Ethiopia & East Africa · office in Gondar · Open daily · 8:00 - 18:00 (East Africa Time)
Northern Highlands
The 'Camelot of Africa' — an imperial city of castles, churches and a rich royal history in Ethiopia's northwest highlands.
Gondar served as the capital of the Ethiopian empire in the 17th and 18th centuries, and its royal legacy survives in the impressive Fasil Ghebbi — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of castles and palaces.
Today the city is also the gateway to the Simien Mountains, making it the natural starting point for a northern Ethiopia journey.
Beyond the castles, explore beautiful churches, the Bath of Fasilides, and the vibrant market life of a real highland city.
The royal enclosure of castles and palaces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A romantic 17th-century royal bath surrounded by trees.
A beautiful church with remarkable painted ceilings.
Most travellers arrive through Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport, then fly or drive north. We arrange every flight, transfer and road leg as part of your itinerary.
Read the transport guideDomestic flights link the capital with Gondar, Lalibela, Axum and Bahir Dar across the northern circuit.
We arrange airport and hotel transfers as part of every itinerary.
The northern circuit can be driven between sites by private 4x4, which we arrange for you.
Wander the walled royal citadel of Fasil Ghebbi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of castles and palaces.
Step into Debre Berhan Selassie, one of Ethiopia's most celebrated churches with its famous painted ceiling.
Use Gondar as the perfect launchpad for a trek or drive into the nearby Simien Mountains.
Experience a lively, historic highland city at a comfortable, human pace.
Highlands and holy rock churches
The classic combination: trek the Simien escarpment, then Lalibela's rock-hewn churches — history and highlands in one unforgettable journey.
Castles, churches and Lake Tana
Journey the legendary northern circuit — Gondar's castles, the churches of Lalibela, the stelae of Axum and the monasteries of Lake Tana.
A taster of the Roof of Africa in a single day
A full-day drive and walk into the Simien escarpment from Gondar — waterfalls, gelada viewpoints and the sheer scale of the highlands, without an overnight.
The complete Ethiopia
The definitive overland journey — northern castles and churches, the Simien trek, Danakil's volcanoes, Tigray's cliffs and Harar's alleys in one grand loop.
Castles, monasteries and the Blue Nile
A relaxed three-day sweep through Gondar's imperial castles, the island monasteries of Lake Tana and the thunder of the Blue Nile Falls.
The Roof of Africa at a family-friendly pace
A gentle, flexible highland escape designed for families — easy walks, huge herds of gelada baboons and nights at a warm mountain lodge.
Every wonder of the north in one journey
The complete northern odyssey — Simien trekking, Gondar, Tana, Axum, the Tigray cliff churches, Lalibela and the Danakil in one grand loop.
The astonishing history of Ethiopia — the rock churches of Lalibela, castles of Gondar, stelae of Axum, monasteries of Lake Tana and the walled city of Harar.
Learn more
Guided multi-day treks across Ethiopia's great highlands — from the Simien escarpment and Ras Dashen to the Bale Mountains — fully supported with local guides.
Learn moreGondar has its own domestic airport served by flights from Addis Ababa, and it's also reachable by road from the capital and from Bahir Dar.
Absolutely — Gondar is the natural gateway to the Simien Mountains, and most of our northern tours begin or end here.
Most travellers combine this destination with another — the northern circuit, the Danakil, the Omo Valley or beyond. See which places fit your route.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the crown of the Ethiopian highlands — the 'Roof of Africa' — where sheer escarpments fall thousands of metres.
Home to the extraordinary rock-hewn churches of Lalibela — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's great pilgrimage destinations.
The ancient capital of the Aksumite Empire, famed for towering stelae, royal tombs and a history spanning nearly two millennia.
Send us an inquiry and we'll help you build the perfect itinerary — tours, timing and logistics included.
