$3,080 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Addis Ababa Arrival
Addis Ababa Arrival
Pick-up from the airport and transfer to your hotel for check-in. In the late afternoon, enjoy a gentle city walk to stretch after your flight, followed by a stop at a modern supermarket for essentials. In the evening, dine at one of Addis Ababa’s finest restaurants, sampling authentic Ethiopian cuisine alongside international options. This first day is relaxed, allowing you to adjust and prepare for the adventure ahead. Overnight in Addis Ababa.
- Main Destination:
- Addis Ababa (City)
- Accommodation:
- Swiss Inn Nexus Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Addis – Bahir Dar (Lake Tana & Blue Nile Falls)
Addis – Bahir Dar (Lake Tana & Blue Nile Falls)
Fly to Bahir Dar, where you’ll begin with a boat trip across Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake. Visit Ura Kidane Mehret Monastery on the Zege Peninsula, known for its vibrant murals and centuries-old manuscripts. Walk through surrounding coffee farms to learn about traditional cultivation, roasting, and join a tasting during an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. In the afternoon, drive to the Blue Nile Falls, Tis Issat, to admire Ethiopia’s most famous waterfall. Overnight in Bahir Dar.
Day 3
Bahir Dar – Lalibela (via Awramba Village)
Bahir Dar – Lalibela (via Awramba Village)
After breakfast, drive toward Lalibela, stopping at Awramba village, a model community known for weaving, collective farming, education, and equality-focused traditions. Tour their workshops, schools, and homes before continuing to Lalibela. In the evening, visit a local kitchen for a cooking class: learn to prepare injera, shiro, and doro wat, then share a traditional meal. Conclude with a coffee ceremony before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Lalibela.
- Main Destination:
- Lalibela (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Sora Lodge Lalibela
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Full-Day Lalibela Churches & Farming Tour
Full-Day Lalibela Churches & Farming Tour
Dedicate the day to exploring Lalibela’s iconic rock-hewn churches. Begin with the Northern Cluster, including Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Maryam, and Bete Golgotha Mikael, each with unique artistry and spiritual heritage. After lunch, visit the Eastern Cluster and finish with the iconic cross-shaped Bete Giyorgis. Later, take part in a farming tour, learning about local crops, ox-plowing, and seasonal harvesting. Share a farm-to-table meal before returning to town. Overnight in Lalibela.
- Main Destination:
- Lalibela (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Sora Lodge Lalibela
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Lalibela – Food & Drink Immersion
Lalibela – Food & Drink Immersion
This morning, join a family to learn traditional injera-making, from fermenting teff batter to cooking on a clay griddle. Taste warm injera with local stews. Continue to a household brewery to watch the preparation of tela, a traditional barley-based beer flavored with gesho leaves. Taste freshly brewed tela and enjoy lunch pairing these unique flavors. In the afternoon, browse a market for local ingredients and handicrafts. Overnight in Lalibela.
- Main Destination:
- Lalibela (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Sora Lodge Lalibela
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Lalibela – Semera (Danakil Gateway)
Lalibela – Semera (Danakil Gateway)
Leave Lalibela for Semera, the starting point for the Danakil Depression adventure. The drive takes you through striking landscapes and highland plateaus, with stops for photos and a lunch break along the way. Arrive in Semera by evening and settle in. Prepare for the upcoming volcanic expedition, as this marks the shift from cultural discovery to geological wonders. Overnight in Semera.
- Main Destination:
- Semera (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Kuriftu Afar Semera Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Semera – Erta Ale Volcano
Semera – Erta Ale Volcano
Depart early for a 5–6 hour drive to Erta Ale, one of the world’s few continuously active volcanoes. Arrive at base camp by late afternoon, then trek for about 40 minutes to the crater rim. Witness the mesmerizing glow of molten lava, an unforgettable natural spectacle. Spend time exploring the rugged terrain and photographing the fiery landscape before returning to camp for the night. Overnight camping in open air near Erta Ale.
- Main Destination:
- Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)
- Accommodation:
- Ahmed Ela Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Erta Ale – Hamed Ela (Salt Flats)
Erta Ale – Hamed Ela (Salt Flats)
After breakfast, drive around 3 hours to Hamed Ela, the hub of the Danakil salt flats. After settling in and lunch, take a late-afternoon excursion to the salt lakes. Watch the golden sunset reflected across endless salt plains and see Afar workers carving blocks of salt by hand. This surreal landscape provides stunning photography opportunities. Return to camp for dinner and stargazing. Overnight camping in open area.
- Main Destination:
- Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)
- Accommodation:
- Ahmed Ela Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Hamed Ela – Dallol – Hawzen
Hamed Ela – Dallol – Hawzen
This morning, drive to Dallol, one of Earth’s most otherworldly landscapes.
Explore its colorful sulfur springs, bubbling acidic pools, and salt mountains. Visit local salt mining areas, where camel caravans transport blocks across the desert. After exploring, continue the drive north to Hawzen, a quiet Tigray village surrounded by mountains and churches. Settle into a guest lodge for a restful evening. Overnight in Hawzen.
- Main Destination:
- Hawzen (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Vision Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Hawzen – Tigray Churches – Axum
Hawzen – Tigray Churches – Axum
Begin with Abuna Yemata Guh, a cliffside church reached by a thrilling climb, rewarding you with ancient frescoes and spiritual ambiance. Continue to Mariam Korkor or Daniel Korkor for panoramic views over the Gheralta plateau. After a picnic lunch, drive onward to Axum, Ethiopia’s ancient capital and heart of the Axumite civilization. Arrive in the evening and check into your hotel. Overnight in Axum.
- Main Destination:
- Axum (City)
- Accommodation:
-
Sabean International Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 11
Axum Exploration – Return to Addis
Axum Exploration – Return to Addis
Spend the morning exploring Axum’s treasures. Visit the Northern Stelae Field with its towering obelisks, the ruins of the Queen of Sheba’s Palace, and the Ezana Stone with trilingual inscriptions. Discover the Church of St. Mary of Zion, believed to house the Ark of the Covenant, and explore the tombs of ancient Axumite kings. In the afternoon, fly back to Addis Ababa for an overnight stay.
- Main Destination:
- Addis Ababa (City)
- Accommodation:
- Swiss Inn Nexus Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 12
Addis Ababa City & Departure
Addis Ababa City & Departure
On your final day, explore Addis Ababa. Visit the bustling Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market, and Entoto Mountain for sweeping city views and historic churches. Stop at a local café to savor Ethiopia’s world-famous coffee. After lunch, transfer to the airport for your international departure, marking the end of your journey through Ethiopia’s cultural, historic, and natural wonders.
- Main Destination:
- Addis Ababa (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
