Ethiopia

Best walks, hikes and treks in Ethiopia [View list of walks]

About Ethiopia

This is an extraordinary country, for endless reasons.

Ethiopia has a long and rich if often bloody history. As one of the world's earliest Christian countries, it has a vast heritage of rock-hewn churches, from the world-famous clusters at Lalibela to the more than 100 specimens of Tigray, many of them improbably perched on remote mountain tops. It has seen sophisticated dynasties rise and fall, before enduring a terrible 20th Century of invasion, murderous extreme leftists and famine. It is also a patchwork of ethnic variety, with the south and west home to a stunning selection of peoples: more than 80 languages are spoken here.

Ethiopia boasts some of the world's most exciting landscapes, from the weird volcanic plateaux and unbelievable escarpments of the Simien  and Bale Mountains, to the lakes of the Rift Valley, to the weird depths of the Danakil Depression. With a mass of madly eroded mountains making up its highland heart.

Its wildlife is one of Ethiopia's glories. From the ultra-rare but very seeable (esp in the Bale Mts) Ethiopian wolf, to the walia ibex, Bale monkeys, to one of the world's most exciting range of birds (the Bale Mts are said to be the worlds No3 birdwatching base), Ethiopia is wildlife wonder.

So, Ethiopia has things to fascinate everyone, children included. The variety of travel and tours you can make in Ethiopia is as a result huge.

www.tourdust.com organise Ethiopia expeditions, and we had a wonderful time with them, with a well planned and supported journey. They clearly have good local partners. We are proud to be their partners.

Walking, hiking and trekking in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has some of the world’s best walks, hikes, treks and climbs, ranging from famous mountain hiking and trekking trails such as in the Simien Mountains, to geological absurdities like the Bale Mountains, to climbing to ancient rock-hewn churches.   

So, walking, hiking, trekking  and climbing tours and holidays in Ethiopia are so varied that everyone’s taste and energy levels  can be met. Walking in Ethiopia isn’t just for hard-nuts, although there is plenty to get their juices flowing. And there are a multitude of tour operators offering services including fully-supported treks.

Best times for walking are the dry season of November to March, although November and December will be greener. Weather is generally fine in season, but come prepared for unpredictable mountain weather and cold nights where relevant.

See below for a list of the best walks, treks and hikes in Ethiopia. Various of these are in our world’s Top 100 list.

Famous walking regions include:

The Simien Mountains in the north-east. More than 20 points of 4000m or more protrude from this high plateau – called the "Roof of Africa" – although it is the vast escarpment cliffs that will really thrill you. Wildlife thrills galore.

The Bale Mountains, a high volcanic plateau at around 4000m, with lakes and gorges and vast escarpments – and an extraordinary diversity of vegetation zones and wildlife.

We intend that our walk pages contain detail and photos on walking, hiking or trekking routes, including books, best times and weather, how to get there, possible problems, walking, trekking and hiking firms, organisers and guides in Ethiopia, accommodation in Ethiopia and useful links. But this takes a lot of research, so if they are not "there" yet, please give us any suggestions you may have.

Sof Omar Caves
© Flickr user Rod Waddington Valley of Marvels
© Wiki user Brian Dell Bdell555 Simien Mountains
Sunset on the Simien Mountains  - © From Flickr user Hulivili

Best walks, hikes and treks in Ethiopia

You can sort the walks by category by clicking on the category titles.

(The rating of walks marked * is currently provisional.)

Region Walk Name Walkopedia Rating Difficulty Day Walk
Possible?

 Central Menz-Guassa Conservation Area
90*
Variable Yes
 Central Wonchi Crater Lake
84*
Variable Yes
 East Fantale Crater
84*
Strenuous Yes
 East Valley of Marvels
79*
Moderate Yes
 Lalibela Area Wollo Highlands
92
Moderate Yes
 Lalileba Area Around Lalileba
91.5*
Variable Yes
 Lalileba Area Ashetan Maryam
91.5
Moderate Yes
 North Between Lalileba and the Simien Mountains
93.5*
Strenuous No
 North Zege Peninsula, Lake Tana
87*
Variable Yes
 North, Tigray Tigray Rock Churches
94*
Variable Yes
 Simien Mts Geech to Chenek
91
Strenuous Yes
 Simien Mts Imet Gogo
92
Strenuous Yes
 Simien Mts Mt Buahit
83
Strenuous Yes
 Simien Mts Ras Dashen
81.5
Strenuous Yes
 Simien Mts Simien Mountains
90.5
Strenuous Yes
 South Sof Omar Caves
84*
Strenuous Yes
 South, Bale Mts Above Dodola
85*
Variable Yes
 South, Bale Mts Bale Mountains
84
Variable Yes
 South, Bale Mts Harenna Forest
79
Moderate Yes
 South, Bale Mts Sanetti Plateau
84
Strenuous Yes
 South, Bale Mts Sangay Grassland and Park HQ Reserve
81
Variable Yes


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