Simiens, Lalibela, Gheralta & Bale

Set in the centre of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa is the fifth highest capital city in the world, a typically hectic African metropolis, with a reasonable range of hotels and a few modest places of interest. The majority of travellers end up having to overnight here at one or both ends of their trip.

Located between Lake Tana and the Simien Mountains, the historic city of Gondar is renowned for its collection of remarkable European-style mediaeval castles, the first permanent capital of the Orthodox Christian state of Ethiopia.

Set in the north of Ethiopia, Lalibela is a small mountain town which is home to a collection of eleven world-famous rock-cut Ethiopian Orthodox Christian churches, which date from 600-1300 AD. Generally considered to be an essential stop on cultural explorations of the country.

Located in the extreme north of Ethiopia, Gheralta is a scenic area of dramatic mountains, concealed amongst which is a collection of around 140 remote and dramatic churches, hewn from the mountains centuries ago and still in use to this day.

Set 400 km (240 miles) south of Addis Ababa, the Bale Mountains is an upland area with an extremely rich range of ecosystems and endemic wildlife including Bale monkeys, Ethiopian wolves and mountain nyalas. The area contains one decent lodge, plus the option to deploy a mobile tented camp.