A Day Trip to Debre Libanos Monastery and Portuguese bridge
Description
The renowned mystic Saint Teclehaimanot founded the monastery at Debre Libanos, a significant center for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. There's a small cave near the recently constructed church where he is said to have stood for seven years on one leg until the other wasted away and fell off. Upon reaching Debre Libanos, our first destination will be the Jemma Gorge. One of the Nile's tributaries, the Jemma River descends to a valley that is almost a thousand meters below the surface. We may anticipate to observe the Black-headed woodland Oriole, the Red-billed Starling, the White-billed Starling, and the Banded Barbet here in the gorge as well as in the surrounding woodland.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Debre Libanos is an important monastic center for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. The monastery there was founded by the renowned 13th-century mystic, Saint Teclehaimanot, and there is a small cave near the church (which is of recent construction) where he is said to have stood for seven years on one leg, until the other was wasted away and dropped off. On this tour, visitors can combine history and culture with some good bird watching. As we pass through the Sululta Plain, we can visit the Oromo people's roundhouse to experience the local life. Also, you will see birds like black-winged plovers, wattled ibis, blue-winged geese, common cranes, and wheat ears.
The Jemma River is one of the Nile's tributaries, and the valley below has a drop of nearly 1000 meters. Here at the gorge (and in the forest around the church), we can expect to see the Banded Barbet, the Black-headed Forest Oriole, the White-billed Starling, the Red-billed Starling, the White-winged Cliff Chat, the White-backed Black Tit, the White-cheeked Turaco, and Hemprich’s Hornbill. We will also see one of Ethiopia’s endemic mammals, the Gelada, or bleeding heart baboon. (In the gorge, we will see a variety of vultures: Lamergeyer’s, Ruppell's, and Lappet-faced vultures.)
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
we will pick you up from your place any part of the city in addis ababa.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The destination is 100 km from the capital and there will be 3 hours round trip
Reviews(7)
Liyu adapted the tour to fit my schedule, which was very nice of them. This removed a stress knowing they would wait for me at the airport. My guide (Oli) was really good. He was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions. We stopped at the Portuguese bridge and hung out for a little while before trying to look for the Gelada Baboon. The ones that we found weren't scared of us, so we could get farely close (great for picture taking). We finished off at the Monastery (one of the most important one of Ethiopia).
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We truly appreciate your kind words and your support. It was our great pleasure to host you in Ethiopia, and we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your journey with us. Your feedback means a lot to our team and motivates us to continue delivering the best possible service to all our guests. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future for another memorable experience. Warm regards, Liyu Ethiopia Tours Team
A day trip to Debre Libanos Monastery and the Portuguese Bridge offers a memorable blend of history, scenery, and culture. The experience feels peaceful, and the breathtaking views along the way. Especially, the Portuguese Bridge visiting experience is immersive for me, and the admission fee is modest, making it a great value. Expect to spend 4–6 hours, including travel and walking. The atmosphere is serene, less crowded. Local staff and guides are friendly. This trip is best for travelers who enjoy heritage sites, nature, and photography. I came to Ethiopia for the first time, and the hospitality and assistance I received from the local staff, driver, and guides exceeded my expectations; they were very cordial.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Liyu Ethiopia Tours! We’re truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and that our team made your journey memorable. Your kind words mean a lot to us — they inspire our guides, drivers, and staff to continue delivering the highest level of service and authentic Ethiopian hospitality. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another adventure — whether to explore new regions or revisit your favorite places in Ethiopia!
It was a very unique experience where we got a good taste of authentic Ethiopian culture. We got an informative tour at the monastery and a fun hike with stunning views at the bridge. We also had a few viewpoint stops and saw monkeys. Our guide Oli and driver Danny were very welcoming and accommodating to our requests, needs and desires. The only downside was the road itself as it has a lot of potholes and significant traffic.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Liyu Ethiopia Tours! We’re truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and that our team made your journey memorable. Your kind words mean a lot to us — they inspire our guides, drivers, and staff to continue delivering the highest level of service and authentic Ethiopian hospitality. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another adventure — whether to explore new regions or revisit your favorite places in Ethiopia!
The monastery and the Portuguese bridge in and of themselves, are nothing special. But the whole tour with the real impressions from Ethiopia (life in the villages, some customs and traditions) is really worthwhile. Especially with Oli! He is so attentive and hospitable. He has responded to every wish and has completely fulfilled his goal of making a beautiful and informative day for me.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Liyu Ethiopia Tours! We’re truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and that our team made your journey memorable. Your kind words mean a lot to us — they inspire our guides, drivers, and staff to continue delivering the highest level of service and authentic Ethiopian hospitality. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another adventure — whether to explore new regions or revisit your favorite places in Ethiopia!
We had an amazing day trip to Debre Libanos and the Portuguese Bridge. Our guide was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and spoke very good English, which made the experience even better. We were able to see everything on the itinerary, including the famous gelada baboons, which was a real highlight. Along the way, they took us to a local restaurant for lunch, and we also enjoyed a honey wine tasting, which was a great cultural touch. Kudoos to the driver as well! Everything was well organized and relaxed. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone visiting the area.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Liyu Ethiopia Tours! We’re truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and that our team made your journey memorable. Your kind words mean a lot to us — they inspire our guides, drivers, and staff to continue delivering the highest level of service and authentic Ethiopian hospitality. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another adventure — whether to explore new regions or revisit your favorite places in Ethiopia!
This was an all day trip which takes about 2 or 2.5 hours each way from Addis. The very sacred Church, which is visited by many Orthodox people from all around, is very interesting , with a historical museum attached, and the Portuguese Bridge is very scenic and striking with cliffs, waterfalls and a troop of Gelada Baboons which are a fascinating endemic family of Baboons which are very peaceful and acclimatized to people. Of course , like any wild animal viewing you have to be lucky in order to have them appear during your visit. I wasn't lucky but the very helpful guide send me photos and videos from a couple of days prior when they were present. The guide and driver were excellent and very attentive and provided useful information. women, be prepared to use squat toilets on the way and the walk to the Bridge and cliffs is very rocky and steep at times. A walking stick is a good idea if you not young and fit! However the guide was great about finding less steep options and lending a hand for balance. The rural markets, people herding their animals, and the farmland was scenic and very typical of most of Ethiopia outside of Addis, including sites of the traditional conical grass roofed houses and Teff and wheat fields. It was super fun to have a delicious lunch at a local restaurant with no cutlery or napkins, so be prepared with wet wipes and women with TP!
Thank you very much for sharing such a detailed and thoughtful review of your day trip to Debre Libanos Monastery and the Portuguese Bridge. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Ethiopia’s rich culture, history, and landscapes with us. Your kind words about our guide and driver are greatly appreciated — we take pride in having a professional and caring team who always strive to make each guest feel safe, comfortable, and well looked after. We’re also happy to know you appreciated the authentic local experience, from the scenic countryside and traditional villages to the delicious local lunch! Thank you as well for sharing helpful tips for future travelers — this kind of feedback is invaluable. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure to discover even more of Ethiopia’s beauty.
very good ..nature and country side trip with professional guide. recommended if you are looking for an outside tour of addis
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly pleased to know that your experience with Liyu Ethiopia Tours was a positive one. It was a pleasure to assist with your travel arrangements, and we are delighted that our services met your expectations. Your kind words are greatly appreciated and serve as a strong motivation for our entire team to continue delivering high-quality, personalized experiences. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you again in the future.
