Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Axum to Debark by Bus, flights and lalibela questions

Country forums / Africa / Ethiopia

Once again hi all
I have seen details on the forum for people taking the bus from debark to Axum, but not in the reverse direction. Would I be gathering right in sumising (dear god what language am I using here?) that from Axum to Debark I would have to split the journey in Shire? The LP says the only bus leaves Shire at 6am to Debark... so unless mini-buses leave Axum and 4am it's not doable right? And then if there was a mini bus i'd still have the problem of getting a ticket. Ok so I'm probably just answering my own question here.

What are the current flight costs inside Ethiopia? I realise they have gone up a great deal lately and the LP prices are obsolete. I'm looking at ADDIS - LALIBELA and LALIBELA -AXUM (returning by land) and the website side (EA) is telling me around 1550 and 1230 birr respectively.

And finally, the 200birr ticket to the churches in Lalibela - is that for one day only or a couple? What budget digs are worth trying there? Looking to pay around 100-120birr a night if possible.

cheers all
Andy

200-birr-ticket is more than one day, either it was three or even five days.
You can orientate yourself well on the site of Ethiopian A, it's exactly those prices you have to pay.

No idea if there meanwhile is a bus going directly from Axum to Shire, just can tell you, that the street from Shire to Debark is everything else than busy.

1

The way it's described in the Bradt book is that the ticket is good for as long as you stay in Lalibela...but that's probably assuming most tourists don't stay long. I know someone who plans to stay in Lalibela for a couple weeks, but not until April so that might be too late for you.

I stayed in Alief Paradise for 80 birr. Picture of the room here. I think the Asheton is around 100 birr...I didn't inquire myself, but someone I did the TESFA trek with stayed there and I think that's what she reported.

2

Ticket is definitly limited to a certain amount of days, not that you can stay a month and use it a month long. I think it's five days.

3

i might be the someone looking to be in lalibela for a couple weeks
unless there's someone else, in which case i need to meet this person.

i'm looking to do about the same route after lalibela and seeing
about the same prices as you (1614 and 1357 respectively) for the
dates i want to fly.

4

No, it was you :).

5

EA writes on its side that the price AA - Lali 1530 and Lali - Axum 1230 excludes the tax and fees and the full price they tell you, when you purchase the ticket. I am looking for the same tkts but I am still planing my trip in March and didn`t decide yet how to start from AA.

6