Asheton St. Maryam Monastery | አሽተን ቅድስት ማርያም ገዳም — Attraction in Amhara Region

It’s 20$ usd cash per person to enter, which is extortionate. Not included with your 100$ church ticket. Wait for the lady at the blue sign to pay. Do not give money to anyone else except at the monastery entrance sign.

The monastery itself is mildly interesting. The views of canyons and farms along the way are beautiful. The hike + visit will take you about 5 hours round trip including breaks, starting from the town center. Expect the usual tip hassling along the way, though much less than Lalibela proper.

A guide is not needed, you can follow the route on google maps though there is a minor shortcut along a sketchy cliff trail you might not...

The journey to the monastery is much more enjoyable than the monastery itself. It’s another example of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s greed, asking for an entrance fee of 30 dollars. This is absolutely absurd, and I say this as someone who loves monasteries. But this fee is simply too much – it’s money wasted here. However, the surrounding area and the journey through the villages with stunning views of Lalibela and the surroundings are definitely worth it. If you take a tuk-tuk, you can have it stop at the best...

If you are fit enough for an authentic adventure, Asheton Maryam is the place. The monastery is situated on top of a hill. Although most of the journey can be accessed by either a car or a mule, the last couple of meters are only accessible with foot. The view is breathtaking. I would recommend to see this place in late September or October most of the landscape is green. Also I would recommend a shoes with good grip as the road is narrow and steep. If you are in Lalibela, it...