Just checking the Skybus and Selam Bus websites for a two day trip to Harar, and Skybus runs on alternate days but there's no timetables on the Selam site. Are seats difficult to get on this route? Do Selam run every day? I believe there are flights on the route, but Ethiopian airlines aren't showing any. What airline/s fly this route?
1
mvbergen
As Selam is cheaper than Sky, Selam is targeted much more than Sky but you will be able to find a ticket at least with Sky.
By security, try to buy the day before and not the day of the travel. With Selam, you must do that.
Michel
2
braybuddy
Thanks Michel, you are a great help! Given that we would be leaving Harar to the end of our trip we are now wondering if we would be better going to somewhere like Assam for our last two days given that it is only four hours from Addis. If we did have a problem getting back from Harar we could miss our flight. If we had difficulty getting a bus back from Assam at least we could hire a car (I presume). Would you recommend Assam for our last two days, or anywhere else not too far from the city?
3
mvbergen
The airport for Harar is at Dire Dawa, close enough to use a plane from Addis.
If you are coming back the day before you are leaving Ethiopia, it will not be a problem.
In my point of view, the "only one" is that your trip will be too rushed but it's my opinion because I don't want to be in the rush.
Before going there (I mean Harar), where are you ?
How many weeks are you in Ethiopia ?
Michel
4
braybuddy
We are spending two weeks in Ethiopia, visiting Addis, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Aksum, Lalibela and then back to Addis. So rather than spend our last three days there we could maybe get the bus to Harar and then fly back from Dire Dawa, or spending a couple of nights in Assam. Which would be better, or would you recommend anywhere else? The bus journey to Harar seems very long.
Thanks again
Norman
5
mvbergen
Do you know that the Historical Road (the Northern part of the country) is much more than the four main cities ?
Plenty of places to see. Two weeks are not enough to move around this part of country more properly...
It will be better to skip Harar and visit "only" the North...
Try to have the Bradt guidebook, you will understand.
Michel
6
fieldgate
but there's no timetables on the Selam site. Are seats difficult to get on this route?
Departures are early morning between 5 - 6 am. It's better to buy tickets the day before departure.
That is valid for all destinations.
If you have only two weeks, I'd suggest you visit the noth only, and even then it will be a bare minimum for the highlights.
7
braybuddy
It will be better to skip Harar and visit "only" the North...
If you have only two weeks, I'd suggest you visit the noth only, and even then it will be a bare minimum for the highlights.
Too late, I'm afraid Michel. We have already booked our flights and will be returning to Addis on the 27th. We fly back to Dublin on the 1st December, so have three days to kill, which we don't want to spend in Addis.
Thanks
Norman
8
kaz
have three days to kill, which we don't want to spend in Addis.
Going by bus to Harar and back will use up 2 of those days, which seems a bit of a waste.
I would go somewhere closer to Addis, perhaps one of the Rift Valley lakes such as Ziway, Langano or Awassa. Or the hot springs resort at Sodere near Nazret.
I don't know any Assam in Ethiopia, did you mean Awassa?
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