Tigray Mountains, Rock-Churches & Axum (4 Days)

Domestic Flight ET 128 from Addis Ababa (8:20 AM) to Axum (9:50 AM)

Our team will welcome you at the Axum Airport and transfer you to your hotel.

City tour of Axum, the land of the Queen of Sheba, the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant and A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Here you will see towering obelisks, ruined palaces, engraved tablets and other ancient artifacts dating back to Axum’s glory days (some 2000 years ago)

You will stay at one of the best hotels in Axum, Sabean.

After breakfast, you will set out on the most mountainous drive of your life, crossing through the reddish, mars-like terrains of Tigray to visit the following landmarks:

• The historically significant town of Adwa and its marvelous mountains, where the Emperor Menelik II inflicted the biggest defeat ever on a colonial army in Africa and saved Ethiopia from colonization
• Visit Yeha, which is famous for its huge and remarkable temple believed to be the oldest standing building in Ethiopia . The Temple is thought to date back to about seven or eight hundred years before the birth of Christ. Beside the remarkable temple stands a church dedicated to Abba Aftse. Abba Aftse was one of the famous Nine Saints who came to Ethiopia in the 6th century from the eastern Roman Empire to teach the Gospel
• Visit Debre Damo monastery situated on a summit a few kilometers wide and occupied only by monks. The Monastery is accessible by a rope, which is made of “plaited leather”, lowered from the cliffs, which visitors tie around their waist and are then pulled up by monks from the summit
• Drive through the City of Adigrat, where you will have lunch. Adigrat is a quietly attractive village of stone houses with sandstone cliffs to the east offering stunning views of the Gheralta plains

You will stay at a tourist standard hotel in Hawzien City, usually the Vision Hotel 

Situated at a height of 2,580 metres (8,460 ft) in the sandstone cliffs of Tigray, Abuna Yemata Guh is considered one of the best preserved monolithic churches in Ethiopia. It is accessible by trekking for about an hour culminating in a steep ascent up the side of the Gheralta massif. This steep ascent soon turns into a climb using foot holds and hand holds chipped into the sandstone rock by the passage of many hands and feet. The church itself can be reached by walking out on a ledge one meter wide and with a 200m drop to the left hand side. 

Hawzien is famous for its traditionally home-brewed beer called Siwa. You will have the opportunistic to taste at a local 'Siwa' bar. 

You will stay at a tourist standard hotel in Hawzien City, usually the Vision Hotel

Early morning, you will set on a trekking journey to the remaining two of the three churches. If you rise early enough, you might be in for a spectacular sunrise view over the reddish sandstone mountains. 

Of the three, Maryam Korkor is the most impressive architecturally. Although an unsightly green from the outside, this impressive, cross-shaped church is known for its architectural features (cruciform pillars, arches and cupolas), fine 17th-century frescos and church treasures. A huge, high ceiling is supported by 12 free standing pillars. Looking at it you could not help but wonder how the architect managed to carve so high from the ground. A steep, one-hour ascent is required to reach the church. 

The Daniel Korkor church is located about 100 meters away from Maryam Korkor.

Late afternoon, you will drive to Mekelle City to transfer you to Mekelle Airport (several flight options to Addis Ababa are available until late evening)

Cultural Immersion - You can do a market tour if your tour dates coincide with the market days of one of the three cities on the itinerary- Wukro City (Monday), Hawzien City (Wednesday), Megab Town (Saturday)