Lalibela

Hotel Maribela

Name: Hotel Maribela
Address: Lalibela, Ethiopia
Price range: From US$80 per person, per night

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Hotel Maribela

About Hotel Maribela

Prepare to be blown away by Ethiopia's raw and powerful rock-hewn churches

It may come as a surprise, but Ethiopia was one of the first places to adopt Christianity – way back in the fourth century. The northern town of Lalibela (700 kilometres by road or an hour's flight from Addis Ababa) is one of the best preserved and holiest places in the country. Its fame is thanks to its 11 churches, hand-carved from the natural rock, which date back as far as the sixth century. The Maribela Hotel is probably the most comfortable accommodation in the region, with its spacious rooms and wide views of the extarordinary highlands.

Lalibela , Ethiopia

From $80 per person/per night

City

20 Rooms

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Property details

The property

The hotel has four storeys, with the rooms spread across the top three, and the restaurant, bar and lounge on the ground floor. The main area is open-plan, but nicely partitioned into several spaces: the good restaurant flows into the lounge area with its fireplace and a few well-stocked bookshelves, then on to the grassy terrace with its sensational view. The furnishings are simple, smart and comfortable, with splashes of colour and some fine examples of Ethiopian arts and crafts.

The rooms

Twenty spacious rooms range across the upper levels, varying in size from single to twin-bedded and four-poster doubles. All are neat and clean, with plenty of light, colourful accessories and local art. Each room has a private balcony with a few chairs, a table and a daybed – perfect for wallowing in the valley views. You'll find tea- and coffee-making facilities, a TV, wi-fi access, and an en-suite bathroom with high-pressure hot-water shower, basin and W/C.

Activities

Lalibela's allure clearly lies in its ancient, perfectly preserved churches, so majestic that they've earned the town UNESCO World Heritage status. Most of these structures, impossible to detect from a distance but utterly awe-inspiring up close, were built during the 12th century; others date back to the sixth. Some functioned as chapels, but others had a darker use – as prisons and tombs. Allow additional time to explore the surrounding mountains and valleys on foot or by donkey.

Trips

Tours & Trips

Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch

Ethiopia

The Best of Northern Ethiopia

9 nights from $4.2K per person

Addis Ababa Bahir Dar Gondar

Ethiopia

Northern Ethiopia & the Omo Valley

10 nights from $4.5K per person

Addis Ababa Bahir Dar Gondar

Ethiopia

Ethiopia: The Full Works

11 nights from $6.4K per person

Addis Ababa Bahir Dar Simien Mountains National Park

Ethiopia

Exploring the Danakil Depression

10 nights from $7.1K per person

Addis Ababa Danakil Depression Gheralta

Design a Custom Trip

Plan your stay

How to book Hotel Maribela

How do I book Hotel Maribela?

Hotel Maribela can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Ethiopia trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Ethiopia trips featuring Hotel Maribela or get advice and suggestions from one of our Ethiopia specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Hotel Maribela?

Stays at Hotel Maribela start from around $80 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Ethiopia

Lalibela

An ancient world of spectacular, sunken churches, frozen in time in rose-gold rock.