You can stay in the village for a single day or for several days. In addition, if you wish, our partner, Baregota Travel, can combine your stay in Awra Amba with an expedition tour to see the natural beauty of the highlands surrounding us and/or visit places rich in history such as Bahir Der, Gondar and Lalibela, the holy city for Orthodox Christians. Each tour can be customized to suit your needs.
Accomodation and food
For your stay, the community has a guest house with simple but very comfortable rooms, all with bathroom. Here you will live in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
We also have a restaurant where you can enjoy the dishes of our cuisine. Here you can experience the tasty dishes of the Ethiopian culinary tradition, but we also offer international cuisine as an option.
Why you should visit Awra Amba...
Innovative social structure
Awra Amba is known for its alternative and progressive social structure. The community places emphasis on gender equality, communal living, and shared responsibilities. Visitors may find it interesting to witness and learn about this unconventional social model.
Sustainable practices
The village is committed to sustainable living practices. Visitors can observe and learn about environmentally friendly initiatives, such as organic farming, water conservation, and eco-friendly construction methods.
Cultural exchange
Visiting Awra Amba provides an opportunity for cultural exchange. Interacting with the community members allows visitors to gain insights into the local way of life, traditions, and values.
Educational experience
Awra Amba has been recognized for its focus on education. Visitors interested in learning about alternative educational models or grassroots initiatives in education may find the village to be an informative and enriching experience.
Community development
Awra Amba has been successful in improving living standards and addressing issues such as poverty and social inequality. Visitors interested in community development and sustainable practices may find inspiration and ideas for their own projects.
Unique philosophy
The community follows a distinct philosophy that promotes self-reliance, hard work, and equality. Exploring and understanding this philosophy can be intellectually stimulating for visitors interested in alternative lifestyles and ideologies.
Beautiful setting
Awra Amba is situated in a picturesque part of Ethiopia. The natural surroundings, including the landscape and local flora and fauna, can make the visit a visually appealing experience.
Supporting sustainable tourism
By visiting Awra Amba, individuals contribute to the local economy in a way that aligns with the community's principles of sustainability and self-sufficiency. This type of tourism can have a positive impact on the community's continued development.
Do you want to volunteer in the community?
We are always looking for people who can broaden our technical and human horizons: English teachers, professionals in one of our fields of activity, computer programmers, artists, jugglers…
If you are interested in visit Awra Amba and in sharing your experience and expertise with the community, please contact us here or write to volunteering@awraamba.org.
Useful information
Here is some useful information for those wishing to visit Awra Amba. For a smooth and hassle free experience we recommend our partner Baregota Travel who can arrange a tailor made tour to suit your needs. For more information please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
To get to Awra Amba from Addis Ababa the capital, first go north-northwest to Bahir Dar, capital of the Amhara Region, on the shores of Lake Tana, 550 km by road.
Then, leave Bahir Dar by the road leading to Gondar, leave it in Woreta, then drive 11 km east towards Debre Tabor, and take the path on the right that leads 2 km further to the village of Awra Amba.
The village of Awra Amba borders the villages of Quarke in the south, Tizaba (or Tizab) in the east, Maksegn (or Maksegnit) in the north, Jib Gudguad in the northwest, Arba Chane in the west. The landscape of the Woji-Awra Amba kebele is 30% plain area, 40% mountainous terrain, and 30% is hilly terrain. The Kebele is 1920 meters above sea level, and its soil is mainly composed of clay.
The climatic condition of the Kebele is temperate. The average annual temperature is 21°C with the highest temperatures from February to June.
Rainfall averages 1320 mm per year as measured from 1990 to 2016 at weather stations near Woreta and Alember. Rainfall is highly variable during the year, with a rainy season lasting from June to September and a dry season the rest of the year.
Awra Amba Community is located in the Amhara Region in the northwestern part of Ethiopia between 9°20′ and 14°20′ North latitude and 36° 20′ and 40° 20′ East longitude. The Amhara region contains much of the highland plateaus above 1500 meters with rugged formations, gorges and valleys, as well as millions of settlements for Amhara villages surrounded by subsistence farms and grazing fields.
The world-renowned Nile River and its source, Lake Tana, are located in this region, as well as historic sites including Gondar and Lalibela. Interspersed on the landscape are higher mountain ranges and cratered cones, the highest of which, at 4,620 meters, is Ras Dashen Terara northeast of Gondar.
The Amhara region is divided into 11 zones, one of which is South Gondar. South Gondar zone is divided in to 12 woredas (districts). Decision-making power has recently been decentralized to woredas and thus the woredas are responsible for all development activities in their areas.
Fogera is one of the woredas in the South Gondar zone. The geographical coordinates of Fogera are 11° 57′ 0″ North, 37° 35′ 0″ East. The administrative center for Fogera woreda is Woreta. Fogera Woreda is again divided in to Kebeles (the smallest administrative units) one of which is Woji Awra Amba Kebele.
Hence, the Awra Amba community is located in the South Gondar Administrative Zone of the Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia. Awra Amba lies within the Woji-Awra Amba kebele, which is in the Fogera Woreda (district).
Located in the Horn of Africa, between Eritrea to the north, Sudan and South Sudan to the west, Kenya to the south, Somalia, Somaliland and Djibouti to the east, Ethiopia has no access to the sea. The country has a population of nearly 110 million inhabitants (in 2020) with a population growth of 2.8% per year 2, for a surface area of 1,127,000 km², i.e. about twice the size of France.
Its altitude varies from –120 meters (Dankali Depression) to 4,543 meters. The country’s relief combines high plateaus (notably the central plateau located at an altitude of between 1,800 and 3,000 meters, where Awra Amba is located), massifs and steep canyons, volcanic regions, savannahs, desert areas and high green plains.
Ethiopia is a federal republic, made up of nine regions, including the Amhara Region, and two city-regions (the capital Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa).
