Ethiopia Holidays & Tours: Omo Valley + Lalibela + Simien Mountains + Bale Mountains Park
Ethiopia holidays & tours to the Omo Valley and Lalibela will introduce you to the land of the Queen of Sheba and the Ark of the Covenant. It is a country steeped in history, with over 80 different languages and many colourful tribes in the Omo Valley. The castles and palace of historic Gondar will astound you and the rock-hewn churches of sacred Lalibela are breathtaking.
You can view endemic wildlife in the Simien Mountains & in Bales Mountains National Park. The Blue Nile Falls near Lake Tana are the second largest in Africa and Lucy, the world's oldest almost intact hominid skeleton, was discovered here.
Import Christian festivals in Ethiopia include Easter, Christmas, Timkat, which takes place on 19 January (20 January on leap years) to celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and Meskel in late September, which celebrates 'Finding the True Cross'.
Combine your ideas with our expertise and let us help you create a holiday of a lifetime. We offer a wide range of options at different price points, all of which can be tailor made to your needs.
For expert advice on Ethiopia holidays & tours to the Omo Valley, Lalibela & the wilidlife of the Simien Mountains & Bale Mountains National Park, email or call us on +44 (0)1582 766122 to speak with a specialist travel consultant. Download our Ethiopia brochure (PDF 1.4 Mb).
We have been arranging Ethiopia holidays & tours to Omo Valley, Lalibela, Simien Mountains & Bale Mountains Park for over 20 years.
More information on Ethiopia holidays & tours to the Omo Valley, Lalibela & the wilidlife of the Simien Mountains & Bale National Park:
Ethiopia's historic sites are truly breathtaking. The country is also home to some of the continent’s highest mountains, beautiful flamingo-filled Rift Valley lakes, mighty rivers and rare wildlife.
On Ethiopia holidays & tours you can visit more than nine official World Heritage Sites, with a further five waiting for authorisation. Dating from the 16th century, the castles and palaces of historic Gondar and the astonishing subterranean rock-hewn churches of sacred Lalibela are some of the most famous. The monasteries at Bahir Dar on the islands of Lake Tana, Axum’s 4th century giant stone obelisks and the chapel that is said to house the Ark of the Covenant, are all notable highpoints on Ethiopia’s classic historic circuit.
With over 80 languages spoken and many different religious affiliations, on Ethiopia holidays & tours you will see that the country's heritage and culture are incredibly diverse. The many tribes of the Omo Valley are testimony to this cultural richness, including the Dorze with their distinctive beehive shaped homes, the Karo who live in wooden hilltop fortresses and sculpt totem poles and the Turmi who decorate their hair with red clay and on special occasions hold bull jumping ceremonies.
The colourful Orthodox Coptic festivals of Timket and Meskel are two of the most fascinating national celebrations and can be experienced countrywide on Ethiopia holidays & tours. Celebrating the Epiphany, three-day Timket is Ethiopia’s most important festival. Held in January, there are huge colourful processions accompanied by music and dancing. The annual festival of Meskel falls in September and celebrates the discovery of the True Cross. Large bonfires are decorated with daisies prior to the celebrations, which take place in the early evening.
Formed by volcanic activity, Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source of the Blue Nile, one of the major tributaries of the Nile. The Blue Nile Falls are worthy of a visit on Ethiopia holidays & tours, even though the level of water at the falls has been reduced by the construction of a hydroelectric dam.
For those interested in archaeology, Lucy, the world’s oldest almost intact hominid skeleton, was discovered in the Awash Valley & an interesting display can be seen in Addis Ababa museum.
Ethiopia has two important national parks. In the north, Simien Mountains National Park was created to protect the critically endangered Walia Ibex, which clings to sheer rock faces. It is also home to the Gelada (bleeding heart) monkey and the rare Simien wolf (also known as the Simien fox or Abyssinian wolf). On Ethiopia holidays & tours, the open afro-alpine moorland of Bale Mountains National Park is another good place to see a range of endemic mammals, including the Simien wolf. As wildlife is relatively sparse, combining a big-five safari in Kenya with a cultural experience in Ethiopia is a popular choice.
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FEATURED HOLIDAY
Ethiopia Culture: Tribes of the Omo Valley (Private)
9 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,788
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
YPB9A
Our tailor made Ethiopia private tours & cultural holidays visit some of the fascinating tribes of the Omo Valley. Starting from Addis Ababa, travel south with your own private driver/guide to Lake Langano and Arba Minch. Visit the Dorze, Konso, Mursi, Ari & Karo tribes, as well as the Omo Museum. In Turmi we visit the Hamer tribes, where young men 'jump the bulls' when they come of age. Ideal for photography.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Ethiopia Tour : Lake Tana + Simien Mountains + Lalibela
6 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,163
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
YYA6A
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• Rock Hewn Churches
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• Bahir Dar
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• Simien Mountains
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• Addis Ababa
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• Group Tours Ethiopia, Guided
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• Lalibela
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Escorted Small Group Tours
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• Group Tours: Ethiopia (Guided)
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• Gondar Palaces
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Our escorted small group tours in Ethiopia are fully guided and will introduce you to the historic treasues of this ancient country. Visit the Lake Tana monasteries, the Simien Mountains which are home to the Gelada baboon, Walia ibex, Ethiopian wolf & other endemic wildlife, sacred Lalibela with its astonishing rock-hewn churches & Addis Ababa. Departs once a month (min 2 / max 7).
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Birding Holiday - Ethiopia: Bale Mountains + Rift Valley
10 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,416
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
7YPA10A
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• Bale Mountains
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• Addis Ababa
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• Birding Holidays & Tours, Ethiopia
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• Arba Minch & Tribes of South
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• Sululta Plains + Debre Libano
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• Ethiopia Bird Watching
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• Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary
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• Lalibela Churches
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• Lake Langano
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• Lake Awasa
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Our birding holidays & tours to Ethiopia will take you to a fascinating country that offers some of the best bird watching in all of Africa, with over 950 different species & 30 endemics. Visit the central grasslands, Bale Mountains, Lake Langano & Lake Awasa in the Rift Valley, Yabelo & Arba Minch in the south, before flying to Lalibela to view its famous rock-hewn churches. Birding guide, all transfers & park fees included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Ethiopia Treasures: Lake Tana + Simien Mnts + Lalibela
10 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,795
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
YPA10A
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• Blue Nile Falls
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• Lalibela Churches
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• Simien Mountains
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• Gondar
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• Addis Ababa
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• Gelada Baboons
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• Bahir Dar
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Ethiopia Tour (private)
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• Palaces & Castles
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Explores the historic sites of this ancient country on this privately guided Ethiopia tour. Starting in Bahir Dar, visit the Lake Tana monasteries & Blue Nile Falls, then drive to the Simien Mountains to see gelada baboons. Visit Gondar with its palaces & castles and fly to Lalibela with its astonishing rock-hewn churches. All transfers, sightseeing & private English speaking guides included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Ethiopia Wildlife: Simien Mnts + Lalibela + Bale Mnts
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,923
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
YPC12A
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• Ethiopia Guided Tours
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• Simien Mountains
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• Bale Mountains National Park
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• Gondar
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• Gelada Baboon
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• Wildlife Holidays, Ethiopia
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• Addis Ababa
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• Lalibela
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• Walia Ibex
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• Lake Langano & Lake Awasa
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Our wildlife holidays to Ethiopia & private guided tours explore the unique Alpine flora, fauna & birdlife of this beautiful high altitude country. In the Simien Mountains you can hope to see the rare Walia ibex and colourful Gelada baboon, whilst Bale Mountains National Park is the best place to see the Ethiopian wolf. Also visit historic Gondar & Lalibela. All transfers & English speaking guide included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Wildlife of Ethiopia + Madagascar - Privately Guided
21 NIGHTS FROM:
$5,048
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
YPM22A
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• Ethiopia & Madagascar Holidays
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• Simien Mountains
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• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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• Antananarivo, Madagascar
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• Madagascar Wildlife Holidays
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• Ranomafana & Isalo Lemurs
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• Bale Mountains
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• Lalibela & Lake Langano
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• Wildlife Holidays, Tailor Made
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• Analamazaotra & Mantadia
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Our Ethiopia & Madagascar wildlife holidays can be tailor made to your requirements. In Ethiopia visit the Simien & Bale Mountains national parks, as well as Lake Langano with its abundant birdlife & the historic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. In Madagascar visit several importamt lemur parks including Analamazaotra (Perinet), Mantadia, Ranomafana & Isalo, before relaxing on the beach at Anakao. All privately guided.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Ethiopia + Kenya Safari: Historic Treasures + Masai Mara
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$5,048
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
YPH12A
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• Simien Mountains
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• Holiday to Ethiopia: Private Tour
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• Lalibela
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• Blue Nile Falls
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Big Five Game Drives
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• Rock Hewn Churches
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• Gondar
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• Kenya Safari, Masai Mara
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• Bahir Dar
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This holiday to Ethiopia combines a private tour of its key sights with a thrilling Big Five Kenya safari in the famous Masai Mara. Take a boat ride to see the ancient monasteries on Lake Tana, view the Blue Nile Falls, vsit the Simien Mountains, castles & palaces of Gondar & rock-hewn churches of sacred Lalibela. English speaking guides, all transfers, game drives & park fees included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Ethiopia Historic Treasures + Uganda Gorillas
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$6,311
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
YPK12A
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• St Georges Church
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• Kigali
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• Holiday: Gorillas & Ethiopia
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Simien Mountains
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• Gorillas of Uganda
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• Lalibela Churches
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• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
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• Addis Ababa
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• Gondar Palaces
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This holiday combines gorillas with Ethiopia, to provide a fascinating contrast. Enjoy the cultural highlights of Ethiopia on this private tour, including the ancient monasteries on Lake Tana, endemic wildlife in the Simien Mountains, the palaces of Gondar & the rock-hewn Lalibela churches. Afterwards fly to Uganda to trek to see magnificent mountain gorillas. All transfers, gorilla permits & specified sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Grand Ethiopia Tour: Historic Treasures + Omo Valley
18 NIGHTS FROM:
$7,575
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
YPG18A
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• Castles & Palaces
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• Lake Tana Monasteries
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• Addis Ababa
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• Tiya Stelea / Melka Kunture
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• Lalibela Churches
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• Gondar
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• Omo Valley Tribes
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• Ethiopia Tour
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• Simien Mountains
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• Private Guide
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This comprehensive Ethiopia Tour combines the key sights of the north, including the wildlife of the Simien Mountains, the palaces of Gondar & rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, with the fascinating Omo Valley tribes in the south, travelling with your own private guide. Ideal for culture, birding, botany & photography. English-speaking guides & all transfers included.
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