This 15-day tour explores Danakil Depression, Erta Ale Volcano, Dallol, Lake Asale, Salt Mining and Ahmed Ella. It is designed for travelers interested in historical, cultural, religious, adventure experiences, combining important attractions with well-paced sightseeing and local discovery. The itinerary includes volcano trekking, salt mining visit, camel caravan viewing and church visit. Wildlife sightings may include None specified.
Day 1: Arrival – Sightseeing Addis (The new Flower)
You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Refresh and begin your sightseeing of Addis with a drive up to mount Entoto for a panoramic view of Addis. Descend down and drive to the National Museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of ‘Lucy’ fossil. Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during WWII. Then proceed to the Ethnographic museum, which use to be the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. To wrap up you drive to merkato, the biggest market in East Africa. Overnight at hotel/lodge.
Day 2: Sightseeing Bahir Dar
After breakfast, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th-century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries. Afternoon, you will drive to the village of Tis Issat to see the Blue Nile Falls. (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal because of the construction of the new dam.) Overnight at hotel/lodge.
Day 3: Drive Bahir Dar – Gondar (180 km 3 – 4 hrs drive) (The Camelot of Africa)
After breakfast, you will begin your journey to Gondar. The Royal Capital of Ethiopia, Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasilides. In the afternoon you will visit the city of Gondar with the drive to the Castles and Churches built by Emperor Fasilides and his descendants. Proceed to the fascinating Debre Berhan Selassie (The Enlightening of Trinity) with Wonderful murals art, Qusquam Church. Overnight in Gondar.
Day 4: Drive Gondar – Sanqaber
This day you will have an excursion to Sanqaber a segment of the Semen Mountain. This is a sight, which is termed as the wildest and spectacular of all Ethiopian landscapes- ‘the roof of Africa.’ Observe the magnificent scenery. Overnight at hotel/lodge.
Day 5: Drive To Axum
Today you will be driving to Axum via seeing the stunning landscapes of Lima Limo and the George of Tekeze and you will show you some local houses that made from stone and you will see how they are preparing local drinks …you will arrive in Axum later in the afternoon. Overnight in Axum.
Day 6: Sightseeing Axum
A city more than 2500 years of history, once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization, home of the original Ark of covenants, Axum is the prime historical site in the north of Ethiopia. Take a city tour that include the St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the ‘Ark of covenant’, the coronation yard, Stelae Park, Tomb of Kaleb and his son Gebre Meskel, Ezana’s Inscriptions, Queen of Sheba’s Bath, Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins and Axum Museum. Overnight in Axum.
Day 7: Drive Axum – Hawzen
This day you will drive to Hawzen visiting en route the Yeha 5th century Temple displaying incredible skills in stonework and is, in fact, the oldest building still standing in Ethiopia. Later after lunch in the town of Adigrat, you will visit the church of St Daniel prayer in Gheralta.
Overnight Home Stay in Hawzen
Day 8: Hawzen – Mekele
After breakfast, you will climb the Abuna Yemata Guh churches in the cluster of Gheralta then after lunch we driving to Mekele and on the way you will have a chance of seeing the Tigray churches of Wukero Cherko & Abrha Wasba. Overnight in Mekele.
Day 9: Mekele – Drive to Dodom – Volcano
This day on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport you will couch your flight to Mekele then you drive from Mekele to – Dodom. you start early drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). Leave after an early breakfast, possible at 07:30. This is maybe one of the worst roads in the world. The 70 km distance may take about 5 hrs passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm lined oasis. After you pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert land, Dodom is about 9.5km from Erta Ale and it takes about 3 hrs trekking. Early dinner around 17:00 and trek up to Erta Ale at 20:00 hours. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. Overnight on the top of the mountain. Erta Ale is 613 meters, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century.
Overnight camping on the mountain
Day 10: Dodom – Ahmed Ella
Descend from Erta Ale around 9 am Dodom – Ahmed Ella. Leave back to Dodom after an early breakfast, if possible at 07:00. You will reach the latest at 10:30 am at the camp, time to relax. After drive to reach Ahmed Ella, a better village with a total population of about 500 people.
Overnight Hamedela (camping)
Day 11: Hamedela – Mekele
Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look at the activity of breaking the salt from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Asale + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Asale, follow up camel caravans and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele. Overnight in Mekele.
Day 12: Drive Mekele – Lalibela
After an early breakfast, start the journey to the town of Lalibela via Sokoto observing the beautiful landscape. Overnight in Lalibela.
Day 13: Sightseeing Lalibela
The eighth wonder of world Heritage’ Lalibela is famous for its underground rock-hewn cathedrals. In the afternoon you will visit the top attractions of Lalibela that will simply stagger you. Overnight in Lalibela.
Day 14: Excursion to Yimrehane Kristos
Morning you will take an excursion to visit Yimrehane Kirstos, located in a mountain ridge, in the peak of Abuna Yosep. This exquisite church, a masterpiece of Axumite wood and stone construction and renewed for its interior decoration. The walls are subdivided vertically with recessions and projections. In the afternoon you will visit the remaining churches.
Overnight Home Stay In Lalibela
Day 15: Drive Lalibela – Addis – Departures
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa.
In the evening attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The traditional coffee ceremony will also be served. Later, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure
