Discover Addis: Unforgettable Full-Day City Immersion

We had a great time on our day tour of Addis Ababa with Luel and Nebyou. They have a great knowledge of Ethiopia and it's history and we learned so much. The tour group itself was small and personal, and Luel and Nebyou were a lot of fun to spend the day with. I would highly recommend them to anyone visiting the area.

Wonderful experience, Luel was knowledgeable and flexible. Really a good experience. I will use this tour company next time I am in Ethiopia. I hope it is soon.

A great tour, informative & the guys were obliging. The pick up & drop off was without hitch and i was taken to a local place to eat after (my choice?

Luel & Nebyou were my guide and driver and were terrific. Luel was very knowledgeable of the spots that were visited and was able to answer all my questions. I learned so much! highly recommend this tour!

I had an amazing experience! I’m a female solo traveler and I was super nervous about the experience but Luel and Yonas made me so comfortable. From the pick-up at the hotel and driving me around. Teaching me about Ethiopian RICH history. And shopping, Luel was very patient with me at Shiromeda as I got souvenirs. And again at Mercato, a girl’s got to shop 💁🏾‍♀️… Then we went to a local restaurant for lunch… I tried raw meat 😝 I’m here for the Ethiopian culture so I figured why not 🤷🏽‍♀️. Overall 10/10. I’m so happy I booked this activity. Highly recommend!🙌🏾

My trip to Addis Ababa was absolutely amazing! The city’s energy, colors, and history took my breath away — but what made it truly special were my incredible guides, Luel and Siyfu. They didn’t just show me the sights — they showed me the heart of Ethiopia. Their stories, humor, and kindness made every moment unforgettable. From the lively Merkato to the peaceful hills of Entoto, I felt the real spirit of Addis Ababa. If you visit Ethiopia, go with Luel and Siyfu — they’ll turn your trip into a memory you’ll cherish forever. ❤️

The tour was fabulous throughout. The tour guide, Leul was very friendly, likeable and knowledgeable on all aspects of the tour. During the visit to the museums, his patience and detailed explanation was miraculous . It has been very educational and an eye-opener one, especially the drive excursing the local Merkato Market. It was perfect from beginning to end and I really enjoyed the tour. Thank you for both Leul and haylab.

I have just returned from a two-week trip to Ethiopia, traveling solo (81 years). How can I describe the eperience? Wonderful, breath-taking, eye-popping and jaw dropping, a once-in-a-lifetime trip for me, even though I have traveled to many countries. Many visitors go to Lalibella in northern Ethiopia to view the 11-churches built into the rock. This is all very good, and I enjoyed the trip there, but if you have any spirit of adventure, why not schedule a week to Ethipia's south Omo Valley. The experience will open your eyes to one of the most ethnically diverse parts of Africa, a number of small tribes who live by long-held traditional rules of lifestyle and who adhere to unique cultural traditions. The visit is sure to amaze you, thrill you, sometimes shock you and even humble you. A short summary of the trip to Omo Valley below. First stop was to a Dorze Village, agriculturalists who also herd cows and goats. The Dorze people as known for their woven beehive huts - which shrink as the termites eat at the foundation - and for the colourful scarves woven by the men. It is not unusual for the tourist to leave with a scarf in hand after a hair curling honey drink (this is not a soft drink!!) and the traditional toast which everyone yells with great glee. The next day, after a boat trip on Lake Chamo full of hungry crocodiles (none of whom came up to greet us) we headed to a Konso village, a 9th World Heritage site where the terraced lanscape and rock walls hide an agriculatural miracle of multi-plants srviving in a harsh landscape. The cultural landscape is equally interesting, peppered with manhood stones, wooden statues, swearing stones, and special "sleeping room" for young men who are ready to mobilize fast in case of danger (by other tribes). The third day took us to the Hamer tribe where we were fortunate to be an "uninvited" but accepted guest of a traditional wedding. The young groom whose wedding was being celebrated had to first prove his manhood by jumping up on a row of uncooperative cows held in place by his male friends while he would jump up on the backs of these cows and head to the other end. It sounds easy but in fact was difficult as the cows had other things to do than stand still while someone jumped on their back. But in the end, the poor boy, who succeeded on the 4th try, was deemed marriageable and could finally put on some clothes (i.e become a man) and get married. Other cultural traditions were evident at this mariage, including the women requiring men to hit them with a switch, causing welts and blood, It appeared that the bloodier they were, the better they showed their respect for the new husband..... While this switching was painful for me to watch, it was part of their cultural tradition, and thus, a stoic face had to be put on the whole thing. The next day, a visit to the village post-wedding showed me that women are the real workers in the village, where polygamy is normal and accepted by all. The women often push their husband to marry again, so the new wife can help the already-married wives. Onward to the Bena tribe the next day, greeted by young boys whose dexterity on stilts must have been inborn, since they seem to learn to walk on them as infants. Fun tribe where the young girls decided that my hair needed to be braided into tight little knots -painful and not easy to undo afterwards, and that the best artist in the tribe insisted on painting my face in the form of lion. Needless to say, there will be no photo of that included here, but a fun group to sit and talk to. The next day, we set off to visit the Ari village and the women demonstrated how they make injera (flat sour bread) and how they create ceramics from the local mud. The Ari tribe had recently been in the news as a conflict arose between the Ari and the Mursi tribes over land rights, causing deaths even among a few tourists who unknowingly entered the area. Peace now, but the two tribes continue to look warily at each other. My final visit was to the Mursi tribe. I suppose the tour operator saved the best for last on the places to visit. The Mursi, are known for their tradition of inserting plates into their lower lip (via an insision on the two sides of the lips) and slowly extending the lower lip out to hold inceasingly larger round plates. The same applies to the ear lobe. The story is that the larger the lip plate, the more desirable the woman. I bought one of these lip plates as a reminder of how I adhered to women's call to beauty when I had my ears pierced about 60 years ago! This short overview could be extended had I more time in Ethiopia (including in the visit to the Dassanech tribe and the Bodi tribe). But time waits for no man and I had a flight to catch. I will insert a few photos to this review and beg forgiveness for rambling on and on. I promise to really give the "Gist" of my experinece in shortened form. In closing, let me give a special note of appreciation to the tour operator Eskinder Hailu of Highway Tours for his professionalism and kindness. He created a trip of a lifetime, and gave me excellent drivers throughout the trip (thanks Bereket and Orion) and the Labibella guide (Leulseged). I owe a great deal to Eskinder and can promise that anyone using his agency will be as thrilled as I have been by his proposed tour.

The Full Day Tour of Addis Ababa was a rich and rewarding experience. The hotel pickup and drop-off were seamless, and the guide was knowledgeable, offering fascinating insights into the city's history and culture. Highlights included the National Museum and Entoto Hills, which provided stunning views. I would’ve appreciated a bit more time at some stops, but overall, it was a well-organized and memorable way to explore Ethiopia’s vibrant capital.

This is one of the best city tours I've ever taken. Excellent driver, knowledgeable guide with great communication skills, and a nice variety of experiences (museums, viewpoint, church, and market). In between stops, Lou provided interesting information about history and life in Addis Ababa, and allowed lots of photo ops. I highly recommend!