Ethiopia · MELKA KUNTURE AND TIYA TOURS

The 12 Best Melka Kunture & Tiya Tours from Addis Ababa

12 tours  ·  from $58

A stone-tool site on the Awash and a field of carved grave markers, both an easy morning south of the capital. These 12 usually pair them with Adadi Mariam, and differ mainly on transport, guiding and how much of the day is driving.

Day trip to Adadi Mariyam and Melka kunture - Adadi Maryam: a church shaped from stone
1-Day Tours, Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews

Day trip to Adadi Mariyam and Melka kunture

1.Day trip to Adadi Mariyam and Melka kunture

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · from $100Our pick

Travel from Addis Ababa in a small group of up to six to see nearly two-million-year-old fossils at Melka Kunture and the 12th-century Adadi Maryam rock-hewn church. Your guide, driver, admission, water, and hotel transfers are included, though timing and route execution can vary.

“The day trip was really amazing. The church is beautiful, particularly inside. really amazing artwork and stonework to create a very unique place. The archaeological site we were meant to visit was closed for maintenance, but the tour guidRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day Tours to Tiya Stele and Cave Churches of Adadi Maryam - Tiya’s 32 carved stone markers
Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Day Tours to Tiya Stele and Cave Churches of Adadi Maryam

2.Day Tours to Tiya Stele and Cave Churches of Adadi Maryam

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $95Top rated

Travel south from Addis Ababa with a guide and driver to see Adadi Maryam, a 12th- or 13th-century rock-hewn church, and Tiya’s carved stone stelae. The $95 tour includes transport, lunch, water, entry fees, and airport pickup or drop-off, with Abreham and Sisay named as the guide team.

“Abreham and Sisay from Aman Tours ensured I had a great day. Sisay drove with skill and consideration, and Abreham was knowledgeable and tailored the tour to what I wanted.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day-Trip Church of Adadi Mariam from Addis Ababa - Adadi Mariam and the single-rock church
Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews

Day-Trip Church of Adadi Mariam from Addis Ababa

3.Day-Trip Church of Adadi Mariam from Addis Ababa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews

Spend 7 to 9 hours visiting Adadi Mariam’s rock-hewn church, Tiya’s carved grave markers, and Melka Kunture’s prehistoric sites. Your private group of up to six travels by air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide, lunch, local snacks, and an Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

“I felt like a movie star on this tour! I had a large, comfortable van, a great driver, and a wonderful tour guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

DAY TRIP TO THE UNESCO HERITAGE SITE TIYA & Melka Kunture - Melka Kunture reaches back millions of years
1-Day Tours, Addis Ababa Tours, Historical Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews

DAY TRIP TO THE UNESCO HERITAGE SITE TIYA & Melka Kunture

4.DAY TRIP TO THE UNESCO HERITAGE SITE TIYA & Melka Kunture

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · from $265

Set out from Addis Ababa at 9:00 a.m. in a private air-conditioned vehicle for Tiya’s carved megaliths, prehistoric Melka Kunture, and Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church. A guide and driver handle the day, with lunch, water, and admission included. Allow about 10 hours.

“Unfortunately, I was unable to do this trip due to sudden security concerns. Communications could have been better as I was waiting for over an hour without any information from the tour company. Back and forth with hotel front desk staff anRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day trip to Adadi Mariyam, Tiya and Melka kunture - Melka Kunture and Ethiopia’s earliest tools
1-Day Tours, Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews

Day trip to Adadi Mariyam, Tiya and Melka kunture

5.Day trip to Adadi Mariyam, Tiya and Melka kunture

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · from $58Best value

Leave Addis Ababa for a nine-hour cultural day trip to Tiya, Melka Kunture, and Adadi Mariam. Your small group travels with a driver and guide, visiting ancient stone tools, fossils, a UNESCO-listed stelae site, and a rock-hewn church linked to King Lalibela. Guides named on this route include Haben, Tekeste, and Eyob.

“Visiting the rock church of Adadi Mariam and the UNESCO-listed Tiya site from Addis is a real adventue. I was in the safe hands of driver Tekeste and the friendly guide Haben. Haben guided me through the history of both places. Tekeske and Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Excursion to Melka Kuntre, Tiya and Adadi Mariam - Tiya’s carved pillars and UNESCO status
Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Excursion to Melka Kuntre, Tiya and Adadi Mariam

6.Excursion to Melka Kuntre, Tiya and Adadi Mariam

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $220

Travel from Addis Ababa to three important sites: ancient Stone Age tools at Melka Kuntre, Tiya’s decorated stone pillars, and Adadi Mariam’s rock-hewn church. A guide, driver, lunch, coffee or tea, water, and round-trip transport are included in this eight-hour small-group outing.

“Highly enjoyable, very competent and sympathetic guida and driver. We had a great time. The sights were fantastic and interesting”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day trip Adadi Mariam, Melka Kunture and Tiya stele - Melka Kunture and Ethiopia’s prehistoric past
1-Day Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews

Day trip Adadi Mariam, Melka Kunture and Tiya stele

7.Day trip Adadi Mariam, Melka Kunture and Tiya stele

★★★★★★★★★★3.1 · 5 reviews · 9 hours · from $80

Travel south from Addis Ababa with an English-speaking guide and driver to explore Melka Kunture’s prehistoric sites, Adadi Mariam’s rock-hewn church, and Tiya’s carved stelae. The private nine-hour trip includes transport, entrance fees, local guides, water, and Ethiopian coffee.

“Our guide Tekalegn & driver were professional & entertaining. The local guides were very knowledgeable. Unfortunately the tour company had very poor communication and did not advise us of changes to the itinerary.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Rock Hewn Churches of Adadi Maryam, Tiya Stele & Melka Kunture - Tiya and its tall stones with unknown symbols
Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Rock Hewn Church Tours, Tour Reviews

Rock Hewn Churches of Adadi Maryam, Tiya Stele & Melka Kunture

8.Rock Hewn Churches of Adadi Maryam, Tiya Stele & Melka Kunture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $95

Leave Addis Ababa at 7:00 am with an English-speaking guide and professional driver for Adadi Maryam, Tiya, and Melka Kunture. See a 12th-century rock-hewn church, mysterious carved stelae, and a major Paleolithic site. Lunch, coffee, water, entrance fees, and pickup are included.

“A tour with Aman’s group is the best way to experience Ethiopia. The guides are professional and on time. They carry the true spirit of Ethiopian hospitality and just make you feel like family. The driver is safe and we were jamming the whole way to Tiya and Adaadi Maryam!! Loved it!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day Trip to Adadi Rock and Tiya Archeological Excursion - Adadi Mariam, a church cut into the rock
1-Day Tours, Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Day Trip to Adadi Rock and Tiya Archeological Excursion

9.Day Trip to Adadi Rock and Tiya Archeological Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $120

Travel south of Addis Ababa in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to visit the 13th-century Adadi Mariam rock church, UNESCO-listed Tiya stelae, and Melka Kunture’s ancient tool site. Guide Ashu is praised for clear explanations and a warm, helpful manner.

“Awesome trip and a wonderful experience. Highly recommended!! We had so many questions about the place and all were answered”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day trip to Melka Kunture & Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church. - Melka Kunture and the long human story
1-Day Tours, Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Rock Hewn Church Tours, Tour Reviews

Day trip to Melka Kunture & Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church.

10.Day trip to Melka Kunture & Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $111

Travel privately from Addis Ababa to Adadi Mariam, Melka Kunture, Bachilt, and Tiya. You’ll see a subterranean church linked to Lalibela’s style, ancient fossils, stone tools, and Tiya’s carved stelae, with lunch, water, admission, and an air-conditioned vehicle included.

“The whole day was really great the travel company arranged everything perfectly. the tour guide was a great guy he have so much knowledge about the place and he gave us a detailed explanation about the place.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day Tours around Addis Abeba, Melka Kunture and Adadi Mariam - Melka Kunture and 1.8 million years of human history
Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Day Tours around Addis Abeba, Melka Kunture and Adadi Mariam

11.Day Tours around Addis Abeba, Melka Kunture and Adadi Mariam

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $150

Travel from Addis Ababa with a guide and private vehicle to Melka Kunture, home to ancient tools and fossils, then visit Adadi Mariam, a remarkable rock-hewn church. The tour lasts about 12 hours, starts at 8:00 am, and serves groups of up to six.

“We had beautyful tours and a very friendly and informative tourist guide. We were really happy about the organisation and destination. Thank u a lot! The tour was great!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day Trip to Tiya UNESCO Site & Melka Kunture Archaeological Site - Melka Kunture and Ethiopia’s earliest traces
1-Day Tours, Addis Ababa Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Tours, Tour Reviews

Day Trip to Tiya UNESCO Site & Melka Kunture Archaeological Site

12.Day Trip to Tiya UNESCO Site & Melka Kunture Archaeological Site

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $80

Leave Addis Ababa at 7:00 am for Melka Kunture’s prehistoric tools and fossils, then explore Tiya’s carved stone stelae. This six-to-seven-hour trip includes pickup, entrance fees, an experienced guide, and about three hours of round-trip driving. Groups are limited to 12 people.

“nella provincia di Gurancghè regione dei popoli del sud. Famosa per il suo sito archeologico costituito da 32 stele cimiteriali di re e regine. Molto interessante.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Scroll to Top

Explore Ethiopia

Pick a highland town, a church cut out of rock, or a kitchen.