Lalibela 2-Day Eco Trekking Tour

Lalibela’s famous churches are only the beginning. This two-day trek leads from town into the Lasta Mountains, up to the Atabkit escarpment, and on to a highland village where you stay with local farmers and see daily life at close range. It is a fine way to trade stone churches for open mountain views and a quieter side of the region.

I like the small, private format, since your own group walks with an English-speaking guide rather than joining a large crowd. I also like the practical all-in-one setup: meals, snacks, water, coffee, tea, accommodation, a mule for supplies, and storage for luggage you do not need on the trail.

The main caution is altitude and effort. The route reaches about 3,600 meters, includes long uphill and downhill sections, and returns to Lalibela around 4 in the afternoon on day two. You need moderate fitness, an early start, and a willingness to sleep in a village rather than a conventional hotel.

Key points at a glance

• Start from your hotel or airport: You can begin in Lalibela at about 7 a.m., or arrange to start after arriving at the airport.
• Walk to 3,600 meters: The Atabkit plateau near Ad Medhane Alem offers wide views toward Wollo, Gondar, and Tigray.
• Stay with highland farmers: The overnight stop brings you into a village setting and may include help with ordinary farm activities.
• Visit Asheton Maryam: The mountain monastery adds a religious and cultural stop before the more remote walking begins.
• Carry less on the trail: A mule carries supplies, and the company can store unneeded luggage at its Lalibela office.
• Choose your guide when possible: Mareg, Ababa, and Luel are names connected with especially strong guide experiences, though availability should be confirmed when booking.

From Lalibela’s churches to the Lasta Mountains

Many people come to Lalibela for its famous rock-hewn churches, then leave without seeing much beyond town. This trek gives you a second chapter. Instead of another short church visit, you spend two days walking through highland settlements, pasture, mountain paths, and broad open country above Lalibela.

The tour can start directly from your hotel, or from the airport after your arrival. That flexibility is useful if you have limited time, though an airport start makes the first day more demanding after a flight. Confirm the pickup plan in advance, especially if your arrival time is close to the 7 a.m. meeting time.

At the start, you meet your guide and a mule handler. The mule carries supplies, which makes the walk easier than carrying everything yourself. You still need a daypack with personal essentials, but you should be able to leave larger or unnecessary luggage safely at the company office in Lalibela.

Day one: Asheton Maryam and the first climb

The first morning begins early, around 7 a.m. If your hotel breakfast is not enough, the team can start with a filling meal at a local café. That is a small but useful touch, since you do not want to begin a mountain walk on a cup of coffee and an optimistic attitude.

The first major stop is Asheton Maryam Monastery, reached after roughly three hours. The monastery is set in the highlands above Lalibela, so the walk itself forms part of the visit. You are not simply driven to a viewpoint, given ten minutes, and sent back down. The approach lets you notice the change from town to mountain paths and thinner vegetation.

Admission to Asheton Maryam is not included in the tour price. Bring money for that separate entrance fee, and confirm the current amount locally because no fee is specified here. The stop is described as lasting about three hours, though the exact pace will depend on your group, the guide, and the time spent at the church.

After Asheton Maryam, the route continues higher into the Lasta Mountains. The views become broader as you leave the built-up area behind, while vegetation becomes more sparse. This is a genuine walking day, not a sightseeing circuit with a few short strolls.

The altitude begins to matter here. The route eventually reaches about 3,600 meters, and even fit people may notice that climbing feels slower at that height. Keep your pace steady, drink the supplied water, and tell your guide if you feel unwell. The tour asks for moderate fitness, not technical mountaineering, but you should take the altitude seriously.

The Atabkit escarpment and Ad Medhane Alem

Around midday, lunch is brought to you and prepared by the company cook. You do not need to return to town for a meal or rely only on snacks. Lunch, along with breakfast, dinner, snacks, bottled water, coffee, and tea, is included in the price.

The route reaches Ad Medhane Alem, also called Atabkit, a broad plateau overlooking Lalibela and the Wollo region. From this height, the view can extend toward the Gondar region and Tigray. It is also described as a good place to watch birds riding the air above the escarpment.

The plateau is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trek over a shorter outing. You get time to stop, eat, and enjoy the view rather than rushing through a photo stop. The long break also gives you a chance to recover before continuing to the village.

There is a tradeoff. A plateau at 3,600 meters can feel exposed and tiring, especially after the morning climb. The tour description does not give a detailed breakdown of trail surfaces, slopes, or emergency arrangements, so you should ask the operator about current trail conditions and the expected pace before paying.

From Ad Medhane Alem, you continue toward Ad Medhane Alem village near Astabir. This is where the trek shifts from mountain scenery to rural contact. Your overnight accommodation is in the village, and the experience is built around meeting highland farming families and seeing how they live.

A night with a highland farming family

The village stay is the heart of the trip. You are not just passing through a rural area for a photograph. You spend the night there, share food, and have the chance to take part in daily activities with local farmers.

The exact accommodation details are not specified beyond the included village stay, so do not book this expecting a hotel room or the same comforts you have in Lalibela. Ask what bedding and washing facilities are provided. The value comes from the setting and contact with the host family, not from polished accommodation.

This part of the trip also rewards a respectful attitude. Your guide helps explain local customs and translates where needed. Luel has been singled out for strong English, clear explanations, and care in helping visitors connect with a host family. Mareg and Ababa are also names worth requesting if they are available, based on the guide experiences associated with the company.

The visit can include ordinary activities with the farmers, and one account also describes a school visit. Since village activities can change, treat these as possibilities rather than fixed performances. The best moments may be simple ones: learning how a household works, sharing a meal, or seeing the rhythm of life away from Lalibela.

Food is one area where expectations should stay flexible. Dinner is included, but the precise menu is not guaranteed. The company has indicated a willingness to add more Ethiopian traditional dishes, so you can ask ahead about what will be served and mention dietary needs before departure.

Day two: five hours back to Lalibela

After breakfast, you gather your things and begin walking toward Lalibela. The second day is listed at about five hours, with stops along the way to enjoy the views and see animals. Town is expected around 4 p.m., so this is not a short morning walk followed by an early lunch in town.

That timing matters if you have a flight, a church visit, or another tour booked the same day. I would keep the evening open and avoid scheduling anything that depends on arriving early. Mountain walking times can shift, and the supplied schedule itself places your return in the late afternoon.

The second day gives the trip a sensible shape. You walk into the highlands on day one, stay in the village, and return on foot rather than turning the overnight stop into a one-way transfer. If you prefer an easier holiday, the return walk may be the part that changes your mind. If you enjoy a steady trail and want a closer look at rural life, it completes the experience well.

The route is private, meaning only your own group participates. That can make a real difference on a walk with altitude and changing pace. You can ask questions, pause for views, or discuss a cultural point with the guide without trying to keep up with a large mixed group.

What the $213.77 price includes

At $213.77 per person, the cost is not simply paying for a guide and a walk. It covers two days of guiding, meals, village accommodation, snacks, bottled water, coffee and tea, the mule support, and activities with local farmers. It also includes lunch on both days, plus breakfast and dinner.

That package makes the price easier to judge. You would otherwise need to arrange food, transport of supplies, a place to stay, and someone to guide you through unfamiliar mountain routes. Luggage storage in Lalibela is another useful inclusion, particularly if you are traveling with a larger bag.

The price does not include the entrance fee for Asheton Maryam. That is a minor extra compared with the main cost, but it should not surprise you at the monastery. The tour also does not specify airport transfers beyond saying pickup is offered and that the trek can begin at the airport. Confirm exactly what is included if you want an airport pickup rather than a hotel meeting.

For a private two-day experience with food and accommodation, the package can be good value, especially if you care more about local contact than luxury. It is less attractive if you want a short, gentle excursion or a fully detailed hotel-style itinerary.

Guides, language, and the human side of the walk

The guide can shape this experience more than any single viewpoint. You need someone who can handle the walking pace, explain local customs, and translate during the village stay. English-speaking guiding is included.

Mareg has been associated with the two-day trek and with strong help during the walk. Ababa has also guided visitors around Lalibela and nearby places. Luel is particularly worth asking for if available, since his English and explanations of the host family’s culture have been praised.

Guide requests are not guarantees, so ask the company before booking. If a particular guide matters to you, get confirmation rather than assuming the name will appear on the day. The company is Highland Eco Trekking Tours Ethiopia, and the supplied contact information identifies Daniel in responses to customer feedback.

The strongest feature here is the chance to ask real questions while walking and eating, not simply listen to a rehearsed speech at a church entrance. You should still remember that cultural exchange works best when you stay curious, patient, and polite about photographs and household activities.

Who should book this Lalibela trek?

This tour suits you if you have already planned time for Lalibela’s churches and want a second experience that is active and rural. It is also a good match if you value a private guide, local meals, a village night, and mountain views more than hotel comfort.

You should have moderate physical fitness and be prepared for a 7 a.m. start. The climb to the plateau, the 3,600-meter altitude, and the five-hour return walk make this a poor choice for anyone looking for a relaxed sightseeing day.

Families can consider it, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The available information does not give a minimum age, trail accessibility details, or specific accommodation facilities, so ask direct questions before booking if any of those issues affect your decision.

The tour is also a good fit for solo visitors who want a private experience without arranging every part of the trip themselves. Since only your group participates, you are not locked into the pace or interests of a large party.

Practical advice before you go

Meet at about 7 a.m. at your hotel, the Highland Eco Trekking office, or another agreed location. Confirm the meeting place and airport plan the day before if you have not already settled them by email.

Wear shoes suitable for mountain walking and bring clothing for changing conditions. The supplied information confirms the altitude and duration, but not a detailed packing list, so ask about temperatures, bedding, and washing arrangements at the village.

Carry a small amount of cash for the Asheton Maryam entrance fee. Keep personal items you need for two days in a daypack, and use the company’s storage option for luggage that would only slow you down.

The operator offers free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, using local time as the cutoff.

Should you book the two-day eco trek?

Book it if you want Lalibela to mean more than its churches. The combination of Asheton Maryam, the Atabkit escarpment, a 3,600-meter viewpoint, and a village stay gives you a fuller sense of the highlands than a standard half-day outing.

Skip it if you dislike early starts, long walks, altitude, or basic rural accommodation. Before paying, confirm the guide, the airport or hotel pickup, the Asheton Maryam fee, and the exact village sleeping arrangements. If those details suit you, $213.77 buys a well-supported private trek with a real local focus, not just another quick stop on a sightseeing schedule.

FAQ

How long is the Lalibela Eco Trekking Tour?

The tour lasts approximately two days. Day one includes about three hours at Asheton Maryam and about three hours around the route to Ad Medhane Alem and the village. Day two includes about five hours of walking and reaches Lalibela around 4 p.m.

What time does the trek start?

The stated start time is 7 a.m. You can meet at your hotel, the Highland Eco Trekking office, or arrange to begin at the airport after arrival.

Can I start the trek at Lalibela Airport?

Yes. The experience allows the hike to start at the airport after your arrival, but you should arrange the details in advance with the operator.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Accommodation is included, with the overnight stay taking place in or near a highland village. The available information does not specify hotel-style facilities, so ask about sleeping and washing arrangements before departure.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast, dinner, two lunches, snacks, bottled water, coffee, and tea are included. Lunch is prepared by the company cook and brought to you during the walk.

Is the Asheton Maryam entrance fee included?

No. The entrance fee for Asheton Maryam Monastery is not included in the tour price.

How high does the trek go?

The route reaches about 3,600 meters at the Ad Medhane Alem, or Atabkit, plateau.

How difficult is the walk?

The tour is intended for people with moderate physical fitness. It includes mountain walking, a high-altitude climb, and a return walk of about five hours on day two.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the activity.

Can children join the trek?

Children may join, but they must be accompanied by an adult. The supplied information does not state a minimum age.