---------------------------------
Address
Phone: +251 988 111 222
Need help or have a question?
Contact us at: info@driveethiopia.com
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Is It Safe to Travel to Lalibela? What the Advice Says Now
Not right now. What the UK and US advice says about Lalibela, why flights stopped, the road risks, insurance, and where in Ethiopia you can go instead.
Not right now. As of 3 November 2026, the UK government advises against all travel to Amhara region, where Lalibela sits, and the US Embassy in Addis Ababa has told Americans not to travel to Amhara, "including the town of Lalibela", for any reason. Reuters reported on 25 September 2026 that flights to Lalibela had been suspended as fighting spread in the north. We could not find any announcement that they have resumed.
We sell trips to Ethiopia, so it would suit us to tell you otherwise. We won't. Lalibela's churches are one of the great sights of Africa, and they will still be there when the advice changes. This guide sets out what the governments say, how you would get there, what happens if something goes wrong, and what to watch for before you rebook.
What the travel advice says
| Source | What it says about Lalibela | Date |
|---|---|---|
| UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) | Advises against all travel to all of Amhara regional state | Page updated 30 October 2026 |
| US Embassy, Addis Ababa | Do not travel to Amhara, including Lalibela, for any reason | Alert reported 7 October 2026 |
| US State Department | Ethiopia overall at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, with Amhara listed as do not travel | Current advisory |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Flights to Lalibela suspended | Reported by Reuters, 25 September 2026 |
Advice from other governments may differ in wording, so read your own government's page as well as this one.
What is happening in Amhara
The FCDO says there have been violent protests and clashes in Amhara since April 2023, and that violence has increased because of conflict between local militia groups, known as Fano, and the security forces. In its words, movement is heavily restricted, arbitrary detention is a risk, and the security situation is very volatile. It also reports an increase in roadblocks across the region.
In late September 2026 the situation in the north got worse. Fighting resumed between the federal government and Tigrayan forces, and civilian flights to Tigray were suspended. Our guide to whether it is safe to travel to Tigray covers that region. Lalibela lies in Amhara, south of the Tigray boundary, and its flights were stopped in the same week.
The FCDO also names kidnapping as a risk, with incidents in Amhara, Oromia and Somali regions, and says that if you go to areas where it advises against travel, you will be at extreme risk.
Getting there right now
Most visitors reach Lalibela by air from Addis Ababa, because the road is long. Both routes have problems at the moment.
By air
Ethiopian Airlines suspended its Lalibela flights in late September. If you see the route for sale, check the flight status with the airline before you plan around it, and remember that the FCDO warns flights across northern Ethiopia can be suspended or cancelled at short notice. A flight that runs on the way in may not run when you need to leave.
By road
The FCDO reports incidents on the A3 road from Addis Ababa towards Bahir Dar, including armed men attacking vehicles, usually in the early hours when visibility is poor. The A3 can also be closed by the Ethiopian National Defense Force. Its countrywide driving advice is to avoid driving after dark anywhere outside Addis Ababa, and to turn around rather than try to pass an unattended roadblock.
We are a car rental company and we are not suggesting you drive to Lalibela now. No vehicle or driver changes the advice above.
Communications, help and insurance
Phone and internet
The FCDO says mobile networks and internet connections in Amhara may be disrupted, and that the authorities can close networks with no notice. Plan on the basis that you may not be able to call your family, your airline or your insurer from Lalibela.
Consular help
The FCDO says British Embassy staff cannot offer support in person in areas of Ethiopia where it advises against travel. If you are detained, the authorities may not give embassy officials adequate access.
Insurance
Before you book anything in Amhara, ask your insurer in writing whether your policy covers you in a region your government advises against. Get the answer by email. Do not assume.
Is the town calmer than the region?
Travellers sometimes report that Lalibela town itself felt quiet when they were there, and at times that has been true. The problem is that the advice covers the whole region, the town is surrounded by it, and getting in and out is the risky part. A calm week inside the town does not help if the airport closes or the roads are shut when you need to leave. In late September, Reuters reported residents of Lalibela rushing to secure food and cash amid fears of renewed war.
Lalibela is a working town, and many of the families who live there earn their living from visitors. They will want travellers back, and the time for that is when the advice changes.
If you already have a trip booked
- Talk to your airline and operator now, and ask about moving dates or a refund.
- Check your insurance cover, using the question above.
- Ethiopian Christmas, Genna, falls on 7 January, and the night vigil at Lalibela is one of the reasons people book this region in winter. With the current advice, plan to see the January festivals elsewhere this season. Every Orthodox parish in Addis Ababa holds the Genna vigil, and the main Timkat ground in the capital is Jan Meda, on 19 January 2027. Our guide to Ethiopian Christmas explains how the celebration works.
- You do not have to cancel Ethiopia altogether. Much of the country sits outside the areas named in the advice.
What would change our view
We will update this page when any of these happen:
- The FCDO removes its advice against all travel to Amhara, or narrows it to exclude Lalibela.
- The US Embassy withdraws its alert on Lalibela.
- Ethiopian Airlines confirms a regular schedule to Lalibela again, and it holds for several weeks.
The first one matters most, because it decides whether insurers will cover you. Lalibela has reopened before. Flights were suspended during the fighting in 2021 and resumed at the end of that year. When it reopens, our guide to the eleven rock-hewn churches covers what to see and the shoes-off rule.
Planning Lalibela for when it reopens
If Lalibela is the reason you want to come to Ethiopia, you don't have to give it up. You can plan the trip now and fix the dates once the advice changes. These are the tours we run that include Lalibela:
| Tour | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Undiscovered Ethiopian History | The northern circuit: Bahir Dar, Gondar, the Simien Mountains and Lalibela |
| Ethiopian Christmas and Timkat tour | Built around the January festivals |
| Fasika Ethiopian Easter tour | Built around Ethiopian Easter |
All three go into Amhara, so we are not suggesting them for dates while the current advice stands. If you are torn between Lalibela and the other big northern sights, our comparison of Lalibela, the Simien Mountains and the Danakil will help you decide what to save for.
The simplest way to start is to send us the season you have in mind and how long you have. We will tell you what the advice says for those dates and suggest a route that works today, with Lalibela marked for later.
Where you can go instead right now
These places sit outside the areas the FCDO advises against, as of its update on 30 October 2026:
| Destination | Getting there from Addis Ababa | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa | You start here | Churches, museums and the food |
| Bishoftu crater lakes | About an hour on the expressway | Easy day trip or one night |
| Hawassa and the Rift Valley lakes | About three and a half hours on the A7 | Lakes, birds and a lakeside base |
| Harar | A flight to Dire Dawa, then about 50 km by road | The walled old town and the evening hyena feeding |
For Bishoftu, the FCDO excludes the expressway and the town from its warning for East Shewa zone, and for the Rift Valley it excludes the A7 down to Hawassa. Some lakeside lodges sit off the road, so check your hotel's location against the advice before you book.
Our Bishoftu crater lakes guide and Harar guide cover both in detail, and our itineraries by traveller type were rebuilt around the current advice on 1 November 2026. For a ready-made trip, the Harar and Dire Dawa tour is built around the flight.
FAQ
Is it safe to travel to Lalibela right now?
No. As of 3 November 2026, the UK advises against all travel to Amhara region, which includes Lalibela, and the US Embassy has told Americans not to travel to Lalibela for any reason. Flights were suspended in late September 2026.
Are flights to Lalibela running?
Reuters reported on 25 September 2026 that flights to Lalibela had been suspended. We found no announcement of a restart by 3 November 2026. Check the flight status with Ethiopian Airlines before you book.
Can I drive from Addis Ababa to Lalibela?
We do not recommend it. The UK reports armed attacks on vehicles on the A3 road towards Bahir Dar, roadblocks across Amhara, and road closures by the army. The advice against all travel to Amhara applies by road as well as by air.
When will Lalibela be safe to visit again?
Nobody can give a date. Watch for the UK and US advice to change, and for Ethiopian Airlines to restore a regular schedule. We will update this page when that happens.
Are Gondar and Bahir Dar safe to visit?
Not at the moment. Both are in Amhara region, so the UK advice against all travel applies to them as it does to Lalibela. The UK also reports clashes in Central Gondar zone and attacks on vehicles on the A3 road towards Bahir Dar.
Can I see Genna or Timkat in Lalibela in January 2027?
We would not plan it under the current advice. You can see both in Addis Ababa instead: the Genna vigil on the night of 6 January in any Orthodox parish, and Timkat at Jan Meda on 19 January 2027.
Can I book a Lalibela tour for later?
Yes. Send us the season you have in mind and we will plan the route with you, then fix the dates once the advice allows it.
Is the rest of Ethiopia affected?
Not all of it. Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, the A7 corridor to Hawassa and Harar sit outside the areas the UK advises against as of 30 October 2026. The UK advice also covers Tigray, Afar and other border areas, so check each place on your route.
Plan a trip that works now
Tell us your dates and what drew you to Ethiopia. We will suggest a route outside the areas under advice for now, and plan Lalibela with you for when it reopens. If you have questions about anything in this guide, ask us. You will have a reply within two hours and a detailed itinerary with a quote within 24 hours.
Browse our tours, see the Lalibela tour for later, or send us your plans.
Lake Hora photograph by mjr74, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.