Can you visit Bahir Dar, Gondar or the Simien Mountains right now?

Not right now. Bahir Dar, Gondar and the Simien Mountains are all in Amhara region, and travel there isn't advised at the moment. That's a real shame, because together they make one of Ethiopia's great journeys: the island monasteries of Lake Tana, the castles of Gondar and the Simien escarpment. They'll be worth the wait, and in the meantime there's plenty to enjoy from Addis Ababa.

At Ethiopia Driver we drive visitors around Addis, out to Bishoftu's crater lakes and down to Hawassa and the south, which we drive regularly. Tell us your dates and we'll help you rebuild the trip.

What are Bahir Dar, Gondar and the Simien Mountains?

Bahir Dar and Lake Tana

Bahir Dar sits on the southern shore of Lake Tana, Ethiopia's largest lake and the main source of the Blue Nile. Visitors usually take boats to the old monasteries on the lake's islands and the Zege Peninsula, several of which keep old manuscripts and royal tombs. The Blue Nile Falls lie downstream of the lake.

Gondar

Emperor Fasilides made Gondar his permanent capital in 1636, and it remained the centre of Ethiopian government for more than two centuries. The walled Fasil Ghebbi compound, with its palaces, churches and monasteries, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Simien Mountains National Park

North of Gondar, the Simien plateau breaks off in cliffs that drop around 1,500 metres. It's home to gelada monkeys, the Walia ibex (a wild goat found nowhere else) and the rare Ethiopian wolf. UNESCO listed the park in 1978 and kept it on its 'in danger' list from 1996 until 2017, when conservation measures had improved.

Why isn't travel to Amhara advised right now?

Some governments advise against all travel to Amhara, including Bahir Dar, Gondar and the Simien Mountains, after fighting in the north escalated in late September 2026, and as of 10 October that advice hasn't eased. Addis Ababa and the south are open and busy with ordinary life. Advice changes, so check your government's page before making plans.

Are flights to Bahir Dar and Gondar still running?

As of 10 October 2026 there are no reports that Ethiopian Airlines has suspended Bahir Dar or Gondar flights. Flights to Lalibela have been suspended since 24 September, and flights across the north can change at short notice. If you hold tickets, check directly with the airline, and remember that the travel advice applies whether or not the plane flies.

What about going by road?

We don't drive into Amhara at the moment, and road travel there isn't advised. For the trips that are open, like Bishoftu and Hawassa, this is how we plan them with you.

Before every trip outside Addis Ababa, we do our own security check using reports from our drivers across the country. We talk it through with you and decide together on the best plan: the route, a reroute if needed, what time to leave, and when not to travel at all. Inside the city and outside it, we look after you, and you have a trusted local driver as company for the whole trip.

What can you see instead from Addis Ababa?

• For history and churches: Holy Trinity Cathedral and the National Museum in Addis Ababa. With a driver by the day you can combine several stops in one day; we drop you at each door and wait.
• For lakes and birds: Bishoftu's crater lakes, south-east of Addis, an easy day trip.
• For a longer trip south: Hawassa, on the shore of Lake Hawassa. We drive the road to Hawassa and the south regularly and can tell you current road conditions before you go.
• For mountains: ask us about Bale Mountains National Park. The route crosses areas with their own travel advice, so we'll check it with you and you should check official advice for your exact route first.
• For Timkat in January: the festival is celebrated across Ethiopia, including in Addis Ababa.
• For flights elsewhere: tell us your dates and we'll book domestic flights in birr where they operate, with one amount for you to pay in US dollars or your own currency.

What if you've already booked a northern loop?

1. Call the airline or your agent. Ask about moving Bahir Dar, Gondar or Lalibela flights to later dates, or getting a refund. Lalibela flights are already suspended.
2. Contact hotels and guides directly. Ask whether you can move your booking to a later date rather than cancel outright.
3. Talk to your insurer. Get their position in writing before you pay for anything new.
4. Rebalance the days. Spend the freed-up time in Addis Ababa, on a day trip to Bishoftu, or on a few days in Hawassa. Tell us your new dates and we can book the hotels in birr and drive you, with one amount to pay in US dollars or your own currency.

What should you watch before rebooking the north?

• Official travel advice no longer listing Amhara under 'all travel' warnings.
• Flights to Bahir Dar, Gondar and Lalibela running normally for several weeks.
• Mobile data and internet working normally in the region.
• Your travel insurer confirming in writing that you're covered.

We're a family-run driver service based in Addis Ababa, not a security authority. We only drive to places where travel is advised, and we'll update this page when the official picture changes.