Rock Hewn Churches of Adadi Maryam, Tiya Stele & Melka Kunture

Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

Adadi Maryam Rock Hewn Church is believed to have been built in the 12th century. king Lalibela, commissioned the construction of the church, Adadi Mariam was one of 76 rock-hewn churches which he had constructed and excavated in his lifetime, the establishment of Adadi Mariam church is also related to the coming of saints Gebre Menfes Kidus, from Egypt to Ethiopia. Tiya, it’s an archaeological site best known for its large stone pillars, many of which bear some form of decoration. The archaeological site was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980, due to the unique nature of these monolithic monuments. The site is relatively recent. It was dated to a time period between the 11th and 13th centuries. The site contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stele covered with symbols. Melka Kunture is a Palaeolithic site in the upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia. The site became a World Heritage Site in 2024. The Melka Kunture area is made up of valleys whose inner terraces resisted erosion.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Dress code is formal

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Adadi Maryam

Adadi Mariam is a rock-hewn monolithic church located approximately 66 km southwest of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A popular tourist destination, the site is believed to have been built in the 12th century. Throughout its history the church has been damaged by both man-made and natural causes.

1 hour • Admission Included

Tiya

Tiya is an archaeological site in central Ethiopia. It is located in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region south of Addis Ababa.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Car with professional driver

Lunch Ethiopian Foods

Entrance fees

Ethiopian coffee and bottle of water

English speaking professional guide

Dinner

Any Alcohol Drinks

Video and photographing fees

Gratitude and personal expense

Pickup points

Bole Airport

Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Options

Rock Hewn Churches of Adadi Maryam, Tiya Stele & Melka Kunture

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

5 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great tour
C9060DDlarsp,,Sep 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great day tour from Addis! Abe was a great tour guide—extremely knowledgeable about early human history and Ethiopian religious history. We learned so much!
Trip to Adaadi Maryam
kmbundu,,Feb 7, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A tour with Aman’s group is the best way to experience Ethiopia. The guides are professional and on time. They carry the true spirit of Ethiopian hospitality and just make you feel like family. The driver is safe and we were jamming the whole way to Tiya and Adaadi Maryam!! Loved it!!
You will feel Ethiopian past!! Excellent Day Tour
Oscar P,,Jan 21, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was our fourth tour with Aman Tours and they didn´t dissapoint us. Adadi Maryam and Tiya are incredible places to visit. The road is a little dusty and bumpy but the destination deserves it. Be prepare, wear confortable shoes and an extra pair of socks could be useful (as you have to take out your shoes at the church). Bring some cash for tipping, a local guide will introduce you Tiya. Lunch was included at a really nice restaurant, an excellent plate of local food (veggie because it was fasting day). Ethiopian landscapes during the car travel are amazing!
Great day out!
Truls B,,Apr 10, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I only had a one day stopover in Ethiopia and wanted to make a little more out of it, so I decided book a day trip to Tiya and Adadi Mariam. I had a great day out with guide Shasha and driver Sisik. The picked me up on time, knew a lot about the sites and had answers to all my quirky questions about history and current affairs. Since it was market day in Adadi (Sunday), we also spent some time looking around the market too, still we made it back to Addis in time. Thank you for a great day out!
Excellent Tour and Excellent Company
The Traveling Expat,,Dec 29, 2018
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I booked this tour, and everything went as planned. The guide and driver arrived at my hotel on time, and they were both very helpful and knowledgeable about the sites. In addition, the guides were very friendly and always willing to help out in any way they could. This is probably one of the best companies that I have done tours with, and I highly recommend them. Everything was organized, professional, and could not have been better. Thank you so much!