Yes. Ethiopia operates an e-visa system accessible to most nationalities, which allows you to apply online in advance for a tourist visa. The process is straightforward and typically takes a few days to process. You can also obtain a visa on arrival at Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport, though applying in advance is more reliable. Koryo Tours provides full guidance on the visa process as part of booking.

The answer depends significantly on where you are going. But generally, yes. The main tourist destinations, including Lalibela, Aksum, Gondar, Addis Ababa, the Simien Mountains and the Danakil Depression, are substantially stable and are visited by international tour groups regularly. 

October to May is the dry season and the most comfortable period for travel.

June to September is the main rainy season, when roads to highland areas can become difficult and the Danakil Depression, already one of the hottest places on earth, becomes even more demanding.

Ethiopian Airlines operates one of the most extensive route networks on the continent and connects Addis Ababa to most major European, Middle Eastern and Asian hubs. It is consistently rated among the best airlines in Africa.

Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa is the main entry point for most visitors. Domestic flights to Lalibela, Gondar and other regional airports are reliable and considerably faster than road travel given Ethiopia's size.

The Ethiopian Birr was floated in July 2024 as part of an IMF-backed reform programme and has been depreciating since. The current rate is approximately 160 ETB per USD.

ATMs are available in Addis Ababa and major cities. US Dollars can be exchanged at banks and authorised exchange offices. In more remote areas like the Danakil or rural Omo Valley, cash in birr is essential and card payments are not available. Bring sufficient cash for any time you will be spending away from the main cities.

Cash is generally not readily available in the Tigray area. 

In Addis Ababa, accommodation ranges from international-standard hotels to excellent locally run guesthouses.

In Lalibela, Aksum and Gondar, there are comfortable mid-range hotels with good facilities. In more remote areas like the Danakil Depression, accommodation is in camps, which are basic but functional and provide the essential experience of being in one of the most dramatic landscapes on earth.

Camping under the Danakil's volcanic sky is routinely described by those who do it as the most unusual night's sleep they have ever had.

Ethiopia is predominantly Christian in the highlands and Muslim in the lowlands. Modest dress is expected throughout, but is much more relaxed than many nearby African nations.

At Orthodox churches and monasteries, both men and women are required to cover their shoulders and legs, and women should carry a headscarf. Shoes are removed at the entrance to most churches.

The Ethiopian highlands can be cool, particularly in the evenings, so layers are advisable even in what feels like a warm climate.