Holidays and travel to Ethiopia with Footloose; for tours, treks, climbs and wildlife

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Travel to Ethiopia with Footloose Adventure Travel and we can introduce you to this fascinating, welcoming and beautiful country. There's no doubt about it, Ethiopia has had an image problem. Mention the country, and most people still think of famine and war. But the fighting ended some years ago, and today there's optimism in the air. The people of Ethiopia are now positively welcoming visitors to their country, to see the dramatic landscapes and the ancient cultural sites that have been unreachable for so long.

- Private trips organised to suit you

- Fixed date group tours

- Fixed date tours with group activities

Ethiopia – the beautiful country

Most people who have visited Ethiopia in the last year come home with two vivid memories. Remembering the tragic news broadcasts of a few years ago, showing arid desert and dust, everyone has been overwhelmed by the physical beauty of the country – flying over villages and mountainsides with miles of grain ready for harvesting, swimming in rock pools under waterfalls, walking through meadows thick with flowers, realising that you had seen thirty different birds while just walking along a few miles of path.

And then of course there are the Ethiopian people – not the emaciated crowds seen crying for food on old news programmes, but a people full of laughter and song, optimism everywhere, a warm welcome, everyone so proud of their country, drinking tej, the coffee ceremony and that amazing Tigrean dancing.

Footloose was one of the first tour operators to return to Ethiopia, now that the country is once again safe for travellers. All of our visits have been very successful, with several "old Africa hands" excitedly saying that Ethiopia was the best place they have ever visited.

Trekking in Ethiopia

Footloose specialises in trekking in Ethiopia and we organise several small groups each year. The highlight of these trips are the spectacular and unique nine-day treks across the vast Simien Mountains in the north of the country. This is part of the Abyssinian Highlands, one of Africa's largest mountain ranges, with many peaks rising above 13,000 feet.

But Ethiopia offers more than just excellent trekking ...

Footloose Special! - The Simien Mountains & Historical Circuit

Trip Dates are 17th October (to 1st November), the cost £1650 (not including flights). This trip joins the two most remarkable journeys you can make in Ethiopia. The trek through the Simiens is probably the best trek in Africa, visiting the highest peaks, and the Historical Circuits visits cities unmatched anywhere in Africa, perhaps the world. Please contact us for full details af this special tour.

Historical sites and ancient cities

The Simien Mountains are in the north of the country and are near several of the country's unique and fascinating historical areas. Gondar was the medieval capital of Ethiopia and is a lively town today. As you approach, the skyline is broken by the ramparts of castles built three hundred years ago. The Royal Enclosure contains a series of impressive castles built by the ruling family, these are of a design found nowhere else in Africa. Here is also one of the most memorable of the highly decorated churches.

Axum, the ancient capital of Ethiopia, once at the heart of an empire that rivalled the pharaohs' Egypt, and today the focal-point of Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians, with mysterious old towers and obelisks, and one of the largest modern churches in the country. The Ark of the Covenant is here but unseen, and buildings long associated with the Queen of Sheba and Prester John.

Tigray is still further north. In these desiccated highlands are scores of rock cut churches, many only recently discovered and all difficult to reach.

Lalibela, sometimes called "Africa's Petra", is where the huge elaborate churches are carved from solid rock and joined by a network of tunnels and bridges, and are still in use today. The scale of these astounds most people and the beauty and antiquity of the artefacts here is amazing.

The Nile's source at Lake Tana and the Blue Nile Falls are worth a visit. Scattered on the lake are numerous islands, many with monasteries, which can be visited, although many do not allow women.

Southern Ethiopia and birdwatching

The Rift Valley in the south of Ethiopia is much less visited, and therefore perhaps more rewarding. The chain of lakes and parks are home to many hundreds of species of birds, proof of Ethiopia's claim to be one of the best countries for ornithology in the world. Footloose has specialist birding guides and we can tailor your trip to include specific sightings.

In the far south are little visited tribal areas of great ethnographic interest. This part of the country is very undeveloped and so travel is rugged.

- TAILORMADE TRIPS
Footloose has a great deal of experience in arranging trips to Ethiopia and can organise holidays for groups of any size, from 2 to 22 plus. Our suggestions for Ethiopia itineraries, shown below, give an idea of what is possible, but any itinerary is possible and can be adapted to suit your specific requirements. Please contact us for more suggestions and fuller details.

All itineraries can start on any day.

Ethiopia: Simien Mountains Trek
The Simien Range is a fascinating area for trekking, seldom reached by visitors, where the scenery is dramatic and exhilarating. The trip also includes visits to the ancient cities of Axum, Gondar and Lalibela.

Day 1 – Arrive Addis Ababa. City tour.
Day 2 – Fly to Gondar
Day 3 – Trek begins.
Day 11 – Trek ends. Drive to Axum
Day 12 – In Axum
Day 13 – A day trip to Yeha
Day 14 – Fly to Lalibela
Day 15 – Lalibela
Day 16 – Fly back to Addis Ababa

Tour Ref: ET11
Private daily departures from September to June.
International flight (not included) from £450.

Ethiopia: Historic route
The classic circuit of the remarkable historic northern cities of Axum, Lalibela and Gondar.

Day 1 – Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour
Days 2-3 – Fly to Axum
Days 4-5 – Fly to Lalibela. Tour of the churches
Day 6 – Fly to Gondar, tour of castles
Day 7 – Trip to Gorgora on Lake Tana
Day 8 – Drive to Bahir Dar
Day 9 – Blue Nile Falls and boat trip to islands
Day 10 – Return to Addis Ababa

Tour Ref: ET12
Private daily departures from September to June.
International flight (not included) from £450.

Historic Route by Car: this gives a much more in-depth tour.

Tour Ref: ET16

Simien Mountains of Ethiopia
A trek to the highest mountain in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen, with optional extension to Axum, Lalibela and Bahir Dar.

Day 1 – Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour
Day 2 – Fly to Gondar, tour of castles
Day 3 – Drive to Debark, start trek
Days 4–11 – Trekking
Day 12 – Trek ends, drive to Gondar
Day 14 – Return to Addis Ababa

Tour Ref: ET13
Private daily departures from September to June.
International flight (not included) from £450.

Danakil

This trip takes you to the remote and wild desert of North East Ethiopia. The area is home to the Afar salt traders and is spectacularly volcanic.

Read an article about this area here

Tour Ref: ET19
Private daily departures from September to June.
International flight (not included) from £450.

Ethiopia: Omo Valley
A fascinating 20 day tour in the south of Ethiopia, visiting interesting ethnic groups.

Tour Ref: ET17
Private daily departures from September to June.
Interntional flight (not included) from £450.

Please contact us to ask for more details about adventure travel, tours and holidays in Ethiopia.

Footloose Travel is a leading specialist for independent travel to Ethiopia. We can tailor-make a holiday to suit all your trek, hotel, flight, transport and holiday requirements. We offer all the security of booking with a UK company together with extensive local knowledge of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia climate Visas, health & security The beautiful country Trekking in Ethiopia Historical sites & ancient cities Southern Ethiopia & birdwatching Itineraries: Simien Mountains Trek Ethiopia: Historic route Simien Mountains of Ethiopia Rift Valley Lakes & Bale trek Hosanna, Arba Minch, Omo Valley & Awassa

Although near the Equator, the climate of Ethiopia is is quite cool because of the altitude. The rains are June to August.

Visas are required for Ethiopia. All normal tropical health precautions apply and there is a risk of malaria in the south.

For more details about our pricing (opens in a new pop-up window)

Pictures thanks to our agents.