Places to visit in Ethiopia

1. Lalibela: in many ways, Lalibela is the beating heart of Ethiopia. A place of beauty, spirituality, and mystery. Lalibela is simply magical. 
2. Simien Mountains National Park: a stunning mountain range, the Simiens have some of the best views, wildlife, and lodges in the country. 
3. Danakil Depression: a volcanic wilderness, the Danakil Depression in the remote Northeast of Ethiopia is one of the hottest place on the planet, and the most visually staggering. 
4. Omo Valley: in the far south, the Omo Valley is home to eight tribal communities, living as they have for millennia. A humbling and often times challenging destination, the Omo will make you reflect on what it means to be human. 
5. Bale Mountains National Park: the verdant jungles of the Bale Mountains are the perfect spot for cosy cabins nestled in the forest, and day trips exploring the wildlife, waterfalls, and mountains peaks of this amazing national park.  
6. Gheralta Mountains: the towering sandstone cliffs combined with the unending flatlands make for a scene straight out of Mad Max, and if you scale those mountains, you'll discover extraordinary secrets. 
7. Community Trekking: atop the high plateaus in rural Lalibela and the highlands of Tigray, an initiative known as community trekking offers insights into local way of life, and some of the best views you'll ever see. 
8. Bahir Dar, Gonder, and Axum: looping clockwise from Addis Ababa, these towns are ancient capitals, spiritual hubs, and remarkably beautiful towns in the north of Ethiopia. 
9. Harar: an ancient walled city in the arid east of Ethiopia, Harar is strikingly different from the other towns in the north of Ethiopia, and as the sun sets, you won't believe what you'll find outside the city walls...
10. Rift Valley: a series of beautiful lakes run south of Addis, surrounded by the Bale Mountains to the east and the Omo Valley to the south. A road trip through the Great Ethiopian Rift is one of the great adventures of Ethiopia. 

Ethiopia is big. To make the most out of your time in the country, think about what excites you most... 

• Landscapes, scenery and stunning viewpoints
• Trekking and hiking
• Historical monuments
• Learning about local way of life and Ethiopian culture
• Seeing the highlights
• Tracking wildlife
• Luxury lodging in beautiful regions
• Camping and getting off the beaten track
• Road trips

Our ultimate Ethiopia travel guide can help you understand the major travel routes, and what to consider when travelling here. 

If you head off the main trail and up into the mountains, deserts, and forests, there's a lot to be discovered in Ethiopia. 

Often times, the best moments on a trip to Ethiopia can't be planned. Just head out on your adventure, and the magic happens. Some of our personal favourite off the grid locations include: 

• Erta Ale, Dallol, and the Danakil salt lakes. The geology here is genuinely unbelievable, it does not feel like you are still on planet Earth. The intense heat of the Danakil adds to the surreality of the experience. 
• The community guesthouses in Wollo. The highlands around Lalibela offer some of the best trekking experiences. The Mequat Mariam guesthouse left us totally amazed, humbled, and inspired. We fell in love with Ethiopia in these highlands. 
• Epic wildlife in Gambella National Park. A few specialist operators (Brilliant being one of them), can operate in this region. A total wilderness, Gambella is truly off the beaten track. 
• Lale's Camp in the Omo Valley. An exclusive tented camp, deep in the Omo Valley on the banks of the Omo River. If you want to truly explore the Lower Omo Valley, this is the way to do it. 

No matter where you are in the country, there's always something special to discover around the corner. Here are some of our favourite hidden treasures in Ethiopia: 

• Abuna Yemata Guh in the Gheralta Mountains. Centuries ago, the imposing red rock cliffs of Tigray were seen as the perfect spot for a hidden church, hewn into the rock. Still in use today, a climb up the sheer rock face takes you to this incredible monastery. 
• Lalibela Cross in the rock churches of Lalibela. This isn't the only ancient artefact hidden within these rock churches, but it's certainly one of the most important.
• The island monasteries on Lake Tana. From a lakeside lodge in Bahir Dar, head out on a boat trip on Ethiopia's biggest lake and you'll find dozens of ancient island monasteries, adorned with beautiful frescos, biblical paintings, and centuries-old manuscripts.