Lalibela Rock Churches: Explore Ethiopia's Undergound Marvels and World Heritage Site
4.9
14 Ratings
Lalibela
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: 1 day learn more
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 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 excavation is unique: most of the churches are below ground level. Roha - Lalibelas old name - is around 800 years old and after Axum the second holiest city in Ethiopia.

It is a medieval town and one of the greatest historical sites in the Christian world. For the Ethiopian Christmas in January there are tens of thousands of pilgrims in town, sometimes walking for a month to reach the churches. In 1978 Lalibela, which lays at an altitude of 2520m, was listed as a world heritage site…

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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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
Octavia
Mar 12, 2018
Tour with Achenef - What an amazing place to visit!!!! Our guide Achenef was the perfect guide for this tour. He went above and beyond to ensure that out tour and stay in Lalibela was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about the country, city, and the churches. If you plan to visit Lalibela and want an experience to remember, I encurage you to book this tour and request Achenef as your guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Franka
Jan 30, 2018
Great local tour guide - very costumized intitiary - I spend 2 days in Lalibela with Highland Eco Tours and my Guide Acheneg. Due to my tight schedule the guides create a tailor made initiary assuring that I don't miss out on any special event (sunday mass, saturday markt and st. George celebration) - add still giving me enough room for a nice day hiking:) My Guide Asheneg made me more feel like a friend than a paying guest - which made our time great fun and he assured that I get a very local Ethiopian experience in the country side and time to interact with the locals.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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