8-Day Danakil Depression and Tigray Churches Tour

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

Cultural & Historical City Tour- Adds Ababa

Cultural & Historical City Tour – Addis Ababa

Begin your Ethiopian journey with a comprehensive exploration of the bustling capital city, blending royal heritage, grand architecture, and lively street life. Highlights Include: Mount Entoto, where a scenic drive delivers panoramic views of Addis and a window into the origins of the city as Emperor Menelik II’s capital; Entoto Village Visit, offering a hands‑on cultural experience with injera baking, Ethiopia’s beloved national dish. St. George’s Cathedral awaits with its striking octagonal design and a deep link to Ethiopia’s victory at the Battle of Adwa. The National Museum of Ethiopia showcases Lucy, the 3.2‑million‑year‑old hominid, alongside rich archaeological finds, traditional attire, weaponry, and art that narrate the country’s long, proud history. Merkato (Addis Mercato) invites you to navigate Africa’s largest open‑air market, where your guide reveals ending your tour with a sensory celebration of Ethiopian hospitality.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Best Western Premier Dynasty Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

+8 Photos

+7 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly from Addis Ababa to Axum Cradle of Ethiopian civilization

Axum City Tour

On arrival at the Airport, you’ll be welcomed by our agent, After check-in, explore Axum’s famed landmarks: the towering obelisks, underground tombs, Ezana inscriptions, tombs of King Kaleb and G/Meskel, St. Mary of Zion Church, and the legendary Queen of Sheba’s palace, plus the town’s scenic beauty.

Main Destination:

Axum (City)

Accommodation:

Sabean International Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Axum (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Axum to Gheralta

Axum - Gheralta
Early in the morning after breakfast, we drive to the great temple of Yeha, the center of Sabean civilization 55km east of Axum via the historic mountains of Adwa. Then we continue our tour to visit one of the ancient monasteries of Debre Damo dating back to the 6th century A.D. The only access to climb to the magnificent church is using a leather rope and climbing a 15m high cliff. This flat-topped mountain is a spectacular and very religious site for Orthodox Christians found in Ethiopia.
After that we head to Adigrat town for lunch and late afternoon, passing through the chain mountains, the beautiful landscape of Tigray and we will drive over 3000m to reach the town. In the afternoon, we continue our drive to stay for.

Main Destination:

Hawzen (Town)

Accommodation:

Gheralta Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Tigray

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Visit Gheralta Churches

Visit Gheralta Churches

Today you’ll hike the stunning rock-hewn churches around the Gheralta mountains. In the morning, explore Mariam Korkor and Daniel Korkor, marveling at their carved façades and serene interiors. In the afternoon, continue to Mariam Papasit Church to absorb more of this remarkable sacred landscape.

Main Destination:

Gheralta Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Gheralta Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Tigray

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Gheralta - Mekelle

Gheralta - Mekele
After breakfast, we drive west of Hawzien to visit one of the most remarkable churches in Abune Yemata, built on a hill. It takes an hour to hike to the mountain, and the church is famous for its paintings, challenging climb, treasures, and stunning views of the Gheralta area.

Next, we drive to Abraha We Atsibeha church, built by two Axumite kings in the 4th century A.D., and then to Wukro for lunch. Finally, we head to the northern star city of Mekele for an overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Hawzen (Town)

Accommodation:

Planet Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Mekele (City)

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+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive from Mekelle to Hamedila

Drive from Mekelle to Hamedila
After breakfast, we will start the most beautiful landscape going down to the Danakil depression. It will be fully scenic and beautiful to see as we will drive through dead volcanic rocks. We will make several stops for photos, lunch, and coffee as we arrive at the main camping site -
Hamedila. Upon arrival, we will proceed to the most beautiful sunset over the Asale Salt Lake: we will walk on the lake ( Sandals would be needed here), and maybe join a group of tourists who might be swimming at a small salt Lake. Late evening, we will drive back to the camping site for overnight at the open-air place watching the beautiful sky full of stars.

Main Destination:

Danakil Depression (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive to Eartale Volcano

Wake up early morning to drive to the lowest place on the planet - Dallol. This is going to be another breathtaking view of the diversified colors of several minerals including Salt, Sulphur, magnesium, potash, and many more. We walk on top of these several colors and witness some active bubbling of these minerals: when finished with the excursions, drive back to another site where the huge Salt Mountains are situated. We will drive out of Dallol for a picnic lunch and continue driving to Afdera and on to Dodom the base of Ertale. The drive will take you through rugged moon-landscapes, characterized by volcanic rifts and faults and young black lava flows. In Afdera we will collect our local guide, camels, and policemen and drive 90 km to Dodmo the base of Ertale to set camp at the base of the volcano.
After dinner, we will climb the volcano. And camping equipment to set up our camp on the rim of the caldera. Then we will enjoy the breathtaking sight of the bubbling volcano overnight.

Main Destination:

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)

Erta Ale to Lake Afdera / Return toward Addis Ababa

Erta Ale to Lake Afdera / Return toward Addis Ababa
Time/Mode: Morning trek back; drive toward Lake Afdera or return route toward base camp
Activities:
Return trek from Erta Ale
Lake Afdera hot springs for relaxation and thermal waters
Return flight/re-routing to Addis Ababa.

Main Destination:

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water & beer and wine (Other drinks not included)

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