12 Days Eastern Ethiopia and Danakil tours

Explore the Wonders of Danakil

This package is the real expedition to one of the hottest places on Earth! If you are one of the travelers who would like to have real adventures in the Danakil Depression, you will see active volcanoes and the cultural value of the Afar tribes. You can watch one of the most challenging activities of traditional salt-cutting workers in the field, enjoy the beautiful camel caravans, and admire the colorful grounds of the Dallol area. This package tour also includes a visit to Awash National Park and a sightseeing tour to the impressive Rock-churches of Lalibela.

Day 01:- Arrival and City Tour

You will meet our staff upon arrival from your international flight and be taken to your hotel for some refreshment. You will begin sightseeing in Addis with the Ethnological Museum, which houses anthropological, musicological, and cultural objects. The Ethnological Museum is the first university museum in Ethiopia, located in the main campus of Addis Ababa University. It was the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Day 02:- ADDIS ABABA TO AWASH NATIONAL PARK

On this day, we will drive to Awash National Park through the small town of Mila. In the afternoon, we will arrive in the park, located in the scenic dry acacia savanna of the Rift Valley. The skyline of the park is dominated by the jagged edges of Mount Fantelle, a dormant volcano whose crater towers above the surrounding bush.

Day 03:- AWASH NATIONAL PARK TO LOGIA

Today, you continue to drive through the Rift Valley into the Afar triangle, slowly loosing elevation. The landscape changes from savannah to steppe and half-desert, interrupted by oases from the Awash River. We will also have an opportunity to see the Kereyou tribes on the way. Overnight Tent (Bed, breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 04:- DRIVE INTO LAKE AFDERA – THE SALT LAKE

We will leave the main road and continue on an unpaved 4×4 road northwards into the Danakil. The trip leads through rugged moon-like landscapes, characterized by volcanic rifts and faults, young black lava flows, and gravel desert. As a result, we will be slowly losing altitude, and by the time we reach Lake Afdera, we will be 100m below sea level.

Day 05:- AFDERA DRIVE TO DODOM VILLAGE (BASE OF ERTA ALE)

This morning, we will see the salt workers and watch their fascinating technique to extract salt from the lake. Afterward, we will leave the tarmac and head out over the sand towards Erta Ale Volcano. After several hours, we will reach Kurswad, an Afar village where we will have lunch and pick up our local Afar guides.

Day 06:- ERTA ALE – AHMED ELA

This morning, we will leave camp and descend to the bottom of the mountain, then drive to Ahmed Ela. The driving is all off-road through the desert.

Day 07:-EXCURSION TO DALLOL

On this day, we will visit the salt workers and merchants around Lake Asela. Here, we will learn and observe how locals cut salt, shape it, and load it onto the endless camel caravans.

Day 08:- AHMED ELA TO MEKELLE

In the morning, we will watch thousands of camels leaving for the salt cutting area with a long line. Then, we drive to Mekelle. At a small, clear waterfall, we stop for lunch, to bath and clean the cars from the salt. In the late afternoon, we should already be back on the highland plateau where we stay the night in the town of Mekelle.

architectural style and all are superbly carved. There are 11 rock-cut churches of which the most impressive is Bet Giorgis. It is carved in the form of a Greek cross and it is exceptionally well preserved. Overnight in Maribela Hotel Lalibela (Bed and breakfast)

Day 11:- LALIBELA (UNSECO – WORLD HERITAGE SITE)

Today, we will visit the church of Yimrhane Kristos. This exquisite church, a masterpiece of Axumite wood and stone construction, is renowned for its interior decoration. It features a beautiful wooden coffer ceiling inlaid with hexagons and medallions with both figurative and geometric motifs.

Day 12:- FLY BACK TO ADDIS ABABA AND DEPARTURE TO HOME

On this day, we will fly back to Addis. This afternoon is free for last-minute shopping and exploring the city. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurants for a traditional dinner and live stage dances from different ethnic groups.