Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya

Outty Ranking 55 5.0 · 3 traveler reviews10 hoursFrom $375
Instant mobile ticketSpots available today

Outty Ranking

55/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 3 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya worth booking?

Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya is a 10-hour experience in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from $375 per person. It scores 55 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 3 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
55 / 100
Rating
5/5 (3)
Duration
10 hours
From
$375 per person

Enjoy discovering few of Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and visiting the Steles of Tiya (14th Century AD and a UNESCO World Heritage). This is about 11 hours day trip from Addis to visit bird watching and spotting hippos, local family of the Oromo people, have great scenery of the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Steles of Tiya which date back to the 14th Century, located south of Addis Ababa. It is a great outing from Addis Ababa: - - Enjoy spotting various lowland water birds by walking around Lake Ziway (if lucky few hippos). - Appreciate the superb scenery of the Rift Valley - Experience the way of life of the countryside people of Oromo. - Attend a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. - Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site  of Tiya Cemetery. Tour price includes private comfortable Toyota Minivan, fuel (gasoline), family visiting fee, bottled water, coffee, and professional experienced English speaking tour guide.

What you get

    About this experience

    Enjoy discovering few of Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and visiting the Steles of Tiya (14th Century AD and a UNESCO World Heritage). This is about 11 hours day trip from Addis to visit bird watching and spotting hippos, local family of the Oromo people, have great scenery of the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Steles of Tiya which date back to the 14th Century, located south of Addis Ababa. It is a great outing from Addis Ababa: - - Enjoy spotting various lowland water birds by walking around Lake Ziway (if lucky few hippos). - Appreciate the superb scenery of the Rift Valley - Experience the way of life of the countryside people of Oromo. - Attend a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. - Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site  of Tiya Cemetery. Tour price includes private comfortable Toyota Minivan, fuel (gasoline), family visiting fee, bottled water, coffee, and professional experienced English speaking tour guide.

    What's included

    Included

    • Private comfortable Toyota Minivan or Corolla equipped with air conditioning and seat belts
    • Local family visiting and attending a coffee ceremony fee
    • Air port pickup and drop-off
    • Bottled water and local snacks in the van
    • Professional experienced English speaking tour guide

    Not included

    • Meals
    • Admission (entrance) fees
    • Food and drinks, unless specified
    • And, any expense which is not mentioned in the "Included" list above

    What you'll see and do

    1. Tiya World Heritage Site

      At Tiya Steles, visit about 42 huge stone Steles erected between the 12th and 14th Century AD in honor of local warriors.

      45 minutes here · Admission not included

    2. Lake Ziway

      Walk by Lake Ziway for 30 minutes to an hour on Lake Ziway to spot a number of water birds species like Marabou Storks, Malachite Kingfisher, Sacred Ibis, African Fish Eagle, Hammerkobs, etc

      60 minutes here · Admission included

    3. Butajira

      Have lunch at Butajira and stop at a couple of viewpoints to enjoy the great scenery of the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley

      60 minutes here

    4. Bishoftu

      Enjoy the picturesque view of one of the five crater lakes of Bishoftu (Debre Ziet). You will also have a short visit of a village of the Oromo people around Bishoftu.

      30 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is included for all travelers.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    de, en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours

    Know before you go

    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • As June, July and August are the rainy season, dress accordingly and get umbrellas.

    Photos

    Lake Ziway, Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya in Addis AbabaCrater Lake of Bishoftu near Addis Ababa, Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya in Addis AbabaMount Ziqula, Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya in Addis AbabaDonkeys transporting harvests, Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya in Addis AbabaTrying horse cart riding to Lake Ziway, Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya in Addis AbabaAt a local village in the Rift Valley part of Ethiopia, Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya in Addis Ababa

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 3 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    3 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    2 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Photo opportunities

    1 mention

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Food and drink

    1 mention

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Good for families

    1 mention

    Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.

    Traveler reviews

    3 verified traveler reviews for Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
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    Athens_GreeceYiota · March 2026

    Day on the rift valley

    The tour was very interesting- we drove all across the rural Ethiopia so it was very interesting to see how people live. We stop to unesco heritage places ..interesting to see 1million years ago the site of a family and many others - rift valley was very interesting landscape. Bruk along with the driver were great! Bruk ensured that I witnessed an authentic experience and make the trip safe

    Response from the operator: Hello Panagiota, My name is Muluken. Thank you very much for booking our 1-day trip to the Rift Valley from Addis Ababa and sharing your experience with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours! It was truly a pleasure to show you the beautiful Rift Valley south of Addis Ababa. We are delighted to know that you enjoyed the drive through countryside of Ethiopia and the opportunity to see local life and the country’s unique scenery along the way. It is also wonderful to hear that guide Biruk and our driver, Bekele, helped make the trip both insightful and safe for you. We’re especially happy that you found the UNESCO heritage site of Tiya Steles and the ancient history of the region so fascinating. Thank you for remembering to share your feedback on TripAdvisor! It means a lot to us and reinforces our commitment to providing professional, personalized, and secure experiences for every guest. Safe travels, and we hope to welcome you back to Ethiopia again in the future. Warm regards, Muluken Girma Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours (MEET)

    via Tripadvisor

    moirad649 · February 2023

    Rift valley day tour

    Our tour was excellent! Our day started off by being picked up from our hotel and grabbing some snacks for the road. The route to Tiya was beautiful and we stopped to take some pictures! The UNESCO site was educational and interesting. We then learned how fake banana bread is made and got to eat it as well. Seeing the hippos and different types of bird at Lake Ziway was an experience. One of the best parts of the tour was interacting with the locals and being able to observe some of their culture. Everyone we met during this tour was friendly and welcoming. Our tour guide, Biruk and driver, Ashu provided us a fantastic tour! I highly recommend this tour for those that wants to get out of the city without straying too far. Ask for Biruk and Ashu, they were great!

    Response from the operator: Dear Moira, Hello! Thank you so much for remembering to write review of your tour to the Rift Valley with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours! It is great to know you enjoyed your tour with Biruk and Ashu! I will share your detailed feedback of the trip to them. We are always at your service to make your tours in Ethiopia a special one. With best wishes, Muluken

    via Tripadvisor

    David S · April 2019

    Merit Ethiopian tour to lake Ziway, day tour from Addis Ababa

    What an excellent day tour! Headed off early then stopped for breakfast. Visited UNESCO steles site with informative guide. Had home brewed drinks with locals. Visited a traditional African residence then headed for lake Ziway, which was spectacular! Had lunch of fish from the lake, then went out on the lake with another local guide for a bout an hour. Saw hippos and lots of different birds. Headed back after that but stopped on the way for a beer in the sun. The tour guide Kede and driver Belay were great. Couldn't have asked for better! Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a day trip from Addis. Great job guys!

    Response from the operator: Dear David,  Thank you very much for booking the Day Tour from Addis Ababa to Rift Valley and UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF TIYA with MERIT ETHIOPIAN EXPERIENCE TOURS!! It is an honour to know Kede and Belay added such a value on your private guided day tour! Thank you also for taking time to rate and review your experience with us in detail! We are always pleased to make your tour in Ethiopia a success. Contact us anytime when a need for our service arises. Thanks again David and best regards, Muluken Girma

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    10 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    Included for all travelers
    Booked in 30 days
    1
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours, who run 7 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 62.3.

    See everything Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours runs

    Why this scores 55

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)93
    Review evidence (18% weight)26
    Booking momentum (14% weight)16
    Value for money (12% weight)0
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)52
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Addis Ababa.

    How much does Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya cost?

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    Prices start at $375 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Addis Ababa usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya take?

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    Plan for about 10 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Addis Ababa is not rushed.

    Is Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya worth it?

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    It holds an Outty Ranking of 55 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 3 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Addis Ababa, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya?

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    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya suitable for kids and families?

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    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 10-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya?

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    Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Addis Ababa can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

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    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Addis Ababa and add a light layer if any part of the 10-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Addis Ababa within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Addis Ababa?

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    On Outty we rank every Addis Ababa experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour, Addis Ababa Guided City Tour With Airport & Hotel Pick Up, Full Day Tour of Addis Ababa with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?

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    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Addis Ababa?

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    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya?

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    Included: Private comfortable Toyota Minivan or Corolla equipped with air conditioning and seat belt; Local family visiting and attending a coffee ceremony fee; Air port pickup and drop-off; Bottled water and local snacks in the van; and Professional experienced English speaking tour guide. Not included: Meals; Admission (entrance) fees; Food and drinks, unless specified; and And, any expense which is not mentioned in the "Included" list above. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya include hotel pickup?

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    Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 361 listed pickup locations in and around Addis Ababa. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya offered in?

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    It is offered in German and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya?

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    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya wheelchair or stroller accessible?

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    The operator notes: Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya if the weather is bad?

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    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Addis Ababa. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about Explore the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes and the UNESCO Site of Steles of Tiya?

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    Across 3 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

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