you have made your necessary arrangements, we will send you a booking form you will need to fill in with your details and any other relevant information.

4

PAY FOR YOUR TRIP

As you fill in the booking form, you will also be asked to make the payment through a secure link; if you are travelling in less than 8 weeks, the payment will be paid in full, otherwise only a 35% deposit will be taken.

5

FINAL CONFIRMATION

Shortly after you pay, you will receive a confirmation invoice, followed by a personalised itinerary and digital booklet. All you need to do now is write the dates in your diary, prepare your packing list and look forward to your next adventure!

6

NOTES

Please note deposit is non-refundable. The balance will only be refundable if you cancel with more than 8 weeks in advance. More information about the cancellation policy can be found in our Terms & Conditions. We highly suggest getting insurance before you travel to avoid any problems. Our personal recommendation is using True Traveller.