Ethiopia is not a well-known cycling destination – or not yet. With its open roads, warm sunshine and spectacular mountain scenery we anticipate it soon will be. It has everything an adventurous traveller who enjoys cycling could ask for. And for those who enjoy a more serious challenge, it has the mountain climbs and passes which are the training grounds of Bahrain Merida rider Tsgabu Grmay and countless other aspiring young Ethiopian cyclists.

Our Ethiopian Highland cycling tours are designed so that you can enjoy them no matter how serious you are about your cycling. All three versions of our Ethiopian Highland tour start in Mekele, the capital of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray province, and pass through the ancient city of Axum and the scenic Gheralta Mountains.

The asphalt roads may all be new here, but this area of dramatic scenery is also one of ancient history, with traditions and heritage sites dating back to before the 1st century AD. The town of Axum was the heart of the ancient Abyssinian Empire, and throughout Tigray, the cliffs hide rock-hewn churches which have existed for over fourteen hundred years. You have the option of enjoying all of this on our tours too.

Are our cycling tours for you?

If you love cycling, then join us in the Ethiopian Highlands. We’ve got options for all types of cyclists, whether you like to get out on your bike over the weekend or are an ultra-fit cycling enthusiast looking to push yourself to the limit. Under our itineraries we have a number of tours listed, but we can also design one specifically for you. So, if you want a few days of gentle pedalling through some extraordinary scenery, or a punishing mountain challenge, we can arrange it.

You will be cycling at altitude and in hot sunshine, and the routes take in lots of hills, so although we can accommodate different paces, for you to really enjoy it, you need to be fit and in good health.

What to expect

You set out with the group in the crisp morning after a good breakfast, warming up as the day does. You pass the odd vehicle, but as there are fewer than 700,000 cars in the whole of Ethiopia (a country which is three times the size of Germany), for much of the time we have the superb roads to ourselves. For the most part the route is undulating, interspersed with more testing climbs, and rewards you with scenic descents.

And that is the only thing you have to think about on our cycling tours: your next climb. We take care of everything else: the accommodation, delicious meals and local cycling knowledge that make your tour of one of Ethiopia’s most scenic regions unforgettable.

You are fed well. Breakfasts typically include porridge, toast and honey, omelettes and plenty of coffee. (Ethiopia is the place where coffee originated, after all.) Depending on our day, lunch might happen en route or at our next hotel. In the evening we have dinner either in the hotel restaurant or in another restaurant in town, enjoying spicy Ethiopian stews or more international dishes.

October to June in the Ethiopian Highlands is ideal for road cycling: dry, sunny and warm. Daytime temperatures are between 20°C and 30°C, and because of the altitude it cools down to around 5°C–10°C in the evening, ideal for sleeping.

Cycling Holidays

Cycling Holidays

Tadele Travel, Ethiopia

Tadele Travel, Ethiopia

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