After Breakfast at the Hotel we will drive to south of Addis Ababa and our first stop at

Adadi Maryam Rock Hewn Church. The site is believed to have been built in the 12th century. Local tradition states that king Lalibela, one of the prominent kings of the Zagwe dynasty commissioned the construction of the church in the 12th century. According to the hagiography of St. Lalibela, Adadi Mariam was one of 76 rock-hewn churches which he had constructed and excavated in his lifetime, including those in Lasta. According to oral traditions, the establishment of Adadi Mariam church is also related to the coming of one of the most prominent saints of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus, from Egypt to Ethiopia.

Our second stop to Tiya, it’s an archaeological site in central Ethiopia. It is best known for its large stone pillars, many of which bear some form of decoration. The archaeological site was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980, due to the unique nature of these monolithic monuments. The site is relatively recent. It was dated to a time period between the 11th and 13th centuries. The site contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stele covered with symbols.

Our Third stop at Melka Kunture is a Paleolithic site in the upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia. The site became a World Heritage Site in 2024. The Melka Kunture area is made up of valleys whose inner terraces resisted erosion. Later we will have lunch with Ethiopian coffee. Finally drive back to Addis Ababa.