12 Days Eastern Ethiopia and Danakil tours

Trip summary

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 the real adventures in the Danakil Depression to see the active volcanoes, the cultural value of the Afar tribes, watching one of the most challenging activist of traditional salt cutting workers in the field, enjoying with the beautiful camels caravans and the colorful grounds of the Dallol area, you are here in your perfect custom designed tour packages that suites your interest. This package tour also includes a visit to Awash National Park and a sightseeing tour to the impressive Rock- churches of Lalibela.

Program in detail

Day 01:- Arrival and City Tour

You will meet our staff upon arrival from international flight & take to your hotel for some refreshment. You will begin sightseeing of Addis with the Ethnological Museum houses anthropological, musicological and cultural objects. The Ethnological Museum is the first university museum in Ethiopia. The Museum is in the main Campus of Addis Ababa University which houses the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, and it was the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. Then drive to National Museum, it contains many precious local archaeological finds such as the fossilized remains of early hominids, the most famous of which is “Lucy,” the partial skeleton of a specimen of Australopithecus Afarensis. Recently added to the basement gallery is a display on Selam, found between 2000 and 2004. This archaic fossil is estimated to date 3.3 million years ago. Overnight Aya Addis Hotel Addis Ababa (Bed and breakfast)

Day 02:- ADDIS ABABA TO AWASH NATIONAL PARK

This day, we will drive to the Awash National Park through the small town of Mila. In the afternoon arrive in the park, the scenic Awash National Park located in the 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. This afternoon we will have an opportunity to visit its splendid waterfall spilling into a 150m gorge. We may also could spot some of the park’s wildlife. The most visible large mammals are Beisa Oryx, Soemmerring’s gazelle and Slat’s dik-dik. Overnight Doho Lodge (Bed and breakfast)

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 leave the main road and continue an unpaved 4×4 road northwards into the Danakil. The trip leads through rugged moon-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. As we will reach there in a good time, we will have a chance to visit the interesting saline, where pure salt is being produced. Overnight Tent (Bed, breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

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

This morning, we will see the salt workers in the morning and watch the interesting technique to gain salt from the lake and then we leave the tarmac and head out over the sand towards Erta Ale Volcano. After several hours we reach Kurswad, an Afar village where we have lunch and pick up our local Afar guides. We then continue through the desert where we reach the basalt rock formed by old lava flows. A slow and bumpy drive brings us to the base of Erta Ale Volcano. After loading up the camels we will start our trek to the rim of the volcano at around sunset, to avoid walking during the heat of the day. The trek will take about 4 – 5 hours, with the latter part of the walk taking part in the dark. The gently climbing hike itself follows interesting lava formations. The path is not that steep, but it is important that everyone has a torch and sticks together. We camp on the crater rim, a safe distance away from the lava and enjoy watching the Erta Ale, which is an active volcano and it has a spectacular sight. Overnight Tent (Bed, breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 06:- ERTA ALE – AHMED ELA

This morning, we leave camp and descend to the bottom of the mountain and then driving to Ahamd Ala. Driving is all off road, through the desert. In the late afternoon, we will arrive at Ahmed Ala, a small settlement where the salt caravans meet before their long walk to Mekele. In the afternoon and evening, we can watch the endless camel caravans coming and going: arriving empty they are met by the ones leaving packed full with precious salt blocks. Overnight Tent (Bed, breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 07:-EXCURSION TO DALLOL

On this day, we will visit the salt workers and the merchant at around Lake Asela. Here, we will learn and observe how the locals doing salt cutting, shaping and then loading to the endless Camel Caravans. Keep driving to Dallol and along the way enjoy views of the small hills and colorful hot spring in several places. These hot springs are composed of different minerals along with Sulphur and potash and create spectacular colors. Dallol is renowned as being the hottest inhabited place on earth; between 1960 and 1966 an average annual temperature of 34°C (94°F) was recorded. Drive back to our camp site in the late afternoon. Overnight Tent (Bed, breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

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’s beautiful wooden coffer ceiling inlaid with hexagons and medallions with both figurative and geometric motifs. Drive back to Lalibela. In the afternoon, we will visit the remaining rock-hewn churches of Lalibela that include the churches of Bete Gabriel and Rafael, Merkorous, Emanuel and Abba Libanos. Bete Emanuel is the best in this group and exceptionally carved with unique Axumite building features, such as the indentations on the walls, symbols of the multi-story building taken from the stelae of Axum, monkey heads and false windows. Overnight in Maribela Hotel Lalibela (Bed and breakfast)

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 the last minutes of shopping and exploring the city. In the evening, we will have a fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurants for traditional dinner and live stage dances from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for your departure to Home or to your next destination.