Day Trip From Addis Ababa To Debre Libanos and Portuguese Bridge
Description
For those who are looking for a day trip, this package is a great option. This one day excursion takes you to one of the oldest and most remarkable monasteries of Ethiopia. This tour incorporates outstanding views of the famous Blue Nile Gorge, often compared with Arizona’s Grand Canyon and the ancient Portuguese bridge, The monastery complex which sits on a terrace between a cliff and the gorge of one of the tributaries of the Large Abbay River. Current buildings include the church over Tekle Haymanot’s tomb, which Emperor Haile Selassie ordered to be constructed in 1961, the Jemma River, and other attractions are also included in this program.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The drive to Debre Libanos leads across the highlands north of Addis Ababa. It offers a glimpse into the lovely village landscape of Ethiopia, and then suddenly drops open into a 1,000 m deep gorge at Debre Libanos. You'll take a short rest at the top of the gorge, keeping your eyes open for various bird species. On a short hike (1.5 to 2 hours), you'll cross an old bridge built for commercial purposes in order to arrive at a terraced waterfall and caves inhabited by monkeys. In the afternoon, we'll visit the sanctuary where the famous monastery of Debre Azbo (later Debre Libanos) was founded in the 13th century and destroyed in 1937 during the Italian occupation. We visit the octagonal church with the glass-paintings of the artist Afework Tekle, who also designed the windows of the Africa Hall in Addis Ababa as well as the newly built museum in which art treasures of the monastery are shown.
Though local guides insist the small stone-arch Portuguese bridge near Debre Libanos was erected by the Portuguese in the 16th century, it was actually built at the turn of the 19th century by Ethiopians, albeit in the old Portuguese style. The narrow span makes a pretty picture and the gushing (in the rainy season) cascade just below it is even more impressive.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick all clients from the hotel,guest house and any other accommodation requested for pick up We will pick all our clients also from Addis Ababa Bole Int Airport based on the flight time We will pick any guests stays in Addis Ababa either from their home or home stays ... Airports: Bole Airport, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(5)
I recently took the Day Trip from Addis Ababa to Debre Libanos and the Portuguese Bridge with Danakil Depression Tours, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences during my time in Ethiopia. The journey from Addis Ababa was smooth and well-organized. Along the way, we passed through beautiful highland scenery, with stunning views of the Jemma River Gorge. The landscapes alone made the trip worth it—rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, and plenty of opportunities for photos. At Debre Libanos Monastery, the atmosphere was peaceful and spiritual. Our guide explained the history and religious importance of the site in a very engaging way, which made the visit much more meaningful. We also had the chance to see local wildlife, including baboons near the cliffs. The highlight for me was the Portuguese Bridge. The views from there are absolutely breathtaking, especially overlooking the gorge and nearby waterfall. It’s a perfect spot to relax, take photos, and just enjoy nature.
Danakil depression tour is excellent tour operator in addis ababa ,i booked two day tours both debre libanos and debre zeit was an amazing experience. All crew are supper organized. Debre Libanos is a mixture of History & Natural beauty. Its approx 100km North of Addis Ababa. Primarily famous for Monastary were Saint Tekele Haimanoth penanced. Also nearby in the valley of one of Blue Nile Tributaries nestled 400 year old bridge build from Ostrich Eggs & Limestone by Portugal's Army in 16th century. During Ethiopian rainy seasons (June - September) one would come across spontaneous water falls. The water from this waterfall gets merged with one of Blue Nile Tributaries which in turn be a part of larger "Tis Abbay" waterfalls some 50 km downstream from Debre Libanos. To reach Portuguese Bridge waterfall one has to hike about 900 meters down towards valley from the Main Road. Due to rainy seasons, the tracks are slippery & needs local guide assistance. Luckily now a days local authority has posted few. This was my third visit & in my 3rd visit I was lucky to spot the waterfalls underneath Portuguese Bridge. The waterfall makes three steps before it reach to bottom of valley. The view of 3 step waterfall is menacing as water flows abundantly & gushing into valley with full forces. The views is fantastic. Thank you so much for a great experience
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re delighted to hear that your Ethiopia trip was enjoyable and that you were able to explore all the best spots. It's great to know that our tour guide melaku provided detailed explanations and handled everything with care and professionalism. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you on another memorable journey with Danakil Depression Tours!
What a great day trip with our Mickey and driver Delarosa This tour was an excellent insight into a little part of Ethiopia. The Rift Valley and Portuguese Bridge are spectacular places to see. This is a must do trip with Danakil depression Tours, who are well organised and efficient. Mickey was the best guide - full of fantastic information and stories. He is a genuinely nice guy, who is passionate about his job and love of his country. He really made this one of the highlights of our 7 week trip through Africa.Thanks Alex. Also thanks to zekarias for being a good driver and keeping us safe. Definitely need to visit Ethiopia again and do more tours with Mickey.
Dear Tyler, Thank you for your kind words and for choosing Danakil Depression Tours for your Debre libanos trip. We are delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable and memorable experience. It’s always our aim to provide seamless arrangements, and we're pleased that the itinerary met your expectations. We’re especially glad to hear that our tour manager, Mr. Mickey made a positive impact on your journey with his friendly and caring approach. We look forward to welcoming you on future adventures with Danakil Depression Tours! With best regards Yigzaw Mitiku
We took a day trip (family of 5) to the monastery, cave and 13th century Portuguese Bridge with my mother Danakil Depression Tours picked us up at our residence and took us north. While on the trip there the tour guide was very informative and we jammed to local Ethiopian music. They were very friendly, spoke clear English, and patient with the kids. The transportation was spotless and comfortable and the driver was great and friendly, pulling over for us to take photos when we asked. Living in Ethiopia for the past 9 months and using 2 other tour groups, this one does not compare. They strive for excellence, have open communication with their clients and make sure to give you a memorable day filled with fun, culture and history. I cannot recommend this company enough!
We're thrilled to hear that you and your family had such a wonderful experience traveling to Ethiopia with Danakil Depression Tours! Thank you for your kind words about the well-coordinated tour and the outstanding service provided by Mr. Ashu and Abey It's fantastic to hear that his engaging approach and insightful knowledge enhanced your trip. We're glad you appreciated the attention to detail and personalized care throughout your journey. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you on more memorable adventures in the future. With best regards Yigzaw mitiku (Mickey
From communication before our tour, to picking us up for our tour, throughout the tour and dropping us off -- this was a fantastic experience!!! Our guide picked us up at our hotel given to us by Ethiopian Airlines and we had a fantastic day exploring Addis! We went to a museum and saw Lucy, had smoothies and our guide's favorite spot, went behind the scenes at the market, saw an overview of the city, had a FANTASTIC traditional Ethiopian meal, had delicious coffee and got dropped back off at our hotel! Not before our guide helped us to get our shoes cleaned (a local spot on the corner) to get some dust off that had accumulated throughout the day! I could not recommend this tour enough!! Great for a quick layover in Addis when you want to experience the city!! Able to customize as well!
Dear Ahmed We are grateful that you took the time out to leave us a review.Very much delighted to know that you appreciate our services. We always take special care to provide the best to our guests Your feedback helps us to improve service for everyone. Thanks and Regards Managing Director Yigzaw /Mickey
