Danakil Depression and Tigray Region

Welcome to Ethiopia! Your adventure begins in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our airport representative who will then transfer you to the hotel for check in. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure.

You will also meet your driver guide today for the tour briefing so that he/she can be able to take you through the itinerary. The guide will also be able to answer any of your questions related to your trip. 

Included Activities

• Airport Arrival Transfer

Meals Included

• No meals

Accommodation: Golden Royal Hotel or similar

After breakfast, you will join your guide for a sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa. You will visit the most emblematic points such as the National Museum, Meskel Square, The Holy Trinity Church, The Menelik Mausoleum and many more.

The National Museum is where you will find the remains of “Lucy”, an early hominid fossils dating back to 3.5 million years ago, discovered in Ethiopia’s Awash Valley in the Afar triangle in 1974.

After the tour, you will be taken back to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Included Activities

• Addis Ababa city tour

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• dinner

Accommodation: Golden Royal Hotel or similar

After breakfast, we will check out and transfer to the airport for our flight to the northern city of Mekelle, where your driver guide will be waiting to pick you up and transfer to the town of Wukro. This afternoon will be spent at leisure but if time allows then we might visit the nearby rock-hewn churches.

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Accommodation: Fiseha Hotel or similar

We will have breakfast then afterwards drive northwest of Wukro to visit the rock-hewn churches in the area including the church of Wukro-Cherkos and Abreha Wo Atsebeha. The other rock church available in the area include that of Abuna Yemata Guh found in Hawzen area situated at 2580 meters above the sea level.

 Later, we will return back to the lodge for lunch and the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

 Included Activities

• Rock-hewn Church of Wukro-Cherkos
• Abreha Wo Atsebeha

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Accommodation: Fiseha Hotel or similar

After breakfast, we will depart Wukro town and drive to the village of Berhale for lunch then later proceed to Hamedela for the night. The road down to Danakil depression is scenic and spectacular with several camel caravans along the way coming out of the salt mine carrying blocks of salt strapped on their backs.

The Danakil depressions comprises of Dallol which has several areas lying 120 meters below the sea level, making it one of the most inhospitable places on planet due to its extreme hot climatic conditions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that today will be pure basic camping under the stars with limited facilities. There will be no hotel or rooms available in the area as well. Just a mattress and a blanket and the rest of the night will be fine if you like watching shootings stars or spotting planets above the sky with your naked eyes.  

There will be a cook also preparing our meals starting from Danakil until the last day when we return back to Mekelle city.

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Accommodation: Basic camping with limited facilities.

We will get up early in the morning for breakfast before driving to the far end of Lake Assal to visit more geological landmarks such as the active hydrothermal system and various hot springs within the area. The hot water that is pushed out to the surface from underground after being heated by magma contains minerals that oxidizes to create colorful salt formations that fills the area.

We will do a short walking tour within this site before proceeding with our journey to the base of Erta Ale volcano. This region is very hot and sometimes the temperature can go high up to 45 degrees Celsius.

Today at night after dinner, you will hike up to the rim of the crater and witness the red-glowing magma inside the crater. We will spend some time there then later return back to our camp for the night. The volcano is 613 meters high and is one of the most fascinating natural attraction in Ethiopia and the world.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Just like the previous night, Please note that today will be another night of pure basic camping under the stars with limited facilities. There will be no hotel or rooms available in the area as well. Just a mattress and a blanket and the rest of the night will be fine if you like watching shootings stars or spotting planets above the sky with your naked eyes.  

Included Activities

• Dallol hydrothermal tour
• Erta ale volcano hike

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Accommodation: Basic camping with limited facilities

After breakfast, we will drive back to Mekelle and if time allows then we will visit the Allolabad hot springs en route to Mekelle. The hot springs have unusual deep hole of blue or yellow color filled with hot water boiling at a temperature of 97-110 degrees Celsius.

Upon arrival in Mekelle, we will check in and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Alternatively, you can explore this fast growing city and join the locals for a cup of Buna (locally brewed coffee)

The trip comes to an end today after breakfast and no activities are planned. Please feel free to depart any time based on your flight timings.

Kindly notify the driver guide about your departure times so that he/she can be able to organize for your transfer back to Addis Ababa in advance.

Included Activities

• Airport Departure Transfer

Meals Included

• Breakfast

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

If you would like to extend your trip to southern Ethiopia for another leg of Omo Valley cultural tour (charged separately), then feel free to contact us and we would be glad to arrange for you this post-trip extension.