Tour guides Ethiopia

5 ideas for guided tours in Ethiopia

• Axum

  

  Aksum is Ethiopia’s historic and religious capital. Here, visitors can admire many monuments tied to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Some date back to the 1st century and span across 12 to 13 centuries, but the city’s origins are believed to reach 1,000 years before our era, in the glorious time of the Queen of Sheba, who gave birth to Menelik, the first son of King Solomon.

  These are true archaeological treasures, with the monolithic obelisks at the forefront, along with the ruins of ancient castles and royal tombs. Aksum remains to this day a major religious center.

  The church and the Basilica of Saint Mary of Zion, where people gather daily to pray, stand as proof. Yet Aksum is not a city frozen in its past or one where spirituality overshadows daily life. On the contrary, it is a welcoming place with irresistible charm, its cobblestone streets surrounded by colorful houses and lively squares, shaded by large trees where locals come to rest in peace.

• Lalibela

  

  The Jerusalem of Ethiopia is the country’s most renowned tourist destination, offering visitors a truly unique experience.

  Perched at 2,600 meters above sea level, this small village is world-famous for its eleven monolithic churches, all carved directly into the pink granite at the foot of the mountains. They are linked together by narrow passageways, and although some are a little difficult to access, the effort makes their discovery all the more rewarding. It is hard to imagine the immense labor and ingenuity it took for their builders to create such monuments.

  The most beautiful and most photographed of them all is the Church of Saint George, another jewel hewn from the rock, built some 800 years ago. The village of Lalibela has kept a very special, tranquil charm. Spending a few days here is delightful, especially when staying in a guesthouse with breathtaking views over the Lasta massif.

• Gondar and the Siemen

  

  Gondar lies north of Lake Tana and about 750 km north of Addis Ababa. It was in 1632, under the reign of Emperor Fasilidas, that the city became (and for centuries remained) the capital of Ethiopia.

  From that era onward, several castles and palaces were built, giving the city its lasting reputation. Among them, Fasil Ghebbi is a must-see. Also not to be missed: the Debre Berhan Selassie Orthodox Church, home to an immense collection of biblical paintings. The city of Gondar is also the perfect base for starting treks into the Simien Mountains in the Amhara region.

  All hikes begin from Debark. Day trips are possible, but we recommend staying at least one or two nights to make the most of this region’s stunning beauty, especially since the lodges that welcome you are very comfortable.

  The landscapes you’ll encounter in the Simiens are breathtaking, with mountains averaging over 3,000 meters in height, framing vast green valleys and plunging into immense gorges. You may come across endemic species such as the Walia ibex, nimble goats scaling the narrow ridges, or the Gelada baboons, which can be approached from surprisingly close.

• Danakil Desert

  

  The Danakil is a desert located in northeastern Ethiopia and in the south of Eritrea. For centuries, the region has been home to vast salt fields, a true source of wealth.

  It is here that the Afar nomadic people settled, and to this day they still extract salt by hand, especially around Lake Karum. You’ll encounter large numbers of camels, a reminder of the ancient caravans that once traveled these routes. The Danakil Desert faces some of the planet’s harshest conditions, with extremely high temperatures, partly due to its average elevation of 100 meters below sea level.

  Its ground lies at the junction of the Asian, African, and European tectonic plates, creating landscapes of remarkable beauty. Not to be missed: the still-active Erta Ale volcano, with its permanent lava lake stretching over 10,000 m².

  Just 60 kilometers away lies the Dallol volcano, with its striking yellows and greens. Exploring the Danakil requires effort and can only be done with good physical condition. Visits are only possible when accompanied by an Ethiopian tour guide.

• Omo National Park

  

  The Omo Valley lies in southwestern Ethiopia, a remote region that is nonetheless home to around 80 tribes, including the Suri, Mursi, Karo, Nyangatom, and Dizi, all of whom maintain ancestral traditions and are determined to preserve their culture.

  Travelers come here seeking contact with these communities, each with its own distinctive clothing, colors, and painted body designs. Still, it is essential to avoid turning them into a spectacle—the line can be thin between genuine exchange and arriving only to take photographs before moving on.

  The harsh, untamed nature of this land, with vast savannas and greener patches near rivers where denser forests grow, has made it a refuge for hardy wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and cheetahs.