Historical journeys
A monastery founded in 1284 on a cliff terrace, a bridge nobody can date, and gelada grazing on the edge of the gorge.
Paused while North Shewa is under official travel warnings. We will reopen it when it is safe.
Length 01 day
Bishoftu
An hour from Addis, volcanic craters filled with still water, and Lake Hora, where Oromo people gather each October for Irreecha.
Departs 01 Nov
Addis Ababa
Eucalyptus trails on the ridge where Menelik II kept his first capital, two hilltop churches, and Addis Ababa spread out below.
Overview
In 1284 Tekle Haymanot, one of Ethiopia’s most revered saints, founded a monastery on a terrace between a cliff and a gorge that drains to the Blue Nile. Pilgrims still come for the holy water. In 1937 Italian forces killed 297 monks here; the domed church over the saint’s tomb was built by Haile Selassie in 1961.
Nearby, an old stone bridge crosses a stream above a waterfall, and gelada graze along the cliff edge. It is a day of big views and quiet ground, about two hours’ drive each way. This route is paused for now; we will reopen it when it is safe.
Itinerary
The road crosses the high farmland north of Addis, then drops to the monastery, where pilgrims fill bottles at the spring linked to Tekle Haymanot. A short walk leads to the Portuguese Bridge and the falls beneath it, with gelada often close by. The last stop looks down into the Blue Nile gorge.
Itineraries can change with weather, road and flight conditions. We will tell you promptly if they do.
Gallery
Photo: Unsplash
Good to know
Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered at the monastery; women may want a light scarf, and you remove shoes inside the church.
This tour follows the Flexible policy. Days are whole calendar days before departure.
| When you cancel | What you get back |
|---|---|
| 14 or more days before departure | Full refund |
| 7 to 13 days before departure | 50% refund |
| Fewer than 7 days before departure | No refund |
Questions
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Plan with us
Choose your dates above, or tell us what you have in mind and we will shape the trip around you.
