Outstanding is the least I can say. Planning a trip to a country like Ethiopia is no small feat; considering the complexity of such far away destination, the number of things to see, the fear of getting around in such an exotic place, and if it happens to be in your Bucket List, the must-be-perfect concern, seems to be an overwhelming task. Nonetheless, after coming back from a 20 days trip organized with Go Addis, I can say we made the perfect choice! My wife and I wanted to see many different things, and having a passion for photography knew we were going to be a bit of a pain taking longer than usual in every place as well as along the route. Through a lengthy exchange of emails previous to the trip we made all that clear to the people of Go Addis and at the end agreed on an itinerary that on paper was perfect. Now, 20 days later, more than 2,400 Klms (1,500 miles) traveled by land, 5 domestic flights, 3,371 pictures, and 8 hotels from North to South, I can say it was way better than expected. We took a direct flight from Washington DC to Addis Ababa and after landing the adventure began. Every day was a trip by itself, our guides were always on time and although we had a detailed itinerary we always had room to change it depending on how things developed or how we felt. Wanted to spend more time here or there, fine; tired and wanted to cut it short, fine; wanted to add this on the route, fine also; it was a perfect routine where we always felt that the main objective was for us to enjoy the experience. We went to Lake Tana, the Blue Nile, Gondar, Simien Park, Lalibela, Harar, and spent a week traveling among tribes in the Omo Valley. Every place was incredible but the fact that we did this in close contact with the people of the country made a huge difference. The work done planning with Xavier, and on the ground experience with Bre and Alex was just out of this world. Very professional, dependable and truly concerned with us fulfilling our objectives of the trip. We avoided a couple of areas due to either time constraints or concerned with the conflict up North (which by the way does not limit in any way your ability to plan your trip) and now we know whom to call! Thanks for an unforgettable experience!

Wonderful introduction to Addis Ababa - I enjoyed learning about the history, culture, and people of Ethiopia from my friendly and knowledgeable guide, Genet. Would highly recommend this city tour and this company - whether you have a day or a month in Ethiopia.

This review is mostly about touring with Go Addis OUTSIDE Addis, and appears to be the first non food/market review written in Google Review for about a year. Bottom line up front: TRAVEL WITH THEM. Whether you are exploring Addis with their excellent (and hugely informative) Addis Market Tour or delicious Food Tour, or if you hope to see some of the country with them, you can expect to receive prompt and professional service. Options for customization exist and Go Addis will tweak your tour to highlight your interests. In my case I spent Day 1 in Addis, then flew on Day 2 to Bahir Dar to visit the Lake Tana monasteries and Blue Nile Falls. Day 3 was a breathtaking drive through the Ethiopian Highlands to Lalibela and Day 4 was spent exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Lalibela Rock-Hewn churches. Day 5 was an early start to experience part of a church service at one of the previous day’s churches, then a quick flight back to Addis. Should you want to slow the pace and simply kick back for a day or two at one of the great resort locations they offer, I’m sure that’s possible too. Finally, my guide Birhanu was exceptional. Not only was he friendly, knowledgeable and helpful (and carried a WiFi hotspot as well!), but he allowed me to see things at my own pace while still keeping our trip on schedule. Tourism during the pandemic is challenging, but Go Addis makes it simple, straightforward and enjoyable. You will not be disappointed.

Can I give them more than 5 stars? We took two tours with Go Addis and from the moment of booking, service was exceptional. My questions were answered promptly and accurately. We took the Sunrise Market Tour with Birhanu, which was an incredible experience. He was knowledgeable and gave us the best possible experiences from the produce and spice markets to getting our shoes cleaned to one of the most amazing breakfasts we've ever eaten. That same evening, we took the Food Tour with Genet and had so much fun. We enjoyed every stop, enjoyed the walking around Addis between stops, and enjoyed her company. The food was delicious. Between the two tours, we felt like we got a small taste of Addis culture and experience. These tours were really a highlight of our African experience.

We chose a half day tour, and with it being the rainy season we were the only people on it. We chose to visit Entoto Mountain, Shola Market and Holy Trinity Cathedral; the tour also included a stop for coffee and lunch. Our driver and guide (Mulugeta) were great - really informative and trustworthy. The itinerary was well organised and didn't feel rushed. It was also a good way to see sights which are quite spread out, as taxis etc are quite expensive in Addis. However, this tour was also expensive, so not suitable for those on a budget. The only negative was that my partner got sick after lunch in Addis Ababa restaurant. Of course, the food hygiene of the restaurant is not something Go Addis can be accountable for, but the choice of restaurant is.

Excellent tour operator, they organized everything smoothly and were very reactive when we needed support. They even receive you at the hotel with a SIM card to facilitate communications with them. The hotels they picked for us were very nice and well located. The guides for each tour and city were very knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant to discuss with. I appreciate how they take care of every aspect of the trip, you just need to enjoy and they take care of everything. Highly recommended!

My husband and I did the food tour with Mulugeta Dires. At the time, we were the only guests and we had 3 great hours together. He introduced us to Ethiopian cuisine on a four-stop walking tour. We ate Beyayenet (a stew atop injera, fried fish, beef and then had a coffee ceremony. Best of all, we spent time with this smart young man who is a great ambassador for Ethiopian culture. It was perfect culinary introduction to Ethiopia; glad we did it on our first day in the capital.

We were in Ethiopia in July 2022 and did the full day/food tour of Addis, a tour of Harrar, and a tour of Lalibela all with Go Addis Tours. GO Addis provided local guides at all three locations and lodging in Harrar and Lalibela. They handled all flights and logistics to get us between the locations. Everything went very smoothly. All three guides were excellent and very knowledgeable. In Addis, I learned so much about the Ethiopian Orthodox church and the history of the empire as well as the food. In Harrar, we learned so much about a different part of Ethiopia. Harrar is Islamic and the heart of the qat growing area. We fed hyenas outside the city walls. Lalibela is just uncredible. Our guide took us to his house for coffee. Really excellent, personal treatment throughout the entire tour. The management is very responsive via email as well.

I booked the full day tour which combines the half day tour with the food tour, and my wife and I had a wonderful time. Mulegeta our tour guide was well informed about the history of Ethiopia and an all around good guy. The driver (sorry I forgot your name bro) totally handled the traffic and terrain assertively, but with none of those “oh sh**!” moments you often find when driving in the big city AND on winding mountain roads; both of which were on our journey. I was impressed. Being that my wife is Ethiopian, and an amazing cook I can tell you that the restaurant choices were on point. We took the private tour and they pretty much catered the tour to us. If you’re not familiar with Ethiopian cuisine, I highly recommend the food tour. If you’re not familiar with Addis, you could probably find the sights for less money, but this tour will save you some time, and point you in the right direction for the rest of your stay. I guarantee you’ll also find some hidden treasures you wouldn’t find otherwise. Totally worth it.

We had a wonderful tour with Mule, the market was really interesting, the food was plentiful and delicious. The team accomodated to our different dietary needs and I particularly appreciated the uniqueness of every place we ate at. Highly recommended!

We had a wonderful experience with Mrs. Genet at the Food Tour which was full of hidden gems and pleasant discoveries. I would highly recommenf this smart team of professionals in Addis.

I had a wonderful evening on the Addis food tour. Everything was fantastic! Mulugeta was a wonderful guide and took us to some really interesting places that I would never have found alone. He answered loads of questions (including....​I bought this herb in the market and I have no idea what it is!) and the food was amazing. Everything felt really comfortable and it was a great experience. I highly recommend this tour and it is good value for money too. Thanks also to the driver (I am very sorry, I did not get your name) who dropped me back after.

Amazing experience in Addis! Addis Ababa is a large, vibrant and bustling city that is certainly worth a more in-depth guided tour, especially if you have little time to know the main attractions. We did the half day tour with Go Addis, and our guide Mulugeta brilliantly led our group of 6 people. We didn't even see the time go by. It was an immersion in the culture not only of the city but of the country as a whole, as we had a class about Addis Ababa as well as Ethiopia. The tour with Go Addis is certainly worth the investment of time and money!

I had a great layover tour with guide Mulugeta. Highly recommend Go Addis for tours if you're in Addis.

We had a wonderful experience with Go Addis Tours. Even though we were only there for a few days they took care of all the details. The guides and drivers were very professional and knowledgeable.

Genet was an outstanding tour guide! We cannot emphasize how much care and attention to detail went into the preparation of the tour. There was no way we could have seen everything we did in one day if we had planned it on our own. Also, the choice of restaurants was on point! In addition, we loved how the market tour was planned without any obligation to purchase souvenirs. Genet knows exactly how to make the tour enjoyable, hassle-free, and memorable. Highly recommend this to everyone!

We booked two tours with Go Addis. Because we travelled during the low season we were the only people on the tours. By the way, the two tours can be combined into one full day tour. On our first day, we did the 1/2 day food tour with Dessie. Our stops included a restaurant where we had the fasting menu, one where we had assa tibs (fried fish), a coffee ceremony and finally a restaurant where we enjoyed beef tibs--and unlimited beer! Dessie did such I good job explaining the food and also the proper manners for eating Ethiopian food. (We must have looked like Barbarians to the Ethiopian citizens during our lunch earlier that day.) All of the food was delicious and we ate so much. I'm so glad that we did this the first day as we were able to order with confidence throughout our trip. If I had ordered the assa tibs on my own, I wouldn't have know how to eat it! Dessie was a great guide answering all of our questions, whether they were about food or not. A great way to start our trip. Our last day in Ethiopia was spent in Addis, and we booked the 1/2 day tour with the incredible Genet. First, went to the Shola market. I'm so glad we had Genet here to explain everything in the market and to navigate. It was so interesting to learn about all the different products in the market and how they are used. Genet also helped us shop for a couple of goat-skinned stools and negotiated a good price for us. Next stop was the Holy Trinity Church, which is so different from the other churches we had visited in Ethiopia. Then we took in the fabulous view from the Entoto mountain, visited the National Museum. Genet let us go at our pace and went more in depth on the areas that interested us more. How did she have the answer to every one of our questions?? Next was a delicious lunch and finally, a visit to the best coffeehouse in Addis, Tomoca Coffee. These tours were definitely the highlight of our time in Addis and they are worth every penny! Thanks Genet, Dessie and Go Addis!

Fantastic experience with Genet. We got a true insiders view of Addis and covered a ton of ground in a short period of time. There were a few specific things that we wanted to see and the Go Addis team made sure they were covered. If you want a locals perspective thats both educational and fun go with Go Addis....Highest recommendation!

Good

The perfect way to discover the city and the rich food culture. Birhanu was an outstanding guide with impecable knowledge, warm personality and dedication to his work. This is a must do when traveling Addis.

Last year we used Go Addis for two tours of Addis Ababa. One tour was with a group and the other was a private tour for just my wife and me. Both tours were excellent. The English speaking guides were knowledgeable about the city and shared insights about the locations and history of the places we visited. This helped us better appreciate and understand Addis and Ethiopia. We visited places we knew we wanted to see and others places I would not have thought to visit but were glad we did! If we return for a third trip to Ethiopia, we would certainly use Go Addis again.

Took the food tour with Go Addis in December. Mulugeta was a great guide, very informative and enthusiastic. The food was fantastic, be sure to go with an empty stomach because there is no shortage of delicious food! The restaurants visited were small, local places that we would not have known about otherwise, giving the tour a very authentic feeling. Would do it again, Ethiopian food is outstanding!

My partner Angie and I had a wonderful afternoon food tour with Genet. We visited three restaurants that beautifully showcased the diversity of Ethiopian cuisine, finished with a coffee ceremony. Genet is a considerate and kind guide; and possesses extensive knowledge about Ethiopia's fascinating cuisine. You'd be lucky to be guided by her! Highly recommended and definitely worth the price.

I recently did a full day tour with Go Addis, after being impressed with their sister company in Kigali. I can happily say that Go Addis met all expectations. Mulugeta was my guide and he was very well informed, professional, friendly and answered all of my questions. I was the only one on the tour that day and Mulugeta really made an effort to cover my interests. We had great discussions about Ethiopian culture and history. The food tour was a great component, as I was able to try food that I wouldn’t have known to try otherwise. The full day tour is a great way to see Addis in a short period of time!

Our 1/2 day tour with Genet was fantastic and I would highly recommend booking with Go Addis Tours. Genet went out of her way to make sure that we had a great experience and that we would be able to see everything we wanted to. She adjusted the itinerary to maximize good weather during the rainy season and made a careful choice of restaurant for lunch for us to enjoy Ethiopian dishes even with some dietary restrictions. Genet was a joy to chat with and taught us a lot about Ethiopian culture and history. Her tour was the best part of our time in Addis!

We had a fantastic time with our guide Mulugeta Dires who was very knowledgeable and was always very open to answer all our questions. Highly recommended! Great job.

Great Food tour! I recently completed the food tour and it was great. Firstly, my guide Mulugeta was very friendly and knowledgeable; he did a great job explaining the history of Ethiopian food and answered any questions I had. I went on the tour solo because another person canceled and let me just say - it was a lot of food, so come with an empty stomach. Also, you will be offered beer constantly, so if you drink then you'll be in paradise. My last tip is to not overeat at the first stop so you can save space in your tummy for other tastings. That was my mistake - I should've paced myself better, but I was so hungry when we started the tour. However, all-in-all, when I come back to Ethiopia with friends I will make sure to book this tour again so they can experience it as well.

Had an excellent day with Bule on the full day tour of Addis. He was accommodating and shaped the tour around the group's interest and curiosity while also giving great insider information about each stop. Would definitely make this a recommendation for anyone coming through Addis.

Had a fun, relaxed food tour with Mulugeta - the restaurant stops are well thought-through and serve fresh, clean food - no complains at all. The portion sizes are quite generous, so its best to do this tour as a group :) Also learnt quite a bit about Ethiopia's history and culture - would definitely recommend doing this early during your trip!

Has the most amazing 12 day tour of Ethiopia with Go Addis! It was truly a trip of a lifetime! And so many diverse experiences and landscapes! It left me breathless! My fantastic guide Birhanu ALWAYS ensured I was super well taken care off! I felt like received the VVIP treatment. He was just marvelous! And HUGE shout out to Joseph, who is an excellent and ever patient driver! Thank you to the Xavi and the whole team for making this trip of a lifetime so memorable and immensely enjoyable! I cannot thank you all enough!! XXOOXX

We held a large event in Addis and were recommended Go Addis as reliable company that would be able to plan and organise a private tour for a small group of our participants. Xavi from the Go Addis team was fantastically helpful and patient. We changed our plans several times and asked if it was possible to give our tour an education focus given that we work in the field. Xavi must have kept this mind when choosing our tour guide, Mulugeta, who has a background in teaching. Mulugeta and the driver were very friendly, helpful and know the city by heart. They took us to a fantastic restaurant and were able to tell us a lot about Addis University. Mulugeta is very knowledgable and was able to highlight connections/similarities between (the history of) Ethiopia and our own home countries (we all come from different parts of the world).

This is the food tour you are looking for. Experienced knowledgeable guides, local restaurants and an overall great experience. The one thing I didn't take advantage of, which I wish I should have is told them that we are mostly vegetarian as they seem to cater to your food preferences. Genet was a delight as well :)

We had a great food and market tour with Go Addis. Genet was a fabulous guide. Highly recommend for your first day in Addis.

Very nice tour. I was disappointed that I ended up solo on the tour that day, but the venues and food tastings were great and Mulugeta was an engaging, informative and interesting guide and companion. As others have mentioned, a most positive way to start a visit toAddis/Ethiopia.

Excellent expérience. Genet was an excellent guide, providing us with rich, authentic experience, along with a wealth of knowledge on Ethiopian history and culture. She was also was very responsive and quick to adapt to the unexpected. We warmly recommend her. You will be in good hands, and come back with wonderful memories.

Great tour. I had Mulugeta as my guide and it was only me on the tour. He still took me to some great places, we had fun conversation, and he even took me to see the holiday activities that were occurring that day. I felt safe with him and his driver. Would definitely recommend them.

The half-day tour was lovely. Genet was very nice, friendly and helpful. She is a professional guide. She showed us interesting places in Addis, including the Shola Market, where she knew many of the vendors. She could answer all our questions professionally, so it wasn't only a sightseeing tour, but we could have a real look at the life of the people of Addis. I would recommend it to anyone who has only limited time to spend in Addis.

I recently spent an entire day with Go Addis Tours in Addis Ababa. I purchased a full day Addis tour and an evening food tour. Both of the products met my expectations and were a wonderful way of learning about the city during my short time in the Ethiopian capital. Spending the day with my tour guide Genet was one of the highlights of my time in Ethiopian. She was very knowledgable and provided answers to the slew of questions I had about Addis. Moreover, my time with Genet felt genuine, relaxed, and as if I was being led around the city by a friend instead of a guide. I highly recommend Genet and Go Addis if you are looking for a convenient way to explore Addis.

I did three Go Addis tours during my recent trip to Ethiopia - the early morning market tour, the half day sightseeing tour, and the food tour. All three tours were fabulous. Genet was our guide for the last two tours, and she is amazing. She is very kind and very patient, and knows the answer to every question you ask her. If there's a particular sight you want to visit, a market you want to shop at, or a food you want to try, you just have to ask her, and she'll make it happen. The Go Addis tours are very organized and professional. I strongly recommend this company if you' plan on visiting Addis Ababa.

Excellent operation. Our guide, Mulugeta, was great. We did two tours: the market (early AM) one + the food one. The market tour was amazing--and best done with a local. The food tour was a good cross-sampling of styles.

We had a lovely time on the Addis city tour. It's the perfect tour especially if you do not have a lot of time to spend in Addis. Our tour guides were wonderful. The pace was perfect. I would highly recommend this tour!!

I did the full day tour (a combo of the half day and food tour) with Mulugeta and thought it was a great way to spend the day and learn more about Addis. Mulugeta had so much information to share, patiently answered questions, and would check in along the way to make sure everyone was comfortable, was ok with moving on, etc. He even added an extra stop when he found out we had wanted to pop into a smaller museum that was near our itinerary. I would highly recommend Go Addis for any tour needs!

Excellent guide and incredible food. Come hungry and thirsty! You won’t be disappointed :)

We did the food tour and had a wonderful time, learning so much about the food culture in Ethiopia (and the country in general). The local restaurants we visited were ones we wouldn't have found on our own but were all delicious, with a wide variety of styles of Ethiopian cuisine. Genet also gave us some good recommendations for other places to visit during our time in Addis Ababa. I'd definitely recommend this tour to foodies, or Go Addis to anyone looking for a tour company in Addis Ababa!

Genet was great I had confused my schedule and arrived about 30-40 minutes late She made up for lost time and was extremely knowledgeable and just terrific Would hire her again in a heartbeat

LIKES: (1) Varied Stops ~ The City Tour included: Shola Market (busy, but my guide knew the stall owners very well and helped me shop for souvenirs), Holy Trinity Cathedral (where the tomb of Haile Selassie resides), The National Museum (the resting place of Lucy), Tomoca coffee shop (the original location), Addis Ababa University (former palace of Selassie), Salems (a local shop that makes and sells woven baskets, clothing, jewelry and handicrafts). We did not visit Entoto because frequent rains had made the route slippery, thus the road was closed. (2) Guide/Driver ~ This unexpectedly turned out to be a private tour for me. Hooray!! So I received a lot of one-on-one attention from my guide….. the incomparable, GENET. As a local born in Addis, she has a wealth of knowledge about the history and culture of its people. She’s insightful and an easy conversationalist. I never felt rushed. ~ My driver (whose name escapes me) was also a local but born in Gondar. I can not say enough about his superb driving skills in a city that doesn’t seem to have any driving rules or regulations (lol). He “magically” appeared to pick us up after each stop. (3) Organization ~ From my online booking to my delivery safely back to my hotel, everything was well timed and organized. I had used the sister company (Go Kigali) when I visited Rwanda back in February so I knew the tour would be well-organized and worth the money. CONS: {{None}}

We did a food tour with the add on of the Sholla Market and it was absolutely incredible. Mulugeta was our guide and he was so knowledgeable, professional, and friendly - he also was able to give us great suggestions for other sights in Addis. Highly recommend!!

I did a full day tour with Mulugeta while I was in Addis for a stopover earlier this year. It was an excellent tour, and I felt like it gave me a good sense of the city. The admin and organisation was all really easy, and it made the day totally stress-free. Mulugeta was a really friendly and approachable guy, and is clearly really interested in the country's history. He spoke conversational English, and was really helpful all of the way through. Would definitely recommend the tour if you're in Addis for a short period, either passing through.

Had a great time with Go Addis on the food tour. The food was so delicious, the guide (Mulugeta) was amazing, and as someone traveling by themself, I felt very safe! Definitely recommend!

We did a food tour with Shola market tour add on, it was great! The guide was very professional and proud. Highly recommended

Thank you so much Genet, for the best food tour we could have hoped for! We wanted an authentic, educational and delicious experience, and you certainly gave us that! You were such a joy to spend the day with - and thank you for making The Birthday Surprise extra special! Go Kigali is on the bucket list!

A terrific tour of Addis. Ethiopia is, well, a foreign country to those of us from the US. Mulugeta bridged the gap. He was knowledgeable and answered all our questions. The food tour also showed us the local "flavor". Well done.

Guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable. Pace was good. Lunch was awesome! Would go with them again if I ever get back to Addis.

Excellent tour, friendly and knowledgeable guide, excellent food. Recommended if you are in Addis. Excellent way to take in all the highlights in a day.