mkulove

Inquiring about any escorted /group tours from the US to Ethiopia with a reliable US operator. Travel slated for summer 2010.
Thanks for your suggestions/help.

thursdaysd

Don't know whether this co. is American or not, but they run tours there: www.bestway.com

This one is definitely Australian, Ethiopia is part of longer trips: www.intrepidtravel.com.au

This one has a US office, but seems to be Canadian: www.adventures-abroad.com

This is a US co. representing non-US cos. and has several trips listed: www.adventurecenter.com

For all of these I think you have to get yourself to the start of the tour.

P_M

May I ask why you prefer a US operator? I'm an American who has used British, Canadian operators and one Egyptian operator and I had a wonderful time.

BTW, here is the US site for Intrepid. If it matters they have an office in Boulder, CO.

http://www.intrepidtravel.com/

P_M

Sorry I meant to say British AND Canadian operators and one Egyptian operator.

mkulove

Thank you so much. This is a great start.

P_M I am looking for a group/escorted itinerary that will originate in the US, including flying in and out together. It does not have to be exactly that, I could join a group on the ground and do the international air by myself. I just thought that for a destination that is only now up and coming, traveling with a group would be more comfortable for a single.

Thanks again.

P_M

I completely understand about wanting to travel with a group. I enjoy group travel also since I usually travel solo and it's no fun being alone all the time. Although I've done a lot of group travel, I've never actually flown with the group because I always use FF miles for a free ticket. In your case, unfortunately I think you will be very hard-pressed to find anything from the US that includes flights to Ethiopia, but of course you can meet your group upon arrival at the hotel. Most tour companies can arrange a transfer from the airport to your hotel.

I hope you will tell us all about it when you return.

NoFlyZone

Intrepid is an excellent company but note that all their tours which go to Ethiopia are overlanders. There is a lot of camping, with group participation in the nitty-gritty.

tactile

Try here-
http://www.gapadventures.com/destina...rica/ethiopia/
Not quite a US operator, but hey, Toronto's just next door!
Accommodation
SEP-APR: Guesthouse (2 nts), Simple hotel (9 nts), Camping (3 nts). MAY-AUG: Guesthouse (2 nts), Simple hotel (12 nts)
The DEN tour has 2 options dependant on time of year.Whether Simien mountain hiking is included or not.
My wife and I have travelled with Intrepid and with GAP before and would recommend both companies.Very similar style.
But GAP have an advantage as their travel forum is a great place to ask about their tours.
http://wateringhole.gapadventures.com/index.php
We'll travel on their DEN tour next year.

wanttogo

mkulove:

There is a British travel group that has been doing trips to Ethiopia for years. It is a cultural tour group with an emphasis on history, art, music etc. To ge the web site, go to
Google and typ in ACE Study Tours.

Their tours go from London, of course.

Pat

braidsL

I have been looking into trips to Ethiopia and since I will be traveling as a single, I also wanted to go with a group. I have pretty much decided on a company called Imaginative Traveller (Imaginative-Traveller.com). Have spoken to someone who did their month long Ethiopia trip and loved it. I am interested in their two week trip to Southern Ethiopia and want to go in October when the weather is supposed to be ideal. I looked into GAP but was not crazy about the idea of having to carry my own bag and participating in setting up the camp. The company I mentioned does camping also, but the necessities are all provided. This company is based in the UK. I would be flying from NYC.

P_M

braidsL, I used Imaginative Traveller for my Romania trip last year, they are a great company.