Private Tour
Day Trip From Addis Ababa To Debre Libanos & Portuguese Bridge
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
This Tour will give a partial view of the Ethiopian Rural area like experiencing the local hut or grass houses of the countryside and chance of learning about the history of Ethiopia, the Life in the monastery and its museums, and also you will have a chance of seeing the Ethiopian endemic baboons called Chilada, variety of bird life which are abundant to this Place and also seeing the fabulous waterfalls at the Portuguese bridge(which is one of the oldest bridge in Ethiopia built by the Portugal people).
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Debre Libanos Orthodox Church
Debre Libanos is an important monastic center for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. The monastery was founded by the renowned 13th century mystic, St Teklehaimanot. Before driving back to Addis, we will stop at the Jemma River Gorge. The Jemma River is one of the tributaries of the Nile, and there is a drop of nearly 1000 metros to the valley below. We will walk downhill to the 17th century Portuguese Bridge. Here we can expect to see plenty of birdlife including the Banded Barbet, the Black headed forest oriole, the White billed starling, the Red Billed starling, the White winged cliff chat, the White backed black tit, white cheeked Turaco and Hemprich's hornbill. We will also see one of Ethiopia's endemic mammals, the Gelada or bleeding heart baboon. Leaving the Gorge we drive back to Addis Ababa.
Portuguese Bridge
Portuguese bridge near Debre Libanos was erected by the Portuguese in the 16th century; it was actually built at the turn of the 19th century by Ethiopians, albeit in the old Portuguese style. The narrow span makes a pretty picture and the gushing (in the rainy season) cascade just below it is even more impressive
What‘s Included
Driver Allowance
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Fuel surcharge
All Entrance Fees
Guide at the sites
All not Mentioned on The Inclusion
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Day Trip To Debre Libanos & Blue Nile Gorge
Pickup included
Reviews
72 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A beautiful experience
igd1966,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I've travelled with this company twice before. Communication was flawless and the organization went absolutely according to plan. Biruk is an experienced guide and Thomas an excellent driver. I am very satisfied and can recommend the two without restriction
Ethiopia is a gem equal to any other
Branimir M,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The scenery during the drive itself, makes the trip worthwhile. Let alone the destinations. The guides are knowledgeable.
Avoid Ethio Tours!
Solomon M,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Avoid Ethio Tours!! This one of two tours we booked with Ethio Tours(ET) via Viator, was a major disappointment of our expensive vacation. ET never showed up to pick us up from our hotel. We had to chase them with Viator’s help to get a response. We were then handed to three different drivers before our tour started, three hours late from the start time. We opted to cut the tour short before it was late in the day due to security concerns. Ethio Tours might be a major tour provider and had reputable past but it should not be in this business. Avoid!!!
Worth it if you’re in Ethiopia!
W9404UUhelenw,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great experience. I saw the beautiful countryside of Ethiopia. Special thanks to my guide Gebru. His English is great and he made me feel very welcome. Also thanks to driver Tomas!
What a great day to remember
ZanetaOlszak,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The pick up and drop off was very convenient. We left the hotel early morning to experience the best time and light in the monastery. It was a private trip with a guide and a driver. The guide spoke well English and was explaining everything, even about his personal life. He was truly carying and it made this trip very special. I even had a spiritual experience in the monastery, including drinking a holy water. What made me choose this trip was price, because many other trips were way overpriced. This one was reasonable and worth it :)
Wholesome!
cikuk2025,Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was wholesome for me to see the countryside of Ethiopia. I got picked up in the hotel in the morning and we had a scenic drive to the monastery. It was very interesting, ladies have to cover up their hair, if you don’t have a scarf they sell one to you. The architecture and the stained glass that carries history was amazing!!! There were also a few rules to determine if you can enter the monastery. And we went to the Portuguese brigde. It was low season so the waterfall didn’t have much water but the views are to die for! So gorgeous. Had lunch at a local place and came back to the hotel. I was well taken care of by Tomas and Gabru.
Ethiopia - the ultimate cultural and historical holiday travel
carolaV1215NK,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I have just returned from a 2-week trip to Ethiopia, a country that has long been on my list of must-see places. Eskinder Hailu of Highway Tours has made this dream a reality. As a long-term professional tour operator, he planned the perfect trip, taking into account my own travel preferences (and age) and his intimate knowledge of the country and what it has to offer. The trip included a complete tour of the vibrant capital, Addis Ababa, followed by a a fascinating excursion to the South Omo Valley. The driver to the Omo Valley region, Bereket, was an expert at rough-road driving, as well as knowledgable about the tribes we were to visit, so the fit was good and we shared many a good laugh. The guides witihin the tribes were experienced and I was relieved that the various tribes seemed happy to share their daily lives with us (and yes of course, they were also happy to receive the tourist dollars for the purchase of their various articles on sale). What a pleasure it was to visit with the Konso terraced agriculture plots, to see the Dorze young weavers and to down a timble of honey liquor, or to watch the Bena boys on stilts prancing around, to have my face painted as a lion by the Karo. It was a thrill and honour to watch a young Hamer tribe man run on the back of several bull cows as a test of his manhood, or to watch a Mursi woman insert lip and ear plates to show that she was a desirable wife. Dorze, Karo, Bena, Ari, Hamer, and Mursi tribes, each with its own special qualities and character. While their own huts were of make-shift bamboo or grass, Eskinder ensured that all my lodgings in the area were excellent. The return trip to Addis Ababa was a stopover where I took a a short flight to Lalibela in the north to visit the rock churches. Two days was sufficient to go through the various churches and to marvel at the archectural ingenuity and genius of King Lalibela. Again, the driver and guide were top quality, friendly, well-informed, with perfect English. Eskinder continued his insistence on providing top quality hotels and Lalibelea was no exception. At the conclusion of this unforgetable trip, thanks to asute planning by Eskinder I was able to attend the Meskel Fesival in Addis Ababa, a choral celebration of church choirs in search of the lost cross. This was a mass expression of Ethiopian people's religious belief and devotion. The trip to Ethiopia was magnificent. Eskinder deserves 5 stars for his attention to detail, to his knowledge of what is the most interesting places to visit, to his organisational skills in making sure that everything flows smoothly and that the visitor has only to sit back and bask in the wonders of this beautiful, often mis-understood paradise. I owe a huge debt to Eskinder for never giving up on my wish to visit Ethiopia and his belief that I would eventually make it. So at 81 years old, that wish has finally been realised. For all of you who wish to "walk on a road less travelled", or "walk on the wild side" (sorry two poor puns), Ethiopia is just waiting to welcome you, to astonish you and to take a piece of your heart. I honestly recommend Eskinder Hailu of Highway Tours as the person most likely to create a custom-made visit to his country that will rate as one of the most astonishing places you have ever visited.
Don’t Miss This Tour
Robert K,Jul 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Yeab was a spectacular tour guide and our driver was excellent. They made the day very special and I would strongly recommend them and the tour. The sights on the tour were remarkable and well worth the drive. 5 stars!!!
Great tour and insightful guide
anuvindk2022,Feb 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was an amazing tour but the best part was our guide Haben. He was only only informative but a great person to talk with. If you get a chance to have him as your guide, you are lucky!
Highly recommended!
Footprints95530,Dec 4, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a very short time in Ethiopia and this trip was absolutely amazing. Eyob was a great guide, very helpful, informative and kind.
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Operated by Ethio Travel And Tours