Ethiopia · Archaeology

Full-Day Addis Ababa Heritage Tour with Melka Kunture and Tiya

1 Day Round trip from Addis Ababa Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore the Melka Kunture Prehistoric Site with stone tools and early hominid remains
02 Visit the excavated monolithic Adadi Mariam Church, an early Christian cave church
03 Discover Tiya's UNESCO-listed stele fields dating back to the 12th-13th century CE
04 See pre-Christian graves with unique markings at the archaeological site of Tiya

Travel from Addis Ababa to explore the Melka Kunture Prehistoric Site, home to stone tools and remains of early hominids. Visit the excavated monolithic Adadi Mariam Church, an early Christian cave church isolated from similar churches in Tigray and Lalibela. Continue to Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stele fields and pre-Christian graves with unique markings, on this full-day tour.

Stop at the Melka Kunture Archaeological Site and explore this prehistoric site, with museums containing stone tools and remains of early hominids, as well as the butchery site of early men.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Tiya, Butajira

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Melka Kunture, Adadi Mariam and Tiya Day Tour

Meet your tour guide at the agreed-upon location to begin your tour.
Depart from Addis Ababa at 7:00 am with your Ethiopian tour guide.
Drive south on the Butajira Road.
Stop at the Melka Kunture Archaeological Site and explore this prehistoric site, with museums containing stone tools and remains of early hominids, as well as the butchery site of early men.
Travel about 12 kilometres off-road to visit Adadi Mariam Church, an early Christian cave church found isolated from similar churches in Tigray and Lalibela.
Have a picnic lunch before driving to Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing a stele field dating back to the 12th-13th century CE.

Return to Addis Ababa.

The route