Arrive: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Depart: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Our trip is designed so that anyone in good physical condition can participate. We encourage you to make an effort to get in good physical condition with exercise beyond your normal routine.
Accommodations at the Sheraton in Addis are excellent, as is the food at that international-standard hotel. Outside of Addis, we stay in "best available" hotels. Although there are private bathrooms in the rooms, you must expect only cold-water showers! Outside of Addis, our meals will be simple and lack variety because there are limited resources in the countryside. Ethiopia has some good beers, but the local wines are not distinguished. You may want to bring your favorite alcoholic beverage from a duty-free shop. Electricity in hotels in rural areas can be intermittent and sometimes generators are operated only during certain hours of the day.
Road travel in rural Ethiopia is very challenging. Our vehicles may break down or get flat tires on occasion, and that can delay the trip. We use vans for the trip, but they may not compare favorably with the vehicles you may be familiar with from safari countries such as Botswana and Kenya. While we are on our rural road journeys, there are no organized toilet facilities available. We will make "pit stops" from time to time so trip members can get out of the vehicle and find a private spot behind a bush.
In Ethiopia, air schedules can often be altered and new government regulations are implemented suddenly. We ask that you bring flexibility and a spirit of adventure to this unique journey, and take pleasure in the knowledge that you will be visiting a fascinating country.
"This was an awesome trip. The native tribes in the south were so interesting. The rock hewn churches of the north were a fascination."
Barbara B.
Sammamish, WA
"This trip was fantastic! It is in my top tier of trips I have taken, and I have loved them all."
Diane M.
Elm Grove, WI
"This trip was extraordinarily well planned, making each day value-packed in order to fit in the breadth of exposure to Ethiopia's historical and cultural heritage. Reflecting on all we were able to see, I am amazed."
Elsie M.
Providence, RI
"The group size, the leadership, and the itinerary make this the best way to experience Ethiopia."
Jeff P.
Paradise Valley, AZ
"Great itinerary with a wonderful combination of cities and tribal cultures."
Julia D.
San Carlos, CA
"This was my third trip with WT and it certainly won’t be my last. The itinerary was fascinating, our Trip Leader delightful, and the WT office wonderfully responsive."
Sandra C.
New York, NY
"This was a spectacular trip to an amazing country, led by a fantastic guide!"
Teresa B.
Bethesda, MD
"The highlight of the trip by far was being in Lalibala over Christmas—thousands of pilgrims in a magnificent setting, singing, ululating, oozing spirituality. A photography paradise."
William N.
Long Beach, CA
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
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With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.