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3-Day Lalibela Churches & Abune Yosef Trek: Discover Ethiopia's Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Tourism

4.8

5 Ratings

Embark on a 3-day adventure in Lalibela, Ethiopia, exploring the eco-friendly and sustainable tourism options. Discover the local culture, history, and daily routine while trekking through stunning landscapes and visiting UNESCO World Heritage churches. Don't miss the chance to participate in a traditional coffee ceremony and spot unique wildlife along the way!

Duration: 3 days

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

WALKING TOUR TO ADE MEDHAMIALEM VILLAGE

Asheton Maryam Monastery - Eco Trekking to the Mountain Church Asheton Monastery, Ade Medhamialem, Asheton, Hudad and Mount Abune Yosef.

A day before your trekking starts, you will meet us in our office which is located at the center of the town, Next to the Ethiopian Airlines Lalibela office for conformation and we will explain about the details of your trekking tour using the site map and our office will be the point where your trekking tour will start!The next morning at 7:45am your trekking guide and the porter will meet you again at the reception of your Hotel to organize and pack your materials that will be on the donkey and your trekking will began from our office!After 30 minutes, you will find yourself leaving the town and looking down Lalibela city as you take in the fresh air of the Lasta mountains. At this point you will start spotting the Rock-Hewn churches, your Hotel and village of Lalibela town from the mountain trail.

Then after 2.30h walk, you will arrive to a small village located at 3,300 metres above sea level. The scenery is wonderful here, allowing the perfect opportunity to take a break, drinking in the scenery and a much-needed snack of fresh fruit to get some energy.

Once we start walking again, after 15 minutes, we will be in the middle of the small village. If you wish we offer you a short time of visit the village and if you are interested, you will be invited to see the inside part of a farmer’s house with an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. There is something authentic and natural about participating in a coffee ceremony in a mountain village, one opportunity not to be missed by first time visitors. After passing through the mountain village, after the steep road which looks like a twisted rope that hugs around the mountain, will take about 4 hour on foot. The end will be a sweet rewarding experience as you will arrive to Asheton Maryam monastery church. Built on a ridge at 3,500 m altitude, 10 km from Lalibela, lays this 13th century monastery, offering excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Inside the monastery you find the 13th century processional crosses of King Nakuto Le’Abe who ruled Ethiopia for 40 years just after King Lalibela.On the top of this mountain, you will have your lunch and we will keep hiking to the next mountain Merebarbu which is 4km further, standing parallel to mountain Asheton Maryam, Here we will be able to spot the group of Gelada Baboon and the biggest Bird Lamargair and sleep at Ade Medhamialem community based lodge.

What's Included

Complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off
Refreshments including bottled water
Meals covered: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
All entrance fees to Lalibela Churches included
Airport and departure taxes taken care of
Expert Lalibela churches and trekking guide

What's Not Included

Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Transportation to/from attractions
The first day of Breakfast

Additional Information

Discover the Local Side of Ethiopia, With an Eco friendly Trekking, community based, sustainable tourism tour and travel around Lalibela!

Discover the local communities culture, history and daily routine!

Departure : Every Monday and Friday

Grade: Easy

Altitude: 4280 mts.

Total Trekking: 45 km.

This trip offers a unique combination of spectacular scenery, culture and history including a visit to UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE churches of Lalibela & Abune Yosef Trekking community based Trekking.

Within the first day trekking, There is something authentic and natural about participating in a coffee ceremony in a mountain village, one opportunity not to be missed by first visit.

You will also spot Gelada Baboon and the biggest bird Lamargair and sleep at Ade Medhamialem village, be on the top of Mount Abune Yosef and discover the community Valley of Tegu Kebele.

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.8

(5 Ratings)

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K5853gtalexh

Nov 26, 2019

Incredible an unique experience you can't get elsewhere - We were a group of 9 doing the 3 day hike with our incredible guides Sami and Joseph. The first day was the toughest in terms of walking (we were not all experienced hikers) but our guides took us up slowly and the scenery was stunning. We stayed in a fantastic village home and had coffee with the family, and danced with the kids in the evening. On the second day a group of us went on the hike up Mt Abune Yousef, seeing eagles and baboons and incredible views. Another group stayed behind and visited the school, which I understand was a great experience. The third day we walked back down to Lalibela and, after a break for lunch and a shower back at our hotel, had a fantastic tour of the churches, which was very informative. The food provided was amazing and there was so much of it, and the hosts at the village were wonderful. The guides were great, and told us so much about the local culture. Staying with the family in the village is an experience you won't get anywhere else, and is so much better than staying at a tourist lodge. I would recommend this tour to anyone planning on visiting Lalibela. (I would also advise bringing pens, as all the children we met on the way up were asking for pens for school!)

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Shahar

Sep 11, 2019

3 amazing days in Abuna Yousef trek! - We had a great time on the 3 days community based trek. The hike is not so difficult, and you get to see great views, unique animals and the most important- you get to experience an authentic community village in the mountains! On both night we slept in a local family house, one of the best experiences we had in Ethiopia. Joseph our guide was absolutely great, patient and kind. Kanu the owner organized everything perfectly, we didn't had to worry about a thing. On top of that, he is truly a good man, who continue to help us even after we left Lalibela! We really recommend about the trek and about Kanu, you will not regret!

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Olivier

Jul 7, 2019

Beautiful hike, lovely view and friendly people - It's been 2 months since we joined the 3-days lalibela community based trekking. We highly recommand the hike because the scenery is rewarding: simple huts, steep fields, horses and cows living amidst green meadows, good food, cold nights and clear sky! Thanks to Joseph and Kanu, we have been welcomed in a truly exceptional manner in those highlands and felt...at home.

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Kdstravels

Jul 1, 2019

One of my best travel experiences ever! - I had the most amazing experience trekking with guide Moges on a 3-day/2-night trek. We began by taking a tuk-tuk from Lalibela to a nearby trailhead, and then hiked up into the breathtaking highlands. We stayed our first night in a tiny village in a family's hut. We had coffee and ate our meals with the family, enjoying their company and learning their customs and way of life. We also toured the village and visited a school (bring books/school supplies! The schools have almost no resources. I'd really wished I'd brought some.) It was a rich, authentic cultural experience that I'll never forget. The next day we walked a few miles to the Abuna Yosef Conservation Area and climbed to the top of Abuna Yosef - Ehtiopia's third tallest massif! It was a stunning hike with incredible views and beautiful terrain. The giant lobelias (found only at these high elevations) are some of the oddest/coolest plants I've ever seen. We saw about 20 gelada baboons just below the peak. We also spent the night at the park's "lodge", and had an excellent time eating with the park guards and care taker. The next day was a long, steep hike down to small town, where we were picked up. Every inch of the hiking on this trip was fascinating, either for the natural landscape or the cultural activities/agriculture we observed. I truly cannot recommend this trip enough! Moges was the perfect guide. He's an authentic, down-to-earth person and felt like a friend right away.

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S_subaciute

Nov 27, 2019

Trekking with best guides - During our research project, me and other 8 friends found Eco Access Trekking company and decided to join! We are architecture students and not everyone where in a good shape of hiking, but I have to admit our guides Joseph and Sami did everything that we would reach the mountain tops and were all the time there for us and walking with our speed. Also, if a person gets too tired there are local people that could carry your personal belongings. The experience received is the most amazing one in my lifetime. We hiked in mountains with beautiful scenery and had an opportunity to stay with the local family! It was perfect to see how people live in the high-lands and how their life is happening daily. Everything (food,water,sleeping area), was taken care for us. Nevertheless, as locals are used to cold, in the night it was rather cold and many of us had limited amount of clothes (because of the hiking and carrying your personal belongings ourselves in the bag). The sleeping matrasses and blankets were not the cleanest ones and itching. I wished i would have my own sleeping bag that could helped me from getting this cold. But even with some minor flaws, all this journey was the perfect experience. My suggestion: bring good hiking shoes, termo clothes and lightweight sleeping bag with you, everything else will be taken care for you! The beauty of the project is that the guys working in Eco Trekking actually come back and invest in the community. They invest in the school, in facilities, they help people and have close ties with them. Thank you,Joseph and Sami for making these 3 days unforgetable!

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