Ethiopia

Trekking Ethiopia's Simien Mountains

Ethiopia is a land of legends and mystery – the Queen of Sheba and the Ark of the Covenant to name but two. The landscape is also mesmerising. In the far north are the Simien Mountains – a mystical world of primeval forests, misty peaks, bizarre plants and exotic creatures. Trekking these stunning highlands is like stepping into an otherworldly paradise.

Jagged ridge after jagged ridge, with many a path between © LuCaAr / Getty Images

Ethiopia's unmissable sights for travellers

Ethiopia has the ability to wow you day after day. This is truly a world apart; there are more than two millennia worth of ancient treasures scattered around Ethiopia, from the giant obelisks and hidden tombs of the legendary Queen of Sheba, to castles that would make Camelot jealous and the breathtaking rock-carved churches of Lalibela.

Not to be outdone by human craftsmen, Mother Nature really let her creative juices flow in Ethiopia. East Africa’s Rift Valley has left some of its most memorable signatures here: volcanoes bubble and boil, lakes are the colour of English tea and deep canyons and steep peaks wrinkle the land…well, just about everywhere. Starting with the best known and ending with those often unknown to even veteran Ethiopian travellers, here’s our list of the signature sights of Ethiopia.

Timkat (Epiphany): tips for viewing Ethiopia's baptism festival

This is an excerpt from Lonely Planet's A Year of Festivals.