Northern Ethiopia
An ancient capital, known for its towering carved stelae and its churches.
Overview
Axum was the centre of a trading kingdom that flourished about two thousand years ago. Its most striking legacy is a field of carved stone stelae, some of them among the tallest single stones ever raised.
The town also holds the church of St Mary of Zion, one of the holiest places in Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and tombs, ruins and a museum that put the kingdom in context.
Highlights
Plan your visit
October to March; the feast of St Mary in late November draws large crowds
Axum has an airport with flights from Addis Ababa. Roads link it to Adwa, Mekele and beyond.
The sites are in and around the town; walking, three-wheelers or a car with a driver all work.
Gallery
Photos: Unsplash
Journeys
Length 09 days
Axum
The Christian north in the order it was built: Axum’s stelae, Lalibela’s rock churches, Gondar’s castles, then the painted monasteries of Lake Tana.
Keep exploring
Northern
Eleven medieval churches carved down into solid rock, and still in use today.
Northern
The royal enclosure of Fasil Ghebbi, with castles built from the 17th century.
Northern
A high plateau of sheer escarpments, gelada baboons and long-distance trails.
Plan with us
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