5 Days Axum & Tigray Churches Tour
Tour Highlights
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Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aksum with its famed granite stelae
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Discover ancient pre-Christian monuments, royal tombs, and historic palaces
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Trek to remote cliff-top churches in the Gheralta Mountains
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See remarkable frescoes and rock-hewn architecture dating back to the 6th–8th centuries AD
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Panoramic views over Tigray’s dramatic sandstone landscapes
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Experience local culture in traditional Tigray villages
Day 1: Aksum City Tour
Begin your exploration of Aksum, the ancient capital of the Axumite Empire:
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Main Stelae Park — home to colossal granite obelisks, including the fallen Great Stela, originally 33 meters tall and weighing over 520 tons
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Queen of Sheba’s Bath
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Ezana Inscription — ancient script detailing Axumite history
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Tombs of King Kaleb and King Gebremeskel
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Queen of Sheba’s Palace — legendary ruler of the south
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St. Mary of Zion Church — believed to house the Ark of the Covenant
Overnight: Sabean Hotel, Aksum
Day 2: Aksum - Yeha - Debre Damo - Hawzien (Gheralta)
Drive through the scenic Adwa Mountains to:
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Yeha Temple — dating from the 8th–7th centuries BC and considered the capital of pre-Axumite civilization
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Visit the Yeha Museum for archaeological context
Continue for an hour to reach Debre Damo Monastery, Ethiopia’s oldest monastic site. Stop for lunch in Adigrat before proceeding to Hawzien in the Gheralta Mountains.
Overnight: Gheralta Lodge, Hawzien
Day 3: Abune Yemata Guh Church
Drive 12 km west of Hawzien to the trailhead, then hike to Abune Yemata Guh:
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Carved in the 6th century by one of the Nine Saints
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Cliff-top location with panoramic views of the Gheralta massif
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Interior decorated with remarkable frescoes and paintings
Return to Gheralta Lodge for the night.
Overnight: Gheralta Lodge, Hawzien
Day 4: Mariam Korkor & Daniel Korkor Churches
After breakfast, hike to two of Gheralta’s most iconic churches:
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Mariam Korkor — large rock-hewn church with stunning frescoes
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Daniel Korkor — perched high on the cliff, offering dramatic panoramic views
The hike takes over an hour but rewards with spectacular scenery and cultural insight.
Overnight: Wukro Lodge, Wukro
Day 4: Wukro - Mekelle
Morning visit to:
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Abune Abraham Church — an hour walk from the main road, featuring ancient frescoes and incredible views
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Abreha we Atsbeha Church — the oldest unique church in Tigray, believed to house the final resting place of Kings Ezana and Saizana
Stop in Wukro for lunch, then continue to Mekele to visit:
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Yohannes IV Museum — dedicated to the life and legacy of the 19th-century Ethiopian Emperor
Overnight: Planet Hotel, Mekelle
