Ethiopia: Coffee and Culinary Cultural Immersion
$1990
per person
Are you game for a little coffee talk? Yielding humanity’s oldest traces provided ample time to concoct a few fads, including one that still hasn’t faded. Sometime after the sacking of Rome and before Europe slipped into the darkest of its Dark Ages, coffee was discovered in Ethiopia. Caffeinated scholars agree on this account: A wise herder named Kaldi noted that his goats became hyped up after chewing specific plant leaves and berries, so he munched on some and caught a buzz.
After sharing this discovery with a nearby monastery, Kaldi was scolded ‘for partaking in the fruit of the devil.’ That is until the monks whiffed the splendid aroma emanating from the fire from where they’d pitched the devil’s brew. The monks then began drying coffee beans and shipping them to other Ethiopian monasteries. Upon receipt, they rehydrated the beans in water, ate the fruit, and drank the brew, which they discovered helped them stay chipper for nocturnal prayers. Soonafter, Arabs began importing beans and the coffee business was launched. Fifteenth century Turks invented the modern style of brewing and stamped an adaptation of the Kaffa province’s name on it: “kahve”.
You’ll stroll where local villagers have roamed for centuries, taste the broad range of local cuisine, immerse yourself in the culture of this beautiful land, all the while traveling in comfort through our extensive network of highly curated experiences with the best accommodations, transportation, and food.
Ethiopia is a great county to combine with the incredible safari destinations of Kenya, Tanzania, or even Uganda! We recommend travels take a bit of time exploring any of these unique wildlife encounters with the incredibly rich culture of Ethiopia.
Highlights
- Food tour around the city, sampling varying Ethiopian dishes in different Ethiopian restaurants.
- Did we mention coffee ceremonies?
- Visit the Royal Enclosure, a walled compound having six different castles built from 17th century by a succession of kings.
- Our visit in Axum includes: the Stele Square, Kaleba Tombs, the 4th century Christian inscription of King Ezana, Queen of Sheba’s Palace, Archeological Museum, and Tsion Mariam Church where the original Ark of the Covenant is housed.
- The underground rock-hewn churches that you will visit include: Bete Medhani Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil, Bete Golgotha Michael and Bete Giorgis.
6 Nights, 7 Days
- Destination
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Included
AccommodationsActivities as SpecifiedEnglish Speaking GuideGovernment taxesMeals as SpecifiedTransportation
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Not Included
Domestic AirfareInternational AirfareTips For Tour GuidesTravel InsuranceVisa Processing
From our gallery
1
ARRIVAL INTO ADDIS ABABA
- Arrive in Addis Ababa (ADD), Ethiopia. Welcome to Ethiopia! Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, you will be welcomed and assisted by your tour guide and driver for the transfer to Hotel. There will be a short drive to your hotel.
- The rest of the day we will have a food tour: we walk around Shola Gebeya and see where people get their fresh spices and produce.
- We will then have a food tour around the city to try, from different types of Ethiopian dishes in different Ethiopian restaurants from butchers where people eat raw meat to cafes where you can have some great fresh juices.
- We will also have the chance to try fresh juices and Ethiopian coffee city style.
- ACCOMMODATION: JUPITER HOTEL
- INCLUDED: TRANSPORTATION, LUNCH, & DINNER
2
ADDIS ABABA / BAHIRDAR
- Morning 50-minute flight to Bahirdar.
- After check-in to the beautiful lakeside resort, we’ll cruise across Lake Tana to visit the lake’s ancient 14th century island monasteries. The 37 islands of Lake Tana shelter twenty monasteries that helped many of the country’s ancient remnants survive; thus the country’s ancient, contemplative traditions endure. Because of their isolation, these island monasteries were used to store treasures and religious relics from all parts of the country. The Lake’s monasteries are famous for their classic Ethiopian religious paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and other ancient church treasures.
- Here we’ll also witness craftspeople making various crafts, including the papyrus boat. This boat is very similar to the boats you see in the ancient paintings at the pyramids of Egypt that were painted thousands of years ago.
- In the afternoon, while relaxing on the lakefront, we will learn how to make coffee the Ethiopian way, from the start to the cup. Those who can’t face their day without a cup of coffee may be surprised to know it’s birthplace is Ethiopia’s Kaffa region (hence, the namesake). Long ago, the berries were only eaten, never roasted and ground into a drink. In the 13th century, Ethiopians turned coffee into a hot beverage. A coffee ceremony is a traditional Ethiopian way of welcoming a guest and sharing the ultimate hospitality. It’s probably one of the most celebrated Ethiopian traditions, a lifestyle choice that most Ethiopians fully embrace.
- ACCOMMODATION: KURIFTU RESORT
- INCLUDED: TRANSPORTATION, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & DINNER
3
BAHIR DAR-GONDAR
- After breakfast, drive to Gondar and enjoy the beautiful countryside scenery until arriving in Gondar around lunchtime.
- En route to Gonder, we’ll stop by different marketplaces and villages.
- After check in to Gonder Hills Hotel, we’ll have lunch at 4 Sisters Restaurant, and then start city tour. Gondar, founded by Emperor Fasiledas around 1635 is famous for its many medieval castles and the design/decoration of its churches -- in particular, Debre Birhan Selassie, which represents a masterpiece of the unique Ethiopian School of traditional art.
- Today you’ll also visit the Royal Enclosure, a walled compound having six different castles built from 17th century by successive kings. The pool of King Fasilidas still serves as a baptismal pool during the Ethiopian Epiphany. We’ll also behold the famous Deberberhan Sillassie, which is adorned with brilliant frescos.
- After visiting the church and castle compound, we’ll check out the Gonder market.
- Later in the day, we’ll learn how to bake Ethiopian bread, Enjera, a giant, grey, spongy pancake-like-bread made out of the tiny, nutritious ancient grain, teff.
- ACCOMMODATION: GONDER HILLS HOTEL
- INCLUDED: TRANSPORTATION, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & DINNER
4
GONDER-AXUM
- After breakfast, transfer to Gonder airport for 25-minute flight to Axum. After hotel check-in, we begin our tour of the ancient city of Axum, the birthplace of Ethiopian civilization. By the first century, Axum was a major trading center for exotic goods from Egypt, Rome, Nubia, Greece, Syria, and India. The Holy Ark of the Covenant was brought here before the destruction of the Temple, and Axum is reputed to be the second Jerusalem. Our visit in Axum includes: the Stele Square, Kaleba Tombs, the 4th century Christian inscription of King Ezana, Queen of Sheba’s Palace, Archeological Museum, and Tsion Mariam Church, where the original Ark of the Covenant is housed.
- In the afternoon, we’ll have a walk around the town and visit a local house and learn how to cook Shiro: spiced beans and chickpeas prepared with onions, garlic, ginger, chopped tomatoes, and other spices prepared and served in a clay pot. It’s one of the most loved and common-yet-truly-delicious dishes you’ll find throughout Ethiopia. We will also learn how to make Tihilo (wait and see!)
- ACCOMMODATION: SABEAN HOTEL
- INCLUDED: TRANSPORTATION, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER
5
AXUM-LALIBELA
- After an early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Axum Airport for your flight to Lalibela.
- After hotel check-in, we’ll drive to the epicenter of some of Ethiopia’s most famous underground rock-hewn churches. These “living wonders of the world” remain as they were at least 800 years ago. These active Christian shrines are still a spiritual center of the country’s religious lifestyle. The monolithic churches were carved out of 2,600-sq meter natural rock terraces in the 12-century AD by King Lalibela.
- The rock-hewn churches we’ll visit include: Bete Medhani Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil, Bete Golgotha Michael and Bete Giorgis.
- Lastly, we’ll enjoy a special sundowner cocktail at Kana and sample different local foods from this region.
- ACCOMMODATION: TUKUL VILLAGE HOTEL
- INCLUDED: TRANSPORTATION, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & DINNER
6
ASHETEN MARIAM-LALIBELA
- In the morning, we’ll visit the local market and get some vegetables and ingredients for cooking at Yod Abyssinia later today.
- We’ll spend the afternoon cooking various dishes and a few vegetarian sauces. We also get another shot at baking Injera (bread).
- ACCOMMODATION: TUKUL VILLAGE HOTEL
- INCLUDED: TRANSPORTATION, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & DINNER
7
LALIBELA-ADDIS ABABA
- Early morning drive to a church to attend an early morning ceremony. After breakfast, we’ll drive to the airport for the flight to Addis Ababa.
- The remainder of the day in Addis Ababa, we’ll drive around Piassa and Merkato and visit one of the biggest open air markets, where you’ll find pretty much everything -- a great chance to buy some spices and coffee.
- In the evening, there’ll be a farewell dinner party with a traditional buffet and local drinks -- add: a cultural dance show showcasing the different ethnic groups living in this incredible country. Now this is the way to conclude an epic foray!
- After the farewell dinner, transfer to Addis Ababa airport for your onward flight.
- INCLUDED: TRANSPORTATION, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & DINNER
Dates
Unlike most tour operators, you are not required to choose a fixed date or travel with a group. You can choose to begin your private tour on any date. These are EVERYDAY DEPARTURES.Tour Price
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- Prices are per person based on double occupancy.
- Single supplement price for single room as part of a group of 2 or more.
- One person traveling alone will incur a higher price due to private tour.
- All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change.
- Prices for 4 & more travelers available upon request.