Twelve days Denakil depression combined with historic route
Explore Tours
Tour Plan
You will be met on arrival in Addis Ababa this morning and transferred to hotel check-in.
After checking in, embark on a leisurely full-day tour of Addis Ababa. Founded in 1886 by Menelik II, Addis is located 2,500m above sea level in the Entoto mountain chain, where it
enjoys an excellent year-round climate, with an average temperature of 25°C. Start the tour with a visit to the National Museum which is among the best in Africa, containing an impressive collection of archaeological relics, foremost among them the plaster cast of "Lucy," the 3.2-million-year-old Hominid. After touring the museum, continue to the Ethnographic Museum which used to be the former palace of the late King Haile Selassie I. In the afternoon visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral the second holiest site in Ethiopia, and, time-allowing, end the day with a visit to Merkato, said to be Africa’s largest market of its kind followed by dinner in town.
Overnight: your hotel
The morning flies from Addis to Mekelle and on arrival met by your drivers and journey to the Denakil depression. The journey from Mekelle to Erta Ale volcano starts on the 2300m high plateau west of the Eastern African rift escarpment, proceeds across a series of west-dripping fault blocks of Mesozoic carbonate and clastic strata, and eventually descends to the shore of saline Lake Afrera at an elevation of -100m sea-level. We pass via Kusrawad, and here you will pick up local Afar men and local armed guards before heading to Erta Ale. Once we arrive at the base of Era Ale mountain prepare our gear loading on the camels.
Start hiking for about three hours to reach the top of the rim of the creator. The 613 m high Erta Ale boasts one of the few semi-permanent lava lakes in the world. The volcanoes along the belts are relatively young, mostly less than 1 million years. We will enjoy watching the volcano standing on the rim erupting from active fissures, themselves continuing to be dissected by active fault movements. Back to base camp to Overnight.
Overnight: Camping
Visit again for additional enjoyment the very early next morning and start walking down to where we left off vehicles. Afterward, a journey to Hamedella. Late afternoon, you will have a very good chance to see and photograph the salt caravans coming out from Salt Lake and heading back to the highlands with their camels loaded with salt bars.
Overnight: Camping
You will spend this day exploring the treasures of the Denakil Depression below sea level. The remote Denakil desert is a world of extremes with almost mythical quality. It has the hottest annual average daily temperature (34-°C), is one of the lowest elevations Lake Assale measuring -125 meters below sea level, and almost nothing lives there. The white salt plain, reflecting a blinding light (heat often reaching well over 50 degrees centigrade) is all that is left of a once extensive arm of the ocean (Denakil Sea). Driving on the salt takes you to the Dallol plains where you can experience the hottest weather and a unique landform created by intense tectonic force.
After you reach Dallol hike for about 30 minutes to reach Dallol halo-volcanic geothermal complex which is a unique and spectacular system in the remote Denakil depression. Brilliantly colored yellow and green acidic pools, massive terrace systems, noxious steaming fumaroles, and myriad mineral shapes and structures are the product of the magnetic intrusion of salt.
Salt extraction is an ancient business and very hard to work at 50 °C. You will be able to see the Afar and Tigrian men cutting, shaping, packing, and loading the Salt bars on camel and donkeys before a week's journey on the highlands. Back to camp and overnight
Overnight: Camping
Depart the Denakil depression to Gheralta, Tigray region, stopping en route to visit the dramatic Church of Abreha & Atsbeha, one of the most dramatic of the rock-hewn churches of Tigray. Dedicated to the famous kings of Axum, the two brothers, and 4th-century Christian convert Abreha & Atsbeha, this church is renowned for its magnificent 17th-century murals.
From Abreha & Atsbeha, continue diving to Hazen overnight.
Overnight: hotel (lodge)
Enjoy a morning hike to Mariam Korkur, a remote hilltop temple notable for its dramatic wall
paintings depicting St Mary and the Archangel Raphael, and for its dramatic views of Megab village and the surrounding hills. Reaching Mariam Korkur involves a quite steep climb of one and a half hours. If preferred, a less strenuous trek (40 mins) to Mariam Papseti is also possible.
Return to hotel (Lodge) for lunch. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: hotel (lodge)
Depart Gerealtha this morning and drive to Aksum, stopping en route to visit the ancient Temple of Yeha. A Sabean construction, Yeha is reputedly the oldest standing stone structure in Ethiopia, dating back to 700 BC. From Yeha, continue your journey, reaching your hotel in Aksum in time for lunch.
Ethiopia’s most ancient city and former capital of the great Aksumite kingdom was the only internationally recognized independent African monarchy of important power status in its age.
Your half-day tour of Aksum a UNESCO world heritage site will take in the main highlights, beginning with the famous granite monolithic obelisks dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings, before continuing to the church of Saint Mary of Zion, Ethiopia’s holiest temple, which houses the crowns of Ethiopian kings among other treasures. Afterward, visit the pair of tombs attributed to the sixth-century King Kaleb and his son. Take a short walk in the town before you return to the hotel.
Overnight: your hotel
In the morning we’ll depart from our hotel and we’ll also visit the Queen of Sheba Baths, a huge water reservoir that is carved into solid rock, and her palace before driving to the airport for our flight to Lalibela, a mountain town situated about 2600 m above sea level. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer to our hotel and check in. the mountain town of Lalibela is remote and it has long been a holdout for the Orthodox Ethiopian Church.
UNESCO world heritage site, Lalibela is of course most famous for its 12th-century monolithic churches, of which there are 11, each carved out of pink granite rock and collectively considered to be one of the wonders of the world. Each of the churches has a unique architectural style, though they share many features; most notably, each has been carved from the top down, a technique not practiced anywhere else in the world. The complex is divided into two groups of churches with each cluster representing the earthly and heavenly forms of Jerusalem. The churches are intertwined and connected by a warren of tunnels, some churches were chiseled into the face of the rock; others stand as isolated blocks, including the iconic church of Saint George (Ethiopia’s patron saint). For Orthodox Ethiopians, the pilgrimage to the churches of Lalibela, where services are still held daily. This afternoon we explore the northern complex visiting six churches.
Overnight: your hotel
In the morning, a trip to visit an ancient cave church that is one of the lesser-known treasures of the region Yimrehane Kristos. This church is built with stone and wood, in the late-Axumite style, and predates the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela by almost a century. As we explore the church, you may notice the large pile of bones at the back of the cavern they are the remains of some thousands of pilgrims who came here to die over the centuries.
We’ll hike back down to our vehicle and then drive back to Lalibela in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the second group of churches located very near the others. the churches in this second grouping differ greatly in architecture and style and feature more intricate exteriors along with interconnecting trenches and tunnels. Finally, visit the Church of Saint George (separated from the two groups) said by many the most beautiful church of Lalibela. Of all the churches at Lalibela, Beta Giyorgis is the best preserved and it is also one of the latest churches at the site.
Overnight: Hotel in Lalibela
After breakfast depart the hotel to the airport for your flight to Gondar.
Gondar was founded in the early seventeenth century as the capital city of the Ethiopian Empire during the reign of Fasilides. The town served as the imperial capital for about 250 years and has been the center of Ethiopian art and culture. Its unique imperial castles (UNESCO world heritage site) built during the 17th and 18th centuries by Fasildeus and his descendants display the era's rich architecture.
In the afternoon explore the walled royal enclosure that dominates the city center surrounded by high stone walls contains several well-preserved castles and other buildings. Of several old churches dotted around Gondar, Debre Berhan Selassie the most beautiful church with its walls and ceilings lavishly decorated represents a masterpiece of the Gonderine religious School of art.
Overnight: Hotel in Gondar
Leave Gondar this morning and drive to Bahirdar (approx. 4 hours).
On your way enjoy the beautiful landscape and the view of Lake Tana. Bahirdar is a pleasing city situated 1,800 meters above sea level located at the southern shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. On arrival check into your hotel for one night.
This afternoon, embark on a boat tour of Lake Tana to explore some of its unique island monasteries, including the famous 14th-century monastery of Ura Kidanemihret; then walk through the coffee trees to Azewa Maryam to see the wonderful 16th-century mural paintings,
crowns, crosses, and many old church treasures, and finally, cruise back to Bahirdar.
We’ll return to our hotel and dinner at the local restaurant, featuring traditional Ethiopian cuisine.
Overnight: your hotel
Late morning we’ll depart our hotel and head to the airport for a flight to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy the services of a day room at a hotel in Addis. Afternoon, enjoy some free time to do some last-minute shopping in Addis or to rest in your day room for this evening’s flight.
In the evening, farewell party at the traditional restaurant in Addis with a cultural special buffet and local drinks. After farewell dinner, depart to the airport for your return flight home.
End of tour
