Ethiopia

Ethiopia Travel Guide

Ethiopia is an emerging tourist destination. To make the most of your time in the country, it’s important to understand what to expect, and how to best prepare for your journey across this beautiful, but unpredictable country. 

Major Travel Regions of Ethiopia

There are 4 major travel regions in Ethiopia: 

  1. The Northern Circuit
  2. The Rift Valley
  3. The Omo Valley
  4. The Dankil Depression

Beyond these easy-to-define regions, there are a number of other popular travel destinations, these include the Bale Mountains National Park,  and the Gheralta Mountains (which are sometimes included in the northern circuit). 

We’ve broken down the major travel regions further on our Map of Ethiopia page. 

Map of Ethiopia

Best routes to take in Ethiopia

Which route you take around the country will depend entirely on: 

  1. How much time you have available
  2. What your budget is
  3. Which destinations are most important to you 

Typical Routes in Northern Ethiopia

A typical route is a 12-day northern circuit, which starts in Addis Ababa and loops clockwise around northern Ethiopia, finishing back in Addis. 

The major destinations on the northern circuit are: Axum, Simien Mountains, Gonder, Lalibela, and the Gheralta Mountains. 

Additional destinations you can include on a northern circuit include the Danakil Depression andcommunity trekking. 

Typical Routes in Southern Ethiopia

The main destinations in the south of Ethiopia are the Bale Mountains National Park, the Rift Valley, and the Omo Valley. Which route you take will depend on which of these destinations, or which combinations of these destinations, you plan to visit. 

It should be noted that travelling in the south of Ethiopia is much harder than travelling in the north. The infrastructure in the south is much less developed, and the access routes are fewer and less well maintained. 

How to plan a trip

Given the diversity of experiences available in Ethiopia, the distances between destinations, and the difficulty of travelling using public transport, it’s worth taking the time to understand your options so you end up with the best possible itinerary for you. 

We’ve spent years travelling around Ethiopia, have partnerships with the very best local guides, drivers, and tour operators, and have helped hundreds of travellers explore this incredible country. Get in touch with us to start your journey. 

Where do I start? Where do I fly into?

Unless you are doing overland travel and coming in from a neighbouring country, you will arrive via international flight into Bole International Airport in the capital city, Addis Ababa. 

Most international flights are overnight and arrive in the early morning in Addis (typically 6-7am). From here, you will clear immigration, collect your visa (more on that below) and head out to meet your driver in the car park

Note that drivers are not allowed inside the airport terminal, so you will have to go outside to meet them. This can be a tricky affair, but airport staff are always on hand to help you and if you’ve booked with us, you will have key contacts who you can call if you need help. 

Most people spend the first day in Addis, using the morning to relax and freshen up after the overnight flight, and then heading out to explore some of the city in the afternoon. 

Domestic Flight Network in Ethiopia

Landmarks in Ethiopia

What are the must-see places in Ethiopia?

We’ve compiled a list of some of our all-time favourite places, landmarks, lodges, wildlife, and restaurants in Ethiopia. Of course, we couldn’t include everything, but if you’re planning a trip, here are some amazing places you should consider visiting. 

In the north

  • Obelisk of Axum, Axum 
  • Erta Ale and Dallol, Danakil Depression
  • Abuna Yemata Guh, Gheralta Mountains
  • Church of Saint George, Lalibela
  • Ras Dashen, Simien Mountains
  • Limalimo Lodge, Simien Mountains
  • Fasil Ghebbi, Gonder
  • Lake Tana and the Blue Nile Falls, Bahir Dar
  • Gelada Monkeys, Simien Mountains
  • Ben Abeba Restaurant, Lalibela
  • Korkor Lodge, Gheralta Mountains
  • Hyena Man, Harar

In the South

  • Ethiopian Wolf, Bale Mountains
  • Bale Mountain Lodge, Bale Mountains
  • Tribes of the Omo Valley, Omo Valley

How long to spend in Ethiopia?

A typical trip to the north of Ethiopia is 10-12 days. In that time, you can visit many of the towns and national parks in the north. 10 days is the minimum time required if you want to explore all the destinations on the northern circuit. 

With 12-15 days, you can also include the Danakil Depression and community trekking (our personal favourite thing to do in the country). 

If you want to include the north and south, you will need around two weeks, although this depends on how many destinations you visit in the north. You will need at minimum of 4 days to explore the Omo Valley. 

At Brilliant, most of what we do is build tailor-made trips, and we very rarely run the same trip twice. So no matter your budget, interests, or appetite for adventure, we can help create an itinerary that’s perfect for you.

Accommodation Options in Ethiopia

Accommodation options in Ethiopia can fall short of international expectations (you can read more about this on our expectations guide here).

However, there are an increasing number of excellent lodges, and the major destinations have enough options to keep most travellers happy. 

We’ve written a guide on accommodation options in Ethiopia, as well as the best lodges in Ethiopia and the luxury options available.  

When to visit Ethiopia

The best time to visit Ethiopia is between October and March. The country experiences a rainy season from June to September, although travelling during these months is still possible. 

We’ve written an entire guide on when to visit Ethiopia. 

Costs of travelling to Ethiopia

The cost of your trip to Ethiopia will depend on 4 key factors: 

  • The length of your trip
  • Your group size (solo travel is significantly more expensive)
  • The accommodation preferences
  • Whether you use local guides or professional guides

For more information, check out our guide explaining the travel costs in Ethiopia. 

Safety in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is, generally, a very safe country to travel around.

Addis Ababa is one of the safest African cities, and as long as you exercise common sense, it is unlikely you will have any problems with safety while travelling in Ethiopia. 

Types of Tours to Ethiopia

With so many options for incredible tours in Ethiopia, it can be hard to know where to start, and how to plan the perfect adventure. Fortunately, our specialists have decades of experience in East Africa and know Ethiopia extraordinarily well, so get in touch with us to start your journey. 

There are many ways to slice and dice itineraries to Ethiopia, but to help get you started, here are some of the trips possible here: 

  • Adventure Tours
  • Cultural Tours
  • Wildlife Tours
  • Research and Education Tours
  • Camping Tours & Trips
  • Safaris in Ethiopia
  • Private Tours
  • Tailor-made Tours

Of course, these aren’t mutually exclusive, and a single itinerary could be considered a blend of all the above!