A guide to Ethiopia
Known as the ‘Roof of Africa’ due to its elevation, Ethiopia offers some diverse sights – from churches carved out of stone
Read more
Mon - Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sat 10:00am - 4:30pm
MONTH BY MONTH
Choose a month to travel and discover the best places to visit at that time of year...
READ OUR COMPASS BLOG
Compass is an online travel magazine, designed to inspire and inform...
THE COX & KINGS DIFFERENCES
Discover some of the unique benefits of choosing to travel with Cox & Kings...
Ethiopia holidays by Cox & Kings
The only country on the continent never to be colonised and rich in Orthodox Christian heritage, holidays to Ethiopia are culturally and scenically enthralling.
With the highest number of Unesco world heritage sites of any African country, it is best known for the historical locations in the north, including the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the obelisks of Axum and the Ark of the Covenant.
With Cox & Kings you can travel further afield into the Simien and Bale mountain ranges and south through the Rift Valley to the tribal Omo valley.
Explore Ethiopia
Click on your destination of interest
Key facts
- Capital: Addis Ababa
- Currency: Birr
- Flying time from London: 9 hours
- Official language(s): Amharic
- Time difference: +2 GMT
- Visa requirements: Visa required for UK passport holders.
The Ethiopia Experts
Our experts will be delighted to tailor a completely personalised itinerary to suit your interests, dates and budget.
Call them on
020 7808 6780
020 7808 6780
Top things to do in Ethiopia
Visit the Historical North
The northern historical circuit is the country’s most visited region, and encompasses Axum, Lalibela, Gondar and Bahar Dar, which can easily be combined into an inspiring one-week itinerary. The most famous site on the northern route is Lalibela, the ‘new Jerusalem’, which was built by King Lalibela ‘with the help of angels’ in the 12th century. Also in the north, although less visited, are the rock-hewn churches of Tigray, accessed from Mekelle.
Encounter distinctive wildlife
Ethiopia has two highland national parks – the Simien mountains in the north is a region of jagged peaks and incredible mountain views, and is known for its endemic walia ibex (mountain goat) and gelada mountain monkeys. Meanwhile, the wild alpine scenery of the Bale Massif National Park in the south-east is the favoured habitat of Ethiopian wolves and is the best place in Ethiopia to spot endemic birds.
Spend time with local tribes
South-west of Arba Minch is the Omo valley, home to a diverse array of ancient tribal cultures, the most well known being the Mursi, Karo, Benna and Hamer tribes. This area is best explored by road with a driver-guide in a 4x4 vehicle. Stop en route to explore local villages, markets and museums, and visit the colourful market day at Key Afar.
Relax in the Rift Valley
This 40 million year old valley runs from Syria to Mozambique and hosts a diverse mix of scenery and lakes. Journey south of Addis and you reach a cluster of lakes perfect for birdwatching – Shala, Abiata and Langano. Swim in Langano, or spend a couple of nights in a lakeside lodge, ideal for a spot of relaxation.
Take part in a festival
Ehtiopia celebrates a number of Christian orthodox festivals – from the Timkat festival in Gondar, to Meskel in Addia Ababa and Hidar Tsion in Axum, each of these festivals provide a jubilant atmosphere and a chance to gain an insight into the country’s fascinating culture.
The latest from Compass - our online travel magazine
Ethiopia…in the picture
Cox & Kings client Nigel Purse shares photos of his trip to Ethiopia and the Timkat Festival celebrations.
Read more
Celebrate …Ethiopia
In the dramatic rocky setting of northern Ethiopia, Melissa Twigg discovers festival fever.
Read more
Top festivals… in 2019
See the world’s best festivals in 2019 including Mexico's Day of the Dead and India's Kumbh Mela.
Read more"The scenery was amazing throughout the tour, but the two main sights for us were St. Georges cruciform rock church and the Blue Nile falls. Both truly amazing. "
Mr David Eyres
Travel in Africa
Travel in Africa At Cox & Kings, we believe that a good holiday is not luck, but judgement. We have compiled the following advice to outline the nature of travel in Africa and to help you prepare for your holiday. However, even with the most meticulous planning, minor problems can occur and, while our local...
Flying in style in Africa
Flying in style in Africa Your choice of scheduled airlines: It is Cox & Kings’ policy to use scheduled flights on airlines with strong reputations for service, reliability and punctuality. Our holidays to Africa and the Indian Ocean feature a number of world-class airlines and on these pages we have highlighted seven of the best and...
Documents & health information for Africa
Documents & health information for Africa British Foreign & Commonwealth Advice: Cox & Kings supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel Aware campaign to help you stay safe and healthy overseas. Find out more at FCO Travel Aware. The FCO website provides travel information for many countries around the world which includes advice on safety...
Climate in Ethiopia
Discover the temperatures and rainfall you can expect when visiting the main areas of Ethiopia, along with the best time to travel.
Request a brochure
Order your copy of the brochure to see the world come to life in print.
© Cox & Kings 2021