Preparing Expedition...
Dispatches from Gheralta
If you have seen photos or videos of the climb to Abune Yemata Guh, you might be asking yourself: Is it actually safe? The short answer is yes—but only with the right guidance.
The climb to Abune Yemata is famous for its height, but the real treasure is found inside the silence of the church. The walls and domes are covered in frescoes that date back centuries, and their preservation is a miracle of both nature and faith.
While Abune Yemata and Maryam Papasetti are world-famous, the Gheralta massif hides over 35 rock-hewn churches. Many of these are tucked away in narrow crevices or at the top of forgotten ridges.
Abune Yemata Guh is often called the "most dangerous church in the world." While the climb is steep and the heights are dizzying, the reward is a spiritual and visual experience unlike anything else on Earth.