Rock hewn churches of Tigray

Rock hewn churches of Tigray

This program combines to visit the oldest rock-hewn churches of Tigray, which is divided into four different clusters: Teka Tesfa Cluster, Astibe Cluster, Gheralta Cluster and Tembien cluster. Some of the churches can be visited as a day trip from Mekelle.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa

Stop At: National Museum of Ethiopia, King George VI Street, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Arrive in Addis Ababa Bole international airport; meet your guide at the airport then transfer to the hotel for check-in followed by city tour to the National Museum, it is famous for its collections of numerous priceless antiques and archeological findings, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the last resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie I and the Ethnological Museum. . Overnight hotel
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight Caravan Hotel

Day 2: Fly to Mekelle

Stop At: Wukro Chirkos Church, Wukro Ethiopia
Morning flight to Mekelle; the regional capital of Tigray National region then drive to Adigrat (125km) on the way you will visit the famous rock-hewn churches of Tigray. Wukero Cherkos, it lies about 56 km from Mekelle, it is one of the rock hewn churches of Tigray region. Medehane Alem Adi Kasho, it is the finest rock-hewn church in Teka Tesfa cluster by its size and complex architecture. The interior has a cathedral like atmosphere, and the magnificent roof is dense with patterned etchings. Petros and Paulos rock church and Mikel Melehayzenghi. It lies between Medehane Alem Adi Kasho and Petros and Paulos, it is very different from other rock-hewn churches of Tigray Mikel Melehayzenghi is entered via a low doorway, which gives way to a surprisingly large interior with a finely carved dome almost 3m in height. Overnight Lodge
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Agamos Hotel

Day 3: Drive to Geralhta

Stop At: Gheralta Rock, Hawzen Mekele, Mek'ele Ethiopia
After having breakfast; drive 70km to visit the Gheralta cluster of churches which includes Debre Mariam Korkor and Daniel korkor, it lies on a small plateau at altitude of 2480 m, you can reach by car on the foot of the mountain then hike to the church almost an hour and half the footpaths rises steeply through a natural rock passage. The interior is very atmospheric and large, almost 10m wide, 17 m deep and 6m high. Architectural features include 12 cruciform pillars with bracket capitals. If the day is Wednesday there is a colorful market in Hawzien. Overnight Lodge
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight Gheralta lodge

Day 4: Day trip to Abune Yemata Guh

Stop At: Abuna Yemata Guh church, Hawzen Ethiopia
After having breakfast a short drive to Abune Yemata Guh Rock-hewn church, it is the most spectacularly situated rock-hewn church anywhere in Ethiopia. Hike up to the church takes an hour, climbing roughly the 500m in altitude. The last part of the ascent to the church involves clambering up a sheer cliff face using handgrips and footholds. The interior of the church reached via a small crack in the rock, is notable for its extensive and perfectly preserved wall and roof murals, thought to date from the 15th c. Overnight Lodge
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Gheralta lodge

Day 5: Drive to Wukro

Stop At: Abreha and Atsbeha Church, About 18 km west of Wukro and 23Km from Megab, Mek'ele Ethiopia
After having breakfast a short drive to Wukro. On the way you will visit Dugum Selassie, it is located 17km from Hawzien on the main road to Wukero, it is a small rock-hewn church, unusual in that it is situated on the plain rather than high in the mountains. Dugum Selassie is curved into a granite outcrop within the compound of the built up church; there is a bath of Holy Water and underground tomb, which reminiscent of King Kaleb’s Tomb in Axum. Abune Abraham Debre Tsion is a monastic cliff church, curved into a rusty sandstone face high above the village of Dugum. The interior of the church is fairly large, and consists of four bays with decorated domed roofs, supported by pillars and walls covered in murals of various Old Testament figures. Continue to Abrha Astbeha, it is located 17km from Wukero and it is the finest rock-hewn church of Tigray. The interior is very large 16m wide, 13m deep and 6m high and cruciform in shape with a beautifully carved roof supported by 13 large pillars and several decorated arches. The walls are beautifully decorated with mural paintings and till well-preserved. Overnight hotel
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight wukro lodge

Day 6: Drive to Mekelle

Stop At: Atsbi Derra, Ethiopia
After having breakfast a short drive (43km) to visit one of the Atsbi cluster rock-hewn church of Mikael Imba, it is the most impressive exterior of any other rock-hewn churches in Tigray. Mikael Imba looks more like a transplant from Lalibela than it resembles any other Tigraian church, which was excavated around the 12th c. in the late afternoon drive to Mekelle. Overnight hotel
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight planet hotel

Day 7: Fly back to Addis Ababa

Stop At: Emperor Yohannes IV Palace, Zesilasea Square, Mek'ele Ethiopia
In the morning sightseeing in Mekelle; Yohannes castle, Abrha castle and Hawelti then fly back to Addis Ababa. In the evening you will have a traditional farewell dinner in the traditional restaurant. Overnight hotel or Departure
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.