Lalibela 2-Day Eco Trekking Tour

The best part of this two-day Lalibela trek comes after the famous churches: you leave town on foot, climb into the Lasta Mountains, and spend the night in a highland village. Along the way, you meet farming families, see daily rural life, and reach the Atabkit plateau at about 3,600 meters.

I like the private format, which lets your guide set the pace for your group. I also like that meals, snacks, water, coffee, tea, a mule, and village activities are included. The main caution is the altitude and the long walking days. This is not a gentle stroll, and the ascent may be tiring if you are not used to mountain hiking.

Key points to know before booking

• A real village stay: You spend the night with a local highland family near Ad Medhane Alem village, rather than returning to a hotel in Lalibela.
• High-altitude views: The route reaches the Atabkit plateau at roughly 3,600 meters, with broad views toward Wollo and, in clear conditions, the Gondar and Tigray regions.
• An early start: Meet your guide at 7:00 in the morning at your hotel, the company office, or the airport if that has been arranged.
• Food is part of the trek: Breakfast, two lunches, dinner, snacks, bottled water, coffee, and tea are included.
• Guides matter here: Mareg, Ababa, and Luel have all led similar outings, with Luel especially noted for clear English and help translating with the host family.
• A private walk: Only your own group takes part, but you should still have moderate physical fitness for the uphill route and the five-hour return walk.

Leaving Lalibela for the Lasta Mountains

This tour gives you a useful change of pace after Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches. The churches are the town’s main draw, but the highlands show you the wider setting that shaped local life. You trade stone passageways and busy religious sites for footpaths, farms, mountain air, and wide open views.

The day begins early, at about 7:00 a.m. Your guide meets you at your hotel or at the Highland Eco Trekking office. Airport pickup is also possible if arranged in advance, so you may be able to begin the trek soon after arriving in Lalibela.

A mule man joins the walk with a mule carrying supplies. That is a practical detail, not a showpiece. It means the group can carry food and overnight items without asking you to load yourself down with everything needed for two days.

If breakfast at your hotel is not enough, the company normally begins with a filling meal at a local cafe. I would confirm this plan with the guide the day before, especially if your flight arrival or hotel arrangements are unusual.

The trip is private, so the pace and stops can suit your group. Still, the route has a serious climb. You should be comfortable walking for several hours and handling uneven mountain paths. The tour information calls for a moderate fitness level, and that is worth taking seriously.

Asheton Maryam and the first mountain climb

The first major stop is Asheton Maryam Monastery, reached during the morning walk. The approach takes you higher above Lalibela and into the Lasta Mountains. You get both a religious site and a physical introduction to the terrain before heading farther into the highlands.

The admission fee for Asheton Maryam is not included. Set aside money for that entrance cost, and ask your guide about the plan if the church visit is important to you. The provided schedule gives this stop about three hours, though the exact time on the ground can depend on walking speed and the group’s interests.

The altitude begins to matter here. You may feel the climb more than expected, even if you are usually comfortable walking. Take the early part of the day steadily, drink the supplied water, and use the breaks rather than trying to rush upward.

This is also a good point to pay attention to the guide’s role. A strong guide does more than lead the way. The company has used guides including Mareg and Ababa, both of whom have accompanied groups around Lalibela’s churches and nearby countryside. Luel has also led this trek and is particularly useful if you want help with translation and conversation at the village.

The specific guide assigned to your booking may differ, so request a preferred guide in advance rather than assuming one will be available.

Lunch above Lalibela at 3,600 meters

After Asheton Maryam, the path continues higher. The views become more open and rugged, and the vegetation becomes less thick as you gain altitude. Around midday, the company cook brings lunch to wherever the group has reached.

That arrangement is valuable on a route like this. You do not need to descend to town or carry every meal from the start. You also get a proper pause at a useful point in the day, rather than eating quickly beside the trail.

The route reaches Ad Medhane Alem, also called Atabkit, a large plateau overlooking Lalibela and the Wollo area. On clear days, the views may extend toward the Gondar and Tigray regions. The plateau is also a good place to watch birds riding the air above the mountain chain.

At about 3,600 meters, this is the physical high point of the tour. The view is a strong reward, but the altitude can make the stop feel demanding. Give yourself time to rest, eat, and drink before continuing. The schedule allows a long break for lunch, which is welcome here.

The exact visibility will depend on weather and air conditions. You should book this part for the mountain setting and open views, but not expect a guaranteed panorama every time.

An evening with a highland farming family

From the plateau, you continue toward Ad Medhane Alem village near Astabir. This is where the trip becomes more than a mountain walk. Your accommodation is with a local family, and the evening offers a look at highland life that a standard day trip from Lalibela cannot provide.

The included activities may involve taking part in daily work with local farmers. The point is not a staged performance. You are given a chance to see how the host family lives and to take part where appropriate. Your guide helps bridge the language gap and explains local customs.

Luel has been singled out for clear English, cultural knowledge, and careful translation with the host family. That kind of help matters. A village visit can otherwise become a quick look from the outside. With a good guide, you can ask questions and understand more of what you are seeing.

Mareg has also led two-day outings that included a school visit and time with a welcoming village family. A school visit is not listed as a guaranteed stop in the schedule, so treat it as a possible part of the local experience rather than a promised feature.

Dinner and accommodation are included. The setting is simple and local, not a hotel substitute with resort comforts. That is the appeal, but you should choose this tour only if you are comfortable with a basic overnight stay and a rural setting.

Food is supplied throughout the trek, including dinner and breakfast. One past guest suggested adding more Ethiopian traditional dishes, so the menu may not be as varied as some people expect. If local food is important to you, ask what will be served before departure.

Walking back to Lalibela on day two

After breakfast, you gather your belongings and begin the return walk toward Lalibela. The schedule allows about five hours, with stops for views and sightings of animals along the way. Town is expected around 4:00 p.m.

This second day is less about a single named sight and more about the rhythm of walking through the highlands. You have already reached the plateau and spent a night in the village, so the return gives you time to take in the route at a slower pace.

The five-hour estimate is useful when planning the rest of your day. I would not schedule a tight connection, a fixed evening activity, or an important departure immediately afterward. Mountain walking times can vary, and the tour does not promise an exact return time beyond around 4:00 p.m.

The return also makes the tour physically demanding in a different way. You may feel the first day’s climb in your legs, even though the route back is not described as another major ascent. Good shoes, sun protection, and a modest day pack will make the walk easier, though the exact equipment list is not specified.

What the $213.77 price includes

At $213.77 per person, the price is easiest to judge as a package rather than as two days of guiding alone. You receive an English-speaking guide, a mule and mule handler, meals, snacks, bottled water, coffee, tea, accommodation, and all listed trek activities.

The included food is substantial for a mountain route:

• Breakfast
• Two lunches
• Dinner
• Snacks
• Bottled water
• Coffee and tea

The company also offers safe storage for luggage you do not need on the trek in its Lalibela office. That can save you from carrying a full suitcase into the mountains, though you should confirm the storage arrangement before setting out.

The Asheton Maryam entrance fee is extra. This is the main stated cost not covered by the tour, so ask about the current amount and payment method before leaving.

The value is strongest if you want a private guide and a local overnight stay without arranging every moving part yourself. If you already have trekking equipment, food, transport, and a village host arranged independently, the price may seem less attractive. For a short trip in Ethiopia, however, combining the guide, supplies, mule support, meals, and lodging in one booking is practical.

Who will enjoy this trek most

I would recommend this tour to someone who has already set aside time for Lalibela’s churches and wants to see the highland communities beyond town. It suits you if you care more about meeting people and walking through rural areas than about polished accommodation.

It is also a good choice for a private group that wants a flexible pace. Families can book it, but children must be accompanied by an adult, and the moderate fitness requirement still applies. Service animals are allowed, and the starting points are near public transportation, but the route itself is a mountain trek rather than an urban excursion.

You may want a different plan if you dislike early starts, simple village lodging, long walks, or uncertain mountain weather. The tour also may not suit anyone who wants to return to a comfortable hotel each evening.

Practical details that affect your decision

Pickup is offered from your hotel, and a start from the airport can be arranged after arrival. Confirm the meeting point and breakfast plan at least a day before the trek if those details were not settled when you booked.

The start time is 7:00 a.m. The group is private, and only your party takes part. That gives you more control than a large coach excursion, but it does not remove the need to follow a mountain route with a fixed overnight plan.

Booking confirmation is provided at the time of booking. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that period are not accepted for a refund.

The tour has a top altitude of about 3,600 meters. You should plan for the possibility that the height affects your energy, even if you are otherwise fit. Keep your pace steady and tell your guide if you need a longer rest.

Should you book the Lalibela Eco Trek?

Book it if you want rural Ethiopia, mountain walking, and a family stay in one compact trip. The strongest parts are the Atabkit views, the chance to meet highland farmers, and the guide-led cultural exchange at the village.

Skip it if you want a soft adventure or a precise, effortless schedule. The uphill first day, high altitude, basic accommodation, and five-hour return walk are central to the experience, not minor details.

Before paying, confirm the assigned guide, the Asheton Maryam entrance cost, the breakfast plan, and what type of room or sleeping arrangement is available in the village. If those points suit you, the $213.77 price offers a practical way to step beyond Lalibela’s churches and spend time in the mountains that surround them.

FAQ

How long is the Lalibela Eco Trekking Tour?

The experience lasts about two days. Day one runs from the morning climb to the overnight village stay, and day two returns to Lalibela at around 4:00 p.m.

What time does the trek start?

The stated start time is 7:00 a.m. Pickup can be arranged at your hotel, the Highland Eco Trekking office, or the airport if agreed in advance.

Where does the tour go?

The route goes from Lalibela into the Lasta Mountains, including Asheton Maryam Monastery, the Atabkit plateau near Ad Medhane Alem, and a nearby highland village.

How high does the trek reach?

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

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Accommodation in the village is included as part of the two-day trek.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast, dinner, two lunches, snacks, bottled water, coffee, and tea are included.

Is the Asheton Maryam entrance fee included?

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

Is this a private tour?

Yes. This is a private activity, so only your own group participates.

How fit do I need to be?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The tour includes an uphill mountain walk on day one and a return walk of about five hours on day two.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.