Client Tour Reviews 2011
Reviews by clients of cultural, historical, wildlife, sight-seeing and adventure tours taken in
Ethiopia and organized by Highway Tours in 2011.
Veerle Damen writes:
We had an amazing holiday and will definitely go back to Ethiopia to visit another part of the country. I
would storngly recommend this holiday !
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The entire holiday experience was very diverse from the rift valley, the
lakes, the tribes, to the Omo Valley. Visiting the tribes was definitely the highlight for us.
The experience of the drive as well as meeting & interacting with the
different tribes was great and the driver/guide were very helpful. Without them it would not have been possible
to have had the same experience.
We extended the trip by a couple of days and Highway Tours was very good
in tailoring the trip to our needs. This allowed us to tour in a more relaxed manner and spend more time at
each location which made the holiday more enjoyable.
Everything was very well organised and was run very well.
The way the holiday was organised and the way the tribes were visited felt
like the local community was benefitting and that any fees paid went back into the community. Read
the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
We had an amazing holiday and will definitely go back to Ethiopia to visit
another part of the country. The country is going through a development phase and this is definitely the right
time to visit and have authentic experiences.
Highway Tours is run very well and everything was well organised. The
driver and guide were very good and we enjoyed their company.
The entire experience from booking the trip (with a very quick turnaround
on the changes we asked for the itinerary) to the holiday was very positive.
I would strongly recommend this holiday !
Veerle Damen
London,
England.
Places Visited Nov 19 - Dec 03, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Rift valley lakes, Lower Omo Valley tribes and Awash NP.
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Martin Sheldon writes:
Don't hesitate, book this trip with Eskinder you will not regret it...
I promise !
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Highlights of this holiday for me was the inspiring friendliness of
everyone we met. It was a total feast for the eyes and unravelled lots of grey matter that was festering in my
brain !
The varied landscapes that we passed through were immense, and in my view
unsurpassed in their natural beauty. From the bustling streets and markets of Addis to the tranquil lake Tana,
on to the jaw dropping Simeon mountains that make you feel insignificant in natures raw power.
Lalibella was truly special and thought provoking, with a visit to Harer
near the end of the trip the last piece of icing on this very large and expansive cake. What an amazing two
weeks.... such memories will linger on for the rest of my life.
Tips for this trip would be to just go with the flow. Talk to as many
locals as you can. Be flexible with the agenda, the guides and drivers are very friendly. Time out to sit and
ponder over coffee is a must. Don't hesitate book this trip with Eskinder you will not regret it... I promise
!
As far as I am concerned all money spent went to the local people in
Ethiopia. Tipping is important and should never be missed. Tourism in Ethiopia should be encouraged they have
so much to offer and brings much needed revenue to a whole host of people with very little impact on the vast
environment. Read the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
This holiday or experience to my mind will never be beaten. Eskinder and
his fellow guides and drivers provided an extremely well organised and mind blowing experience...
I will be back !
Martin Sheldon
London,
England.
Places Visited Nov 17 - 27, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela, Harer.
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Nicola de Jager writes:
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The spactacular mountain scenery was something unexpected and awesome. The
people were very friendly.
Labilela rock hewn churches and the history was very interesting and
fascinating. Overall a fantastic experience.
Toilets at Simien mountain camps were plain disgusting, dirty, soiled,
impossible to use. Remember to take a good stash of toilet paper.
Local people benefited, but it is upsetting for some tourists when
children demand money in some locations e.g. it was even suggested by a student who posed as a guide at Blue
Nile Falls that we give children $20 after wiping mud off ones shoes without an invitation to do so.
Apart from the few annoyances as described above, the tour was well
organized with a very good reliable driver and the local guides were mostly very
knowledgable. Read the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Highway Tours come highly recommended by us --- no problem with their
organization.
Nicola de Jager
Johannesburg,
South Africa.
Places Visited Oct 29 - Nov 13, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mts., Axum, Tigray churches, Lalibela.
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Federica Cumer writes:
I rate this holiday very highly... Ethiopia is beautiful... what I found was beyond all expectations.
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The whole trip was really special. On my list of favourites are Lake Tana,
the Blue Nile Falls, the Simien mountains, of course Lalibela (truly astonishing!!!), Dorze and Konso villages
and the Key Afar market (fantastic).
The steles scattered in the fields around Axum and the castles and
churches at Gondar and the Mursi and Karo people were marvellous and unforgettable too.
Lalibela probably deserves a special mention: it is hardly known
internationally, but it is a top-ranking town of art and history (and I should know, as I'm Italian). What
really makes it different is that the art and history is still absolutely alive. You do not just do
sightseeing, it's not just a beautiful museum, it is part of people's everyday life.
Our guides were also memorable, in the best possible way. Trust your
guides, they are committed to show you how beautiful their land is. Ask and they will be happy to give
information, explain and also just chat. Enjoy the moment, try out everything, don't be afraid.
Let yourself be surprised by all the very unexpected and excellent things
this land has to offer: a truly riveting history, breathtaking historical and natural treasures, kind and
cultured people. Bring comfortable shoes as sandals might not be the best choice.
Read as much as you can about the country and it's history. I found the
Bradt guide to be very good, and while there I gave in and also brought and read "The Sign and the Seal" by
Graham Hancock. The book is very informative, interesting and entertaining.
It surely benefited local people as many are striving to set up a
touristic infrastructure, and mostly are succeeding very well. My impression is that right now tourism in
Ethiopia has all the potential to become a very important source of income and of contact with the rest of the
world. Read the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Ethiopia is beautiful, and Ethiopians are righty proud of it, and it is a
shame most of us know so little about this country.
I consider the fact that I can now contribute give a positive image of
this country to also be a benefit for the local people. I truly hope that tourism, now still at the beginning,
might be developed in a sustainable way.
It probably is already clear from what I have written above that I rate
this holiday very highly. I did not really know what to expect when I chose this destination. What I found was
beyond all expectations.
This country has serious problems which it would be silly to deny: poverty
and education come to mind immediately. But please forget the stereotyped images of a huge stretch of desert
haunted by starving children.
This land is green, dotted with lakes and crossed by rivers, rich in
culture, art and natural wonders and human kindness.
Federica M. Cumer,
Bolzano,
Italy.
Places Visited Oct 06 - 26, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela, Omo valley and Rift Valley lakes.
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Keith Muir writes:
We are very keen to return and see more of Ethiopia and would be getting Eskinder to arrange this for
us.
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We enjoyed the whole trip so much! The trekking and stay in the Simien
mountains was amazing for the stunning geology, wildlife and flora.
Our two nights in Awash national park were a hit too but seeing a hippo
just a few metres from our boat on Lake Tana after returning from the island monasteries was a real
highlight!
Eskinder's travel arrangements were faultless and our guides and drivers
were kind, helpful and very knowledgeable.
I contacted him a few times before finalising the trip and Eskinder
usually responded within a few hours and came up with an itinerary that suited us all as a family of 4 with 2
children aged 11 & 12.
To allow us to see as much of the country as possible in the limited time
we had, we made 4 internal flights with Ethiopian airlines and we found this to be safe and straight forward
too.
It definitely benefitted local people because for one it was an Ethiopian
tour company and Eskinder booked local guides, drivers and hotels. Environmental impact was unfortunately
inevitable because of the distances we were covering.
We all agree that this was truly one of the most stunning countries we
have visited (especially after the rainy season when all was lush and green) Read the
independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
We met lovely people and saw some amazing things and felt very safe and
comfortable throughout.
We are very keen to return and see more of Ethiopia and would be getting
Eskinder to arrange this for us.
Keith Muir,
Glasgow,
Scotland.
Places Visited Oct 13 - 23, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela, Awash National Park.
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Gladys Guisamano writes:
It was an amazing experience, looking forward to going back.
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We are in love with Ethiopia! We decided to go there for various reasons
with unclear expectations or none, but the whole experience was beyond any thought.
From the very first day in Addis we felt so touched by its gentle people,
the colourful landscape of the city. It is so worth it to stay a couples of days in Addis and explore its
churches, its streets, and perhaps have your first contact with a coffee ceremony, injera and a St George
beer.
We flew to Bahir dar from Addis, the flights are quite cheap and the time
you save is definitely worth it.
Bahir dar is an amazing city! we had a very nice guide there and enjoyed
every single moment there, specially the trip on the way to the Blue Nile Falls and of course the Falls
themselves blew our minds.
I will never forget those kids and the scenery. The monasteries in Lake
Tana are a piece of art full of history!
We drove to Gonder, we didn't like it much this city, but this was the
door to go to the Simmien Mountains. We stayed there for 3 days enjoyed the view unfortunately it was a bit
misty.
We would advise you to stay at least 5 days to make it worth it. We think
that most of the agencies there have overpriced the Simmien mountains trip.
However the scenery is beautiful, the fauna and vegetation unique. Be
aware that the temperature can drop up to 0 degree at night. We were quite cold in our first night at the
second camp and did not have the appropriate equipment.
From Gonder to Lalibela by plane, since we arrived we liked it! A
different landscape and different experience. A small town full of cultural icons, impressive ancient churches,
indeed a spiritual place.
I was most impressed by its rich history. We visited other southern cities
such as, Shashamane where we meet very nice families, Awasa lake, Lake Langano etc. Read the
independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Eskinder from the very beginning was very useful and replies to our emails
very quickly, he has loads of patience with us too.
He and his team was very caring, friendly and try to meet our requests
including a visit to a boxing club, arrange a nice Rastafari guide in Shashamame and orphanage at the very last
minute.
We would certainly recommend Highway Tours! It was an amazing experience,
looking forward to going back.
Sebastian and Gladys
London,
England.
Places Visited Oct 02 - 18, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Lalibela, Rift Valley Lakes
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Jaime Perena writes:
Wonderful holiday, beautiful landscapes, nice people, safe place, good food, rich history, great diversity,
wonderful tribes, paradise of photography.
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The whole trip was really fantastic. One of the most interesting things in
Ethiopia is diversity. There were four main destinations. Each one worth a travel: Nile Blue falls, Simien
Mountains, Lalibela, and Omo Valley.
We had a great expectation about Lalibela and Omo Valley. Blue Nile, lake
Tana, and Simien Mountains were very exciting surprises.
First of all, you need to go both North and South. They are so different
and so interesting. That means that you need to have enough time. Our only regreat: we would have be able to
spend more time in each place. Probably some places are rather different depending on the month of the
year.
We travelled in September and we were very lucky: everything was green and
beautiful. The trip has to be planned to be able to visit some local markets: they are unforgotable.
Tourism is a very effective way to development, mainly when a country has
so many things to offer.
The tourist is doing a significant financial effort but you can see that
your money is creating a lot of jobs and is shared by a lot of people who are having their living on an
activity where both parties have significant benefits. Read the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Wonderful holidays. Beautiful landscapes, nice people, safe place, good
food, rich history, great diversity, wonderful tribes, paradise of photography.
We would like to have the opportunity to spend more time and to go to new
places (the East) and see more tribes.
Jaime Perena
Madrid,
Spain.
Places Visited Sep 5 - 22, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela, Lower Omo Valley, Rift Valley Lakes
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Jan Baker writes:
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It's hard to say what was the most memorable! The contrast between North
and South Ethiopia is startling so we would not wished to have missed either, the North with its history and
architecture, including the amazing rock churches, and the South with its culture and different tribal
groups.
If you don't have a lot of time, then go with the reputable tour company, for example, Highway
Tours, as we did.
This meant that they took charge of all guides and scouts when visiting
sites and made life easy and relatively hassle-free.
All the guides and drivers were people local to the area being visited so
we felt that the financial benefits of our holiday were quite wide-spread. Gudies were very informative about
local customs etc. so we didn't offend.
However, of course we stood out and we did use internal flights - perhaps
less harmful than the diesel fumes being pumped out by trucks on the road! Read the
independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Excellent in all respects. Eskinder, of Highway Travel and his team were
very helpful, courteous and generous throughout and the trip ran without a hitch even though we covered a huge
amount of the country.
Ethiopian people are friendly and charming and we learnt a lot about the
country and its people.
Jan Baker and Trevor Sharman,
Ealing,
London W5.
Places Visited Apr 2 - 20, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela, Omo Valley tribes, Rift Valley Lakes
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Sophie Brinckman writes:
... it was a truly amazing time... we would not have done so much without Eskinder and his team.
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The most memorable or exciting part of our holiday would be different for
the three of us. I think for my daughter it would be the fact that a lepard visited our camp in the Simien
Mountians.
For my husband it would most likely be the birds - he has never seen so
many different types in so short a time followed closely by the rock hewn churches. It is truly amazing to
stand in a place of worship that has been carved out of a single piece of stone!
For me I think it would be the people. I am amazed that the people in the
north eat, dress and farm the same way that they did 2000 years ago, and the tribes in the south must be living
in the same way that they were thousands of years ago.
Some of the places we went, the people had never seen a white child
before. So our daughter caused a lot of excitment (she is 6) but never did we not feel safe. I think because
the people in Ethiopia really love children we had many funny/sweet exchanges everywhere we went.
None of the hotels we stayed in were part of a chain they were all locally
owned. We had local guides everywhere we went which was truly wonderful, not only did this give us an insight
into the local customs it also put some money into the local areas. Read the
independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
I would say it was a truly amazing time ... we feel that we have been very
lucky to have seen what we saw and to have had such experiences.
There is no way we would have been able to have done so much without
Eskinder and his team. Be very clear of your likes and wants so Eskinder can work his magic.
We were in Ethiopia for 16 days and I can honesty say we will never forget
them.
Sophie Brinckman
Toronto,
Canada.
Places Visited Feb 18 - Mar 05, 2011:
Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela, Awasa, Arbaminch, Lower Omo valley tribes, Rift
valley Lakes
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Andrea Bray writes:
Highway tours were great, they looked after us every step of the way.
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The scenary and the climate were spectacular and the general feel of
Ethiopia is great, much cleaner than I expected.
One of the main benefits to booking directly with Highway tours, is the
cost, compared to UK travel companies I guess it was half the price.
We seemed to receive the same trip as other travellers, but with a much
more personal service, just the 2 of us in a 4 x4 whilst others were travelling in mini buses.
Some local lads are starting to demand money from tourists, which is a
little daunting and could be off putting to future travellers. Read the
independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Eskinder and Highway tours were great, they looked after us every step of
the way, and we have wonderful memories to keep.
Andrea & Darren
London,
England.
Places Visited Feb 12 - 26, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mts. Axum, Tigray churches, Lalibela
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Kathy Cheetham writes:
... by far the most memorable, enjoyable & best trip we have done
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All of it was wonderful, the most amazing part was the tribes in the Omo
Valley, it was like being transported to another world and time.
The trip was great although some distances travelled by car were long, I
would suggest looking at some internal flights.
Having said that, you would miss the wonderful & vibrant everyday life
just walking along the streets and in the villages, there is always something to marvel at.
The locals benefited from travellers happy to support local shops by
buying local products, all at amazingly low prices.
There are no big groups of tourists on buses, how refreshing, and people
traveling in these parts seem well aware of any impact on the environment, no rubbish thrown
around. Read the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
We have traveled extensively over the last 14 years, this was by far the
most memorable, enjoyable & best trip we have done.
We hope to return again in the not to distant future.
Kathy & Lee Cosgrove
Sydney,
Australia.
Places Visited Feb 13 - 24, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Debrelibanos, Rift valley lakes, lower Omo valley tribes, Harer
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Paul Cheeseman writes:
Go visit before it gets too popular with tourists, and ask Eskinder to organise your trip !
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The most memorable parts of our holiday were the extraordinary landscapes
of the Simien Mountains, the churches and monasteries of Lake Tana and the wonderful rock-hewn churches of
Lalibela.
Also memorable was the boatrip on Lake Tchamo with its 'crocodile market'
where we saw more than 50 crocs and some hippos and also there was the outstanding service provided by
Eskinder, the tour operator.
We had asked for two night stays in various places and we were very
pleased we did so. If doing the trip again we would probably ask for even less road travelling and some
built-in times to relax (perhaps visiting fewer places but having more time to take it all in).
Dollars are more useful than pounds sterling. Be prepared for cold nights
in the mountains and hot days generally. Assume hotels outside Addis to be sometimes lacking in some basics
such as hot water or electricity, even if they are supposed to be 3-4 stars.
People in the north are usually happy to be photographed if asked but in
the tribal areas most locals definitely do not want their photos taken and will stop you taking photos if you
try, even from a distance. Important to respect their wishes in this matter.
Meat is usually very chewy but fish tasty. Expect to taste the best coffee
you have ever had but it is usually very strong - worth asking for extra hot water or have a 'macciato' (with
milk).
Most people are welcoming to tourists and clearly tourism is bringing
financial benefits to the population. Inevitably, however, locals, particularly children, have cottoned on to
the fact that it is worth begging from tourists.
Sadly the effects on the local tribes in the Omo Valley are not entirely
beneficial. The Mursi, for example, charge for every photo and their whole lifestyle is now related to their
daily tourist visits.
We rate this holiday very highly. Eskinder is a wonderful tour operator -
he worked very hard for us, doing his best to make the holiday as memorable (for the right reasons!) as
possible. He clearly wanted to know how everything had been, the good and the bad points.
He is everything that we were hoping for, and more. He looked after us
very well. The whole holiday that he had organised seem to go very smoothly. Read the
independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Ethiopia is a fascinating country quite unlike any other sub-Saharan
country, in part because, despite a few years of Italian occupation, it has never really been colonised. It is
a country of unspoilt landscapes and people.
In some ways it seemed to us that the north and the south were two
different countries, with different cultures and histories and eco-systems, the north closer in feel to Egypt
or Yemen and the south closer to northern Kenya.
Go visit before it gets too popular with tourists, and ask Eskinder to
organise your trip!
Paul Cheeseman
London,
England.
Places Visited Jan 22 - Feb 10, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela, Rift Valley Lakes, Omo valley tribes.
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Brent Ward writes:
We would both totally recommend you and highway tours to any friends.
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Dear Eskinder,
Thank you very much for organising our recent trip to Ethiopia. It took a lot of skill on your behalf to
arrange such a full itinerary at relatively short notice ( less than a month).
The standard of bookings were good and your use of local guides allowed us
a much greater appreciation of your amazing country.
We would both totally recommend you and highway tours to any friends.
Highlights for us were trekking in the Simiens and the awe inspiring
churches of Lalibella.
Please find attached several photos of us having a great
time.
Brent and Anna
London, England.
Places Visited Jan 15 - 24, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Bahirdar
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Christopher Shann writes:
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Our main purpose was to experence the ancient churches, monasteries and
other culutural icons. These were awe inspiring and beyond anything we expected. The landscapes will also live
on for us.
We opted for a road only option. We do not regret this as we do not like
either airports or flying. However this involved some very long days.
Also temperatures at night can fall to zero and rooms are not necessarily
heated. Take plenty of layers and be very cautious about camping.
Like other operators they were let down by hotels they had booked in
Lalabella and coped very well on our behalf. Other independent or small group travellers were less
fortunate. Read the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
Wonderful and at times challenging, we would certainly commend Highway
Tours. They were efficient and caring at all times.
Christopher and Katie Shann
London,
England.
Places Visited Jan 04 - 19, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Tigray Churches, Lalibela
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Gigi Nickas writes:
We all 4 want to thank you, Girma, and Habtamu for and excellent and safe trip.
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Eskinder,
We have recovered form our jet lag now, and are safe and sound back in Caifornia. We all 4 want to thank you,
Girma, and Habtamu for and excellent and safe trip.
We were impressed with Habtamu's safe driving in difficult conditions.
Both of them were always cheerful and prompt, on time.
And you were so helpful in making all the arrangements and helped
accommodate our needs which were somewhat different than what you were used to, because of the kind of trip we
did.
Thank you so much, Eskinder. If we return to Ethiopia, we will contact you
again for arrangements. Gigi and Tim, Bereket and Monalisa,
California, USA.
Places Visited Dec 28, 2010 to Jan 07, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Awassa, Jinka (Omo valley)
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Daryl Cohen writes:
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The churches at Lalibela and the Simien Mountains are both stunning
destinations and for very different reasons. The Simien are spectacular - a bit like half the Grand Canyon -
and with interesting wildlife.
Lalibela is extraordindary, especially around New Year, in the preparation
for Orthodox Christmas.
By booking through Highway Tours (speak to Eskinder) we avoided a
middleman and the whole cost of our holiday went to Ethiopians.
The service offered was of a very high standard and he (Eskinder) clearly
cares hugely about all aspects of the trip. Read the independentreview at ResponsibleTravel.com
This was a great holiday, but please take more time than we did (9 days) -
Ethiopia deserves far longer to attempt to do it justice.
Daryl Cohen
London,
England.
Places Visited Dec 27, 2010 - Jan 03, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Lalibela
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Kieran Finn writes:
I thoroughly recommend Ethiopia as a holiday destination and Highway Tours.
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Dear Eskinder,
Having returned to the cold & damp of an Irish winter, I am compelled to write and thank you for organising
my recent private tour in Northern Ethiopia.
There is certainly much more to Ethiopia than I expected. From the bustle
and sophistication of Addis, the peace and quiet of the countryside and the beauty and history of Bahirdar
& Gonder.
The extraordinary trekking and wildlife in the Simien Mountains; the
religious and historical centre of Axum; to the history, culture and magnificent scenery of Lalibela; and
everywhere the dignity, charm and extraordinary warmth of the Ethiopian people.
Ethiopia is simply beautiful. I loved my first visit and cannot wait to
return (hopefully, the southern tour at the end of this year).
The tour organised for me by Highway Tours/Ethiopiantour.com was
excellent, and your personal involvement throughout was very much appreciated.
Your use of experienced local guides at each destination not only takes
advantage of their specialist knowledge/insight but contributes financially to the local economy.
The organisation throughout was exemplary and the quality of guides,
drivers, etc. was second to none.
I thoroughly recommend Ethiopia as a holiday destination, and Highway
Tours/Ethiopiantour.com as a tour operator for quality and organisation.
Should any prospective visitor to Ethiopia have queries, they are welcome
to contact me. Thank you again Eskinder,
Warmest regards, Kieran Finn,
Gurteen, Co. Sligo,
Republic of Ireland.
Places Visited Dec 24, 2010 to Jan 03, 2011:
Addis Ababa, Bahirdar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela
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