Ethiopia & East Africa · office in Gondar · Open daily · 8:00 - 18:00 (East Africa Time)
Northern Highlands
The dramatic sandstone mesas of Tigray, sheltering some of the world's most extraordinary rock-hewn churches in remote, climbable cliff faces.
The Gheralta mountains in northern Tigray are a landscape of towering orange sandstone cliffs and hidden valleys, home to more than thirty ancient rock churches.
Several churches — such as Abuna Yemata Guh — are perched almost impossibly high on sheer cliff faces, reached by short, exhilarating scrambles that reward the effort with unforgettable views and 1,500-year-old art.
For adventurous travellers, Tigray offers a wilder, quieter counterpoint to the tours of the northern circuit.
The legendary cliff church reached by a short scramble up a sheer rock face.
A grand underground church with beautifully preserved ceiling paintings.
An ancient monastery on a flat-topped mountain, reached by leather rope and pulley.
Most travellers arrive through Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport, then fly or drive north. We arrange every flight, transfer and road leg as part of your itinerary.
Read the transport guideDomestic flights link the capital with Gondar, Lalibela, Axum and Bahir Dar across the northern circuit.
We arrange airport and hotel transfers as part of every itinerary.
The northern circuit can be driven between sites by private 4x4, which we arrange for you.
Climb to Abuna Yemata Guh, the famous 'church in the sky' on a sheer cliff face.
See vivid 1,400-year-old wall paintings in remote rock sanctuaries.
Hike through valleys of giant sandstone mesas few tourists reach.
Combine geology, archaeology and gentle adventure in one wild region.
Lava, salt and churches in the sky
Two of Ethiopia's most remarkable landscapes in one expedition-style journey — the volcanic Danakil Depression and the cliff churches of the Gheralta mountains.
The complete Ethiopia
The definitive overland journey — northern castles and churches, the Simien trek, Danakil's volcanoes, Tigray's cliffs and Harar's alleys in one grand loop.
Stelae, sacred arklands and churches in the sky
From the ancient stelae of Axum to the cliff-clinging rock churches of Gheralta — a deep dive into the cradle of Ethiopian Orthodoxy.
Every wonder of the north in one journey
The complete northern odyssey — Simien trekking, Gondar, Tana, Axum, the Tigray cliff churches, Lalibela and the Danakil in one grand loop.
Guided multi-day treks across Ethiopia's great highlands — from the Simien escarpment and Ras Dashen to the Bale Mountains — fully supported with local guides.
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The astonishing history of Ethiopia — the rock churches of Lalibela, castles of Gondar, stelae of Axum, monasteries of Lake Tana and the walled city of Harar.
Learn moreYes — the climbs are short, well-understood and guided. A confident, steady step is all that's needed; alternative rock churches are available for those who prefer to stay ground level.
It slots naturally between Lalibela and Axum, and we can add it to a northern historical route or visit it on a dedicated discovery tour.
Most travellers combine this destination with another — the northern circuit, the Danakil, the Omo Valley or beyond. See which places fit your route.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the crown of the Ethiopian highlands — the 'Roof of Africa' — where sheer escarpments fall thousands of metres.
The 'Camelot of Africa' — an imperial city of castles, churches and a rich royal history in Ethiopia's northwest highlands.
Home to the extraordinary rock-hewn churches of Lalibela — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's great pilgrimage destinations.
Send us an inquiry and we'll help you build the perfect itinerary — tours, timing and logistics included.
