Selasé Tours

Axum & Lalibela – Kingdoms of Stone and Antiquity

Day 1: Arrival in Axum – Stelae and Ancient Tombs
Highlights: Obelisks, archaeological sites, Church of St. Mary of Zion
Explore the grand stelae fields that mark royal burial sites, some dating back to the 4th century. Visit the ruins of the Queen of Sheba’s palace and the revered Church of St. Mary of Zion, believed by many to house the Ark of the Covenant. Walk through a city that was once a powerful empire and a hub of early Christianity.

Day 2: Flight to Lalibela – The Northern Cluster
Highlights: Rock-hewn churches, Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam
Fly to Lalibela and begin your journey through its famous churches carved into solid rock. Visit the northern cluster, including Bet Medhane Alem (the world’s largest monolithic church) and Bet Maryam, surrounded by symbolic carvings and sacred murals.

Day 3: Lalibela – Southern Cluster and Bet Giyorgis
Highlights: Bet Gabriel, Bet Amanuel, iconic cross-shaped church
Continue with the southern group of churches, known for their more complex architecture and deeper symbolism. End the day at Bet Giyorgis, the most iconic and photogenic of them all, standing alone in the shape of a cross.

Lake Tana Monasteries & Gondar Castles – Faith and Empires

Day 1: Arrival in Bahir Dar – Lake Tana Boat Tour
Highlights: Ura Kidane Mehret, monastery art, Blue Nile
Take a boat trip across Lake Tana to visit island monasteries like Ura Kidane Mehret, known for its colorful murals and sacred treasures. Learn about Ethiopia’s Orthodox tradition preserved on these secluded islands.

Day 2: Drive to Gondar – Castles of the Ethiopian Empire
Highlights: Royal Enclosure, Fasil Ghebbi, Debre Berhan Selassie
Arrive in Gondar and visit the Royal Enclosure, where 17th-century emperors built castles and banquet halls. Tour Fasil Ghebbi and the famous Debre Berhan Selassie Church with its ceiling of winged angels.

Day 3: Fasil’s Bath & Optional Countryside Visit
Highlights: Traditional architecture, rural churches, historical bath
Visit Fasilides’ bath, still used today during Epiphany celebrations. If time allows, explore nearby rural churches or visit local communities for insight into Amhara culture.

Harar – Walled City of Saints and Stories

Day 1: Arrival in Harar – Old City Exploration
Highlights: City walls, Harari homes, colorful markets
Enter the walled city of Harar Jugol, home to 82 mosques and over 100 shrines. Walk through narrow alleys lined with colorful homes, meet local artisans, and discover Harar’s unique Islamic and Oromo heritage.

Day 2: Rimbaud House and Cultural Encounters
Highlights: French poet’s home, coffee culture, museums
Visit the house of Arthur Rimbaud and learn about his time in Harar. Stop by cultural museums and sip hand-roasted coffee in the birthplace of Ethiopia’s coffee tradition.

Day 3: Hyena Feeding and Market Life
Highlights: Live ritual, spice market, food stalls
Experience Harar’s famous hyena feeding ritual at dusk, where locals call wild hyenas by name. In the morning or afternoon, visit the bustling spice and meat markets, a center of trade for centuries.

Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray – Cliffside Sanctuaries of the North

Day 1: Arrival in Mekelle – Drive to Gheralta Region
Highlights: Scenic drive, local village stay, orientation
Arrive in Mekelle and drive into the Gheralta Mountains. Settle into a local lodge or guesthouse and enjoy sunset views over the rugged cliffs. Briefing on the climbs and churches ahead.

Day 2: Abuna Yemata Guh – The Sky Church
Highlights: Vertical hike, ancient frescoes, spiritual stillness
Begin an early morning ascent to Abuna Yemata Guh, perched high in the cliffs. The climb involves footholds and hand grips, but the reward is breathtaking: 6th-century paintings and a view above the clouds.

Day 3: Maryam Korkor and Daniel Korkor
Highlights: Twin churches, panoramic plateau views, sacred stillness
Trek to Maryam and Daniel Korkor churches, hidden on a vast plateau. These churches are less vertical but require endurance. Spend quiet time in their cool interiors before returning to Mekelle.