Ethiopia Tours & Trip Packages

Ethiopia Tours & Trips

49 Ethiopia trips. Tours from 54 tour companies. 149 reviews. 4.9/5 avg rating.

49 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Splendors Of Africa 12 Days
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5/5 Excellent
27 reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
Their experienced team of international specialists crafts journeys combining authentic experience with high standards of comfort.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Tour Overview:From the Cape Winelands with their internationally acknowledged vintages to Kruger National Park, this wonderful itinerary offers the heart of adventure with all the wildlife spectacle and natural phenomenon that S

What travelers are saying

"We returned from our 13-day East African Explorer trip two weeks ago. The trip fully met our expectations. Everything was well organized, accommodations and food were excellent, safari drives were great. Our driver/guide in Kenya, Gitonga (aka Anderson) was excellent and enthusiastic. Based on our experience I can confidently say we will book another trip with SITA in the near future."

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Splendors Of Africa 12 Days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.8/5 Excellent
27 reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
Their experienced team of international specialists crafts journeys combining authentic experience with high standards of comfort.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Tour Overview:From the Cape Winelands with their internationally acknowledged vintages to Kruger National Park, this wonderful itinerary offers the heart of adventure with all the wildlife spectacle and natural phenomenon that S

What travelers are saying

"We returned from our 13-day East African Explorer trip two weeks ago. The trip fully met our expectations. Everything was well organized, accommodations and food were excellent, safari drives were great. Our driver/guide in Kenya, Gitonga (aka Anderson) was excellent and enthusiastic. Based on our experience I can confidently say we will book another trip with SITA in the near future."

Trip dates & details
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Ethiopian Experience -  Radisson Blu
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4.8/5 Excellent
27 reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
Their experienced team of international specialists crafts journeys combining authentic experience with high standards of comfort.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Day 1 – Arrive Addis AbabaArrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where you are met and escorted to your hotel. (D)
  • Day 2 – Addis Ababa / Bahar Dar – Lake TanaFly to Bahar Dar. L

What travelers are saying

"We returned from our 13-day East African Explorer trip two weeks ago. The trip fully met our expectations. Everything was well organized, accommodations and food were excellent, safari drives were great. Our driver/guide in Kenya, Gitonga (aka Anderson) was excellent and enthusiastic. Based on our experience I can confidently say we will book another trip with SITA in the near future."

Trip dates & details
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Addis Ababa to Gondar - 21 Days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star

Highlights

  • Addis Ababa - start your journey in Ethiopia's bustling capital and head out to explore independently
  • Danakil Depression - take an excursion into the hottest place in the world, where three tectonic plates converge
  • Simien Mountains National Park - search for rare Ethiopian wolves and marvel at some of the finest scenery in Africa
  • Bahir Dar - Enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Tana to see where the Blue Nile begins its journey and to visit an ancient monastery on the lake
  • Blue Nile Falls - see the impressive falls known as 'Great Smoke' at Bahir Dar, which are one of Ethiopia's most popular attractions
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What travelers are saying

"First time we (mom and daughter) have done a tour and first time with on the go tours. What a special trip we had doing the 13 day Casablanca to Essaouira Morocco tour (26 Nov - 6 Dec 2023). We started the first 8 days doing the totally Morocco tour and the last few days at our own pace with down time in Essaouira. Jamal our guide led the tour from start to finish and took us safely on a culture filled journey. His knowledge of the country, it’s history and people was informative and inspiring. Every request was “no problem” and delivered with a smile and happy demeanour. Everything in Morrocco was “no problem” and we felt safe and looked after. We were driven in a comfortable coach with enough stops along the way to not feel long by our competent driver Suleman. The hotels, Riad and Dar were extremely comfortable with exceptional service. We would not have had the same experience travelling on our own, we felt as though we truly experienced Morocco. Everything was a highlight for us and we will definitely book another on the go tour in the future. If you wanting to see true Morocco we would strongly recommend doing this tour."

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North Ethiopia Adventure - 21 Days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star

Highlights

  • Danakil Depression - discover the hottest place on Earth where three tectonic plates converge, creating rifting and volcanic activity
  • Simien Mountains National Park - search for rare Ethiopian wolves and marvel at some of the finest scenery in Africa
  • Bahir Dar - cruise on Lake Tana which is the source of the mighty Blue Nile, one of the River Nile's two main tributaries
  • Blue Nile Falls - see the impressive falls known as 'Great Smoke' at Bahir Dar, which are one of Ethiopia's most popular attractions
  • Gondar - enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Ethiopian Empire and take in highlights including Gondar Castle
Show more

What travelers are saying

"First time we (mom and daughter) have done a tour and first time with on the go tours. What a special trip we had doing the 13 day Casablanca to Essaouira Morocco tour (26 Nov - 6 Dec 2023). We started the first 8 days doing the totally Morocco tour and the last few days at our own pace with down time in Essaouira. Jamal our guide led the tour from start to finish and took us safely on a culture filled journey. His knowledge of the country, it’s history and people was informative and inspiring. Every request was “no problem” and delivered with a smile and happy demeanour. Everything in Morrocco was “no problem” and we felt safe and looked after. We were driven in a comfortable coach with enough stops along the way to not feel long by our competent driver Suleman. The hotels, Riad and Dar were extremely comfortable with exceptional service. We would not have had the same experience travelling on our own, we felt as though we truly experienced Morocco. Everything was a highlight for us and we will definitely book another on the go tour in the future. If you wanting to see true Morocco we would strongly recommend doing this tour."

Trip dates & details
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Wild Ethiopia & The Bale Mountains - 15 Days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star

Highlights

  • Bale Mountains National Park - head into the Ethiopian Highlands aboard our overland truck to search for the Ethiopian wolf, one of the rarest mammals in the world
  • Harar - wander along the narrow winding streets of this ancient trading city and opt to visit the Hyena Men who have formed a close bond with these intelligent animals
  • Addis Ababa - take a guided tour of Ethiopia's capital and meet 'Lucy' in the National Museum, one of the oldest hominid skeletons ever found
  • Arba Minch - come face to face with Nile crocodiles and hippos on an optional Lake Chamo boat cruise
  • Awash National Park - spot warthogs, ostriches and baboons on a game walk and look out for extremely elusive lions, leopards and cheetahs
Show more

What travelers are saying

"First time we (mom and daughter) have done a tour and first time with on the go tours. What a special trip we had doing the 13 day Casablanca to Essaouira Morocco tour (26 Nov - 6 Dec 2023). We started the first 8 days doing the totally Morocco tour and the last few days at our own pace with down time in Essaouira. Jamal our guide led the tour from start to finish and took us safely on a culture filled journey. His knowledge of the country, it’s history and people was informative and inspiring. Every request was “no problem” and delivered with a smile and happy demeanour. Everything in Morrocco was “no problem” and we felt safe and looked after. We were driven in a comfortable coach with enough stops along the way to not feel long by our competent driver Suleman. The hotels, Riad and Dar were extremely comfortable with exceptional service. We would not have had the same experience travelling on our own, we felt as though we truly experienced Morocco. Everything was a highlight for us and we will definitely book another on the go tour in the future. If you wanting to see true Morocco we would strongly recommend doing this tour."

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Arba Minch to Addis Ababa - 15 Days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star

Highlights

  • Bale Mountains National Park - search for critically endangered Ethiopian wolves and other species found nowhere else on Earth
  • Harar - wander along the narrow winding streets of this ancient trading city and opt to visit the Hyena Men who have formed a close bond with these intelligent animals
  • Addis Ababa - join a guided tour of the Ethiopian capital and meet 'Lucy' in the National Museum, one of the oldest hominid skeletons ever found
  • Arba Minch - see wild Nile crocodiles at the 'crocodile market', which is a nickname for Lake Chamo due to the high number of crocodiles found in the lake
  • Awash National Park - spot warthogs, ostriches and baboons on a game walk and look out for extremely elusive lions, leopards and cheetahs
Show more

What travelers are saying

"First time we (mom and daughter) have done a tour and first time with on the go tours. What a special trip we had doing the 13 day Casablanca to Essaouira Morocco tour (26 Nov - 6 Dec 2023). We started the first 8 days doing the totally Morocco tour and the last few days at our own pace with down time in Essaouira. Jamal our guide led the tour from start to finish and took us safely on a culture filled journey. His knowledge of the country, it’s history and people was informative and inspiring. Every request was “no problem” and delivered with a smile and happy demeanour. Everything in Morrocco was “no problem” and we felt safe and looked after. We were driven in a comfortable coach with enough stops along the way to not feel long by our competent driver Suleman. The hotels, Riad and Dar were extremely comfortable with exceptional service. We would not have had the same experience travelling on our own, we felt as though we truly experienced Morocco. Everything was a highlight for us and we will definitely book another on the go tour in the future. If you wanting to see true Morocco we would strongly recommend doing this tour."

Trip dates & details
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Exotic Ethiopia: Spectacular Wildlife and Ancient Kingdoms
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Addis Ababa, Axum, Gondar, Lalibela, Rift Valley

Highlights

  • With a local naturalist, visit Bale Mountains National Park, home to more endemic species than any terrestrial habitat in the world
  • Learn about the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, which some Ethiopians believe were built by angels
  • Marvel at the scenic Simien Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Education / Learning, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

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Ethiopia Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
149  Reviews
See all Ethiopia tour reviews
Excellent
20
Great
2
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
M

Martin N.

Jan 2022

Written on

Everything was well organized

We returned from our 13-day East African Explorer trip two weeks ago. The trip fully met our expectations. Everything was well organized, accommodations and food wer...

A

Anonymous

Mar 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Simien Mountain Bimble.......

Overall a very good trek. Yes, some of the days are a little hard but then it says that in the trip notes so read them! Great views and wildlife and a, mostly, gre...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Amazing views but hard work

A great trip through the Simien mountains, with spectacular views Seeing the baboons in their natural habitat as you walk past, you can watch them for hours they're...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

Simen Mountains Ethiopia - 10days Camping

Just back from a seriously good trekking & camping holiday taking in the Simen Mountains in Northern Ethiopian. Filled all my expectation of a cultural trekking...

A

Anonymous

Feb 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

Great trek in an amazing country

This trip is a great mixture of culture and trekking. Time in Addis at the Ethnographic museum and the experience of the Debtre Birhan Selassie church in Gondor high...

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Ethiopia Tour Selection Trips

  • If you’re planning on going on an extended trek of the Ethiopian highlands, or even planning to summit Danakil’s volcano, be sure to exercise before your trip. You want to be in very good shape, as both activities are physically rigorous.
  • If you want super close encounters with wildlife, perhaps lower your expectations. The animals in Ethiopian wilderness are usually unaccustomed to human activity and are skittish as a result. One alternative, however, is to visit Harar, a town with the tradition of hand feeding hyenas.
  • Tap water is not potable in Ethiopia. To cut down on plastic, bring a filtered water bottle or simply a reusable one. Your guide will be able to point you to places where you can refill your bottle.
  • On a guided tour or trek, much of your food will be provided or even made specifically for you. This makes things a lot easier, considering many local restaurants don’t have menus, meaning you have to know both local dishes and their name in Amharic, and upcharge significantly for “Farangi” (foreigners). However, if you know you will be given time to explore on your own, consider buying a guide to Ethiopian food and drink.

Additional details

Who Will Enjoy an Ethiopia Tour?

You may hear Ethiopia and intially think safaris. While Ethiopia does offer some wildlife experiences, this destination isn't well known for this kind of experience. This country is rich with culture and history. From archaeological discoveries to ancient sites and ruins, Ethiopia is a great destination for travelers who value culture and history. For these travelers it's all about the immersion into the local communities and seeing what truly makes them tick. 

That being said, Ethiopia is also a great destination for wildlife and nature lovers. This country has many national parks and many great destinations to witness animals and explore natural landscapes. One popular activity here is hiking. With so much to offer, Ethiopia is a great for a complex range of travelers, not just wildlife enthusiasts.

See all Ethiopia cultural tours >>

See all Ethiopia history tours >>

Ethiopian Guided Tours

If you're considering a trip to Africa, perhaps plan a visit to Ethiopia. Along with Morocco, Ethiopia has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa with nine in total. When planning a trip to Ethiopia, there are some things you should take into consideration. Most, to all, of these concerns can be resolved by booking a tour to Ethiopia rather than venturing out alone. Ethiopian guided tours are recommended for a number of reasons.

Each Ethiopia tour comes with a knowledgeable guide that knows the terrain, history and significance of the country. They are also very aware of current or possible issues that may arise on the trip. And if any hiccup should occur, the guide knows how to handle the issue in an efficient manner.

This travel style also provides a well-researched, thought out itinerary. Most of Ethiopia lacks a strong infrastructure, most of the roads are unpaved and difficult to travel on. Tour companies make sure to take this into account when creating its trip and how travelers with commute from one place to the next.

In order to capture the country’s diverse terrain, some days are strictly reserved for traveling from one destination to another. Each itinerary balances the time spent on a bus with the time spent at the destination, so that it is not overwhelming or tiresome. This is particularly important for short trips to Ethiopia.

Ethiopian guides also use their knowledge and insight of the country to capture its essence. Ethiopia has three components that each tour makes sure to include. The first is its cultural significance. Most tours visit local villages and towns where you can experience Ethiopian foods, music and art. One of the best ways to soak this up is to go on a tour with a homestay component.

Ethiopia is also known for its wildlife. The best way to experience Ethiopia’s fauna and flora is by visiting its national parks. The third main component is capturing its historical influences. Most of Ethiopia's historical sites are of ancient ruins in the form of fortified towns. Ethiopia also has many historical religious sites like the Church of Saint George, Lalibela.

There are a few different guided tour options. First is small group guided tours. These trips mean that you will be exploring Ethiopia with a group of others, often like minded individuals. You will all be led by the same tour guide who will be devoted to the group as a whole. This is a great option for travelers who want to meet new people and experience the world with others.

See all Ethiopia guided group tours >>

Another guided tour options is private guided tours. This option is great for luxury travelers. Private guided tours mean you will have a guide dedicated specifically to you and all accommodations and transportation will also be private. Each tour will be private and independent of others. Private guided tours allow for greater immersion and richer experiences.

See all Ethiopia private guided tours >>

Ethiopia Weather

Weather in Ethiopia varies greatly and often depends on elevation. When visiting, you'll want to pack many layers  as you could go from one destination that is hot to another which is cold in only a matter of hours. Be sure to look at your itinerary to know the specific weather for each destination so you aren't left without the proper clothes after commuting.

Near Ethiopian's borders, the temperatures are the highest. On average, the temperature will exceed 85 degrees Farenheit or 30 degrees Celsius. Other locations like Ethiopia's capital rarely get over 77 degrees Farenheit. Whether you're looking for a warm or cool adventure, there are locations throughout Ethiopia that can accommodate you.

Safety Tips When Visiting Ethiopia

  1. Beware of scams: Common in the capital, Addis Ababa, locals will try to invite you to a "free gathering". They will lead you to the location and claim they gave you a tour and demand payment.
  2. Keep track of your belongings: Pickpocketing is a problem in Ethiopia so make sure to have all your important items tucked away and close at hand. 
  3. Be prepared for hiking: Hiking and trekking are common activities in Ethiopia but the terrain isn't always friendly. Be sure to pack appropriately so you are ready to take on the elements.
  4. Watch what you wear: To be both safe and respectful to culture, it is recommended that you dress conservatively. This often looks like long dresses, skirts and loose pants for women.

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