Private Full-Day Stone Age and Medieval Tour from Addis Ababa

The guide was very knowledgeable, not only about history of the sites but also the local cultures of Ethiopia. He answered our many questions, and prioritized our safety when we ventured in the merkato (not for the faint of heart!). What an ambassador to Ethiopian tourism!

Great experience with a great guide who explained everything to us and answered all our questions. We enjoyed the trip and everything we saw. Ethiopia has so much to offer! Greetings! :)

My girlfriend was coming to Ethiopia for the first time for one week so I needed to plan things almost every day in order to get the most out of her trip. I did my research and found this day trip route taking guests to a Melka Kunturé, Adadi Mariam, and Tiya. After comparing a few agencies, I chose Venture Ethiopia's package. Safe to say I made a great choice. First, Biruk, the guide and owner of Venture Ethiopia, planned the trip and informed me of the agenda beforehand so I know what to expect. He is very accommodating and flexible and will adapt the trip to the client's preference. He has extensive experience in the tourism industry in Ethiopia and is a wealth of knowledge. He is passionate about his profession. While I can speak Amarigna, my girlfriend cannot so it was helpful that he could speak both English and French. The trip starts promptly (he is very punctual) in the morning and breakfast and coffee is had on a stop before we leave Addis. Biruk is knowledgeable about the roads/routes and he is up to date on all possible situations/circumstances in the areas you are visiting. To get the local perspective, a local guide is used in all the spots and they are experienced (not random people trying to make a quick buck). At Melka Kunturé (1st stop), you get to see the archeological sites where prehistoric man butchered its kill; you will be guided through the small museum showing the excavation being conducted in that location as well as the artifacts unearthed. The next destination is Adadi Mariam, a church/monastery believed to have been built by King Lalibela. Here's too, the local guide provides a thorough tour of the entire structure and its history and context in Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. We had lunch at a nice restaurant before heading to our final destination. Tiya is pre and post Christianity burial site; the structures marking the graves of local leaders and warriors are stone steles with engravings on them. It is fascinating how this historical site ties in with the previous (Adadi Mariam) and the area is beautiful with rolling mountain ranges and cool, constant breeze. The trip started in the morning around 7:45 a.m. and we were back home easily before 7:00 p.m. I cannot recommend this trip enough. If you have only one day and want a trip that encapsulates many splendors of Ethiopia, you should take this opportunity. Biruk/Venture Ethiopia have the experience to make this a smooth and pleasant trip and they are very trustworthy and reliable. I wholeheartedly recommend this agency.