3-Day All Inclusive Danakil Depression and Tigray Church

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Addis Ababa - Semera - Danakil Depression

Pickup from the Hotel/apartment in Addis Ababa and transfer to the Airport and meet your specialized Afar guide and 4x4 vehicles to commence the expedition.

The journey is an adventure in itself, driving across a surreal, sun-baked plain. You'll pass the shimmering, mineral-rich waters of Lake Afdera, a vast salt lake where local Afar people harvest salt, set against a dramatic volcanic backdrop.

Arriving at the Ertale campsite in the afternoon, you'll prepare for the ascent. As the intense heat wanes, you begin the approximately 40-minute trek across the volcano's blackened basalt shield. Reaching the rim in the late afternoon is a moment of pure awe.

Before you lies Erta Ale, one of the planet's few permanent lava lakes. The sight of the churning, incandescent magma in its caldera is an unforgettable, primordial spectacle. You will spend the evening on the summit, witnessing the lake's hypnotic activity intensify under the starry desert sky—a truly unparalleled experience.

Main Destination:

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Ertale Volcano - Dalol

After an early breakfast at the campsite, we begin our drive across the otherworldly Danakil Depression. Our first stop is Lake Asebo, the primary salt mining area. Here, you will witness the ancient, back-breaking work of the Afar salt miners as they break the thick salt crust into large rectangular slabs, which are then loaded onto camel caravans for their long journey to the highlands.

We then continue to Dallol, a place that feels like another planet. Situated over 130 meters below sea level, it is one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth. An excursion on foot will lead you through an impossible landscape of neon-yellow, green, and orange hydrothermal fields, bizarre sulfur formations, and bubbling acidic ponds—a breathtaking display of geological forces.

The day concludes with a visit to the vast, crystalline salt pans of Lake Assal before we set up our basic camping facilities for the night in the heart of this extraordinary desert, under an immense canopy of stars.

Main Destination:

Hamad Ela (Village)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Dalol - Gheralta - Mekele - Addis Ababa

We begin before dawn, driving across the salt flats to witness a spectacular sunrise over the Dallol hydrothermal field. The low morning light sets the vibrant mineral deposits ablaze with color, creating an unforgettable photographic opportunity and a final farewell to this alien landscape.

After returning to camp for breakfast, we commence our long but fascinating drive west, ascending dramatically from the searing lowlands of the Danakil to the cool highlands.

En route to our flight to Mekele, we will stop to visit one or more of the renowned Tigray churches. These remarkable sanctuaries, rock hewn directly into the faces of sheer sandstone cliffs, are accessible only by foot—sometimes involving a short, scenic hike or even a climb with rock-hewn steps. They offer a profound sense of peace, ancient history, and breathtaking views over the Gheralta plateau. Transfer to Mekele airport for evening departure back to Addis Ababa.

Main Destination:

Mekele (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.