Solo Activities Lalibela

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. Lalibela is in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where the UK FCDO advises against all travel and the US government tells its citizens not to travel. Fighting has resumed across northern Ethiopia, flights to Lalibela have been suspended since 24 September 2026 with no restart date announced, and there is no safe overland route. Nothing described here can be booked now; this page describes the town for a future visit once advisories change. Read the FCDO advice and the US State Department before making any plans.

Travelling Alone to Lalibela

A solo trip cannot be planned now. Visitor numbers had collapsed even before the fighting; a 2024 local report counted fewer than 100 foreign visitors in a year.

If conditions improve

• You walk between the churches along rock steps, trenches and paths. There is no vehicle link from one to the next.
• Leave your shoes at each church door and dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. Women should cover their heads. Speak quietly, ask before photographing anyone, switch off the flash, and keep your hands off the carvings.
• At roughly 2,500 metres, the altitude can cause headaches and tiredness, so rest early and keep drinking water.
• Carry cash, because ATMs and card payment cannot be relied on.