• Personally Planned by Nigisti
  • Small Group Sizes
Custom-Built Itinerary

About Tour Package

Begin in Axum, seat of one of the ancient world's great powers, where towering carved obelisks at the Northern Stelae Park mark royal tombs dating back over a thousand years. Walk among the ruins of Aksumite palaces at Queen of Sheba's Palace (Dungur Ruins), visit the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion — said to house the Ark of the Covenant — and stand before the Ezana Stone, inscribed in Ge'ez, the ancient script that still shapes Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy today. From here, the route moves south to Lalibela, where 12th- and 13th-century builders under King Lalibela carved eleven churches directly into solid volcanic rock — not built, but excavated downward, whole, from a single mass of stone. Descend into the tunnels and passageways connecting Bete Medhane Alem and Bete Maryam to the iconic Church of St. George (Bete Giyorgis), and witness a living faith practiced continuously in the same structures for eight centuries. This is not two disconnected landmarks — it is a single journey along Ethiopia's highland spine, tracing the arc from ancient empire to medieval devotion, through the country's most historically dense and UNESCO-recognized terrain.

  • Accommodation Hotels & Guesthouses
  • Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Transportation Domestic Flight & Private Vehicle
  • Group Size 2–12 People
  • Language English, Amharic, Tigrinya
  • Heritage UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Age Range 8+ Years
  • Season Year-Round (Best: Oct–May)
  • Category History & Religious Heritage

Explore Locations

Northern Stelae Park towering obelisks in Axum, Ethiopia
Northern Stelae Park
(1 Day)
Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in Axum
Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
(1 Day)
Queen of Sheba's Palace, Dungur Ruins, Axum, Ethiopia
Queen of Sheba's Palace (Dungur Ruins)
(Half Day)
Church of St. George, Bete Giyorgis, Lalibela, Ethiopia
Church of St. George (Bete Giyorgis)
(1 Day)
Bete Medhane Alem and Bete Maryam rock-hewn churches, Lalibela, Ethiopia
Bete Medhane Alem & Bete Maryam
(1 Day)

Highlights of the Tour

  • Northern Stelae Park – towering carved obelisks marking royal tombs dating back over a thousand years.
  • Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion – said to house the Ark of the Covenant, the spiritual heart of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
  • The Ezana Stone – Ethiopia's own "Rosetta Stone," inscribed in Ge'ez, Greek, and Sabaean.
  • Eleven medieval churches at Lalibela, excavated downward whole from a single mass of volcanic rock in the 12th and 13th centuries.
  • A single journey along Ethiopia's highland spine – from ancient empire to medieval devotion, through the country's most UNESCO-dense terrain.

Tour Itinerary

Expand All +
  • Axum & Lalibela, Ethiopia ( Departure: 6:00 am - 7:00am )
    Fly from Addis Ababa to Axum, seat of one of the ancient world's great powers. Spend the afternoon at the Northern Stelae Park, walking among towering carved obelisks marking royal tombs dating back over a thousand years, then visit the Ezana Stone, inscribed in Ge'ez, Greek, and Sabaean.
    • Transport:
      Domestic Flight, Private Vehicle
    • Activities:
      Northern Stelae Park, the Ezana Stone.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Hotel in Axum
    Visit the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, said to house the Ark of the Covenant within its sacred precinct, then continue to the Tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel and the ruins of Queen of Sheba's Palace (Dungur Ruins), walking among what remains of the ancient Aksumite royal court.
    • Transport:
      Private Vehicle
    • Activities:
      Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, Tombs of Kaleb & Gebre Meskel, Dungur Ruins.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Hotel in Axum
    Take a short domestic flight south to Lalibela. In the afternoon, begin exploring the northwestern cluster of rock-hewn churches, starting with Bete Medhane Alem and Bete Maryam, connected by ancient trenches and tunnels still used for pilgrimage today.
    • Transport:
      Domestic Flight, Private Vehicle
    • Activities:
      Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Maryam.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Hotel in Lalibela
    Continue through the remaining rock-hewn churches, descending through the underground tunnels and passageways that connect them, before arriving at the singularly carved Church of St. George (Bete Giyorgis) — Lalibela's most iconic church, still an active place of worship today.
    • Transport:
      Walking, Private Vehicle
    • Activities:
      Underground tunnel passages, Church of St. George (Bete Giyorgis).
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Hotel in Lalibela
    Fly from Lalibela back to Addis Ababa, bringing to a close a journey spanning two of Ethiopia's greatest historical capitals.
    • Transport:
      Domestic Flight
    • Activities:
      Return flight to Addis Ababa.
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch
    • Accommodation:
      Trip Ends / Departure

Your Route on the Map

Package Features List

Include Features
  • Ground/Air Transport, Addis Ababa ↔ Axum ↔ Lalibela (Round Trip)
  • Guided Tour of Axum's Obelisk Field, Royal Tombs & Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
  • Guided Tour of the Lalibela Rock-Hewn Churches, Including Underground Tunnel Passages
  • Local Historian/Guide Accompaniment Throughout
  • 4 Nights Accommodation, English-Speaking Guide & Listed Meals
Exclude Features
  • International Flights.
  • Visa Fees & Processing.
  • Personal Expenses (Shopping, Souvenirs, Tips, etc.)
  • Optional Excursions & Activities Not Listed Above.
  • Travel Insurance.

Additional Info

  • Flexible Planning – Let us know as early as possible if your dates change; we'll always work with you to find a solution.
  • Health & Safety – We'll advise you on vaccinations, altitude, and anything else worth knowing before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

By a short domestic flight, roughly an hour, which is included in your package. The overland route between the two cities takes two or more days on mountain roads, so flying is how nearly every traveler makes this journey.
While the Ark itself is heavily guarded by a single monk and cannot be seen directly, you will visit the sacred precinct of the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion where it resides, feeling the deep spiritual atmosphere that surrounds it.
Manageable for most travelers. Lalibela involves walking on uneven rock surfaces, some steps, and narrow trenches between churches; Axum is mostly flat walking across the stelae field and church grounds.
Absolutely. This route pairs naturally with Gondar, the Simien Mountains, or Lalibela. Let us know what else you'd like to see and we'll build it into your itinerary.
Layers for cool mornings and evenings, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and a light rain jacket outside the dry season. See our full travel preparation guide for the complete checklist.

Customer Review & Rating

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$1,250/per person
  • Personally Planned by Nigisti.
  • Your Safety is Our Top Priority.
Ask About Extending to Bahir Dar & Lake Tana or the Simien Mountains

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