Ethiopia Tours & Holidays
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays





















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Overview
Ethiopia is an undiscovered gem for the willing traveller, it has the cultural diversity, archaeological pedigree and natural beauty to match anywhere in the world. Our range of Ethiopia tours and holidays take in the rugged peaks of the Simien Mountains, Lalibela’s extraordinary rock-hewn churches, ancient castles at Gondar and the bustling capital of Addis Ababa. This is a country of unique depth and grandeur.
Occupying a plateau, some 2,500 metres above sea level, Ethiopia’ ...
Ethiopia is an undiscovered gem for the willing traveller, it has the cultural diversity, archaeological pedigree and natural beauty to match anywhere in the world. Our range of Ethiopia tours and holidays take in the rugged peaks of the Simien Mountains, Lalibela’s extraordinary rock-hewn churches, ancient castles at Gondar and the bustling capital of Addis Ababa. This is a country of unique depth and grandeur.
Occupying a plateau, some 2,500 metres above sea level, Ethiopia’s vast landscapes stretch out before you, across stunning vistas that shelter ancient frescoes and wild baboons. It is even rumoured to be the legendary home of the Queen of Sheba and the lost Ark of the Covenant. It was once a vast empire stretching into what is now Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti, ruled by emperors claiming direct descent from King Solomon. And don’t forget the otherworldly beauty of the Danakil Depression which, created at the point where three tectonic plates collide, is Africa’s lowest point and one of the world’s hottest environments, making it a treasure trove for scientific research.
Our Ethiopia holidays spend time in the lush Omo Valley, an incredibly diverse region home to many different ethnic groups, each with their own traditions and customs; from the Mursi, renowned for their lip-plates, the Konso famous for their terraced farming, to the Hamer famous for their bull-jumping coming of age ceremony.
So why not travel to Ethiopia, a country that boasts Africa’s largest continuous mountain range and largest cave, it has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other African country (including Egypt) and is where the coffee bean originated. There really is nowhere else to compare, and anyone who comes looking for a new travel adventure, will not leave any of our Ethiopia tours or tailor-made holidays feeling disappointed.
Start your journey
Group tours
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF ETHIOPIA
BEST EXPERIENCES

Explore majestic rock-hewn churches
The isolated town of Lalibela, high up in the Lasta Mountains, is famous for its incredible rock-hewn churches. This group of monuments consists of six churches to the north and five churches to the south, and are linked by a series of rock-hewn tunnels.
Celebrate Meskel or Timkat festival
Witness the festival of Meskel, celebrated in memory of the Finding of the True Cross or Timkat, Ethiopia's most important Coptic festival celebrating the baptism of Christ where thousands of colourfully robed monks carry replicas of the 'Ark of the Covenant'.
Trek in the Simien Mountains
The Simien Mountains National Park is a World Heritage Site and the dramatic landscape makes for some of the most fantastic scenery on the African continent. This area of the mountains is home to the endemic Walia ibex, the klipspringer and gelada monkey.
Explore the huge ancient monoliths
The extraordinary stelae fields were built as tombstone-cum-monuments to local rulers, the largest being over 33 m high if erect and weighing over 500 tons. There's not a full explanation as to how these massive blocks were carved, transported and erected.
Learn about 17th century castles
Gonder is famous for the excellent preservation of its 17th century castles. Visit the Fasill Ghebbi, a walled compound that dominates the city centre, its high enclosure walls containing six castles and a myriad of tunnels and raised walkways.
Cooking experience with local family
Discover the traditional methods of producing Ethiopia’s unique culinary delights. A local family will welcome you into their home and show you how to cook typical Ethiopian food. They will also show you an Ethiopian coffee ceremony before your feast.
Search for gelada monkeys and ibex
Tracing the edge of the escarpment the views are simply breathtaking, but with any luck you'll be able to spot the Gelada monkeys, known as the 'bleeding-heart baboon' and the Walia Ibex with it's huge curved horns, both of which are endemic to the region.
Explore the Mercato
Visit the Mercato, the largest open-air market of its kind in Africa, including the must-see Spice Market, the handmade baskets market and second hand items market. Your guide will help you navigate this fascinating hub of cultures and communities.
Admire the angels’ faces
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
Discover more
WHEN TO GO
Addis Ababa
Harar
Axum
INSPIRATION

60 SECOND GUIDE TO ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia is an undiscovered gem. Home to one of the oldest Christian civilisations in the world, it has an archaeological pedigree to match any and a cultural and natural diversity that can compare w…Meet the expert, Jamie
Jamie is our Sub Saharan expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Jamie by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Ethiopia though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. There is a risk of yellow fever transmission and Malaria is present in some parts of Ethiopia, so we recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
In Ethiopia the official unit of currency is the Birr.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
In the churches and cathedrals women should cover their heads with a scarf or hat, while men should take their hats off.
Language & Religion
Ethiopia has 83 different languages with up to 200 different dialects spoken. The largest ethnic and linguistic groups are the Oromos, Amharas and Tigrayans. Amharic is the official national language of Ethiopia. English, Arabic, Italian and French are widely spoken by many Ethiopians.
The main religions in Ethiopia are Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Paganism. Ethiopia is a predominantly Christian country, and the majority of Christians are Orthodox Tewahedo Christians. There are a minority of Christians who are Roman Catholic or Protestant.
Time
The Julian calendar is used in Ethiopia and their current year is 7 years behind us. Christmas is celebrated on 7th January and New Year on 11th September. Some Ethiopians set their clocks from dawn to dusk and there is a six-hour difference between Ethiopian time and Western time i.e. 6 o’clock can mean 12 o’clock.
Ethiopia is 3 hours ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
Ethiopian food is an exotically spicy mix of vegetables, slow-simmered meat and grain stews.
Dining in Ethiopia is characterised by sharing food from a common plate, signifying the bonds of loyalty, family, and friendship. The traditional Ethiopian meal is served on a large platter that is draped with the crepe-like injera bread, with the selection of foods decoratively arranged around the centre dish. To eat, you simply tear off a piece of injera, use it to scoop up some of the various dishes and pop it into your mouth. Extra injera is usually served on the side. A word of warning for those left-handed people amongst us, injera should only be eaten with the right hand!
The Ethiopian Highlands are predominantly Orthodox Christian with ‘fasting’ each Wednesday, Friday and during Lent when only vegetarian dishes are available. The main hotels do not worry about this and therefore it should not be something that affects you.
As far as alcohol is concerned everything is available but the quality is sometimes questionable. For a decent shot of Scotch at sundown it’s probably best to buy it duty free. Beer is very good and wine – of a reasonable quality – is available but will need to be carried in the vehicle – just let the guide know. If you fancy a G&T, tonic is not always so easy to get so again let the guide know to get a small supply in, reasonable local gin is widely available, and a bottle can be bought in most towns.
Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for though the type of food can be limited.
ETHIOPIA REVIEWS

Maureen Lipman
Ethiopia is a fantastic country. I had an amazing time, now I need a few days to sort my head out! Thank you.

Niki Kane
They are the only group tour company we have been with and I don't see that changing.

Susie Price
A great mixture of traditional sight-seeing and that bit extra that gives you an insight in to the local communities that…

Robert Schofield
The places we saw and the people we met will always be remembered. The two weeks were truly a wonderful adventure.

Brian Perkins
A varied and exciting trip that gave me a good insight into the cultural, historic and current way of life of the…

Claire and David Williams
We feel privileged to have seen the tribes and villages in Ethiopia before they become overrun with tourist so called…

Iain and Sally Colqhoun
We were delighted to have been able to see so much of Ethiopia, the people, the country and the amazing biblical culture.…

Willie & Gail Fulton
Each tribe had fascinating aspects to their life and were all worth visiting.

Howard and Hazel Darbon
Thank you Wild Frontiers for creating a real adventure holiday that will remain in the memory for many years to come

Tim and Sue Milward
Why Ethiopia? The smiling people, the Timkat festival, the truly extraordinary rock-hewn churches and the mind-blowing…

Peter and Olga Stott
Above all were the people – in particular the tribes Ethiopia’s Omo valley – people still following a way of life that…

Tim Melville-Ross
We thought the arrangements were as near perfect as makes no difference, and the fact that all of their team were so…

Felicity Kaye-Krezeczkowski
I am so grateful to the thoughtfulness in arranging extra mules for me, and the fact that the guide never appeared to…

Dewi Evans Tailor-Made
The itinerary was just what I wanted with the right amount of time at each place.

Garry & Shona Forster
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip as it was well off the beaten track...

Rob Lloyd
The trip itinerary was ideal as the circuit takes in the major elements. The wonderful cheerful and characterful people…

Harry Lyon Smith
Feeling poetic...

Geraldine Sharpe-Newton
I stepped out of time- it wasn't a holiday, but it was a grade A adventure.

Graeme & Lucinda - Ethiopia Tailor-Made
We asked Wild Frontiers to put together a custom built tour for the two of us in Ethiopia.

Helen Edwards
I had the most wonderful week in Ethiopia, thank you! I was curious about the history and the churches, but I hadn't…

Susie Dowdall
I went to Ethiopia to see the legendary rock churches – and they were indeed stunning...

Rick & Ann Pardoe
We chose the trip because it seemed like a wonderful introduction to Ethiopia....

Gill Charlton, Daily Telegraph
Wild Frontiers does the best tour of Northern Ethiopia...

Martin Sly & Janet Green
This holiday exceeded our expectations, despite a small incident with a mule! The guides were fantastic, the country…

Anne Cooper
I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on! (January 2011)

Cherry Mills
Did say I would let you know how trip went. I don't think I will ever be the same again! It was a WONDER FULL experience…

Linda Chappell
I am so pleased to find an operator that goes that bit extra and gives a unique experience to a trip. I have already been…

Sarah Gore-Booth
Fantastic country, breath-taking scenery, fascinating culture, friendly people, well put together tour - what more can…

Charlotte Barnes
Absolutely brilliantly conceived with all the highlights of Ethiopia included. Perfect recommended reading list…

Barbara Ayton
Ethiopia exceeded my expectations. The scenery was absolutely stunning! I found the Amhara Province in particular very…

David Ball
I cannot praise Dario highly enough. He worked extremely hard to give us a totally memorable trip.

Edna and Sidney Moglewar
Scenery was magnificent. We were confident throughout of being taken care of and in addition had the wonderful luck of…

Andrew Simmonds
Breathtaking scenery, historic churches and paintings and warm friendly people...

Katie Coates
The country is, quite simply, stunning; the sites are like nothing I have seen elsewhere...

Claire Robinson
The trip offered a great mix of nature and culture, and the scenery around Sidamo was wonderful

Peter Bullock
I have never seen so many amazing sites in such a short period of time

Karen Edwards
The tour leader was first class, perfect in every way

Andrew Simmonds
Another brilliant adventure in showcasing Ethiopia's incredible variety

Alison Smith
We chose this trip because of the unique itinerary...

Sue Eland
Untouristy, off the beaten track..The tour was one of the best I have been on.

Jane Clayton-Jones
One of the best Wild Frontiers tours in 14 years of travelling with the company - Ethiopia is a delight to the senses -…

Derek & Jennie Werner
We couldn't have been more satisfied with our tailor-made trip to Ethiopia...

John Ibbotson
The cultural diversity and stunning scenery of Ethiopia make it a great place to visit...

Danial Swan
From the heights of the Simien Mountains to the depths of the Danikal Depression, your image of this nation will etch…

Andrew & Anne Smith
A truly memorable trip. The people we met were so friendly. The landscapes were stunning both in themselves and with…

Claire Looney
Djibouti and Ethiopia are unique and very special places to visit. The trip was truly a once in a lifetime experience and…

Philippa Gimlette
An eye opening visit to a beautiful, friendly country. A packed itinerary of the northern highlands, be ready to bump…

Tom Hollander
We had an amazing time in Ethiopia. Wonderful and fascinating country. Thanks so much for organising it. Great…

Zoe Pease
I can't recommend the Wild Frontiers Ethiopia trip enough. Ethiopia is an amazing country with wonderful scenery and a…

Jo Osborn
I have come back as an ambassador for Ethiopia and this trip! It is an incredibly beautiful and varied country-…

Catherine Wilkinson
My first Wild Frontiers trip blew my expectations away - I'm not sure I'll be able to cope travelling with other…

Amanda Rencontre
amping in the Danakil Depression at the Hotel of a Million Stars was a true delight

Wendy Muggeridge
Wild Frontiers tours are always special. They take you to the people of the country and you can experience the 'real' way…

Stuart H
This was my first visit to Ethiopia and my first tour with Wild Frontiers. I wholeheartedly recommend them both.