Detail
OUR DESTINATION
As one of the oldest countries on earth, Ethiopia's story is long and varied. Although now landlocked, Ethiopia's borders once stretched as far as the Red Sea, where it dominated the spice trade in the first millennium AD, becoming the maritime trading power of the region.
Ethiopia is one of the few African countries to resist European colonisation over recent centuries, arguably having greater influence itself on Europe, where Ethiopia's coffee beans have now transformed cafe culture.
Beyond the trade in goods, Ethiopia has also been host to massive movements of ideas and ideology - from hosting the Queen of Sheba's origin story, the building a new Jerusalem at Lalibela.
Beyond its cultural significance, Ethiopia also plays host to a multitude of landscapes, habitats, wildlife and languages - all equally ripe for exploration.
LANDSCAPES
Ethiopia is a land of dramatic contrasts and extremes, from some of the Africa's highest mountains to its lowest point at the Danakil Depression.
Ethiopia's kaleidoscope of landscapes includes the jagged peaks of the Simien Mountains where endemic gelada baboons thrive, to the afro-alpine forests of the Bale Mountains and the luminescent hues of the Danakil Depression.
Ethiopia hosts her own inland sea at Bahir Dar, remote monasteries and churches in spectacular surrounds, and a fossil record dating back to Lucy, one of the world's oldest hominids.
(c) Clare Doolan
GROUP TRAVEL
One of the best things about going on an ISHKAR trip is the group of people with whom you travel. Our trips attract informed, critically minded and adventurous people from all around the world.
Some of you will be drawn by the prospect of spending time in the remote wilderness, others will be drawn by the chance to learn about a fascinating and poorly understood part of the world.
We get to know everyone who applies to our trips over the phone. In this way we can curate groups guaranteed to enjoy sharing this extraordinary experience together. What unites everyone is the same curious spirit and desire to get far away from the typical tourist trails.
We plan to travel with a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 people in order to make this trip possible.
The Price
The price for this once in a lifetime trip is $4990. The price will include all food, transport and accommodation whilst in country. We will be assisted by guides who know the region inside out, providing access to a multitude of insights on Northern Ethiopia.
A 30% deposit of $1500 secures your place on this departure.
Email to apply now: explore@ishkar.com
Book a consultation with us: Click here.
Call us on: +44 7557386046
* Where international payments are due, we request that you ensure the full amount is received, after all bank charges have been levied as per the price and currency stated on the invoice stated.
(c) Clare Doolan
TRAVEL SECURITY
We are uncompromising when it comes to the safety and security of our travellers and will not hesitate to alter plans or cancel trips due to changing security dynamics. While there have been issues with security in Ethiopia's Afar Region, this itinerary is not scheduled to travel to any areas with security concerns and our routing is all planned with the advice of our support team based in Addis Ababa.
Through working with our team of local guides we are able to stay abreast of any changes to the security situation if there were any.
Please see our Travel Security page for more information.
(c) Clare Doolan
ISHKAR Team Member
Your ISHKAR point of contact for the trip is Clare Doolan. If you have any queries about the trip:
Email: explore@ishkar.com
Book a consultation: Click here.
Clare Doolan ~ Head of Travel
Clare grew up on a big island in the middle of the Pacific (Australia) acutely aware that a bigger world awaited. For the past fifteen years, she has dedicated her personal and professional life to travel, looking for the backstory of places that get overlooked by guidebooks and google maps. Before joining ISHKAR, she spent a decade developing travel experiences for Botswana and Zimbabwe’s high-end safari industry. Though Clare has travelled widely across every continent other than Antarctica, she’s most fond of forays into Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Highlights
01 / Africa's capital
From coffee and khat in Addis Ababa's sprawling Mercato to nights filled with Ethio-jazz and injera, the African Union's capital has something for all of the senses
02 / Hiking highlands
Head to Ethiopia's dizzying mountaintops to wake up with the gelada baboons, and hike to far-flung monasteries and waterfalls
03 / Medieval monoliths
Explore Ethiopia's 'new jerusalem', carved out of rock under the instruction of King Lalibela in the twelfth century
04 / Coffee and christianity
Discover the cultural complexities of a never-colonised country, nevertheless filled with layers of foreign influence via ancient trades in spice, coffee, religion and architecture
