Ethiopia Retreat

Journey to Ethiopia with Zami Collective
19th - 25th October 2026

Ethiopia is best characterised by its rich history as the birthplace of humans, for its smooth coffee culture and Tezeta, its nostalgic music and Ethiopian jazz scene.

Join the Zami Collective in 2026 for a 6-night, 7-day retreat held at the start of the Ethiopian spring and the flowering season.

Start your trip in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, where you will spend your days sampling Ethiopian jazz, in coffee ceremonies and touring the Arts scene. You will spend the second half of your journey* in either the Gheralta Mountains, Simien Mountains National Park, or Lake Langano, some of the most spectacular natural landscapes Ethiopia has to offer.

Experience hand-picked hotels and boutique eco lodges throughout your stay in Ethiopia. Connect and dream with your Zami cohort in communal dreaming workshops and spend your days hiking by the shores of Lake Langano, or trekking the Simien Mountains, or exploring the rock-hewn churches of Hawzen. Each location is a nature lovers dream, rich in wildlife and historical legacies, offering phenomenal cultural landscapes.

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Buna ceremony web version.jpg
Bishingari Lodge Langano web.jpg
Modern house with large windows and an outdoor walkway, surrounded by lush greenery, at sunset with a colorful sky.
Inside a wooden house, a woman with a hat is working outside among tall green crops, seen through large glass windows, with another person sitting inside the house.
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Sunlight casting shadows of window panes and plants onto a wooden floor and white wall in a room with potted plants and an easel.
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A person wearing a beige sweater and a brown hat stands overlooking a mountain range with lush green cliffs.
Modern wooden house with large glass windows overlooking mountains and greenery in the distance
View of the Grand Canyon with layered rock formations and a hazy sky.
Aerial view of green mountains and valleys with patches of farmland under a partly cloudy sky.
Outdoor wooden table set for breakfast with cups, bowls, and utensils, overlooking a mountainous landscape at sunrise, with a large vase of green leafy plant on the table.
Landscape view of mountains and valleys during sunset with a sky filled with orange, pink, purple, and blue hues, and some green vegetation in the foreground.
Outdoor terrace with a wooden dining table and chairs, a plate of sliced fruit, coffee cups, and a lounge chair, overlooking a mountain range with a sky filled with clouds.
Scenic view of green terraced fields on a hillside with mountains in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
Agricultural fields with various crops, including banana plants and greens, bordered by a dense tree line and some buildings in the distance under a clear sky.
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Two cups of coffee on a counter inside a cafe, viewed through a window with a street scene outside including parked cars, a person wearing a mask and hat, and a stack of books outside.
Sunlit bedroom with a bed, stacked blankets, and a view into a bathroom with towels and sunlight streaming in.
Sunlit rocky peaks and lush green vegetation in a mountainous landscape, with layered valleys in the distance.
A lush green hillside with tall trees in foreground, set against a background of misty mountains under a clear sky.
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In Addis Ababa, you will stay at the Double Tree by Hilton, Hyatt Regency, or a hotel of similar standard. Rooms are available on a shared or private basis with ensuite bathroom. There is a spa and multiple eateries. You will stay on a half board basis with breakfast and dinner included.

Outside of Addis Ababa, you will be hosted in an eco lodge with panoramic mountain or lake views in the second half of the journey. Each room is equipped with either a king-sized bed, twin beds or triple beds, along with ensuite bathroom.

Workshops will take place in the lodge's communal spaces and mornings will be spent walking to the lodge's lookout points. Breakfast and dinner is served communally and prepared by wonderful local chefs with produce sourced from the local area.

Please note our retreats and residencies are priced per person, and flights are not included in the retreat package. It is your responsibility to book the appropriate international and domestic flights and we will be on hand to assist in this process once bookings are confirmed. Information will be shared with participants through a curated Ethiopia travel guide that includes flight routes and details on local customs, as well as a packing list. If you intend to travel with a friend, please do let us know at the time of booking, and we will do our very best to pair you in a shared room.

*You will be notified of the final travel route one month prior to departure based on security updates and travel advisory.

Ethiopia, Lake Langano

What We Love

“The Simien Mountains offer gentle reminder that the universe is all knowing, pure and magnificent. Walking through these mountain peaks you realise the expansiveness of the Earth around us. With deep exhales, the whispers of fresh mountain air and the call of the birds, experience it all from the tops of Ras Amba and Ras Dejen. Enjoy a traditional Ethiopian Buna (coffee) ceremony by the shores of Lake Langano or as the sunsets beyond the mountains across Southern Ethiopia.”

— Zami Collective

Copyright © 2025 Zami Collective

What Our Guests Love

“This was my first time traveling with Zami and my first time visiting Ethiopia and I had an amazing time. I really enjoyed being able to see so many different art spaces in Addis Ababa and connecting with and hearing from artists about their practice and the spaces/collectives they are cultivating. The nature throughout the country was very calming and relaxing to be immersed in and the food was delicious everywhere we went and the accommodations were very nice in every city we visited. I would definitely recommend a Zami retreat to anyone interested in the destinations and experiences they offer. I'll for sure be traveling back to Ethiopia in the near future!”

— Alexandra A, Visual Artist, Ethiopia Retreat 2025

 
 
 
 


See what our 2025 Ethiopia Cohort got up to in Addis Ababa and Lake Langano here

Itinerary

  • Selam! Welcome to Ethiopia! Exit international departures at Bole International airport, Addis Ababa. Your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel for the next 3 nights. Guests will have the chance to settle into their rooms from 2pm and freshen up. Join us for sundowners at the Cascada for introductions before our first Zami family dinner. Get ready for an evening of Ethiopian Jazz! We’ll visit Fendika cultural centre, an Azmari Bete (traditional folk music house) and home to Ethiocolour!

  • Start your day with a delicious breakfast. We will head out for activities in the city including art, culture and nature, visiting Sabahar textiles workshop and Zoma gardens. You will have some free time to relax and buy some lunch. It's time to sample some Ethiopian buna! Join us for our first Ethiopian coffee ceremony in Addis Ababa. Followed by a honey tasting workshop and botanical tea tasting. Return to the hotel to freshen up before regrouping for sundowners and for a family dinner.

  • Start your day with breakfast before heading out for Zami Collective’s curated Addis Ababa Art Trail. Experience the city's rich tapestry of artists, photographers and creatives as we studio hop and partake in workshops with artists. Close the day with a sunset walk through Friendship Park and watch the evening light show. Return to the hotel to unwind, relax and freshen up for a family dinner, followed by an evening of traditional Ethiopian music and dancing. Catch an early night's rest as tomorrow you will be heading to the next location.

  • Today we head to Lake Langano* for the next 3 nights. The journey is approximately 3 hours from Addis Ababa by flight (1 hour) and road (2 hours). Guests will have the chance to settle into their rooms and freshen up before a late lunch is served. Spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying some free time and exploring the grounds of the lodge. Catch an early night for tomorrow's first full day of activities.

  • Start your day with a hearty breakfast. Today we explore the surrounding nature of Bishingari. Enjoy a lakeside lunch before hiking back to the lodge where you can freshen up and take some rest. Regroup for Zami family dinner!

  • Start your day with a breakfast spread. Then join our guided hike and bird watching tour through Bishingari forest to the hot springs. Along the way there is a waterfall stop. Enjoy lunch under the gazebo before we regroup for an afternoon workshop of communal dream-sharing. Zami is a Carriacou name for women who work together as friends. The workshop will explore how we can awaken our dreams and aspirations. Enjoy some downtime with a traditional coffee ceremony by the shores at sunset, before dinner is served.

  • Enjoy an Ethiopian brunch spread before departing the lodge. Guests will return to Bole International Airport for onward flights back to your respective home countries. Thank you so much for sharing your love and presence with Zami Collective, you have left a collective dream print in Ethiopia.

*Example of an itinerary based on Lake Langano. Second half of the retreat subject to changes based on travel advisory.

How to Book

So, you want to join us in Ethiopia! Please register your interest through the application portal. Once your application has been reviewed we will be in touch to process your booking.

APPLICATION PORTAL

To hold your spot, a £750 non-refundable deposit must be made through a booking link provided to you in your confirmation email. The remainder of your reservation will be due by a date stipulated in your booking confirmation. We do offer a limited number of payment plans; if you’d like to request one please email: info@zamicollective.com

Please look out for a confirmation email and welcome note with information on how to make your remaining payments and the Ethiopia Welcome Guide. Carefully read our Terms and Conditions including our cancellation policy before booking.

Available Packages

£2450 private room
£2250 twin room
£1950 triple room — limited availability

Non-refundable Deposit £750

Early Bird Discount
A £150 discount will be applied to early bird bookings for private and twin rooms booked before 2nd May 2026. A discount code will be shared with you via email.

Early bird packages

£2300 private room (limited availability)
£2100 twin room
Non-refundable Deposit £750

What’s Included

  • Bespoke accommodation

  • Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (half board only in Addis Ababa)


  • Wellness workshops


  • Creative Artist-led workshops

  • Airport taxi transfers

  • WIFI in Addis Ababa

  • Hiking excursion with guide

Not included
*Flights, alcohol, lunches in Addis Ababa, travel and medical insurance, visa and additional services

BOOK

Meet Your Hosts

  • Kulani McCartan-Demie

    Founder, Zami Collective

    Kulani is an Ethiopian-Irish Londoner who lived in Ethiopia over several years working in the international development field. During that time she travelled extensively across the country, visiting parts of Northern Ethiopia: Lalibela, the Simien Mountains and Gondar, where she connected with the eco-lodges and natural landscapes of the region. In the South, she has travelled to Lake Langano, Hawassa and Arba Minch and to the East, Awash in the Afar region.

    During her time living in Addis Ababa, Kulani laid the fabric of Zami Collective, eventually bringing a tapestry of women from different corners of the world together to explore creative community in the country she once resided in. She hosted Zami Collective’s inaugural Ethiopia Retreat in 2025 with the first cohort of global women.

    Fun fact: Kulani has been visiting Ethiopia since she was nine years old, a country of deep sentimental connection, heritage and where her paternal extended family reside.

Ethiopian Travel Guide & Retreat Itinerary
- Participant Resource Hub

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Bishingari Lodge Langano web.jpg
A bedroom with a bed covered in white striped bedding and matching pillow, a wooden headboard with a power outlet, and a glass vase with green leafy plants on a wooden nightstand.
A wooden table set with breakfast items on a balcony overlooking mountain ranges at sunrise.
A wooden table against a textured tan wall with a stack of books, two wine bottles, four glasses, and a large green leafy plant near a small window.
A bright dining area with large windows showing mountain views, wooden floors, tables set with bottles and dishes, and a solitary person seated at one table.
Elegant restaurant interior with wooden floors, various tables, and plush seating, decorated with colorful woven wall art and modern pendant lights.
Hotel outdoor swimming pool area with lounge chairs and umbrellas, surrounded by modern white buildings under a clear blue sky.
Outdoor hotel courtyard during evening with a buffet table under umbrellas, surrounding a curved water feature, and a multi-story hotel building with illuminated windows in the background.
Sunlit restaurant with wooden tables and chairs, large windows showing a sunset view of a cityscape and hills, potted plants, and a shelving unit with decorative items.
Elegant hotel lobby with wooden accents, a bar area, high stools, contemporary seating, and large glass windows letting in natural light.
Interior of a modern cafe or snack bar with a marble counter, coffee machines, packaged foods, and beverage bottles on display, decorated with potted plants and artwork.
Luxurious hotel lobby with beige seating, large wooden columns, and marble flooring, lit by natural light from large windows.
Outdoor wooden table with a coffee cup, sunglasses, a glass, a bottle, a French press, and a small container against a mountain landscape with clear sky
Interior of a wooden building with large windows, showcasing framed animal illustrations on a textured wall.
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