Embark on a 7-day adventure through Lalibela, Afar, Danakil Depression, and Erta Ale. Explore the rock-hewn churches, witness the active volcano, and discover the natural wonders of Ethiopia.
Embark on a 7-day adventure through Lalibela, Afar, Danakil Depression, and Erta Ale. Explore the rock-hewn churches, witness the active volcano, and discover the natural wonders of Ethiopia.
Fly from Addis Ababa to Lalibela
Lalibela - Take a morning flight from Addis to Lalibela. Upon arrival, a pickup service will drive you 30 minutes from the airport to the town through scenic countryside. Check into the hotel for lunch before beginning the exploration of the first group of the enigmatic Lalibela churches. Visit the initial group…
Fly from Addis Ababa to Lalibela
Lalibela - Take a morning flight from Addis to Lalibela. Upon arrival, a pickup service will drive you 30 minutes from the airport to the town through scenic countryside. Check into the hotel for lunch before beginning the exploration of the first group of the enigmatic Lalibela churches. Visit the initial group of churches and enjoy a leisurely walk to experience the town, especially the vibrant Saturday local market.
Asheton Maryam And Monastery of Yemrehanna Kristos
Asheton Maryam Monastery - Drive most of the way (35-40 minutes) and walk the last 20 minutes or choose to hike the entire route to the Asheton Maryam cave church. You have the option to hike or drive from the town. Return to Lalibela for lunch, then drive 42km to the Monastery of Yemrehanna Kristos, a distinctive wood and granite church built in a cavern before King Lalibela’s era; it’s the only floating church in the region. The Yimerhane Kirstos cave church is carved from marble stone under a massive cave. Walk into the backyard to see thousands of skeleton fossils of those who came to die in this sacred place.
Optional: If time permits, take a short walk to experience the town and enjoy the lively Saturday local market.
After visiting the churches, visit the renowned traditional honey wine bar to taste the home-brewed wine while enjoying cultural live music and dance performances.
Overnight:
Monastery of Nakutola’ab
Monastery of Na’akuto La’ab - After breakfast, drive to the airport, stopping en route at the Nakutola’ab monastery, located under a vast cave. This stunning semi-monolithic church represents the final stages of the Zagwe dynasty. Continue driving to the airport for departure to Addis Ababa.
Overnight: Hotel
Exploring the Danakil Depression and Dallol
Semera - Catch a morning flight to Semera. Upon arrival, meet your driver and begin the breathtaking tour of Afar. A 180km drive will take you to Afdera and then to Dodom, the base of Ertale. The journey traverses rugged moon-like landscapes, marked by volcanic rifts, faults, and young black lava flows. In Afdera, collect the local guide, camels, and policemen, and drive 90km to Dodmo, the base of Ertale, to set up camp at the volcano’s base. After dinner, climb the volcano. Camels will carry luggage and camping gear to set up camp on the caldera’s rim. Enjoy the awe-inspiring sight of the bubbling volcano overnight.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Drive to Dallol
Danakil Depression - Early morning (around 4:00 am), gather belongings and hike back to the base of Ertale. After breakfast, depart for Hamadela, driving through the otherworldly landscape to the salt mountain and salt mining area, where locals prepare salt bars and load them onto camels. These salt bars served as currency in the highlands for centuries. In the evening, enjoy a stunning sunset.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Drive to Erta Ale
Erta Ale - In the morning, enjoy the sunrise and camel caravan. Then drive to Dallol to see the vibrant sulfuric pools. Continue to Afdera. The beautiful emerald-hued Lake Afdera lies at 103 meters below sea level. Observe salt beds around the lake where salt is produced by evaporating the water. There will be time to swim in the freshwater hot springs before driving to Semera to catch the flight back to Addis.
———End of the tour———–
- Admission to top sights with East Africa Tour Operator
- Domestic flights included
- All meals covered: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Comfortable travel with in-vehicle air conditioning
- All fees and taxes taken care of
- Stay in midrange accommodations
- Admission to top sights with East Africa Tour Operator
- Domestic flights included
- All meals covered: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Comfortable travel with in-vehicle air conditioning
- All fees and taxes taken care of
- Stay in midrange accommodations
- Alcohol
- Alcohol
Get ready for an exceptional and personalized tour to the North and East, featuring the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the Afar region, the Danakil Depression, and Erta Ale, Ethiopia’s most active volcano, as well as Awash National Park.
Would you like to explore all the wonders our vibrant and beautiful country has to offer? We organize individual and…
Get ready for an exceptional and personalized tour to the North and East, featuring the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the Afar region, the Danakil Depression, and Erta Ale, Ethiopia’s most active volcano, as well as Awash National Park.
Would you like to explore all the wonders our vibrant and beautiful country has to offer? We organize individual and group tours to various locations across Ethiopia. Please let us know if you or anyone you know is interested in visiting any of these natural and cultural attractions.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
