5 days lalibela and Axum tour itinarary
Overview
Tour Plan
Your journey to the spiritual heart of Ethiopia begins with your arrival in Lalibela, a town renowned for its extraordinary rock-hewn churches. After settling into your accommodation, enjoy a delicious Ethiopian lunch and prepare for your first glimpse of this ancient wonder. In the late afternoon, visit the first cluster of Lalibela's world-famous churches, intricately carved into the ground during the 12th and 13th centuries. These UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the magnificent Bete Medhane Alem (House of the Savior of the World), showcase Ethiopia’s deep Christian heritage and architectural brilliance. End your day by witnessing a breathtaking sunset over the town, followed by a traditional Ethiopian dinner.
After breakfast, continue your exploration by visiting the Southern Cluster of Churches, which features equally remarkable rock-hewn structures.
Sites included in the visit:
- Biete Amanuel – A former royal chapel adorned with intricate
- Biete Abba Libanos – A church that is partially separated from the surrounding
- Biete Gabriel-Rufael – Thought to have been a royal palace before it was converted into a
Following lunch, take some time to explore local markets and traditional crafts at your leisure. Overnight accommodation will be at the hotel.
Start your day with breakfast in the morning before making your way to Lalibela Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa.
Depart from Lalibela at 13:10, arriving in Addis Ababa at 14:10. This will mark the end of the adventure.
After breakfast, take a short domestic drive to Axum, once the capital of the ancient Axumite Empire, one of the great civilizations of antiquity. Upon arrival, begin exploring this legendary city, starting with the Stelae Field, home to towering granite obelisks erected over royal tombs some dating back more than 1,700 years. Next, visit the Queen of Sheba’s Palace, believed by many to be the remains of the legendary monarch’s royal residence, and the Queen of Sheba’s Bath, a still-functioning water reservoir used during the annual Timkat (Epiphany) celebration. In the afternoon, explore the Church of St. Mary of Zion, the most sacred site in Ethiopian Orthodoxy. A small, heavily guarded chapel nearby is believed to house the Ark of the Covenant though no one but the appointed guardian is allowed to see it. Overnight: Brana Hotel in Axum.
Early morning you have breakfast and drive to airport and fly to Addis Ababa
Included/Exclude
- Entrance fees to all sites
- Special permits for the Danakil Depression
- Accommodation with breakfast
- Camping in the Danakil Depression with all meals (2 nights)
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Unlimited bottled water
- 4x4 Land Cruiser for Danakil and Tigray churches
- Minibus transportation in Lalibela
- Complimentary Ethiopian coffee or tea
- Lunch and dinner in Lalibela & Tigray churches Personal expenses (laundry, shopping, etc.)
- Tips and gratuities
- Domestic flights
