Northern Ethiopia
Eleven medieval churches carved down into solid rock, and still in use today.
Overview
Lalibela is home to eleven rock-hewn churches dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. Each was cut down into the rock from the top, leaving free-standing buildings set in deep courtyards and linked by tunnels and trenches.
It is a living place of worship as well as a World Heritage Site. Priests and pilgrims use the churches daily, and the biggest gatherings happen around the Ethiopian Christmas and Epiphany festivals in January.
Highlights
Plan your visit
October to March; festivals in early and mid January are memorable but need early booking
Lalibela has its own airport with flights from Addis Ababa. The road from Gondar or Bahir Dar is long, so most visitors fly.
The churches are in walking distance of the town. Paths are uneven and often have steps, so wear sturdy shoes.
Gallery
Photos: Unsplash
Journeys
Length 02 days
Lalibela
One night in Lalibela, enough to walk its rock-cut churches twice: in afternoon light, then at dawn at Bete Giyorgis.
Length 03 days
Lalibela
Lalibela’s 11 rock-cut churches, plus a cave church older than the town and a monastery above 3,000 m.
Length 06 days
Lalibela
Six days through Ethiopia’s royal and Christian north, ending at Lalibela, where 11 churches were cut down into solid rock.
Length 06 days
Lalibela
On Christmas morning, priests in white line the rim above Bete Maryam and answer the chant rising from the courtyard below.
Length 16 days
Lalibela
From Axum’s stelae and Lalibela’s rock churches to Mursi and Hamer villages in the Omo and the crocodiles of Lake Chamo.
Keep exploring
Northern
The royal enclosure of Fasil Ghebbi, with castles built from the 17th century.
Northern
An ancient capital, known for its towering carved stelae and its churches.
Northern
A high plateau of sheer escarpments, gelada baboons and long-distance trails.
Plan with us
Tell us when you want to travel and what you love. A local specialist will reply with a suggested plan and a clear price.
