Melka Kunture & Adadi Mariam day tour from Addis Ababa

Stone tools from 1.5 million years ago, then a 13th-century church carved into rock

This 12-hour day tour from Addis Ababa visits two sites south of the city: Melka Kunture, where fossils and stone tools from 1.5 million years ago were found, and Adadi Mariam, a rock-hewn church built in the 12th or 13th century that echoes the style of Lalibela's famous churches. Private transport, an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and a bottle of water are included. The tour ends back in Addis Ababa.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Melka Kunture and Adadi Mariam

• Drive 60km southwest of Addis Ababa
• Explore Melka Kunture archaeological site
• Visit Adadi Mariam Cave Church
• See UNESCO World Heritage stelae at Tiya
• Return to Addis Ababa

The experience

Melka Kunture sits 60 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa and holds one of Ethiopia's most important pre-historic records. The site was occupied on and off for 1.8 million years, from the Early Stone Age through the New Stone Age, and excavations have uncovered stone tools dating back 1.5 million years. A private vehicle takes you there with your guide, who explains what the layers of settlement reveal about human movement and tool-making across that vast span of time.

From Melka Kunture, a short drive brings you to Adadi Mariam, a cave church carved into the rock and believed to date to the 12th or 13th century. Local tradition ties it to King Lalibela's visit to the area in 1106, and the carving style mirrors the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela itself, which lie further north. The church sits within a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also contains standing stelae: engraved stone markers erected between the 12th and 14th centuries, believed to mark graves of young people buried in foetal positions. After visiting both sites, the tour returns you to Addis Ababa.

The full day runs 12 hours from pickup at your hotel. You travel by private vehicle with your guide throughout, and a bottle of water is provided. Children from age 3 are welcome on the tour.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• English-speaking guide.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• bottle of water.
• hotel pickup and return to Addis Ababa.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Infant (3 to 11 years): free · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Ethio Target Tours

Is this one for you?This tour works best for travelers with a full day to spend outside Addis Ababa and an interest in Ethiopia's deep pre-history and medieval rock-hewn architecture. The 12-hour length and private vehicle mean you move at a steady pace between two distant sites without the constraint of a group schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (3 to 11 years): free. Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Melka Kunture and why is it important?

Melka Kunture is an archaeological site 60 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa where stone tools and fossils dating back 1.5 million years have been discovered. The site was occupied intermittently from the Early Stone Age into the New Stone Age, making it one of Ethiopia's most significant pre-historic locations.

How old is Adadi Mariam church and what does it look like?

Adadi Mariam was built in the 12th or 13th century and is carved into rock as a cave church. It is the southernmost of Ethiopia's rock-hewn churches still standing and shares carving techniques and style with the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, which lie further north.

What are the stelae at the UNESCO World Heritage Site?

The stelae are engraved standing stones erected between the 12th and 14th centuries, believed to be grave markers for young people aged 18 to 30. They represent a distinctive type found across southern Ethiopia, with Tiya holding the northernmost examples of this kind.

How long is the tour and what is included in the price?

The tour runs 12 hours from hotel pickup to return. Private transportation, an English-speaking guide, all entry fees and taxes, and a bottle of water are included in the price.