Talk about going off the beaten track! Gheralta takes that to all new and dizzying heights – literally. In the land of the wild Ethiopia highlands, deep in the dusty canyons and rugged peaks that dominate the northern half of the country, intrepid types can discover the untrodden Tigray Region, where pockets of green acacia and spiny cacti cluster around bluffs and hoodoos worthy of Colorado. 

Gheralta itself is most famed as the home of Ethiopia's rock-hewn churches. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich narrative of Christian culture in these parts, representing some of the earliest examples of the Ethiopian Orthodox style. Some are said to date back to the 4th century, while most historians put their foundation sometime around the 11th and 12th centuries. 

These days, Gheralta tour guides are at hand to take you deep into the sun-scorched gorges and precipices, to discover striking examples of this ancient Christian architecture. Highlights include the painted frescos of Abuna Yemata Guh church, which clings precariously to a needle-like spire of stone, and visions of the rolling Hawzien Plain, where dust devils twirl and rugged peaks rise above the horizon.