Tour I
- Visit the ancient customs centre of Aliyo Amba by driving or walking (three and half hours) 14km downhill through beautiful countryside. The return journey should be in your own car or through arranging local transport, as the uphill route is very arduous. Tour the village with its interesting back streets, tea shops, silversmiths, weavers, local bars, camel caravans, nineteenth century customs centre and the ancient market place where mainly Christian highlanders and mainly Muslim lowlanders having been coming to trade for hundreds of years. This trip is particularly interesting on market days, which are Mondays and Thursdays, and the market is at its best between 10am and noon
- The village of Abdul Rassul, named after its Arab founder, contains a simple mosque that is reputedly the oldest in Ethiopia - 600 years old - as well as an ancient Islamic graveyard with monolithic stones and engraved Arabic inscriptions. The village was a centre for the slave trade and the school now stands on the grounds of the former slave market. It is fairly easy four hour return walk from Aliyo Amba through the warmer lowlands, dotted with farms growing coffee, papayas mangoes and sorghum, with spectacular views in all directions and several small streams with abundant birdlife. Transport is needed to get to Aliyo Amba and back.
*** Packed lunches are available from the lodge on request.
