Founder & CEO at Hidden Ethiopia Tours | Promoter
Hidden Ethiopia Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- ETOA & ETTA
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $580 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IN
Email Prince | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ayalew is an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide!
Hidden Ethiopia Tours brought Lalibela alive for my wife and me during our visit in August 2025. They were professional, flexible and very knowledgeable in their history and culture. We had a once in a lifetime experimce of being transported in time and space! We came away renewed in our understanding of orthodox Christianity of the Lalibela kind, but in our spiritual life, as well.
Ayalew Setegn was gracious, knowledgable, caring and attentive to details.
I had an in-depth and customized tour of Ethiopia culminating in the unforgettable Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Christmas (Genna) and pilgrimage in Lalibela. The drivers were excellent, accommodations comfortable and local guides knowledgable. Ayalew attended to every detail and considered all my special needs with regard to diet and mobility.
IT
Email Fabio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The top guide in lalibela
We recommend Ayalew because he knows many things, he can create personalized tour and he helps you for everything you want.
He does your Lalibela tour so special
Recommended 100%
RO
Email Florina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very propessional
It was a great experience. Our guide, Ayalew, tried to satisfy all our needs. He answered all the questions that were thrown at him. The cars were good, as were the drivers, making me feel safe. Money, due to the devaluation, creates some problems. You can't change too much at once (it's hard to carry the stack of money) and you need cash.
Gracious, knowledgable, friendly, very well-prepared
Ayalew organized a superb tour of Lalibela for my partner and me. He is a true expert on the history of this stunning site as well as its broader cultural context. He pays attention to the details of logistics and is very well-prepared. He went out of is way to roast some coffee beans at his home that we’d bought at the market … a lovely and hospitable touch. We hope to return soon to this marvelous country and will definitely rely on him again.
Email Alison | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Ayalew was our guide in Lalibela in 2016 and were so impressed by him that we kept in touch
Ayalew was a pleasure to meet and a lovely guide for us
DE
Email David B | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic experience!
Our visit to the churches of Lalibela was unforgettable thanks to Ayalew. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and passionate about sharing the history and culture of his hometown. His stories brought each church to life, and he showed us beautiful spots around the area that we would have missed on our own. We highly recommend Ayalew to anyone visiting Lalibela - an excellent guide and a wonderful person!
ES
Email Maribel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent professional and better person
I met Ayalew long time ago as I’m a frequent traveler to Ethiopia and he has been always a reliable guide and a good professional. I’m amazed by everything he has achieved along this years, despite the harship the northem region of Ethiopia has been trough. I can’t do less than recomend him and his team.
PL
Email Maja | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
local & porfesional
I took a half&half day Lalibela tour with airport pickup / dropoff, and everything went very smoothly. The service was professional from start to finish — communication was clear, timing was perfect, and everything was well organized. I also appreciated their agile problem-solving when small issues came. Ayalew handled everything quickly and efficiently. Overall, it was a great experience, and I can definitely recommend Ayalew to anyone visiting Lalibela.
Email Mary | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Guide Possible in Lalibela
Our tour with Ayaliwu was arranged by our travel agent in Addis, and we could not have been better pleased. This guide was able to provide detailed information the history of the Rock-cut churches, the symbolic significance of architectural features, and also to field questions about unrelated matters, like the crops being grown. He was also very solicitous of our physical capabilities and always found places for us to sit. Ayaliwu ‘s English, too, is easily understood.