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Day trip to Tigray Churches: A Unique Mix of History, Religion, Landscape, and Culture
5.0
2 Ratings
Megab
This expedition is special as it encompasses History, Religion, natural scenery, culture, trekking, walking, and climbing. Therefore, our explorers can experience all these elements in this single journey.
This expedition is special as it encompasses History, Religion, natural scenery, culture, trekking, walking, and climbing. Therefore, our explorers can experience all these elements in this single journey.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Maryam Korkor - The tour begins early in the morning with a drive to Hawzien, followed by a visit to Maryam Korkor. Despite its unassuming green exterior, this remarkable cross-shaped church is celebrated for its architectural elements, including cruciform pillars, arches, and cupolas, as well as its exquisite 17th-century frescoes and church…
- Maryam Korkor - The tour begins early in the morning with a drive to Hawzien, followed by a visit to Maryam Korkor. Despite its unassuming green exterior, this remarkable cross-shaped church is celebrated for its architectural elements, including cruciform pillars, arches, and cupolas, as well as its exquisite 17th-century frescoes and church treasures. It is also one of the largest churches in the region. The trail starts approximately 1km from the road, just southeast of Megab, and involves a moderately steep one-hour climb.
- Daniel Korkor - A short walk from Maryam Korkor leads to the rarely visited church of Daniel Korkor. Perched on a dramatic precipice, it offers breathtaking views and features beautiful paintings. After exploring Maryam Korkor, a brief seven to ten-minute walk takes you to Daniel Korkor. Along the way, it’s pleasant to pause under a large sycamore tree to enjoy the view and have a snack. Daniel Korkor overlooks the Haiwzen plain, providing an excellent vantage point for capturing stunning photographs of the valley. The entrance to Daniel Korkor is a small opening in the rock face, overlooking a daunting cliff. Inside, there are two chambers where it is believed two monks once resided before it became a church. The outer chamber is adorned with vibrant paintings in light pastel colors on a white background, distinct from those in other churches.
- Abuna Yemata Guh church - Abuna Yemata Guh is dramatically located within a cliff face, halfway up a sheer rock pinnacle 4km west of Megab. The initial 45 minutes of the ascent are moderately challenging, with a few tricky sheer sections requiring careful footing; guides carry ropes for the final ascent. The last two minutes demand courage for the final scramble and a precarious ledge walk over a 200m drop. Afterward, the journey continues with a drive back to Mekele.
What's Included
- Professional Guide
- Lunch
- Tea and coffee
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Professional Guide
- Lunch
- Tea and coffee
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
- Services which are not mentioned on the inclusion
- Services which are not mentioned on the inclusion
Location
Maryam Korkor
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
5.0
(2 Ratings)
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1 star
R6773qxryanh
Jul 30, 2024
Must-do tour of incredible rock churches in Tigray - I had a fantastic experience visiting 3 extraordinary rock churches in a single day: Abuna Yemata Guh, Maryam Korkor, and Daniel Korkor!
I travel to Ethiopia for work, and before heading back to Addis from Mekelle I made sure to schedule this one-day tour. Danakil Tour and Travel, and especially the driver Tesfa, had excellent communication and accommodated my last-minute scheduling. I was picked up at 7am by Tesfa from a hotel in Mekelle and we headed north towards Hawzen. We stopped for a nice breakfast together before meeting up with the local guide TK – the greatest guide someone can ask for!
TK accompanied me on my ascent of Abuna Yemata Guh, and he was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and funny! He is truly experienced and passionate about being a tour guide and he made the hike so much more fun and memorable. The ascent of Abuna Yemata Guh was moderately challenging but definitely doable, and the locals assisted with the most difficult parts of the climb (remember to bring some cash for tips) and I always felt safe. Finally reaching the "most inaccessible place of worship" in the world is a spiritual experience that everyone should try to see for themselves!
As I had to return to the Mekelle airport by 6pm, we decided to skip lunch and drove straight to the start of Maryam/Daniel Korkor. This hike was more physically challenging due to the long, steep ascent. Though I struggled through it as I was fairly out-of-shape, I could not have done it without the encouragement of TK and it was absolutely worth it. The views were stunning and I was truly speechless as TK gave me very informative tours inside the two rock churches. After making our descent, Tesfa picked us up and knew all the right roads to bring me back to the airport by 6pm.
If you have one day or more in the Tigray region, definitely book a tour to see these awe-inspiring churches!
Contact Tesfa (driver) WhatsApp: +251 91 329 8386
Contact TK (local guide) WhatsApp: +251 93 338 5456, email: [email protected], Instagram: @tkethiopia
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer208
Jul 23, 2023
Everything went smoothly - I was actually trying to come last year but then I decided not to because of the conflict. Three years ago, the cloud of Covid descended on the planet, all travel ceased. Then with the conflict that embroiled Tigray from Nov 2020, there was no way to visit Tigray, and for much of the time even no way to call. Both tours were really enjoyable. The guides on both were excellent; they were very informative and I learnt a lot. The transport for the mountains tour was fine and lunch was very nice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
