Bahir Dar Transportation

To return from Tis Abay to Bahir Dar, the bus uses to be crowded. It is advisable to RESERVE A TICKET when you arrive, so you won't have to wait endlessly to return.
There is no ticket office, so the only way to do that is to tell one of the many boys wandering around to buy a ticket for you and wait in the line till you return from the Falls. He will do so for 10B (1USD), more than twice the cost of the ticket, but anyway it's only 1 USD!. When the bus comes, he will fight for you for a seat and will call you to go in the bus when everything is ready.
The place to wait for the bus is the only bar in the village (see pic).

Though there are many organised trips to see the falls, these are easily accesible by local bus, which is much cheaper. Go to the main (and only) bus station in Bahir Dar and ask for the minibus to Tis Abay. The first is supposed to leave at 6, but in fact leaves when is full. It costs 4,20B (0,4USD) and takes 1 hour to get there. They are often full, so arrive early to the station if you wanna get a seat.

Even though Bahir Dar is located at the lake shore there are no regular public boats crossing the lake. There was a boat to Gorgora, in the north shore, but now it doesn't run anymore.
Anyway, if you wanna see the lake monasteries you can join a private tour to some of them in a little boat. You will be offered these trips in the streets, and if you want something more "serious", the Ghion Hotel offers trips of half or whole days in a little boat. The half day costs 75B and leaves at 8:30h, returning at 14:45h. Count on another 100B for entrence fees, tips and so. We visited Azuwa Maryam, Kebran Gabriel and Entesi-Eyesu.
The Ghion also organizes trips to Tis Abay Falls.

You can come to Bahir Dar by bus from Addis Abeba. In the past it was a long long trip which was made in 2 days, sleeping in the way. But now there is a express bus that leaves Addis at 6 and arrives here at 19:30h, already at night.
The ticket costs 60B (6 USD), stops at 9:30 for breakfast and at 17h for a break. We have a motor problem in the way, but it only takes the driver 15 minutes to solve it.
The bus is full and not very comfortable, but the landscape on the way is marvellous and you get to know closer the people (the few that speak english at least).

To get to Addis Ababa by bus it takes one and a half days. Its possible to book a day in advance at the bus station. There is a special long distance window. Go early and ask for a seat number (seats 1 & 2 are the best.)

If you are in a hurry its possible to find a Land Cruiser that will give you lift so you will arrive in the late evening. Local prices for such a lift are about 250 Birr, Faranji prices are about 400 Birr. You probably need to book this through a so called broker. Ask at Tana Pension for help.

This might change once the Chinese build road will be finished. But in spring 2004 half the way was a dirt road!

Easy to find alone a place in a minibus for Gondar. 60birrs in january. The minibus can pick you in your hotel. Ghion is overcharging the prices.