Lalibela Rock Churches: Explore Ethiopia's Undergound Marvels and World Heritage Site

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Lalibela

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Discover the underground marvels of Lalibela Rock Churches in Ethiopia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the unique monolithic and semi-monolithic churches that have baffled scientists for centuries.

Duration: 2 days

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Highland Eco Trekking Tours Ethiopia - The tour company
Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela - A guide from our team will meet you at Lalibela airport arrival with a car to bring you to your Hotel. The drive from the Airport to Laibela town (your hotel) would be 24 k/m, and takes around 30 minutes.
After check-in, start your tour to the UNESCO…

Highland Eco Trekking Tours Ethiopia - The tour company
Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela - A guide from our team will meet you at Lalibela airport arrival with a car to bring you to your Hotel. The drive from the Airport to Laibela town (your hotel) would be 24 k/m, and takes around 30 minutes.

After check-in, start your tour to the UNESCO World Heritage site rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches, which is built by the symbol of the earthly Jerusalem:
-Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha (entry not permitted for Women).

From 12 - 2pm the churches are closed and the key -man will go for lunch break.

We also will take you to one of the best restaurant for lunch (7olives Hotel).

In the afternoon, after lunch continue with the South-eastern Cluster of churches, built by the symbol of heavenly Jerusalem:

dash;Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos.

Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches
dash;Bet Giyorgis (St George), constructed in honour of the patron Saint George.

After having visited all the churches, we take you to the villages where you will be able to see the way life of the locals very closely, and get invited for our famous traditional coffee ceremony.

In the Evening after dinner in Kana restaurant, we will invite you to try our famous home-made Honey wine, in one of the best traditional bar we have in town called Torpido. There you will also have the chance to see the Amhara tribes dance and enjoy our traditional music live. Then we bring you to your hotel.

Next day morning transfer to the airport.

If you arrive in the afternoon in Lalibela, you will visit some of the churches from 2pm -5pm, then visit the rest of the churches before your departure to the airport.

We also organize an amazing ECO trekking tour to the highlands above Lalibela, Contact us for details or see our listed tour here on Tripadvisor Experience

Church of St. George - The famous cross shaped church of St. George is one of the highlight of Lalibela churches.

What's Included

Coffee ceremony in a Local Family
Transfer from/to the airport
An English speaking professional tour guide
Visit to the town
Transport by private vehicle
Car with its driver and fuel

What's Not Included

Entrance fee for Lalibela chruches
Accommodation
Meals and Drinks

Additional Information

One can say that every tourist who decides to visit our country comes here and sees these quite remarkable and also strange monolithic, semi-monolithic and cave ‘buildings, churches of Lalibela’ which still leave the scientists puzzled about their possible creation process and are therefore often called the 8th wonder of the world. The style of the…

Location

Lalibela

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(14 Ratings)

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Herbieh3

Aug 14, 2024

Exceptional service - An absolutely amazing experience. From the moment I arrived at the airport I was met by the driver who showed nothing but hospitality. We dropped my luggage to the hotel and proceeded to the churches. The site was magnificent and the guides were very knowledgeable about the history and architecture . I would recommend this company to anyone wishing to visit

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Angie

Apr 29, 2024

Lovely Lalibella - I spent two days & nights in Lalibela exploring the rock-hewn churches and the surrounding mountains under the care and guidance of Highland Eco Tours & Trekking. It included the history and overview of the churches, a 14K day trek up to one of the churches in the mountains, lunch with my guide and his family in his home (the best) . I absolutely loved the whole experience. I felt safe (as a woman traveling alone), cared for and comfortable that I had the best possible experience and that I had not missed anything AND that I still want to come back for more.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

172barryo

Mar 18, 2023

excellent. - I used Ayalew Lalibela Tour Guide whom I found through panoramic Hotel. +251 91 294 2658 He was great. This was two weeks ago and I have been meaning to write a review. We done a hike in to the mountains on market day as people made their way to town. It was a real insight into the local lifestyle. We then went to the markets and walked around. He helped me buy things. Perfect english and everything was very relaxed, informative and professional. He helped me shop in the markets, have coffee at local cafe hut, buy a football and talk to the local team. Truly great time. I give him 5 stars and whole heartedly recommend Ayalew. Barry from ireland.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

776lawrencef

May 15, 2021

A Great Uplifting Experience. Everyone should go on a guided tour of the Lalibela Churches. - I had a 2 day tour (April 29-30) of the Lalibela churches with Achenef Enegdaw as my tour guide. I saw several churches when I arrived. Stayed over night and saw the remainder the next morning before I flew back to Addis Ababa. He was an outstanding tour guide steeped in the history and religion of the churches. He was excellent and filled me with information as we walked through and around the 11 rock hewn churches. It was one of the great experiences of my adult life. I have been traveling in Africa for almost 30 years, and have never has such a profound emotional and spiritual experience as I did in Lalibela.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Liammcf

Feb 7, 2020

Amazing churches - Very friendly and knowledgeable guide 'Baby'. The churches themselves are incredible and this is a great way to visit on a short time frame

Review provided by Viator

Maira

Aug 30, 2019

Most amazing time - I had the most incredible day exploring the churches with a really informed and professional guide. I learned so much and would definitely do it again. excellent choice!!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Studnyk

Aug 10, 2019

Remarkable, must see with a guide to fully appreciate them! - Our guide Ababa is quite the historian of the rock hewn churches and lalabela region, which made for a very immersive and interesting tour experience. Over the course of two days we visited every church and learned about its construction, unique particularities of each and other facts that only a local would be able to provide. Ababa is personable, kind, well spoken with a gentle voice that adds to the reverence of the experience.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Barbara

Jul 2, 2019

A Guide is essential for Lalibela - Don't try to see Lalibela without a guide! At first I thought I would. I grew up in a religious family so know lots about church symbolism, stories etc and I've travelled a lot, especially in Africa, so not worried about doing things without a guide, in fact, mostly I don't like to have a guide. BUT, for Lalibela, there is just so much to see and discover, so much information you never get from books, pathways and places with the best views, secret entrances, wonderful local information and stories. If you don't have a guide you will miss at least half of everything. So don't miss the opportunity to have a guide. My guide was Daniel from Highland Eco Trekking, an absolute fount of knowledge, very kind and considerate. He made my time in Lalibela unfogettable.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Imagineth

May 1, 2018

Amazing guides - Really loved the guides and their spirit, especially Daniel, who was so helpful and friendly. He is from Lalibela and his knowledge comes very handy. Really recommend to anyone going to Lalibela or even to Danakil.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Kovacmil

Apr 2, 2018

Lalibela: A magnificent testimonial of devotion and perseverance of Ethiopians - These eleven rock-cut churches are not on any list of the world wonders, but they are wonders by all means - unexpectedly beautiful, inexplicably well preserved, uninterruptedly serving the same spiritual purpose for over 800 years. They are hidden and have been a well-kept secret since the days of their construction in 12th century. Ethiopian monks chanting in these churches is an extraordinary musical and spiritual experience. A visit to Lalibela churches should be on any bucket-list. For passionate travelers - if you liked Nabatean Petra you will love Lalibela. We spent only 24 hours in Lalibela, but it deserved more time. We plan to go back.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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