Lalibela

Highlights

• The rock-hewn churches, carved down into the ground rather than built up from it
• Bete Giyorgis, the cross-shaped church that appears in every photograph of Ethiopia, and deserves to
• Genna, Ethiopian Christmas in January, when tens of thousands of pilgrims arrive
• Priests, deacons and worshippers using the churches daily, exactly as they have for centuries
• Highland walks to the outlying monasteries and hermitages

Getting around

• Domestic flights from Addis Ababa; the airport is around half an hour from town.
• The main church complex is walkable, though uneven and steep in places.
• A local guide is genuinely worth it - the meaning of the site is not self-evident.
• Outlying churches need a vehicle or a long walk.

Good to know

• Two to four nights. One day is not enough for the churches, let alone the surroundings.
• Shoes come off to enter each church. Wear something you can slip on and off easily, and thick socks - the stone is cold.
• Dress modestly. These are active places of worship, not attractions.
• It is cold at night at this altitude. Pack warm layers regardless of season.
• Check current travel advice before booking; access to the region has been affected at times in recent years.

These are active churches - remove shoes, dress modestly and ask before photographing people at worship. Surfaces are uneven and steep; footing matters. Check current travel advice for the region before booking.