Ethiopia: Cultural Discoveries in an Ancient Land

DAY 1
Fly to Istanbul, Turkey
Depart today for your overnight flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

DAY 2
Fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Accommodations: Jupiter International Hotel or similar
Evening: Upon arrival in Ethiopia very late this evening, an O.A.T. representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel in Addis Ababa.

Freedom to Explore

Make the most of your time in Addis Ababa with these suggestions for independent exploration from our local regional office. Your Trip Experience Leader will lead the activity with the most traveler interest.

Visit Salem’s Ethiopia: What began as a few necklaces being sold to friends has grown into a local hotspot for traditional jewelry and gifts. Every piece, ranging from tribal beaded jewelry to religious crosses, holds a piece of Ethiopian history and culture. While here, shop for souvenirs and meet the shop owner, Salem. She’ll share the challenges of being a female entrepreneur, as well as her efforts to support traditional practices within her local community. How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute taxi ride, about $15 USD one way. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: Free.

Meet leather workers at Kabana Leather: Conceptualized and owned by a female designer, the shop’s main mission is to create employment opportunities and economic empowerment for women in various parts of Ethiopia. Shop their variety of creative products, ranging from wallets, belts, purses, bags, sandals, and shoes. You’ll also have the opportunity to chat firsthand with the leather workers as they practice their craft. How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute taxi ride, about $15 USD one way. Hours: 9am-6pm, daily. Cost: Free.

Witness contemporary art at the ZOMA Museum: ZOMA opened its doors in 2019 to showcase the timeless and structurally-sound architecture of Ethiopia. Their main hope is to function as a bridge between artists and architects from around the world to create cutting-edge, ecological art and architecture. The museum itself was built using ancient practices and eco-friendly products, like mud, straw, wood, stone, and cement. While here, you can visit their gallery, library, edible garden, elementary school, art and vernacular school, and amphitheater. How to get there: A 20- to 25-minute taxi ride, about $15 USD one way. Hours: 10am-8pm, Tuesday-Sunday. Cost: About $3 USD.

DAY 3
Addis Ababa
Destination: Addis Ababa
Meals included: B D
Accommodations: Jupiter International Hotel or similar

Activity Note: Addis Ababa is located at 7,700 feet above sea level, and our stay here provides an important opportunity to acclimatize and become accustomed to the level of caution required when walking or hiking before we ascend substantially higher in altitude over the course of our adventure.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: You have the morning free to explore independently or to rest and catch up on your sleep.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Later this afternoon, we’ll gather in the hotel with our Trip Experience Leader for a Welcome Briefing. This briefing gives us the chance to introduce ourselves and get to know the other members of our small group—including travelers who joined our optional Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve pre-trip extension.

Then, we’ll depart for an orientation walk to gain familiarity with our surroundings. We’ll also walk over to a khat shop to learn about this local tradition. Khat is a bitter leaf chewed by locals, which acts as a powerful stimulant. We’ll talk with the shop owner to learn about khat’s role in Ethiopian life and its production process—and you’ll also have the opportunity to try it for yourself. Then, we'll enjoy a more traditional stimulant at an Ethiopian coffee shop. Many shops in Ethiopia still brew coffee in a traditional clay pot (known as a jebena) and roast and grind the beans in small batches throughout the day. We’ll talk with the women who run the shop, and have a hands-on opportunity to help them prepare the day’s roast.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: You are free to retire to your room or gather at the bar for a cocktail to get to know your fellow travelers.

DAY 4
Explore Addis Ababa • Visit Signum Vitae rehabilitation center
Destination: Addis Ababa
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Jupiter International Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Founded by Ethiopian Emperor Menelik in 1892, Addis Ababa quickly grew into a sprawling city of about five million people, serving as the bustling capital of a country whose culture, history, and linguistic identity is quite distinct from the rest of Africa. Because Addis Ababa (usually shortened to Addis by the locals) is perched on the Abyssinian plateau at an elevation of almost 8,000 feet, the climate of the world’s third highest capital city is usually pleasantly cool.

First, we'll visit Signum Vitae, a non-governmental organization dedicated to rehabilitating and improving the lives of disabled people. Latin for “sign of life,” Signum Vitae employs local Addis Ababa residents with a wide range of physical disabilities, training them in the arts of woodworking, eyeglass lens grinding, and other skills to help transform their lives.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll visit one of the finest museums in all of Africa. The Ethnological Museum covers the full sweep of Ethiopia’s cultural and social history. Intricately arranged exhibits narrate the story of the country and its peoples, all spanning two floors of the palatial residence of Haile Selassie. The former Ethiopian emperor’s rooms are preserved near to their original state and may also be visited.

Dinner: This evening, we'll enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Typical Ethiopian food is centered on injera, a spongy sourdough flatbread topped with wat, a thick stew or curry of spicy meats, lentils, and vegetables.

Evening: Free to explore the Ethiopian capital on your own.

DAY 5
Visit Sabahar fabric workshop • Discover "Lucy" fossils at National Museum • Coffee shop visit • Amharic language lession
Destination: Addis Ababa
Meals included: B L
Accommodations: Jupiter International Hotel or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Our day begins with a visit to Sabahar fabric workshop, a fair-trade textile workshop founded in 2004 with a vision of preserving Ethiopia’s ancient hand-weaving traditions, and providing job opportunities to the country’s marginalized population. We’ll tour the workshop and see firsthand how the colorful silk and cotton scarves, blankets, and other handspun textiles are made by its skilled artisans. Then, we'll drive to the National Museum. Along with fascinating items such as the throne of Emperor Haile Selassie and a wealth of Ethiopia's historical and artistic treasures, the museum houses the remains of early hominids, including “Lucy,” the 3.25-million-year-old hominid skeleton discovered in northeastern Ethiopia in 1974 who changed our understanding of humanity forever.

Lunch: At a garden restaurant near the museum.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll visit another coffee shop of Addis—this one more modern. While coffee-obsessed Ethiopia proudly clings to its traditions, it’s not immune from modern influences. Whether it’s from traditional clay pots or modern macchiato machines (introduced after the Italian occupation), Ethiopia is considered to have some of the world’s best coffee—which should come as no surprise since this is coffee’s ancestral homeland.

Later, you can join your Trip Experience Leader for an Amharic language lesson. An ancient language, Amharic was made the official language of Ethiopia by Emperor Haile Selassie.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: Free to enjoy the hotel amenities or explore Addis on your own.

DAY 6
Fly to Lalibela • Visit rock-hewn churches
Destination: Lalibela
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Hotel Maribela or similar

Activity Note: Lalibela is at an altitude of approximately 8,500 feet, and travelers should exercise caution while walking and hiking.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After our short flight to Lalibela, we'll arrive at our hotel in the heart of the Lalibela Mountains, overlooking the Ethiopian highlands.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll begin our discoveries in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that many consider one of the most important religious sites in the Christian world. Lalibela is home to 11 magnificent Ethiopian Orthodox churches carved from the top down out of a single volcanic rock some 900 years ago. Intertwined and connected by a warren of tunnels, some churches were chiseled into the face of the rock; others stand as isolated blocks, including the iconic church of Saint George (Ethiopia’s patron saint), which resembles a monolithic walk-in Greek cross.

The complex is divided into two groups of churches—with each cluster representing the earthly and heavenly forms of Jerusalem. We'll visit the first church grouping this afternoon. While we explore, we may feel as if we are transported far back in time, as Lalibela is a place of pilgrimage and devotion to this very day. Seven times a day, seven days a week, white-robed followers gather at these medieval rock-hewn churches to chant prayers in unison.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: You’re free to enjoy the hotel amenities or explore Lalibela on your own.

Freedom to Explore

Make the most of your time in Lalibela with these suggestions for independent exploration from our local regional office. Your Trip Experience Leader will lead the activity with the most traveler interest.

Discover Asheton Maryam: This small rock-hewn church dedicated to Saint Mary is set on a mountain overlooking Lalibela. This mountaintop setting boasts spectacular vistas of the town and surrounding scenery. At an elevation of about 10,000 feet, Asheton Maryam is one of the highest churches in Ethiopia. How to get there: A 1-hour taxi ride, about $30 USD one way. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: About $10 USD.

Visit Adefa Village: Located in the valley outside of town, this village has a population of just 5,000 people, offering a glimpse of day-to-day life in the Ethiopian countryside. Interact with the locals as they go through their daily routines, farming teff, barley, beans, chickpeas, and coffee, and tending to their livestock. How to get there: A 30-minute taxi ride, about $30 USD one way. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: About $30 USD.

Travel to a beekeeping farm: Head out into the countryside to visit an apiary and see how Lalibela honey is harvested. Many consider Lalibela to produce the finest honey in the country, and you’ll have the opportunity to judge for yourself during a tasting. How to get there: A 10-minute taxi ride, about $8 USD one way. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: Entry to the farm is free.

DAY 7
Explore Lalibela • Visit Yemrehana Krestos Church • Controversial Topic: The armed conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region
Destination: Lalibela
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Hotel Maribela or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This morning, we'll drive outside Lalibela to visit Yemrehana Krestos Church, an ancient cave church that is one of the lesser known treasures of the region. The beautifully preserved Yemrehana Krestos, built of stone and wood, predates the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela by almost a century. As we explore the church, you may notice the large pile of bones at the back of the cavern—they are the remains of some 10,000 pilgrims who came here to die over the centuries.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: After some free time, we’ll learn about the Controversial Topic of the armed conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s federal Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and forces of the the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Tigray is one of 11 administrative regions in Ethiopia that are largely autonomous, but also deeply divided along entrenched ethnic lines. The TPLF were once the dominant political party in Ethiopia, holding power in the central government for more than three decades before Abiy's rise to power in 2018. Just a year after Abiy received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for helping to end Ethiopia's 20-year war with neighboring Eritrea, he launched an assault into the northern Tigray region that would spiral out of control and turn into a brutal two-year civil war. While a truce was signed in November of 2022, Ethiopia has always been plagued by discord among its more than 80 ethnic groups and one wonders if a lasting peace is even achievable.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: Free to enjoy on your own.

DAY 8
Lalibela • Visit rock-hewn churches • Home-Hosted Dinner
Destination: Lalibela
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Hotel Maribela or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Today, we'll explore the second group of churches in Lalibela. While located very near the others, the rock-hewn churches in this second grouping differ greatly in architecture and style—and feature more intricate exteriors along with interconnecting trenches and tunnels.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: You'll have some time to relax or explore independently.

Dinner: This evening, we'll be welcomed into the home of a local family in Lalibela to enjoy a cooking lesson before sitting down to a Home-Hosted Dinner. Our visit will begin in the kitchen with a hands-on demonstration that will reveal the secret of making authentic injera, the spongy flatbread we've come to know. Then, we'll sit down with the family for conversation while enjoying some traditional Ethiopian dishes.

Evening: You’re free to enjoy the hotel amenities or explore Lalibela on your own.

DAY 9
A Day in the Life of Asheton Village • Visit the Church of Saint George
Destination: Lalibela
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Hotel Maribela or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Today features A Day in the Life experience, an exclusive opportunity offered only by O.A.T. to deeply connect with the villagers who call this region home. Our day begins with a visit to a local market, where we'll shop for produce and ingredients to bring with us to the village we’ll be visiting later this morning. Then, we'll trade our bus for a team of sturdy mules, which we’ll saddle and ride toward Asheton Village. After meeting our host, a community leader and lifelong resident of the village, we'll spend a couple of hours getting to know its people. Asheton village has a population of around 300, and we’ll observe how the people spend their days, tending to the livestock and farming staple crops such as teff, barley, and beans.

After bidding our new friends farewell, we'll return to our hotel in Lalibela.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: After some time to relax, we’ll regroup for a visit to Bete Giyorgis—the Church of Saint George. Lauded as the most beautiful church of Lalibela, Saint George’s is instantly recognizable due to its perfect cross shape. In fact, this stand-alone church (not connected to the other ten in the area) looks like a monolithic walk-in Greek cross. Of all the churches at Lalibela, Beta Giyorgis is the best preserved—perhaps due to the protection its 6.5-foot-thick rock ceiling provides. Dated to the late twelfth or early 13th century, it is also one of the latest churches at the site.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: Your final night in Lalibela is free. You may wish to retire to your room early to prepare for tomorrow’s flight to Gondar.

DAY 10
Conversation with a female ex-military officer • Fly to Gondar
Destination: Gondar
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Gondar Hills Resort or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This morning, we’ll depart Lalibela and journey to the royal city of Gondar. On the way to the airport, we’ll stop in the humble home of a woman who is an ex-officer in the Ethiopian military. We’ll hear her story of how she fought against communists during the Ethiopian Civil War, learn about her life, and ask her what it’s like for women who serve in Ethiopia’s military.

Lunch: We'll have a boxed lunch at the airport.

Afternoon: We'll arrive at our lodge in Gondar, perched on a mountaintop overlooking the former royal capital of the Ethiopian Empire, this afternoon.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Free to do as you please.

Freedom to Explore

Make the most of your time in Gondar with these suggestions for independent exploration from our local regional office. Your Trip Experience Leader will lead the activity with the most traveler interest.

Visit a women’s craft workshop: This craft center is staffed primarily by women afflicted with HIV, offering them the opportunity to train and develop pottery, arts and crafts, small-scale agriculture, and other vocational skills. Here, you can meet the CEO of the workshop to learn more about the organization’s mission, and talk to the women at work. How to get there: A 10-minute taxi ride, about $10 USD one way. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: Entry to the workshop is free.

Visit a former Ethiopian Jewish village: Immerse yourself in Jewish history by visiting the site of a village which was once home to a thriving population of Ethiopian Jews. Facing discrimination in this country, most of them emigrated to Israel in the 1980s in the hopes of a better life, only to find themselves segregated and set apart in their new home. How to get there: A 10-minute taxi ride, about $10 USD one way. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: Free.

DAY 11
Grand Circle Foundation visit: Azezo Primary School • Gondar Castle
Destination: Gondar
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Gondar Hills Resort or similar

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: We'll begin the day with a visit to Azezo Primary School (when in session), a local government-funded school, supported in part by Grand Circle Foundation.

Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: This afternoon, we'll explore Gondar, royal capital of the Ethiopian Empire from the 17th to the middle of the 19th century and famous for its 17th-century stone castles and fortresses that evoke the feel of an African Camelot. In 1632, King Fasilidas proclaimed that this previously obscure village would become the site of the Empire's new capital, and over the next 250 years a succession of Ethiopian kings built a series of stone castles and fortresses that still occupy the heart of modern-day Gondar. Known collectively as the Royal Enclosure or “Fasil Ghebbi,” the magnificent medieval palaces of Gondar are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The focus of our visit will be Gondar Castle, the main structure in the Royal Enclosure which was inspired by the castles of medieval Europe.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Free to explore on your own, enjoy the lodge amenities, or retire to your room.

DAY 12
Simien Mountains National Park • Nature hike
Destination: Simien Mountains
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Limalimo Lodge or similar

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Travel overland to Simien Mountain National Park, home to some of the most breathtaking scenery in Africa. Known as the “Roof of Africa,” the Simien Mountain range has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site both for its scenic splendor and rare wildlife. Massive erosion over millions of years on the Ethiopian plateau has left behind a beautiful landscape dotted by deep ravines, sharp precipices, and jagged peaks rising up to 15,000 feet.

Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll have a couple of hours to relax. You can also go further afield to enjoy the beauty of the dramatic mountain scenery that surrounds us. Later, we'll gather together and set off on a guided nature walk that will reveal more of the natural beauty of this special locale.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: On your own.

Freedom to Explore

Make the most of your time in the Simien Mountains with these suggestions for independent exploration from our local regional office. Your Trip Experience Leader will lead the activity with the most traveler interest.

Visit the staff quarters: Head to the nearby village where our lodge’s staff lives to get to know them a little better. Learn where they come from, and what it’s like to work in such a remote, high-altitude location, where the job can take you far from home for extended periods of time. How to get there: A short walk from your lodge. Hours: All day. Cost: Free.

Set off on a nature walk: Join a local guide from the lodge on a walk around the surrounding area. Take advantage of their expert insights to learn about the plants, animals, and people who live in this remote region of Ethiopia. How to get there: Starts at the lodge. Hours: All day. Cost: Free.

Watch a documentary about gelada baboons: This curious species of monkey can only be found in this highland region of Ethiopia. You’re likely to see troops of them during your adventure, and this informative documentary will help further your understanding of this unusual creature and its behavior. How to get there: At the lodge. Hours: All day. Cost: Free.

DAY 13
Simien Mountains National Park • Full-day wildlife trek
Destination: Simien Mountains
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Limalimo Lodge or similar

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Set off on a full-day wildlife trek in Simien Mountains National Park. Simien teems with a variety of extremely rare animals, including the Simien fox and the Walia ibex, a goat found nowhere else in the world. Sometimes called “monkey mountain,” the Simien range is also home to large troops of geladas, a gregarious species of Old World monkey found only in the Ethiopian Highlands.

Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the beautiful mountain scenery.

Afternoon: Continue our wildlife trek for another couple of hours before returning to our lodge.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Free to explore on your own, enjoy the lodge amenities, or retire to your room.

DAY 14
Overland to Gondar • Honey wine making demonstration • Debre Birhan Selassie Church
Destination: Gondar
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Gondar Hills Resort or similar

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: We’ll depart the Simien Mountains this morning and make our way back to Gondar.

Lunch: At a local restaurant owned by four Ethiopian sisters.

Afternoon: After our meal, our hosts at the restaurant will show our small group how to make tej, a honey wine flavored with an indigenous herb much like hops that is often made in Ethiopian homes.

Afternoon: Following our visit, we'll discover the Debre Birhan Selassie Church, considered one of the most beautiful churches in Ethiopia. The interior of Debre Birhan Selassie features a dazzling display of murals, wall paintings, and a ceiling covered with angels. A close look at the church walls reveals that every inch of them are covered in vivid depictions of biblical verses, which were originally painted for worshippers who were unable to read. Above the walls, 135 cherubs gaze down as if they are greeting weary pilgrims.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Free to pursue your own interests.

DAY 15
Overland to Bahir Dar • Visit khat farm • Bahir Dar market
Destination: Bahir Dar
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Kuriftu Resort & Spa or similar

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Along the way to Bahir Dar, we'll stop at a local khat farm, a crop whose income generated per acre surpasses all others, including coffee, Ethiopia's largest export. Bahir Dar (which means “by the sea” in Amharic) is a tropical town set along Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile. Tana was well known to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks—and even now, the papyrus boats sailing along Ethiopia’s largest lake evoke images of ancient Egypt.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After a couple of hours of free time, we’ll set off on bajaj (three-wheeled vehicles similar to tuk-tuks) to mingle with the locals at Bahir Dar’s local market. You’ll find everything imaginable at this lively open-air market—from grains, spices, and prayer blankets to live chickens and goats.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Free to explore Bahir Dar on your own, enjoy evening views of the lake, or retire to your room.

Freedom to Explore

Make the most of your time in Bahir Dar with these suggestions for independent exploration from our local regional office. Your Trip Experience Leader will lead the activity with the most traveler interest.

Visit an arak distillery: Meet a local woman in her home, where she brews this potent, anise-flavored liquor, one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Ethiopia. You’ll learn how it’s made, talk about its role in Ethiopian culture, and try a taste for yourself. How to get there: About a 20-minute walk from your hotel. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: Entry to the distillery is free.

Discover the Bahir Dar fish market: Located on the shores of Lake Tana, the market is where locals come to buy and sell the bounty of the sea. Stroll amongst the stalls to see the variety of seafood on display, and chat with the shoppers and vendors about daily life in Bahir Dar. How to get there: About a 20-minute walk from your hotel. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: Free.

Visit a papyrus boat-maker: Lake Tana is the only place in the world where these traditional watercraft, woven from papyrus reeds and lashed together with rope, are still used daily by local fisherman. Head down to the shore and watch an expert craftsman construct one of these old-fashioned vessels, and look out over the water to see how local fishermen use them in their trade. How to get there: About a 20-minute walk from your hotel. Hours: 8am-6pm, daily. Cost: Free.

DAY 16
Boat ride on Lake Tana • Explore island monastery
Destination: Bahir Dar
Meals included: B L D
Accommodations: Kuriftu Resort & Spa or similar

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: We’ll board a boat from the dock at our resort and head out onto Lake Tana. The peninsulas and islands of Lake Tana are dotted with ancient monastic churches that were hidden for centuries. Most date from the 16th and 17th centuries and have changed little since their founding. Some believe that the Ark of the Covenant was kept at one of these remote monasteries before being transferred to Aksum where it’s kept under guard near the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion.

We’ll visit one of these islands and hike for about a half hour to discover Ura Kidane Mehret, a small monastery decorated with beautiful paintings and filled with treasures.

Then, we’ll enjoy a boat ride along the waters of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. As we cruise, keep your eyes open for hippos, pelicans, and other African wildlife that makes its home here.

Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: The afternoon is free to pursue independent discoveries in Bahir Dar.

Dinner: We’ll celebrate our Ethiopian discoveries during a festive Farewell Dinner at the lodge.

Evening: Free to explore Bahir Dar on your own.

DAY 17
Return flights to U.S. via Addis Ababa
Meals included: B L
Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Fly to Addis Ababa, where we’ll enjoy the services of a day room.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Enjoy some free time for last-minute shopping in Addis or to rest in your day room for this evening’s flight.

Evening: Depart to the airport for your return flight home, or begin your The Spice Island of Zanzibar post-trip extension.