Lalibela Add On
Ethiopia
From
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Entry Level
Cultural
Transfers
3 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
An optional add-on tour to visit the UNESCO 13th Century rock-hewn churches of Lalibela
One thousand years ago, as King Lalibela lay in a poison-induced coma at the hand of his brother, he journeyed to Heaven where the angels commanded that he build a New Jerusalem in Africa’s then bulwark of Christianity. His stonemasons cut directly down into the living rock of mountainsides to achieve this, the church roofs therefore remaining at ground level at what is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site of eleven 13th Century rock-hewn churches.
Standing in the dimly lit caverns with your hand pressed against the cold, rough surface of a pillar, you are touching a part of the natural world where men and women aren’t really accustomed to being. The churches are not as finely carved as the cathedrals of Europe, nor do they hold the eye like the lines of the architects of Greece, yet in the presence of these monoliths, you can feel it is a deeply spiritual place.
Day 1: Addis to Lalibela
Transfer
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
We hop on a short one-hour national flight (not included) to the historic town of Lalibela where we will check into our comfortable hotel to freshen up and have a bite to eat, before we begin our guided tour of the ancient 13th Century rock-hewn churches, easily the most famous of all the monuments across this enormous country.
Our professional local guide will lead us through the intricate system of underground passages that link the incredibly beautiful churches in the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 2: Ashton Maryam Monastery
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
The monastery is one of the highest in Ethiopia, set at an elevation of almost 4000m to the SouthEast of Lalibela. Carved into a cliff face, it was founded by King Nakuta La’ab, whom is most likely buried there. The small and unadorned church houses some impressive crosses, illuminated manuscripts and other treasures, although arguably the most remarkable aspect of the visit is its magnificent setting and the stunning views.
We have the option of either using private minibus transport to travel the full way to the monastery, or enjoying a leg stretch for part of the journey, and arriving on foot.
Day 3: Lalibela to Addis
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
There are 11 rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, many of them interconnected by an intricate network of caves and tunnels. We will continue exploring this incredible area in true Indiana Jones fashion this morning, with the help of our knowledgeable guide Fikru.
After lunch, we take a national flight back to Addis (not included) and check back into the familiar Monarch hotel. After a rest to freshen up, and to organise ourselves for our homeward journey tomorrow, we have time to enjoy a lively Ethiopian evening out at one of the best spots in town.
Day 4: Travel Home
Transfer
Breakfast
We transfer you to the airport for flights out of Addis Ababa. Leaving the beauty of Ethiopia is going to feel all wrong but ‘normal life’ awaits you.
Time to plan your next escape!
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is only available for part of the trip.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
National Flight - Return from Addis Ababa to Lalibela (approx cost £175)
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Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
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