Tiya UNESCO Site & Melka Kunture day trip from Addis Ababa

Two thousand years of stone monuments and the tools that shaped human history

This day trip from Addis Ababa visits Melka Kunture, a prehistoric open-air museum with tools and fossils spanning hundreds of thousands of years, then Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage site where over 40 carved stone stelae stand as records of ancient burials. An English-speaking guide leads the full day. Private transportation and snacks are included. The round-trip drive takes three hours, with the rest of the six to seven hours spent at the sites themselves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Melka Kunture and Tiya sites

• Drive through Ethiopian countryside
• Explore Melka Kunture prehistoric site
• Visit Tiya UNESCO megalithic site

The experience

If you have a free afternoon or morning in Addis Ababa and want to see Ethiopia's archaeological depth in one outing, this tour stacks two sites that rarely appear together. Melka Kunture comes first: an open-air museum where you walk among ancient tools, fossils and artifacts laid out across the landscape. The guide explains what these objects reveal about early human civilization and why the region matters to the study of human evolution. The site sits in the Ethiopian Rift Valley, so the drive itself passes through rural villages and countryside that show a different pace of life than the capital.

Tiya is the second stop, and it is unlike anything most visitors expect. UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 1972, but the stone stelae (tooth-shaped monoliths, some quite tall) stayed largely undisturbed until excavations began around the turn of the last century. Over 40 have now been unearthed, with more still buried. What makes them arresting is the carving: small etchings cover the circumference of each stone, depicting battles, famines and hardship. A record of the trials of the people buried beneath. The carvings remain largely unsolved, and that mystery is part of what draws people here. Your guide will walk you through what is known and what remains unknown.

The full day runs six to seven hours including the three-hour round-trip drive. Private transportation picks you up from your hotel, and the operator provides snacks during the day. All entry fees and taxes are covered in the price. An English-speaking guide is with you throughout.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup.
• an English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• snacks.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Liyu Ethiopia Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full morning or afternoon free and can handle three hours of driving to visit two sites in one day. The walking at both locations requires moderate fitness.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

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 exactly is Melka Kunture and what will I see there?

Melka Kunture is an open-air museum showcasing prehistoric tools, fossils and artifacts that span hundreds of thousands of years of human history. You walk the site with your guide, who explains what each artifact reveals about early human civilization and the region's role in understanding human evolution.

What are the stone stelae at Tiya and why are they mysterious?

Tiya's stelae are tall, tooth-shaped stone monoliths carved with small etchings that depict battles, famines and hardship: records of the lives of people buried beneath them. Over 40 have been excavated since the early 1900s, but much about their purpose and meaning remains unsolved, which is part of their intrigue.

How much of the day is spent driving versus at the archaeological sites?

The round-trip drive takes three hours, leaving roughly three to four hours to spend at the two sites themselves. The full day runs six to seven hours total, with travel time included in that duration.

What is included in the price?

Private transportation from your hotel, an English-speaking guide for the full day, snacks, and all entry fees and taxes are included. You do not need to arrange separate transport or pay additional site fees.