Northern Ethiopia Getting there & around

Getting around

Ethiopian Airlines has flights interconnecting Ba­hir Dar, Gonder, Lalibela and Aksum. Flights also link Mekele with Aksum.

Road construction is booming and freshly sealed sections of road now connect Addis Ababa with Bahir Dar and Gonder (though still expect a few older potholed sections!). In the east, new sections of sealed road now all but link Adigrat, Mekele and Woldia. The old sealed road connecting Addis Ababa to Woldia is currently being overhauled. While fresh roads have reduced the extensive bus network’s travel times, journeys are still lengthy due to the massive distances being covered. Expect at least 10 solid days of bus journeys to complete the 2500km-long historical circuit.

The only area you’ll have trouble finding regular public transport is around the rock-hewn churches of Tigray.

To visit the Danakil Depression, you’ll have travel by private or rented 4WD.