Lalibela accommodation, Ethiopia
| country: | Ethiopia |
| location: | Lalibela |
| price: | From US $35 per person per day (including meals, guide and pack animals). N.B. The sites are open October – June. We are closed for the rainy season |
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description
Experience the real Ethiopia: trek in the ancient highlands of Ethiopia in stunning landscapes.
Set in stunning rural landscapes, this local NGO, is helping rural communities give you the chance to experience the real Ethiopia with the comfort of well-equipped accommodation, good guides, and simple but tasty food. At the same time you will be helping local communities to gain additional income. In the mountains around Lalibela (site of the incredible rock-hewn churches), we are assisting local communities to set up and manage trekking facilities that enable you to see the ancient culture and stunning landscape of the Amhara people.
Birds of prey soar, Gelada baboons scramble on the cliff faces, local shepherd boys watch on their flocks, while their fathers plough their rock strewn fields. At the end of wonderful day’s walk, sit and enjoy a sundown drink and soak up the scene as the world prepare for evening from the cliff top. Over dinner or coffee take the chance to ask community members about their world, and be ready to answer their questions (they told Brad Pitt they did not know what America was!)
This site is set on a rocky basalt promontory at an altitude of 2,800 meters. It has staggering views to the south and west. There is a large lodge built in the local style , divided into two bedrooms with two beds each (one small and one larger). Each bed has a comfortable mattress and pillow, freshly laundered sheets, and warm blankets.
Beside the accommodation is the restaurant where food can be eaten if it becomes too cold outside. There is a well stocked bar here with beers, soft drinks and some Ethiopian wine. They should be able to stretch to a gin and tonic too. Bottled drinking water is always available.
The site boasts an eco- toilet with a view that will keep you there a while! a shower (water is heated by the sun) and a wash stand. The rocky ledge at the end of the promontory is a great place for a sundowner to watch the sunset over Mount Guna. Meanwhile the Gelada Baboon are scrambling down the cliff to their secure sleeping places, and the birds are heading for their roosts. Its best known guest so far is Brad Pitt. Life is hard, but people are proud to receive guests, and always have time to exchange greetings and smiles. A visit to Ethiopia will be an experience that you will never forget!
By road: Local vehicles available for hire from Lalibela. Main town in Meket is Filakit
Set in stunning rural landscapes, this local NGO, is helping rural communities give you the chance to experience the real Ethiopia with the comfort of well-equipped accommodation, good guides, and simple but tasty food. At the same time you will be helping local communities to gain additional income. In the mountains around Lalibela (site of the incredible rock-hewn churches), we are assisting local communities to set up and manage trekking facilities that enable you to see the ancient culture and stunning landscape of the Amhara people.
Birds of prey soar, Gelada baboons scramble on the cliff faces, local shepherd boys watch on their flocks, while their fathers plough their rock strewn fields. At the end of wonderful day’s walk, sit and enjoy a sundown drink and soak up the scene as the world prepare for evening from the cliff top. Over dinner or coffee take the chance to ask community members about their world, and be ready to answer their questions (they told Brad Pitt they did not know what America was!)
This site is set on a rocky basalt promontory at an altitude of 2,800 meters. It has staggering views to the south and west. There is a large lodge built in the local style , divided into two bedrooms with two beds each (one small and one larger). Each bed has a comfortable mattress and pillow, freshly laundered sheets, and warm blankets.
Beside the accommodation is the restaurant where food can be eaten if it becomes too cold outside. There is a well stocked bar here with beers, soft drinks and some Ethiopian wine. They should be able to stretch to a gin and tonic too. Bottled drinking water is always available. The site boasts an eco- toilet with a view that will keep you there a while! a shower (water is heated by the sun) and a wash stand. The rocky ledge at the end of the promontory is a great place for a sundowner to watch the sunset over Mount Guna. Meanwhile the Gelada Baboon are scrambling down the cliff to their secure sleeping places, and the birds are heading for their roosts. Its best known guest so far is Brad Pitt. Life is hard, but people are proud to receive guests, and always have time to exchange greetings and smiles. A visit to Ethiopia will be an experience that you will never forget!
how to find us
By air: Lalibela Airport is less than two hours drive from us.By road: Local vehicles available for hire from Lalibela. Main town in Meket is Filakit
travellers' tales
The walk is simply spectacular with magnificent views over the escarpment every step of the way....The people are really lovely and very welcoming and we found it an extraordinary privilege to meet them and learn about their lives. (more)
rooms, food and facilities
Full board – three square meals – local food for lunch, European food in the evening, great snacks on arrival, tea and coffee. - Alcoholic and soft drinks for sale.
- 4 Beds per site (being expanded to 6) 2 beds (1 double, 1 single) to a room – comfortable mattresses with freshly laundered linen.
- Eco-toilet – seat with a view!
- Shower available in some sites (sun heated water).
this accommodation was highly commended how this holiday makes a difference
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The sites are part of wholly community owned enterprises, run for and by the local community in which they are situated. Environmental considerations are an integral part of the enterprises.
Ecotourism is a fundamental part of the project.
 These community tourism sites are owned and run by the communities themselves, with the support of a local development organisation. The tourism generates incomes for some community members and the profit goes in to a fund for the whole community. The community receive training on management and running of a business. Given confidence to work together for joint benefit. 60% of the payment goes directly to the community. This is used to pay wages, food and material costs, and taxes; a percentage of the remaining profit will be kept for reinvestment and depreciation, with the rest going into a fund. This fund will be held by the community to be used as they decide. One community is saving for a grinding mill (they currently hand grind corn or have to travel a long distance to a mill).  This holiday is part of the responsibletravel.com and Conservation International Community Based Tourism Programme to support and promote community based tourism ventures that offer significant conservation and development benefits to local communities. To see other community based tourism holidays and find out more about the programme click here. |
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