NATIONAL PARKS SAFARIS ETHIOPIA

HIGHLIGHTS, WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW TO VISIT

ROCK HEWN CHURCHES OF TIGRAY TOUR

ROCK HEWN CHURCHES TIGRAY, TOUR. Our tour takes you back in time to the Queen of Sheba and earliest Christianity

Rock Hewn churches of Tigray, Tour

While the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are the most dramatic buildings, the cliff churches of Tigray show the most dramatic landscapes and the longest Christian tradition. Unknown to the world outside, these churches were first described by the British explorer Ivy Pearce as ‘the greatest of the historical-cultural heritages of the Ethiopian people’. It was not until some 4 decades ago that there were some 200 rock hewn churches, and even more may still be unknown. Most better-known churches are found in  the following clusters: Gheralta, Taka Tesfay, Atsbi, Tembien and Wukro.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Most of our hundreds of pictures are favored in Google! Why? Because no other website has so many beautiful high resolution pictures, taken by ourselves. Our pictures not only show you the beauty of Ethiopia, but they also show that we go everywhere, photographing wildlife, plants, people and culture. They show our professionalism, our keen eye for detail and our passion for the culture and nature of Ethiopia. So why consider booking our our Ethiopia Culture & National Parks modules? Because we don't mislead you like many tour operators do. When the Blue Nile falls are dry.... we tell you. When fog clouds the lava lake of Erte Ale? We let you know. Just drop us a mail and we will check it out for you.

Our tours take you to ALL famous cultural places of Ethiopia, and on top of that, you get to see up to 12 large nature reserves accompanied by a conservation forester. There is nothing similar on the market.

As Ethiopia can be combined with other East African countries, we organize tours in modules. Destinations Overview: Historical Circuit; Danakil Depression; Eastern Route; Simien Mountains; Bale Mountains; Southern Parks Safari; Gambella; Addis Ababa. BUT WAIT: if you buy your international ticket with Ethiopia Airlines, they will sell the internal flights at a price that you can't even ride the bus for. But you MUST plan it all in one package and making changes may be very costly. So let us help you plan your entire trip and book your local flights for an incredibly low price after you booked your international flight with Ethiopian Airlines!

The churches are usually semi-monolithic - a part is cut out of rock, while another part is built with masoned rocks - or hewn out of caves. Many of them relatively easily accessible, but some can only be reached by climbing up difficult terrain or even a cliff. Being hidden in mountainous areas, the many of these churches are in surroundings of breathtaking landscapes.

Usually rather primitive in design, many of the churches have some classics inspired columns and they usually are divided into three spaces:

1. the most holy part, only accessible to the priest, where a replica of the stone tablet with the 10 commandments - is kept;

2. The inner ambulatory, which is used by communicants at mass; and

3. the outer ambulatory, which is accessible to anyone.

Like elsewhere in Ethiopia, in many churches one is expected to take off one's shoes and some churches and monasteries are only accessible to men.

While the ages of the churches are usually unknown they seem to predate those at Lalibela, though few churches in Tigray are as immediately impressive as the ones in Lalibela.

Debre Maryam Korkor Church

Debre Maryam Korkor is one of the better known rock hewn churches. Only accessible by a steep path, one needs to be in a decent contdion to reach this church, but it is well worth the effort.

The facade of the Debre Maryam Korkor church has been built out of stone masonry, while most of the church has been cut out of the rock behind it.

The interior ambulatory. The columns, though rather primitive in design are obviously inspired by the classics.

Behind the second curtain is the holy part, only accessible to the priest.

The walls of the church are covered with hundreds of years old wall paintings.

The extremely old Debre Damo is 25 meters up a cliff, and can only be reached with a rope 25. A safety rope is supposed to prevent one from falling when slipping. This church is only accessible to men.

The Daniel Korkor rock hewn church is located at about 100 meters over a passable ledge, from the Maryam Korkor church. This charming little church gives a fabulously beautiful view of the Gheralte landscape. Behind the little door in the rock facade lies a relatively small space with primitive murals.

Abuna Yemata Guh Church

The Abuna Yemata Guh Church is one of the most beautiful rock hewn churches in Tigray. Be prepared though for a rather strenuous ascent though. It is good to know that there are always young men eagerly waiting to help you for a few Birr, and they are very good.

I always wondered, why somebody has not yet replaced this "bridge" by something a bit more solid.

The door to the Abuna Yemata Guh Church.

Inside the Abuna Yemata Guh Church.

Mikael Imba rock hewn church

The Mikael Imba church is one of the larger and easier accessible rock hewn semi-monolithic churches with many pillars inside. Predating Lalibela, it may have served as an example for those churches in the south. 

Exterior Mikael Imba Church.

Priest at Mikael Imba Church.

Abreha We Atsbeha church

Regarded by many experts as the finest church in Tigray, the Abreha We Atsbeha church is an important pilgrim destination on the 14th October. The carved ceiling is supported by several decorated arches. The church's guards many treasures, among them a prayer cross supposedly having belonged to Abba Salama, the first Bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Medhane Alem Kesho Church

The Medhane Alem Kesho Church is one of Tigray's older and more beautiful churches. A four-wheel-drive track takes you within a very doable 10 minutes walk from the church. Inside, the church has a beautiful carved ceiling.

Wukro Chirkos Church

This semi-monolith church is te most accessible rock hewn church in Tigray.

Mikael Melehayzenghi rock hewn church, Tigray

One of Tigray's most concealed and oldest rock hewn churches, the Mikael Melehayzenghi church has fabulous relief carvings on the walls and ceilings.

Exterior Mikael Melehayzenghi rock hewn church.

Ceiling Mikael Melehayzenghi rock hewn church, Tigray.

ROCK HEWN CHURCHES TIGRAY, TOUR. Our tour takes you back in time to the Queen of Sheba and earliest Christianity

Rock Hewn Churches in Tigray, Ethiopia are among the oldest churches in the world.

Ethiopia modernizes and changes more rapidly than any other country in Africa. Many features may not be there anymore in the near future. If you want to see it the way it was for thousands of years, see it now before it has changed forever! Compose your own once-in-a-lifetime Ethiopia-Africa-Adventure from our affordable modules:

Famous Ethiopia Historical Circuit

Simien Mountains trek or car visit

Danakil Depression and Erte Ale Volcano Expedition

Awash Babile Harar Safari Tour

Ethiopia Central and Southern Parks & Tribes Safari Tour

Bale Mountains National Park and Sof Omar Caves Tour

Gambella National Park Safari

Addis Ababa City Tour & Airport Transfer

All Ethiopia modules and prices together

We designed our itineraries in such a way that you can compose a 1 to 4 weeks journey from different modules that can show you the entire country or just the parts that interest you, all depending on your personal preferences, available time and budget. Email us on your interests and we can discuss a custom program with you by phone (we have phone lines from the USA and Europe) or skype. So, weather you have a great ethnic affinity, are a birdwatcher or want to go on safari, contact us and we work out a customized program that focuses on YOUR interests.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is home of Ethiopian Airlines, featuring Africa's youngest fleet of the latest intercontinental jet airplanes - including 2 Dreamliners - as well as short-distance Bombardier turboprops for affordable and reliable in-country flights servicing all major cities of Ethiopia. The best airline of Africa, will fly you non-stop from the USA and Europe to Addis Ababa. Take our 1-week Ethiopia Cultural Monuments Tour and then continue for your Kenya or Tanzania safari - or any other East African capital - thus completing your journey. IF YOU BUY YOUR INTERNATIONAL TICKET FROM ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES, YOU WILL GET MOST INTERNAL FLIGHTS FOR $40 - $70 PER LEG! BUT CHANGING AFTERWARDS IS EXPENSIVE, SO WORK OUT A SCHEDULE WITH US TO GET A FABULOUS DEAL FOR FLYING THROUGH THE COUNTRY IN STEAD OF SPENDING ENDLESS TIME ON THE ROAD!!!