Historical journeys
Stone tools 1.7 million years old, a church carved down into the rock, and a field of engraved stelae, all south of Addis.
Paused while the road south of Addis Ababa is under official travel warnings. We will reopen it when it is safe.
Departs 11 Nov
Addis Ababa
The city often called Africa’s capital, in one easy day: the emperor’s tomb, the hammering lanes of Merkato and the hill where Addis began.
Length 01 day
Bishoftu
An hour from Addis, volcanic craters filled with still water, and Lake Hora, where Oromo people gather each October for Irreecha.
Overview
At Melka Kunture, on the upper Awash River, early humans made stone tools from about 1.7 million years ago, and remains of Homo erectus have been found in its banks. A short way south, Adadi Mariam is a church carved down into the rock, the southernmost in the Lalibela style. At Tiya, stelae engraved with swords and symbols mark old graves.
Tiya and Melka Kunture are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The walks are short and the day unhurried, with time to look closely. This route is paused for now; we will reopen it when it is safe.
Itinerary
At Melka Kunture, the site museum shows hand axes and black obsidian from the river terraces outside. A short detour leads to Adadi Mariam, where you step down into a church cut from a single rock. The afternoon light falls across the carved swords on the stelae at Tiya.
Activities
Itineraries can change with weather, road and flight conditions. We will tell you promptly if they do.
Gallery
Photo: Unsplash
Good to know
Dress code: Casual and comfortable; shoulders and knees covered at Adadi Mariam, and you remove shoes inside the church.
This tour follows the Flexible policy. Days are whole calendar days before departure.
| When you cancel | What you get back |
|---|---|
| 14 or more days before departure | Full refund |
| 7 to 13 days before departure | 50% refund |
| Fewer than 7 days before departure | No refund |
Questions
Questions welcome
Dates, prices, hotels, a private version: ask, and a local specialist replies by email.
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Departs 11 Nov
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Plan with us
Choose your dates above, or tell us what you have in mind and we will shape the trip around you.
