Trail & altitude running camp · Small group
Come train where some of the world's best distance runners run, between 2,350 and 3,200 m — and experience the country from the inside, not from a tour bus.
First departure28 January – 6 February 2027
Not a trip. A root.
Abysso Run started from a simple observation: the country that produces the world's greatest distance runners remains, for most Western runners, a destination people fly over rather than truly live. I grew up with this Ethiopian heritage, guided groups of ten-plus people on the ground, and wanted to build the trip I would have wanted offered to me: demanding, guided, and deeply rooted in the real country — not a postcard version of it.
Every itinerary is designed as altitude training disguised as a trip, with local guides, encounters with Ethiopian athletes, and a pace that leaves room for recovery.
Train on the same highlands as the world's distance-running elite.
A country where distance running holds a unique place, not just a hobby.
Roads, tracks and trails shaped by relief and altitude.
Run, eat and live the country beyond classic tourism — with local accommodation and guides, not an international chain.
Why altitude makes the difference: the thinner air of the highlands pushes the body to produce more red blood cells, improving its capacity to carry oxygen. It's one of the physiological reasons why so many distance-running champions come from the Ethiopian highlands — and why training here, even for a few days, leaves a real mark.
A nation of champions: Ethiopia has won more than 60 Olympic medals, nearly all in athletics. Abebe Bikila remains a legend apart — the first Black African Olympic champion in history, winning the Rome marathon barefoot in 1960, then again in 1964. Derartu Tulu became the first Black African woman Olympic champion in 1992, and Tirunesh Dibaba is Ethiopia's most decorated runner with 3 Olympic golds and 3 bronzes between 2004 and 2016 — alongside legends like Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele.
Did you know? Ethiopia is often cited as the cradle of humanity — this is where 'Lucy', one of the world's most famous human fossils, was discovered. It's also the only African country never formally colonized, with its own calendar (7-8 years behind, 13 months) and a mosaic of 80+ ethnic groups and Orthodox Christian and Muslim traditions that have coexisted for centuries.
Ethiopian roots, and a relationship to self-improvement forged by more than ten years of basketball as a point guard and serious competitive amateur boxing. That athletic background is where the taste for structured effort comes from — running now holds a central place in my daily training, and I remain an active runner: recently ranked 46th out of 873 at Geneva's Course de l'Escalade. A graduate with a Master's in Finance from HEC Lausanne, I bring the same rigor to organizing your trips as I do to my own training. French and Amharic as native languages, fluent English, I can speak directly with local communities, with no middleman or translation needed. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, I operate from Europe while keeping a real foothold on the ground in Ethiopia. Field experience guiding groups of ten-plus people, including as a travel guide, and firsthand knowledge of the routes and communities you'll meet. The same person who replies to you on WhatsApp is the one guiding you on the ground.
Between two runs, there's a moment where the group truly stops: the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, prepared in front of you, and an active recovery day designed as a real highlight of the trip — not a filler day between two training sessions.
The work, first. The altitude, next.
Based on the intensity and length of the runs, the altitude and the terrain — not on speed. A regular runner comfortable with 90 minutes on hilly terrain is at the right level; prior altitude experience isn't required, acclimatization is part of the program.
Not quite at that level yet? No worries — walking outings are available alongside the running sessions, and the pace is adjusted individually throughout the trip.
Travelling as a couple or a family and not everyone runs? That's not a problem: a non-running companion can also join the trip, at the same price, at their own pace — walking, cultural visits and discovering the country while the group is out running. Message us to talk it through.
Selected 4-star hotel, mainly in Bole — Addis Ababa's best-served district: minutes from the airport, surrounded by restaurants for your own meals, and one of the best-kept areas of the city.
Bole is farther from the Entoto highlands (roughly 45-60 min by road), but the included private driver neutralizes that trip: the group leaves straight from the hotel, with no reliance on public transport or negotiating a taxi each morning.
Shared double room with a same-sex participant. Single room available on request, subject to availability — message us to discuss it.
Breakfast and lunch included daily. Dinner is on your own most evenings — except the welcome and closing dinners, which are included — a chance to explore the neighborhood's restaurants at your own pace.
Schedules can shift, a transfer can take longer than planned, some steps get adjusted on the ground. We anticipate these realities and absorb them for you — your job is to run and live the experience, not manage the logistics.
Addis Ababa is described as stable by diplomatic authorities (including the U.S. State Department and the UK FCDO). Reported instability is concentrated at border areas and regions far from our itinerary, which stays focused on Addis Ababa, the highlands and the Rift Valley. We follow official guidance before every departure and adjust the program if needed — which is also why travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Addis Ababa is a capital of over 6 million people, with the usual realities of any large city (heavy traffic, areas to avoid at night, normal vigilance with your belongings). Nothing Ethiopia-specific here — these are the common-sense precautions you'd take in any megacity. That's exactly why you never handle any of it alone: door-to-door private driver, guide present at every step, no improvised travel on your own. The real risk of a big city is having to navigate it unaccompanied — that's not your situation.
Neither of these dates works for you? Abysso Run Private is organized around your own dates, on request.
The Full Service rate depends on the ticket price available at the time of booking; it is confirmed with you before payment.
Coming with a friend? -€100 for you, -€50 for them, once their spot is confirmed.
You fill in the form below.
We talk it through and I answer your questions.
You receive an email with the invoice and a waiver to sign.
Your spot is confirmed once the €300 deposit and the signed waiver are received.
Online group meeting ~10 days before departure: Abysso Run presentation, participants meeting each other, practical reminders and altitude preparation.
The first participants won't be joining an already-written adventure. They'll help write it. Their experience, their images and their stories will become the first traces of this journey.
The program is for regular runners comfortable with 90-minute runs on hilly terrain. Altitude is the real challenge, not speed.
In the Essential formula, no — the flight to Addis Ababa is your own cost. A common arrival window is shared with the whole group. Ethiopian Airlines flies direct to Addis Ababa from many European cities, including Geneva, Zurich, London and Frankfurt. If you'd rather we handle it, the Full Service formula includes the flight and the visa, at a rate confirmed at the time of booking.
Two windows per year for now, timed to the best weather conditions in the highlands.
Yes, every departure mixes runners from several countries. Guiding is done in French and English, with Amharic on top for direct exchanges with local communities.
You get -€100 and your friend gets -€50 as soon as their spot is confirmed with a deposit. It's cumulative: if you bring several people, the discount applies each time.
Yes: €300 deposit at booking, 50% of the balance 60 days before departure, final balance 30 days before. For late bookings (less than 60 days before departure), payment is split into 2 instalments instead.
Yes, most participants come alone — it's actually the most common case for this kind of trip. You join a small group that bonds quickly through the shared experience from day one.
With another same-sex participant also travelling solo. Want your own room instead? That's available as an option on request — message us to check availability and the supplement.
By bank transfer, with the IBAN sent directly in your invoice once your dates are confirmed on WhatsApp.
Yes, without distinction. Mixed groups are the norm and the program is the same for everyone.
The guide immediately adjusts the pace or pulls the person from the run if needed. Local assistance can be mobilized for medical needs — which is why travel insurance with repatriation cover matters.
The included breakfast and lunch can accommodate common diets (vegetarian in particular, very common in Ethiopia). Since dinner is on your own, you choose where and what to eat based on your needs.
It's the heart of the dry season: sunny, cool days at altitude (around 20-23°C), cool to cold nights (5-10°C) depending on altitude. Bring layers rather than one heavy warm item.
Yes, absolutely — just mention it during the WhatsApp exchange so we can adjust your return flight and, if needed, your final transfer.
Yes — photo/video coverage is part of the experience, and these visuals may be used for Abysso Run's own communication (website, social media). This is specified in the waiver signed before departure.
Addis Ababa and our itinerary (highlands, Rift Valley) are considered stable by diplomatic authorities. Reported tensions concern border areas we don't travel through. We follow official guidance before every departure.
The price depends on the number of participants, your preferred dates and the accommodation level. Message us on WhatsApp with your constraints, and we'll send a custom quote within a few days.
Yes. Running clubs, teams or groups of runners can book a private departure on the dates of their choice. The program is tailored to the group's level and goals (marathon preparation, altitude training block…), with the same standards as our regular departures. Group rate from 6 people: message us with the number of participants and your dates to receive a quote.