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 wasted away and dropped off.
On arrival at Debre Libanos, we will first stop at the Jemma gorge. The Jemma River is one of the tributaries of the Nile, and there is a drop of nearly 1000 meters to the valley below. 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.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
7:00 AM
Next available
Mon, Oct 12
Adult (ages 18–85)
$95
Youth (ages 12–17)
$99
Child (ages 4–11)
$60
Infant (ages 0–2)
Free
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $140.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 11.
Tour Options
Debre Libanos
Pickup included
What's included
Included
Private transportation
Lunch
All Fees and Taxes
pick up and drop off
water
the service of local guide
Pickup Locations & Times
we will pick you up from your place any part of the city in addis ababa.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
11 reviews
5
8
4
3
3
0
2
0
1
0
How it compares in Addis Ababa
Starting price $95 is 19% above the typical $80 for tours of similar length in Addis Ababa
Excurgo comparison of 559 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Debre Libanos and Portuguese bridge take?
Debre Libanos and Portuguese bridge lasts about 6–8 hours.
How much does Debre Libanos and Portuguese bridge cost?
Prices start at $95 per person for this Addis Ababa experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $140. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Debre Libanos and Portuguese bridge run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 7:00 AM.
How much does Debre Libanos and Portuguese bridge cost for children?
Children aged 4–11 pay from $60, adults from $95. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Debre Libanos and Portuguese bridge for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. we will pick you up from your place any part of the city in addis ababa.
What languages is Debre Libanos and Portuguese bridge offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 10 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(11)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
L
lisamJ1748EG
April 26, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great day trip!
This was a great day trip! I enjoy road trips as I think it’s a nice way to see other parts of the country that you otherwise wouldn’t see. I loved seeing the landscapes, and Debre Libanos monastery was beautiful. The views from the Portuguese bridge are also incredible. The tibs we had at lunch were some of the best I had all trip!
Operator response
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
N
nataliemP7697SZ
April 23, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great food great people
Abe and Abi were wonderful and informative guides. We had the best time and it was great to see outside the city. Beautiful food beautiful people. We would highly recommend!
Operator response
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!
K
Katja-St
April 14, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing tour!
Thank you for the fantastic and informative tour of the monastery and the Portuguese Bridge! Everything went perfectly; Olinol is incredibly knowledgeable and was able to answer every question! We even got to see the monkeys up close! Highly recommended.
Operator response
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!
C
Companion13929325642
July 4, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Perfect tour
Very informative guide, everything was perfectly planned. Amazing tour where you could see the monastery, bridge and life of province.
Operator response
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.
Y
yuchial2024
May 7, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Debre Robano and Portualgese Bridge
The tour is incredible, the experiened and knowledgeable guide gave me all what I expected to see, red heart monkey in entoto mont. , rspectavulat Debre Ribano Church, Portugese Bridge.. Liyu Tour offer the best quality in reaonable price, if I visit Ethiopia again, Liyu will be my only choice.
Operator response
Dear Traveler
Thank you for reviewing. We have always felt that meeting our customers' expectations is our first goal, and if we can deliver customer service similar to what you have experienced and expressed, we are on the right route. Thank you again for your time! We look forward to the chance to welcome you on your future trip to Ethiopia, and we thank you again for your excellent feedback!
B
BSetyawan234
May 6, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
First time to explore Ethiopia ..
Awesome to know the evolution of nature and history by having a good tour guides to tell about beautiful Ethiopia and communities.
Operator response
Dear Traveler
Thank you for reviewing. We have always felt that meeting our customers' expectations is our first goal, and if we can deliver customer service similar to what you have experienced and expressed, we are on the right route. Thank you again for your time! We look forward to the chance to welcome you on your future trip to Ethiopia, and we thank you again for your excellent feedback!
O
Onuris01
February 15, 2020 · via Tripadvisor
The definition of experiencing!
I made it to Addis Ababa with ni real plans in mind, just some ideas pulled from a guide recommended to me by a friend. So, when I sat and talked to Yhun, I didn't really expect much. Well, I can say I'm in love with Ethiopia because of Yhun. This man knows his country with masterful expertise. He went out of way to ensure we weren't just seeing the city or a church, but to really understand wear the country came from and how it is growing. He took us on expected and beautiful side stops that nearly brought tears of joy to my eyes. Yhun is incredible and everyone needs to seek him when coming to Addis Ababa.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Traveler
Thank you for your review. We have always believed that being able to meet our customer satisfaction is our main target , and if we are able to provide customer service just like you have experienced and mentioned , then we are on the right track. thank again for your time !
We look forward to another opportunity to host you on your next trip to Ethiopia, and once again, thank you for your positive comments!
Best Regards,
Liyu Tours management
A
anaghaShah
February 12, 2020 · via Tripadvisor
Great Experiance with Liyu Tours
we were group of 24 pax, went to Addis & around for Cultural Tour for 5 days, we booked all tours, transport & hotels with Liyu tours. It was amazing experience. Liyu tours has a very professional staff and we didn't had a single bad experience.
we went for a Addis City tour including Museums, Visited Adadi Mariam, Debre Libanos, also visited Langano & Ziway lakes ….all excursions were smooth run.
Stayed in Addis Regency hotel which was excellent value for money hotel. we definitely recommend Liyu tours for all who intend to visit Ethiopia.
Operator response
Thank you very much for your kind review.
Thank you for your review. We have always believed that being able to meet our customer satisfaction is our main target , and if we are able to provide customer service just like you have experienced and mentioned , then we are on the right track. thank again for your time !
We look forward to another opportunity to host you on your next trip to Ethiopia, and once again, thank you for your positive comments!
best regarding
Liyu Ethiopia Tour management
M
marktO233JB
January 3, 2020 · via Tripadvisor
Breathtaking
If you choose to visit the monastery at Debre Libanos and then go up to the Portuguese Bridge and the breathtaking views of the Blue Nile Gorge (which you must do to fully experience Ethiopia), Liyu is the company to choose. Our guide, Jimmy, was knowledgable and flexible. He gave us time to fully explore all we wanted to see while also making sure we hit the best spots. I cannot recommend Liyu Ethiopian tours enough. Our family cannot wait to return to Ethiopia and use Liyu for longer tours to the Rift Valley and Axum.
Operator response
Dear Traveler
Thank you for your review. We have always believed that being able to meet our customer satisfaction is our main target , and if we are able to provide customer service just like you have experienced and mentioned , then we are on the right track. thank again for your time !
We look forward to another opportunity to host you on your next trip to Ethiopia, and once again, thank you for your positive comments!
Best Regards,
Liyu Tours management
I
ines0510
October 18, 2019 · via Tripadvisor
Very good option to leave the city for the day
as soon as I contacted them Yhun was very attentive and answered without delay to each of my queries, I had a guide that had a very good level of English, which made communication very easy, he knew the area very well, the vehicle was in excellent condition, the route is worth it!
Operator response
Dear Traveler
Thank you for your review. We have always believed that being able to meet our customer satisfaction is our main target , and if we are able to provide customer service just like you have experienced and mentioned , then we are on the right track. thank again for your time !
We look forward to another opportunity to host you on your next trip to Ethiopia, and once again, thank you for your positive comments!
Best Regards,
Liyu Tours management
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