Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
Group of eleven medieval churches carved down into the volcanic rock, linked by tunnels and trenches. They are still places of worship, so visitors should dress modestly and take off their shoes.
Lalibela
Carved from solid rock in medieval times, these churches remain places of worship, and Orthodox Christmas and Timkat are particularly moving occasions to see them.
Attractive locations
Church of Saint George
Cross-shaped church carved from a single block, sitting deep in a square pit in the rock. Seen from above, it is the best-known and most photographed of the Lalibela churches.
Biete Medhani Alem
Very large rock-hewn church, supported by rows of square pillars inside. It is considered one of the biggest churches carved from a single rock anywhere.
Yemrehana Krestos Church
Old church built inside a natural cave, a short drive from town, with walls of timber and stone and painted ceilings. It is a peaceful stop reached through a quiet valley and juniper forest.
Mount Abuna Yosef
Mountain near Lalibela that rises high above the town. Walkers go up for the views, and trails lead through villages and farmland where traditional ways of life continue.
Bete Maryam
Rock-hewn church in the northern cluster, carved from a single block with painted ceilings and decorated pillars. It is especially important to pilgrims, who gather here at festival times.
Bet Amanuel
Church carved from a single block of stone, said by tradition to have been the royal chapel. Its fine proportions and neat carved details make it one of Lalibela's most admired.
Airports
Kombolcha Airport DSE
It is about 127 km in a straight line from Lalibela.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Ethiopia page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan18.3 °C6 mm
- Feb19.6 °C12 mm
- Mar20.5 °C29 mm
- Apr20.8 °C48 mm
- May21.2 °C62 mm
- Jun20.3 °C77 mm
- Jul17.9 °C296 mm
- Aug17.6 °C283 mm
- Sep18.3 °C106 mm
- Oct17.5 °C37 mm
- Nov17.3 °C17 mm
- Dec17.3 °C7 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Festivals and events
religious
Genna (Ethiopian Christmas)
Lalibela's rock churches are where pilgrims gather.
religious
Genna (Ethiopian Christmas)
Lalibela's rock churches are where pilgrims gather.
Who can help
Emergency
Reported numbers: police 991, ambulance 907, fire 939 - confirm with your hotel or guide.
ngo
Ethiopian Red Cross Society
Helps with: Ethiopia's national Red Cross society. Its work includes round-the-clock emergency ambulance services, disaster response and family-links services for separated families. Its website gives toll-free 907 for emergencies.
Who qualifies: People in Ethiopia needing emergency, health, disaster or family-links services. The phone shown is the head office line.
Phone: +251-115-18-01-81
Email: ercsinfo@redcrosseth.org
Address: Ras Desta Dametew Avenue, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ethiopia
Helps with: The UN migration agency, working across Ethiopia since 1995. It supports displaced people and safe, regular migration, and produces migration research and data for policy.
Who qualifies: Migrants and displaced people in Ethiopia, and government or other partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +251 111301000
Address: YeMez Building, behind Zequala Building, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
local government
Police and emergency number 911
Helps with: Reaches the police and general emergency help in Ethiopia. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 911
local government
Ambulance number 907 (Addis Ababa)
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service in Addis Ababa only, as given by UK government travel advice. The page lists no ambulance number for other places.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Addis Ababa, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 907