Adventure tour to Denakil Depression

Danakil is one of the most inhospitable regions of the world but is nonetheless spectacular, full of eye - catching colors, as in the super springs.

8 DAYS and 7 NIGHTS BY SURFACE AND FLIGHT Via MEKELE

DAY 1:- ADDIS ABABA - ADDIS ABABA

Early morning land at Bole International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Check in and have short time to rest. After a little rest enjoy a tour to visit Trinity Cathedral, the largest and most revered of all the churches.Continue to the EthnologicalMuseum, an ideal place to start learning about Ethiopia’s rich ethnic diversity. View an impressive array of religious cross, triptychs and murals, as well asEmperor Haile Selassie’s bedroom and bathroom.

We also visit the National Museum, whose most important exhibit is a replica of the skull of Lucy, then continue to Entoto Mountain, the site from which Addis Ababa’s founder, Menelik, descended down to the plains and enjoy panoramic views of the metropolis and the Entoto Mountain Range. Overnight stay hotel.

DAY2:-ADDIS ABABA - WELDIA(521Kms)

Morning after breakfast drive to Weldia and en route visit the panoramic view of the shoawa plateau (TarmaBer and DebreSina), this day we will also be admired by the historical monastery of HaikIstifanos which is prohibited for ladies. Besides if the day is Sunday you will visit the colorful market Senbete/Sunday Market.  Overnight Stay hotel in Woldia.

DAY 3:- WELDIA -MEKELE (257km)

Drive to Mekelle, the capital of Tigray regional state, en route visit the Amhara and Tigrean people and enjoy with the dramatic view of the landscapes Kobo chain mountains and daily market of Kobo. Overnight stay hotel.

DAY 4:- MEKELE - BERAHILLE - AHMED ELLA (170km)

After breakfast, early in the morning drive to Berahille, which is situated at an altitude of 1000m (it is neither truly of the high land nor truly of the desert) to obtain the permit to proceed towards Ahmed Ela and Dallol. After lunch drive continue to Ahmed Ela.It is agreeable point of transition between the natural beauty and the town serves as an important stop on the salt caravan trail b/n Danakil and Mekelle. En-routeyou will see caravans passing through Berhaile against a backdrop of dramatic sunsets.(3-4hrs drive)Overnight camping at Ahmed Ela.

 DAY 5:- AHMED ELA - DODOOM - ERTA ALLE 

Drive from Ahmed Ela through Berhale. The rough road may take about 6hrs passing through changing of the landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and the occasional palm lined oasis. You pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert before reaching Dodoom.

After having additional permit in KURSUAD, and having early dinner in Erta Ale, trek 15 kilometers(3hrs) to the ErtaAlle volcano lake, 613 meters above sea level.  Arrive at ErtaAlle around midnight and walk to see the spectacular volcanic eruption. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food, sleeping materials, mattresses and water to the rim of the volcano where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Set up camp and rest near, but far, from the eruption.  Erta Ale contains the world's only permanent lava lake and you will spend an unforgettable night on top of the mountain. Overnight Camping.

DAY 6:-  ERTA ALLE - AHMED ELA

Early morning you will rise with the sun and it is time to walk around pits and craters. Then you will leave around 7:00am to head back to Dodoom around 10:30am for breakfast at the camp. After relaxing and taking enough rest drive back to Ahmed Ela for camping.

DAY 7:- AHMED ELA - DALLOL - BERHALE -  MEKELE 

AM drive toAsalemountain and watch the salt workers as they cut bricks of salt from the lake bed.  The bricks are then loaded on camel caravans for transport to the highlandsto be sold on the market.  Proceed to Dallol and view the dramatic and colorful geological formations caused by the hot springs rich in sulfur, potash, and salt.  Proceed driving to Mekele.  En route visit an Afar village perched on the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley.Overnight stay hotel.

DAY 8:- MEKELE - ADDIS ABABA

Fly to Addis Ababa, take rest and shopping in the souvenir shops.  Farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing the country's many ethnic groups.

Extension TOURS based on your interest

After we finish the Danakil tour, it is possible to visit Tigray/Geraelta Rock hewn churches, attractions in Axum, Semein mountains National park, Gondar, and Baherdar.  Or you can visit Lalibela Rock hwen churches only.

OPTION 2

7 DAYS  AND 6 NIGHTS BY FLIGHT, and  SURFACE VIA AFDERA

DAY 1:- ADDIS ABABA - ADDIS ABABA

Am land at Bole International Airport and transfer to the hotel. After check in and take some rest, make a city tour over the capital. Overnight stay hotel.

DAY 2:- ADDIS ABABA - MEKELE- BERAHILLE - AHMED ELLA

Morning after breakfast flight to Mekele, capital of Tigray regional state. Then after arrival proceed driving to Berah Ale. Get your permit to proceed towards Ahmed Ela and Dallol. After lunch drive continue to Ahmed Ela. En-route you will see caravans passing through Berhaile against a backdrop of dramatic sunsets.(3-4hrs drive) Overnight camping at Ahmed Ella.

DAY 3:- AHMED ELLA - DALLOL(30KMS) - BERHALE -  ABAALA(110 ASPHALT) 

AM drive to AsaleMountain (12kms) and watch the salt workers as they cut bricks of salt from the lake bed. Proceed to Dallol and view the dramatic and colorful geological formations caused by the hot springs rich in sulfur, potash, and salt. Driving to Abaala through Berehale for overnight stay on either traditional hotel or camp.

 DAY 4:- ABAALA – ERTA-ALLE (220Kms Asphalt and sandy)

Drive from Abaala through Erebti or Kursuwad where you will have lunch, to ErtaAlle..

After having additional permit, and early dinner, trek 15 kilometers (3hrs) to the ErtaAlle volcano lake. After arrival we will set up camp and rest near, but far, from the eruption.  ErtaAlle contains the world's only permanent lava lake and you will spend an unforgettable night on top of the mountain. Overnight Camping.

DAY 5:- ERTAALE – AFDERA (AROUND 56KMS ASPHALT ANDGRAVEL) - SEMERA 

Early morning you will rise with the sun and it is time to walk around pits and craters. Then you will leave around 7:00am to head back to ErtaAlle/Dodom where the vehicles are parked around 10:30am for breakfast at the camp. After relaxing and taking enough rest, proceed driving to Semera via Afdera where you will have lunch.  En-route you will visit Afdera salt lack (220kms Asphalt to Semera) and the hot spring where you can swim or wash. Overnight stay hotel.  

DAY 6:- SEMERA - AWASH NATIONAL PARK (317kms)

Am after having lunch box drive to Awash National park en-route visit different landscape of the Afar region. Late in the afternoon excursion in Awash National park, the 1^st national park in Ethiopia. Spotting various wild life/the game drives, various specious of birds and enjoying the spectacular scenery of the Awash fall/gorge, and it is most preferred site for bird watching. Overnight in Lodge which is in the park.

DAY 7:- AWASH NATIONAL PARK - ADDIS ABABA(225kms)

After you visit the hot spring and some more animals in the park, precede drive to Addis Ababa. After arrival Addis Ababa take rest and shopping in the souvenir shops.  Farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing the country's many ethnic groups. Then late evening transfer out to Bole international airport.

EASTERN ROUT EXTENSION

DAY 8:- AWASH NATIONAL PARK – HARAR (300kms)

After having some more visits in the park, proceed driving to Harar, en-route sightseeing of different ethnic groups like Afar, Oromo & others.  Harar is found on the Eastern wall of the Great rift valley where the location gives wonderful views of the surrounding country- the vast Danakil desert to the North, the fertile Harar mountains to the West, and the cattle rich Ogaden Plains to the South. Overnight stay hotel.

DAY 9:- FULL DAY EXCURSSION IN THE HARER CITY

After breakfast you will visit the medieval walled down town of Jogol with 6 gates and where different, vibrant colourful markets, cultural life of Hereri people and other cultural attractions are spotted. Besides worth of mosques, minarets, baskets & center of Muslim learning will be visited. Visit the house of the French poet Arthur Rimbaud, the Muslim and Christian market, Harari traditional houses (beautifully decorated). At night attend the hyena feeding (you can try it). Overnight stay hotel. 

DAY 10:- HARRAR - ADDIS ABEBA (525KMS)

Early in the morning drive back to Addis Ababa & have lunch at AsebeTeferi (Agape lodge). En-route sightseeing the territory of Afar, and the coffee & chat plantation.

After arrival Addis Ababa take rest and shopping in the souvenir shops.  Then late evening transfer out to Bole international airport.

 Remark it is also possible to drive to Dredawa town and after visiting the Rail way station and the traditional spice markets in Dredawa, fly back to Addis Ababa from Dredawa.