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Debre Libanos Monastery Tour: Experience Wildlife & Ancient Cave Church in Ethiopia
4.8
236 Ratings
Addis Ababa
Embark on a captivating road trip through Ethiopia’s countryside to explore the ancient Debre Libanos Monastery, the Portuguese Bridge, and the stunning Nile Gorge. Encounter wildlife, including gelada baboons, and enjoy breathtaking views of Addis Ababa.
Embark on a captivating road trip through Ethiopia’s countryside to explore the ancient Debre Libanos Monastery, the Portuguese Bridge, and the stunning Nile Gorge. Encounter wildlife, including gelada baboons, and enjoy breathtaking views of Addis Ababa.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Debre Libanos - Founded by Ethiopian Saint Abune Tekle Haymanot, within a steep riverine canyon in 1284, Debre Libanos later became the political centre of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and is where Emperor Lebna Dengal received the first Portuguese mission to Ethiopia in 1520. The Italian army destroyed the original church in a 1937 massacre…
- Debre Libanos - Founded by Ethiopian Saint Abune Tekle Haymanot, within a steep riverine canyon in 1284, Debre Libanos later became the political centre of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and is where Emperor Lebna Dengal received the first Portuguese mission to Ethiopia in 1520. The Italian army destroyed the original church in a 1937 massacre that claimed the lives of 800 monks, deacons and lay worshippers. The modern church, its domed roof decorated with stained-glass windows, remains an important pilgrimage site.
What's Included
- Local guides
- Ground transportation including a car, fuel and a driver
- Pickup and dropoff at any location in Addis Ababa (either Hotel or Airport)
- Lunch, including a bottle of water and hot drinks
- Museum and Church Entrance Fees
- Accompanying English speaking tour guide
- Local guides
- Ground transportation including a car, fuel and a driver
- Pickup and dropoff at any location in Addis Ababa (either Hotel or Airport)
- Lunch, including a bottle of water and hot drinks
- Museum and Church Entrance Fees
- Accompanying English speaking tour guide
What's Not Included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
Additional Information
As part of this admired roadway journey, you will traverse through stunning pastoral landscapes and observe the authentic Ethiopian lifestyle - agriculturists, rural districts, isolated towns. The trip includes a stopover at the historic Debre Libanos Monastery (including its cave church), the renowned ‘Portuguese Bridge’ constructed in the 1890s, the…
As part of this admired roadway journey, you will traverse through stunning pastoral landscapes and observe the authentic Ethiopian lifestyle - agriculturists, rural districts, isolated towns. The trip includes a stopover at the historic Debre Libanos Monastery (including its cave church), the renowned ‘Portuguese Bridge’ constructed in the 1890s, the Nile Gorge teeming with native bird species and gelada baboons, and a spectacular view of Addis Ababa from an observation point situated at an altitude of 3,300 meters (Entoto Mountain).
Please be aware that sighting the Gelada Baboons can be a chance event, considering their habitat in an open park.
- Minimum age is 7 years
Location
Edna Mall
Cameroon Street
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(236 Ratings)
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1 star
Raphael_b
Sep 11, 2025
Beautiful - Many thanks to Mickias (English speaking guide) with whom I could still talk and understand (because my English is not great). For his explanations, his smile and his good humor. Not to mention this magnificent outing-discovery that is not about to be forgotten.
Review provided by Viator
Christian
Aug 15, 2025
Best day trip to see outside the capital - A great way to see Ethiopia outside of Addis Ababa. The drive itself is very interesting observing agricultural life. Tour guide Netsanet was very knowledgeable answering any questions you had both about the tour and Ethiopia in general.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Road33677941856
Aug 10, 2025
Qi - Starting the journey at 8:30, headed to the entoto mountain area, which is a rich area of land, the car is comfortable, the guide and the officer function to do their job, share with us the status quo of the city now in Ezechosophy, to arrive in the Eastern Orthodox Church, there is a small museum introduction, then before lunch there is a chance to let us see the lion's tail, and walk through the Portuguese bridge, the spectacular waterfall, recommended. Lunch is typical Ecosopian food.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fggp
Jul 30, 2025
Excellent nature excursion and touring mountain villages that live ancestrally at 3500 m above sea level. - A very special experience touring mountain villages with people so different from us, living ancestrally and simply. People who can teach us that to be happy you don't have to be materialistic. People who can teach us how to share both lunch and home by making you feel part of their magic. How happy he made me meet these people. Spectacular the Orthodox church of Debre Lebanese, it really struck me. The Portuguese bridge built in the 17th century is unmissable with a striking waterfall that drifts under it and visited by the local baboons adorning a unique and seductive landscape in the world. You can't miss this excursion
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daytrip65301737756
Jul 19, 2025
- Great , Abiy ( the guide ) and Muse ( the driver ) were super nice and we make this day trip amazing! I had fun and loved the experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passenger11832826724
Jul 3, 2025
No Regrets! - I'm not a big fan of tours. But there are times and places where a tour is the best or only option for seeing new things. In this case, I was so lucky to go on a full-day trip to Debre Libanos with Abiy and Muse.
To begin with, communication before pick up was excellent and arrival was on time. The drive was excellent: the van was in great shape, reliable, and Muse's driving was outstanding. I never worried about leaving my bag in the car when we were at our various stops. In general I felt very safe and secure.
When I first arrived in Ethiopia, my binoculars were impounded and I worried I wouldn't get a look at very many birds. But thanks to our guide Abiy, that was not the case. He has a keen eye and good knowledge of local birds, and I got a look at about 25 species of birds during our tour, including important Ethiopian endemics.
Beyond birds, Abiy clearly has a relationship with the right people at all the places we visited. Lunch, prepared at a restaurant operated by a most interesting woman, was one of the great highlights of the trip. Delicious Ethiopian food, draft beer, and wonderful conversation.
There were a lot of options online for his tour, but ultimately I feel relieved that I choose one of the best.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G8605pojulienr
Jun 22, 2025
Beautiful - In very good hands with Abiy, he guided us through beautiful landscapes to show us around beautiful sites. Thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michaelri947eg
Jun 13, 2025
Countryside visit seeing much Ethiopian life - Had a fun day with Abiy and Muse. Was a long drive into the countryside to see the Baboons, and visit the church as well as lunch with a local family. Nice coffee tasting. Informative guide
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Desjardinsjanie
Jun 9, 2025
Great experience - I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. However, I would recommend being mindful of the security situation, as some NGOs—rightfully—do not authorize their personnel to visit these locations.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maya
Jun 9, 2025
Trip outside Addis - Abiy was an excellent guide — highly professional, organized, and attentive to safety throughout the trip.
This tour offers a great glimpse into life outside Addis Ababa, as you drive through small towns and villages where donkeys and cattle frequently wander onto the road, adding to the rural charm.
The monastery is an ancient and peaceful site, providing a meaningful insight into the country's deep religious traditions.
The only real challenge was navigating the heavy traffic while leaving Addis. Once out of the city, the roads are generally reasonable, though there are occasional rough patches.
Overall, a fascinating and well-guided experience beyond the capital.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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