Rob Murray-John

Ethiopia Travel Expert

Far from the trodden path, Ethiopia is the perfect destination for the curious traveler. One of Africa’s least known yet most enriching destinations, a tailormade vacation to Ethiopia offers a truly authentic experience as you immerse yourself in tribal rhythms and bear witness to ancient rituals that time forgot. As spiritual as it is evolutionary, set foot here and embrace a world few others are yet to see.

Rob Murray-John

Ethiopia Travel Expert

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Ethiopia Highlights

Steeped in history and boasting the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa thanks to its rich and diverse scenery, Ethiopia is home to awe-inspiring landscapes and perfectly preserved heritage, which sets the scene for some unique and wondrous discoveries.

More about Ethiopia

MORE ABOUT ETHIOPIA

Where the ancient Blue Nile begins its life; where the great green gorges of ancient Abyssinia rear and plummet; and where the rock-cut churches of Lalibela nest within the earth. This is Ethiopia, a country of dramatic landscape, Italian colonial architecture mixed with traditional stone carvings, and thriving culture. Ruled from 1270 until 1974 by the long-living Solomonic dynasty, modern Ethiopia is a true collage of historical influence and outward-looking modernism. It is a luxury vacation like no other.

Private tours in Ethiopia

A LUXURY TOUR FROM ADDIS ABABA TO LALIBELA

One of the best ways to drink in Ethiopia’s startling culture is to join a private tour of its exceptional architectural legacy – from the seemingly impossible rock-cut churches of Lalibela (carved, as if by negative, from the raw stone itself), to the famous Lion of Judah in the country’s capital of Addis Ababa, which was built by the French Railway company in 1917 after completing a railway linking this land-locked country to an ocean port in Djibouti.

Ethiopia's best hotels

THE ENVIABLE LUXURY HOTELS OF ETHIOPIA

With its storied mixture of historic architecture and welcoming approach to visitors, modern Ethiopia has a surfeit of luxury hotels from which to explore its addictive cities and gorgeous hinterlands and highlands, including the rugged and otherworldly Simien Mountains National Park, or the ‘Cameltown of Africa’ – Gonder, a city which lies in a bowl of hills whose 17th century castle – Fasil Ghebbi – peacocks the power of monarchs past.

Honeymoons in Ethiopia

AN INCOMPARABLE LUXURY HONEYMOON

In this former fortress of emperors – where plunging green gorges, mountain lodges, and vivid cities vie for your attention – it is possible to have one of the world’s most stand-out honeymoons. An enviable confection of ancient architecture, bustling urban subwaypoles, and a visit to the beguiling lost kingdom of Gondar, you’ll be right at the heart of East Africa’s most fascinating destinations – and one of its most luxurious.

Ethiopia Highlights

Steeped in history and boasting the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa thanks to its rich and diverse scenery, Ethiopia is home to awe-inspiring landscapes and perfectly preserved heritage, which sets the scene for some unique and wondrous discoveries.

Hotels in Ethiopia

STAY IN ETHIOPIA

The luxury hotels of Ethiopia wrap neatly around the country’s diverse environments - whether you’re staying in heady Addis Ababa or the airy and awe-inspiring Simien Mountains, whose massive plateau is riven with gorges and ravines. Read on to find out more about where you’ll actually be sleeping.

Hotels in Bale National Park, Ethiopia

IN BALE NATIONAL PARK

In beautiful, mist-soaked Bale National Park you’ll drive up the Sanetti plateau to greet the sunrise which will accompany you on each of your unparalleled nights at the simply stunning Bale Lodge. Here, you’re about as close to the top of the world that you can get - watching the looming, sculpted beauty of Mount Nyala on the horizon. Deep blues and rich greens throng the landscape before you.

Hotels in the Simien Mountains

IN THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS

Escape amidst a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the stunningly rugged landscapes of the Simien National Park where, at an invigorating 3260 meter altitude, you’ll get back to nature in this Ethiopian Eden. With hundreds of species of colorful birds and curious animals - including the native Gelada Baboon - you’ll be scanning the panoramic views with wrapped attention.

Hotels in Ethiopia

IN THE LAP OF HISTORY

The Mountain View Hotel is a minimalist, red-brick, glass-faced hotel poised above the unmissable Lalibela rock-cut churches. This slice of modernist design is fitting for a country that always plays the ancient against the new, and supplies an idyllic remote base to truly explore and reflect on the incredible structures below. Nothing - and we mean nothing - beats that cup of rich Ethiopian coffee of a morning, as you marvel at the sunrise from your personal balcony.

  • Population Population 77,431,000
  • Capital Capital Addis Ababa
  • Language Language Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga
  • Currency Currency Birr
  • Time Difference Time Difference GMT+2 | ET+7
  • Expert Tip Expert Tip

    Take part in an elaborate coffee ceremony for sensational local insight. That start by burning traditional incense such as frankincense and include roasting, grinding and brewing the beans .

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