Blue Nile Falls

Blue Nile Falls

Blue Nile Falls
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles456 reviews
Excellent
184
Very good
166
Average
73
Poor
23
Terrible
10

Reza Sattarzadeh
Muscat, Oman2,524 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
The is truly an incredible experience to visit this place in Northern Ethiopia. You have to arrange a tour from Bahir Dar, which can be done as a day trip. From the village of Tissisat you have to get a tour guide to take you on a track which is not very long. After about half an hour, you get to the falls. If you are lucky and hydroplant is not restricting the flow of the water, you will get an amazing scene in the falls with the water gushing down the 45 meter high edge down and continuing its way.

You can either go the same way you came from or take the longer track. I took the longer loop and it was amazing. You get very good views of the falls from the top hill and you will also get the chance to cross from one of the oldest bridges ever built over the Nile by the Portuguese.
Written December 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daniel
San Francisco, CA46 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020
I thought this was a great experience. It is down a 20 kilometer bumpy road. But, when I was there in December of 2020 the government was working on the road to smooth it out. Over all the falls where quite spectacular. And the adventure of getting to them is half the experience. I booked my tour with a gentlemen who I met down by the docks who booked my tour to the islands and the falls at the same time. He was great and he gave me a good price. His name was Abebaw (+251 0936606632). Once I got to the falls I was met by Mitiku (+251 91 874 2994) who is the local guide that takes you from the road to the falls. We took what was considered to be the shorter route in which you take a boat across the river and walk around to the falls from the back side. It was a short little hike that just about anyone could do unless you have a severe disability. And it was a really beautiful hike through the Ethiopian countryside. Once at the falls we spent about an hour just hanging out and taking in the beauty of the falls. Then we made the hike back. The whole time Mitiku talked to me about the area and the local population. Overall I think this is a great experience that should not be missed.
Written December 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

704RichardW2014
Christchurch, New Zealand208 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
I was taken to the end of the track then walked to a small ferry boat and taken to where the track commenced to the falls.
The walk was not easy if one has trouble walking as it was very muddy and slippery.
The falls were great to see and to imagine the water going all the way to the Mediterranean.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

adewale a
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Friends
Blue Nile Falls locally called Tis Abay which means smokey- Abay. Abay is the local name for 'Nile'. Beautiful to visit during the raining season when the water volume is high.
Written June 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands6,578 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2018 • Solo
The falls are 30 km from Bahir Dar near the village of Tissisat. There are regular buses going there from the Bahir Dar bus station (15 Birr one way). The last bus back from Tissisat to Bahir Dar leaves around 6:30 PM.

I cycled to the falls from Bahir Dar. The condition of the road is bad most of the time, but you cycle through beautiful countryside. The villagers are quite relaxed, but the children seem to know only one word in English: money, though they are not aggressive.

At Tissisat as well the locals seem concerned only about how to squeeze as much money as possible out of your pocket. All people who approached me had an agenda, leaving you with a rather unpleasant experience.

A ticket to access the falls costs 50 Birr for foreigners. There are two entry points: the closest one (also the shortest) is by motorboat from Tissisat to the top of the falls (20 Birr for foreigners, 10 Birr for Ethiopians -they start asking you 50 Birr); the longer option, but perhaps more enjoyable -if you are into hiking- is on foot. Guides who hang out at the ticket office say it is not possible to find your way, but it is not difficult. Coming from Bahir Dar along the main road, it is the last tarmac road to the right. Follow this road and keep left. The road is going to the electricity plant. At one point there is a trail going down on the left which is used by many locals. It leads to what is called the Portugese bridge. After crossing the bridge keep left. The trail goes uphill through another hamlet. Keep left slightly uphill. At some point you will see the falls and the suspension bridge to reach them. In case of doubt as locals about 'Tiss' and they will point you in the right direction. It took me 30 minutes to get to the falls taking this route.

Returning to Bahir Dar by bus. There is a bus stop in the village where most people gather. It is almost impossible to get to a seat, unless you are in for some kind of battle. The better option is to walk to the exit of the village in the direction of Bahir Dar. The incoming bus will dropp off people there or just flag it to stop. Board the bus. Once the bus reaches its final stop you will have a seat and you can just observe quietly how others struggle to get one. Actually this is what most touts do who offer to secure you a seat at the final bus stop.

The falls are beautiful, but not as spectacular as the Victoria falls or Iguacu.
Written February 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cape2wn2cairo
Mwanza, Tanzania17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2017 • Solo
Please just take yourself there - you do not need to go with a tour company. I got on a bus to Tis Abby at the bus station (15 birr) - be careful that some unscrupulous person doesn't try to make a deal with the conductor on your behalf - you'll be ripped. It took about an hour through lovely scenery. Once you reach the end, you need to pay at the tourism office. They will try to make you take a guide, but you can do this in your own. Really beautiful! You can then walk back for the bus, or do what I did - take a little boat across the river for 10 birr. Just ask someone where to get the boat and you will be shown. Blue Nile Falls is SO worth the visit!
Written August 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

K72
Melbourne, Australia3,085 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2018 • Friends
The drive to the Blue Nile Falls was excellent- over bumpy dirt roads through a vibrant village- lots to look at and photograph along the way. Once at the starting point there is a flat 30 min option or a longer walk which crosses the swing bridge and Portuguese bridge further along. the longer walk is rocky and a bit steep towards the end but not too challenging. It's worth doing the longer walk to see where the river joins the falls and to get an overview. You can see how the hydro plant has reduced the falls. The falls themselves are pretty but I found them a little underwhelming. The guide said they're spectacular in August. Dec is the dry season. Nice day out though.
Written December 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tanja S
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia1,363 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2013 • Couples
Great hite to great Fall! Much has been written about going and seein Falls. The Portuguese Bridge, built in 1620, is still going strong (!). Water is much reduced as it's the dry season right now. View is spectacular, nevertheless! The suspension bridge is new construction (2 years). Before, one had to descent to water level, fork fast flowing stream on foot and hike up again. Am sure some of us remember! Now going to see the Falls is like a stroll in the park, almost!
Written April 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michael K
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia175 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2016 • Family
This interesting water fall is located near Bahirdar town in northern Ethiopia, it is also known as “Tis Abay” which means the smoking water by the local language of Amharic, the waterfall height is around 40 meters and its width is vary depending on the season during the rainy season it is became up to 500 meters so it is more interesting to visit this waterfall during the rainy season, the rainy season in Ethiopia is from Jun- Sep.
Written February 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sparklyflipflops
Herts52 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2016 • Friends
A long and bumpy drive to get here but fascinating to see it. Not too much water when we went as it had been very dry - but great to visit all the same. Would love to see it after the rainy season as some of the photos on here look amazing. Met lots of children on route who were trying to sell us things. Might be worth taking pens or pencils to hand out if you go, as they were asking for them.
Written April 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Blue Nile Falls - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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