Ethiopia is an ancient country whose unique cultural heritage, rich history and remarkable biodiversity are reflected in a tally of nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites �more than any other country in Africa. Within its borders, you’ll find the world’s fourth-holiest Islamic city, along with the oldest continuously-occupied town south of the Sahara.

Must see in Ethiopia

THE ANCIENT CITY OF AKSUM

The ruins around Aksum date from the 1st through to the 13th century. Amongst the most impressive are the royal underground tombs marked by monolith obelisks, known as stelae. The highest of these intricately carved stone spires towers 23 metres above you.

LALIBELA’S ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES

The ancient town of Lalibela is one of Ethiopia’s most remarkable destinations. Here you stare down on eleven 12th-century churches, hewn out of the red volcanic rock. Inside, each one is different, some bright and patterned, others unadorned. Sometimes called monolithic churches, they are considered to be some of the most impressive examples of rock-cut architecture in the world.

THE WALLED CITY OF HARER

In the 10th century, as the Christian Kingdom of Zagwe was rising in what is now northern Ethiopia, the fortified town of Harer Jugol in the east was growing in strength and importance. This vibrant trading hub was the centre of the powerful Adal Sultanate which ruled a big stretch of the Horn of Africa. Today Harer is a lively place with over 100 shrines and 82 mosques, the oldest of which date from the 10th century. It’s also considered to be the fourth holy city of Islam, after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

In the 19th century, the French poet Rimbaud was drawn to Harer, and as part of your tour, you visit his home too.

LAKE TANA’S ISLAND MONASTERIES

You reach the island monasteries on Lake Tana by boat from Bahir Dar on the shores of Ethiopia’s largest lake. The earliest of these monasteries was formed in the 14th century. The architecture and construction of most of the buildings is simple, but the unusual circular buildings at the heart of these remote religious communities are richly and exquisitely decorated, almost every surface depicting stories from the Bible or about the saints.