Ethiopia · MELKA KUNTURE AND TIYA PREHISTORY TOURS

The 12 Best Tiya Stelae & Melka Kunture Day Trips

12 tours  ·  from $58 a head

Carved grave markers nobody can fully read, a prehistoric tool site on the Awash and a cave church cut into a hill, all south of Addis. These 12 are compared on driving time, what is included and how much of the day is road.

Day trip to Adadi Mariyam and Melka kunture - Inside Adadi Maryam’s carved stone church
1-Day Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Addis Ababa

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 an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide and up to five other participants. See fossils and Stone Age tools at Melka Kunture, then enter Adadi Maryam, a 12th-century rock-hewn church known for its stonework and interior artwork. Admission, bottled water, taxes, and hotel transfers are included.

“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”

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Day Tours to Tiya Stele and Cave Churches of Adadi Maryam - Adadi Maryam and its carved-stone church
Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Addis Ababa

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

Leave Addis Ababa at 8:00 am for Adadi Maryam, a 12th or 13th-century rock-hewn church linked to King Lalibela, then continue to Tiya’s carved stelae. Your guide, driver, entrance fees, lunch, and bottled water are included. Aman Tours can provide an English-speaking or multilingual guide, with groups capped at 15.

“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.”

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Day-Trip Church of Adadi Mariam from Addis Ababa - Adadi Mariam, a church cut from living rock
Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Addis Ababa

Day-Trip Church of Adadi Mariam from Addis Ababa

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews

Travel south from Addis Ababa in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to Adadi Mariam, Tiya, and Melka Kunture. Your English-speaking guide explains a working 13th-century rock church, carved grave markers, and prehistoric tools. The day also includes lunch, a coffee ceremony, local snacks, and hotel pickup for up to six people.

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

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

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

Travel from Addis Ababa in an air-conditioned vehicle to three remarkable sites: the UNESCO-listed Tiya stones, prehistoric Melka Kunture, and Adadi Maryam, a rock-hewn church linked to King Lalibela. A private English-speaking guide, driver, lunch, and bottled water are included.

“I booked this last minute (the night before), and am glad I did. I went with Walk In Ethiopia Tour Travel & Car Rental. My guide spoke perfect English, he and the driver were very friendly and solicitous, and pointed out lots of sites along the waRead more”

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Day trip to Adadi Mariyam, Tiya and Melka kunture - Tiya’s carved stones and unanswered questions
1-Day Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Addis Ababa

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

Travel southwest from Addis Ababa to Tiya, Melka Kunture, and Adadi Mariam on a private-style day trip for your group, driver, and guide. You’ll see carved Tiya stelae, Stone Age tools and fossils, and a rock-hewn church linked to King Lalibela. Guides such as Haben, Tekeste, and Eyob have earned praise for their care and explanations.

“A little tireful. Not a lot of things to see. The guide Haber was grea You should reduce the time of the tour”

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Excursion to Melka Kuntre, Tiya and Adadi Mariam - The guide and driver matter here
Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Addis Ababa

Excursion to Melka Kuntre, Tiya and Adadi Mariam

6.Excursion to Melka Kuntre, Tiya and Adadi Mariam

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $220

Leave Addis Ababa at 7:30 a.m. for a small-group day trip to Melka Kuntre’s Stone Age site, Tiya’s carved stone pillars, and Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church. Your air-conditioned vehicle, guide, lunch, coffee, tea, water, entrance fees, and round-trip transport are included. The group is limited to 14 people.

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

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Day trip Adadi Mariam, Melka Kunture and Tiya stele - Melka Kunture and Ethiopia’s prehistoric past
1-Day Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory 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 to Melka Kunture’s prehistoric sites, Adadi Mariam’s volcanic rock-hewn church, and Tiya’s carved stelae field. A private English-speaking guide, driver, local guides, transport, water, coffee, and entrance fees are included. Abraham, Mik, and Tekalegn have led particularly well-regarded departures, though communication should be confirmed before you go.

“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.”

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Rock Hewn Churches of Adadi Maryam, Tiya Stele & Melka Kunture - Adadi Maryam and its rock-cut design
Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Rock-Hewn Church Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Addis Ababa

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

Spend 6 to 7 hours tracing Ethiopia’s past with an English-speaking guide and professional driver. Visit the 12th-century rock-hewn church of Adadi Maryam, the mysterious Tiya stelae, and the Palaeolithic site of Melka Kunture. Pickup, lunch, coffee, water, and entrance fees are included. Guides such as Shasha and drivers such as Sisik have led earlier departures.

“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!!”

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Day Trip to Adadi Rock and Tiya Archeological Excursion - Tiya’s 36 mysterious standing stones
1-Day Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Addis Ababa

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 from Addis Ababa in a private air-conditioned vehicle to three remarkable sites: the 13th-century rock-hewn church of Adadi Mariam, UNESCO-listed Tiya’s carved stelae, and Melka Kunture’s prehistoric discoveries. A professional guide leads the day, with lunch, snacks, water, coffee, and entrance fees included.

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

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Day trip to Melka Kunture & Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church. - Entering Adadi Mariam, the underground church
1-Day Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Rock-Hewn Church Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Addis Ababa

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

Leave Addis Ababa for a full-day private trip to Adadi Mariam’s underground church, Melka Kunture’s prehistoric discoveries, and the Tiya stelae field. Your air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, water, coffee or tea, guide, and admission fees are included. The schedule runs about 6 to 8 hours, though Melka Kunture’s opening status should be checked before departure.

“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.”

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Day Tours around Addis Abeba, Melka Kunture and Adadi Mariam - Melka Kunture and the first stone tools
Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Addis Ababa

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 south of Addis Ababa with a private guide and vehicle to explore Melka Kunture, where stone tools date back about 1.5 million years, then visit the 12th or 13th-century Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church. Pickup starts at Bole Airport at 8:00 am, with groups limited 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!”

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Day Trip to Tiya UNESCO Site & Melka Kunture Archaeological Site - Melka Kunture and the evidence of early people
1-Day Tours, Melka Kunture and Tiya Prehistory Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Addis Ababa

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 continue to Tiya’s mysterious carved stelae. A guide and driver handle the day, with pickup, admission, and a small group of up to 12 included. Expect six to seven hours, including about three hours on the road.

“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.”

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