Sabean Hotel

In the lobby, you're greeted with gleaming tiles and creamy-toned furnishings, and plenty of comfortable seating out of the heat. A sitting area with a TV flows into the dining room and bar, where the furniture, if once again uniform in style and colour, is at least plentiful. The restaurant offers an à la carte menu as well as a buffet and a continental breakfast. Service is professional and discreet.

Rooms here range in size, but (most importantly) are clean and comfortable, and are among the best you'll find in Aksum. The floor are wooden, the beds are comfortable (if firm), and the en-suite bathrooms have a spacious shower with decent pressure, a toilet and basin. A desk, small bar fridge and flat-screen TV are all standard. The walls are a bit thin; on the plus side, the decently sized windows allow for a good breeze and plentiful natural light.

Most of Aksum's historical sites are within easy reach of the hotel. Watch pilgrims gather at the St Mary of Zion Church on any weekday, and visit the Northern Stelae Field to ponder the giant obelisks. See the Queen of Sheba's palace, and the nearby monastery of Debre Damo. Aksum, with its clean streets and good shops, is the perfect springboard for your Ethiopian tour.