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Over 125 rocks hewn churches are recorded in Tigray region. The rock churches of Tigray do not function primarily as tourist attraction they were generally excavated using a very different method from that at Lalibela, the antiquity of most of the Tigraian rock-hewn churches remains largely a matter of speculate. Every church has its own oral tradition regarding its excavation, in many cases the church is dated to the reign of Abreha-we-Astebeha the twin Emperors of Axum who converted to Christianity in the middle of the 4th century. There are a number of explanation given as to why the rock-hewn churches of Tigray were so often carved in to relatively inaccessible cliff face, was it for security, or for spiritual isolation, or simply because cliff face are inherently good place to carve churches and cliff face are inherently inaccessible? Certainly the mentioned facts keep away outsiders and made the rock churches intact. Some of these rock hewn churches are pre-Christian temples, which was changed to church after the spread of Christianity in the northern Ethiopia. Most of these churches are difficult to access since they are carved on the top of the cliff, thus visitors who are interested to visit have to be physically fit, the rock churches can be visited form the Mekele or on the way to Axum, from this wokro Churckos and Abreha-we-Astebeha are the most reachable. Most of these churches are found on the Geralta chained mountains also these magnificent churches can be visited on the eastern and southern Tigray area. According to client interest we organize a special tour package which will combine trekking and camping.
Early morning transfer to the airport to fly Axum, upon arrival meet with our staff transfer to your hotel, after check in to the hotel and breakfast start exploring Axum, a place where the cradle of Ethiopian culture Christianity and the first capital of Ethiopia until the 9th century A.D., On this day you will visit the small but rich archaeological museum, the famous stele park, where the magnificent single block of stones erected since 3rd century, the Saint Mary of Zion Cathedral, where the original Holy Ark of the Covenant is still sheltered, however except one guardian (priest) no one is allowed to enter in to the sanctuary where the ark is stayed, lunch break then continue visit which includes the subterranean tomb of king Kalbe and his son king Gebremeskel, 6th Century AD, the trilingual inscription of king Ezana and the ruin palace and bath of Queen of Sheba who was the mother of king Menilik I of the 950 B.C, late afternoon excursion to a monastery on top of a mountain called ABUNE PENTELION then you will have free time to walk around in the town, overnight hotel
Morning after breakfast excursion to YEHA 6-5th Century BC MOON Temple, the temple is believed to be the oldest standing building in the country probably in sub- Sahara then head to the TEKA TESFA CLUSTER rock churches of Tigray to explore Medhanialem Adikesho for the amazing location and interior wall painting after lunch break continue exploring Petros Powlos and depending on time Mekalle Mahizenge after that drive to Hawzen late afternoon arrival to Geralta, overnight Lodge.
Morning after breakfast head to the Geralta cluster to visit the rock churches of Tigray dated back from the 6-9th century established by the nine saints who came from Syria during the time of Kaleb and Gebremeskel kings of the Axum dynasty, the rock churches are carve on the top of mountain façade today you will visit the rock churches namely Mariam Korkur in the morning and afternoon ABUNE YEMATA , the most difficult to ascend but worth to see the surrounding mountains from the top of the cliff, overnight Geralta Lodge
Morning after breakfast explore more rock churches in the Geralta cluster which are easily acessebel including Dugume Selase, Abrehawe Atsbha and finally to Wekro Cherkos and drive to Mekelle, arrival lunch break and transfer to the airport to fly back to Addis Ababa upon arrval arrival Ethiopian traditional restaurant for farewell cultural dinner with Ethiopian tribal live music with dance performance then transfer to airport for your departure.
