Ethiopia's classic & hidden gems on an outdoor adventure

Ethiopia is a country of incredible and unexploited outdoor adventures. Trekking in the mountains of the Ethiopian highlands is the most common outdoor activity, but mountain biking is more than a valid alternative. Ethiopia has plenty of spectacular landscapes and we’ll help you find the best itinerary that fits your travel style and preferences and that doesn’t skip the rich historical and cultural heritage sites.

Check our Ride the Rift Special Group Offers for the upcoming months and you might find your perfect fit.

Or if you let us know about your dream trip to Ethiopia, we take care of all the details! The private itineraries shown below are just some examples which can be customized. They’re not “four cities in seven days” tours, but instead you’ll see new places and explore new cultures in a way which is less stressful for you, more respectful of the locals and easier on the environment. Travelling responsibly is an important concern to us.

For our September tour Ride the Rift also presents an alternative to combine the biking adventure in Gurage with a shorter tour around Lalibela. We will take you on a unique adventure: first biking (or hiking) in the Gurage Highlands seeing the local culture at their most important festival; then trekking in Ethiopia’s 3rd highest massif, looking for the rare Ethiopian Wolf and joining in one of the most colourful yet least known of the festivals around Lalibela; and finally exploring Lalibela’s labyrinth of medieval churches.

Enjoy a biking adventure to the ‘Jamma Canyon of Ethiopia’ with Ride the Rift exploring canyons just to the north of Addis Ababa with waterfalls cascading out of the highlands alive with emerald crops having first explored some of most interesting and beautiful places in Ethiopia: Lalibela where you will explore the town’s labyrinth of medieval churches, the Meket Highlands where you will trek in stunning scenery and hosted by the local farmers, the majestic Simien Mountains with its unique wildlife and dramatic landscapes, Gondar with its romantic castles, and the Wof Washa forest along the Great African Rift Valley escarpment.

This tour combines two great sporting events for people of all levels with a chance to see different landscapes and cultures of Ethiopia. You get to: explore the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia including Lalibela and the Simien Mountains; you take part in the Great Ethiopian Run, Africa’s biggest mass-participation run and one of Addis Ababa’s biggest street carnivals; you discover the string of lakes with its own wildlife and culture in the Great African Rift Valley; and you participate in the Ride the Rift charity bike ride challenge along the edge of the Rift Valley beside Wof Washa Forest.

Enjoy Ethiopia’s highlights with due time. This trip is for those who want to get an in-depth view on Ethiopia’s people and culture off the beaten track. The first days of the tour start slowly in the unique Mulu Eco Lodge in the Choke Mountains with close encounters of rural Ethiopia. After visiting Lake Tana and Ethiopia’s Camelot Gondar you will go hiking in the Simien Mountains. Move on to the fabulous rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, from the 12th century and a true must-see when visiting Ethiopia.

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