Tigray Rock Hewn Churches and ErTale

In this circuit, one can enjoy more of culture of the different tribes and the natural beauty of the Rift Valley in Ethiopia. In addition this circuit includes some historically significant sites such as Harar, which is regarded as the 4th Moslem sacred city of the world next to Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. This town is also known as the walled city because of the wall that was built in 15th C by Harari (Adare people) to protect themselves from the repeated invasion of surrounding tribes.

1: Addis Ababa

Arrive Addis Ababa.

2: Senbete to Kombolcha

Drive through Senbete to Kombolcha. O/N htl.

3: Lalibela

Proceed to Lalibela O/N htl.

4: Lalibela

Visit the Lalibela Rock churches.

5: Mekele

Drive Mekele. O/N htl.

6: Dalol

Drive towards Dalol. O/N htl.

7: Dalol

Dalol (sight of Afar people extracting salt, spectacular view) and O/N camp.

8: Dalol

Drive back and camp for an O/N on the way.

9: Tigray

Dugam with Tigray rock churches. O/N camp.

10: Tigray churches

Tigray churches. O/N Mekele.

11: Kombolcha

Drive Kombolcha. O/N htl.

12: Bati-Mile

Continue through Bati-Mile. O/N camp.

13: Semera

Arrive at Semera. O/N camp

14: Lake Afrera

Visit Lake Afrera. O/N camp

15: Ertale volcano

Visit Ertale volcano. O/N camp

16: ErTale volcano

Ertale. O/N camp.

17: Afrera

Back Afrera. O/N camp.

18: Semera

Drive Semera. O/N camp.

19: Awash park

Afra people – Awash park O/N camp.

20: Awash park

Awash park. O/N camp.

21: Addis Ababa

Drive back to Addis Ababa.

22: Departure

Departure.

Note:
One-day helicopter excursion from Mekele to Ertale volcano and back, for wonderful views can be done. Extra cost and advanced booking are needed.

Danakil, Awash and Harar

In this circuit, one can enjoy more of culture of the different tribes and the natural beauty of the Rift Valley in Ethiopia. In addition this circuit includes some historically significant sites such as Harar, which is regarded as the 4th Moslem sacred city of the world next to Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. This town is also known as the walled city because of the wall that was built in 15th C by Harari (Adare people) to protect themselves from the repeated invasion of surrounding tribes.

1: Addis Ababa

Arrive Addis Ababa.

2: Awash National Park

Awash National Park. O/N camp.

3: Awash Park

Full day Awash Park & its surroundings.

4: Asayta

Drive Asayta. O/N local htl. Visit Afar people around.

5: Asayta-Serdo-lake Afdiera

Proceed Asayta-Serdo-lake Afdiera. O/N camping.

6: Trekking

Trekking around the lake. O/N camping.

7: Lake Afdiera

From Lake Afdiera back to Serdo-Asayta.

8: Asayta & Awash

Drive Asayta – Awash.

9: Awash park

Visit Awash park i.e. Palm side hot Springs, falls and more.

10: Harar

Drive to Harar. O/N htl.

11: Harar-Babile-Harar

Drive Harar-Babile-Harar. O/N htl, Harar.

12: Nazareth & Bale Goba

Proceed Nazareth – Bale Goba. O/N Wabe Shebele htl, Goba.

13: Harar – Dire Dawa

Drive Harar – Dire Dawa then fly back Addis Ababa. O/N htl

14: Departure

Departure.

The Danakil depression, Awash National Park, Danakil Lakes and Harar

In this circuit, one can enjoy more of culture of the different tribes and the natural beauty of the Rift Valley in Ethiopia. In addition this circuit includes some historically significant sites such as Harar, which is regarded as the 4th Moslem sacred city of the world next to Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. This town is also known as the walled city because of the wall that was built in 15th C by Harari (Adare people) to protect themselves from the repeated invasion of surrounding tribes.

1: Addis Ababa.

Arrive Addis Ababa.

2: Awash National Park

Drive to Awash National Park. O/N camp.

3: Awash Park

Full day Awash Park & its surroundings.

4: Asayta

Drive to Asayta. O/N local htl. Visit Afar people around.

5: Lake Abe

Drive to lake Abe. O/N Asayta.

6: Asayta-Serdo-lake-Afdiera

Visit Asayta-Serdo-lake-Afdiera. O/N camping.

7: Trekking

Trekking around the lake. O/N camping.

8: Lake Afdiera-Serdo-Asayta

Drive to lake Afdiera-Serdo-Asayta.

9: Asayta & Awash

Drive Asayta – Awash.

10: Awash park

Awash park, visit palm side hot Springs, falls, and more.

11: Harar

Drive to Harar. O/N htl.

12: Babile – Harar

Visit Babile. O/N htl, Harar.

13: Harar & Nazareth

Drive Harar – Nazareth. O/N htl.

14: Nazareth & Bale Goba

Nazareth – Bale Goba. O/N Wabe Shebele htl.

15: Bale

In Bale, visit Sanete plateau & Tuludimtu forest.

16: Goba & Kofele & Wendo

Drive Goba – Kofele – Wendo genet. O/N htl

17: Addis Ababa

Drive back to Awasa, Abiyata, Shala Lakes, Addis Ababa.

18: Departure

Departure.

Danakil, Djibouti and the holy city of Harar
1: Addis Ababa

Arrive Addis Ababa, transfer hotel for O/N.

2: Awash National Park

Drive to Awash National Park. Visit on the way Kereyou people, the Metahara Lake. Afternoon, game drive in the park, visit the Awash River falls, Awash River gorge and more. Dinner and O/N camp, in the park.

3: Danakil depression

Continue driving toward the Afar people and drive to the town of Semera. Get here all needed permits for visiting the Danakil depression (117m below sea level). O/N camp.

4: Lake Afrera

Drive to visit lake Afrera, where Afar people extract salt. O/N camp.

5: Ertale volcano

Drive at bottom of Ertale volcano, one of the few active volcanic sites in Africa. Spectacular views from the top. At night trek. O/N camp.

6: ErTale volcano

Visit the volcano, views, and more. Afternoon back to vehicle. O/N camp.

7: Semera

Drive back to Semera. O/N camp.

8: Djibouti

Drive to Djibouti and proceed to lake Easal for spectacular views. O/N camp.

9: Tadjoura

Continue to Tadjoura, old capital. O/N htl. (PS: permits of vehicles to Djibouti now are very complicated. Minimum needed 45 days to get the permits. Extra cost: which is included in the tour cost). Very nice beach and colorful town.

10: Djibouti

Boat (or drive) to Djibouti. By boat is very nice for diving (can also be done one night on the boat. But cost is quite high. Ps. inform us if you are up to boating or drive). If in Djibouti, O/N Sheraton (about 140$ for a room; or be informed if you prefer cheaper 3* Menelik htl of about 90$ for a room).

11: Lake Abe

Drive to Lake Abe for very nice views. O/N camp.

12: Addis Ababa

Enter back to Ethiopia (multiple reentry visa can be obtained in Djibouti or other wise in Addis, on second day clients must spend one day more in Addis making tour and for permits. (Inform us which you prefer) and O/N Dire Dawa at Ras htl.

13: Harar

Drive Harar and visit of walls, mosques, French poet Rimbaud house, Adere people, markets, and more. Evening hyena-man performance. O/N Belayneh htl.

14: Addis Ababa

Drive or fly back to Addis via Dire Dawa.

15: Addis Ababa

Tour of Addis and departure.

Historic Rolute with short Danakil and Tigray Churches
1: Addis Ababa

Arrival Addis Ababa. Meet the guide at the airport. Transfer hotel. Rest. Afternoon tour of Addis. ON htl

2: Bahir Dar – Tississat

Fly to Bahirdar. Morning Blue Nile falls. Afternoon tour of Bahirdar, the papyrus boats productions, and view over lake Tana & the Nile form Bezait palace.

3: Lake Tana

Boat on lake Tana to admire monasteries over its islands, as Ura kidane Mehret, Mahal Zegye Gyorgis & Narga Selassie. Reach afternoon Gorgora, on the opposite side of the lake; meet your vehicle/s and drive Gondar, crossing Amhara people villages.

4: Gondar

Tour of Gondar castles and churches: the castle compound, Fasiladas bath, Debre Birhan Selassie (Light of Trinity) with wonderful murals, Mentewab palace, Qusquam church, Falashia village, and more

5: Semien Mountains

Drive to the Semien mountains, for trekking for spectacular views; and also chance to spot the endemic Semien red fox and Walia Ibex, the Lammergeyer, many birds.

6: Semien Mountains

Again viewing these spectacular mountains, proceed to Axum

7: Axum

Tour of Axum. Visit the steles, churches among which St Mary of Tsion where legend says is deposited the Ark of Covenant, and more.

8: Tigray Churches

Visit Yeha pre-Christian temple, DebreDamo monastery and Wikro Cherkos church. ON Gheralta lodge or hotel in Mekele

9: Tigray Churches

Full day for Tigray churches: we suggest Abreha We Atsbeha, Degum Selassie & Wikro Cherkos. ON Gheralta lodge (orAxum htl Mekele)

10: Ahmedale, Danakil

Enter into the Danakil depression, admiring the Afar people and villages. ON camp AhmedAle.

11: Dalol

A special date, for spectacular views, colors of nature, unique in the world: at Dalol, where Afar men extract salt. ON Ahmedale camp

12: Micael Imba-Mekele

Drive to Mekele. Visit Micael Imba church. ON htl

13: Yemerehenna Kristos – Lalibela

Crossing spectacular views, we proceed to Lalibela. On the way stop to the first church of Lalibela: Yemerehenna Kristos. Very nice.

14: Lalibela

Full day for the rock-hewn churches.

15: Lake Hayk

Crossing lake Ashandi, we proceed to lake Hayk. Visit Debre Estifanos monastery, over an island of the lake. We proceed then to Kombolcha. ON hotel (Sunny side or Hikma or Tecle)

16: Addis Ababa

Crossing fantastic views, we reach for the afternoon Addis Ababa. If Sunday, on the way visit Afar & Oromo people market at Senbete village. Ones in Addis, short visit of the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Dinner in traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Then transfer airport for departure

Tigray Churches, Danakil, Djibouti and Harar
1: Addis Ababa

Arrival Addis Ababa. Meet the guide at the airport. Transfer hotel. Rest. Afternoon tour of Addis. ON htl

2: Tigray Churches

Fly Mekele. Meet your vehicles. Drive to the Tigray churches. Visit Micael Imba & Micael Barka churches. ON Gheralta lodge (orAxum htl Mekele)

3: Tigray Churches

Full day for Tigray churches: we suggest Abreha We Atsbeha, Degum Selassie & Wikro Cherkos. ON Gheralta lodge (orAxum htl Mekele)

4: Danakil

Drive to Berhale and visit your first Afar people and villages; and meet the camel caravans coming from the cities back to Dalol and from Dalol with the salt to be sold in the cities of Tigray & neighboring regions. ON camp

5: Caravans

Walk with the Afar people. Two days of trekking bring us more in contact with these special people. The trekking is not so hard not having any altitude to do, but is very hot, so must be fit. You’ll see how the Afar people leave and move during these days; how they prepare their traditional bread, tea and lot of new interesting discoveries. ON camping along the river side

6: Caravans

Another full day trekking and discovering. ON camping AhmedAle

7: Dalol

Is a special day: drive to Dalol, to see the Afar men extracting salt. Are spectacular colors of nature, unique in the world. ON camping AhmedAle

8: Emegubi

Drive to some Afar villages, as Emegubi. Is very interesting experiencing their way of life. ON in the village.

9: Ahmedale

Visit the morning life of the people in the village. Then proceed to Dodom. Organize the camels for the materials for climbing the volcano next day. ON camp

10: Ertale

Trekk to climb the volcano (early morning). Here are fantastic views, with the lava and the volcano rim. ON camping

11: Ertale – Lake Afrera

Walk back to the vehicles. Then drive to lake Afrera. Visit Afar people extracting salt from lake Afrera. Proceed to the hot springs, where we’ll camp.

12: Semera

Drive to Afar people and the Afar people capital: Semera. ON camp Me’aseni lodge

13: Djibouti – Tadjoura

Enter into Djibouti and proceed to lake Easal. Visit very nice views. Then drive to Tadjoura, previous capital. Relax at the beach. ON htl or camp

14: Djibouti

Relax. Afternoon drive to Djibouti town. ON htl

15: Lake Abe

Drive to lake Abe, for spectacular views. ON camp

16: DireDawa – Harar

Drive to DireDawa. Visit the train station and the town. Then proceed to Harar. ON htl

17: Harar

Visit of Harar: the city walls, the mosques, the churches, French poet Rimbaud house, the Adere people traditional houses, the markets, the basket productions and more. Evening visit the hyena man: a man feeding wild hyenas. ON htl

18: Awedae – Awash

Early morning visit the chat market at Awedae village. Proceed then to the Awash National park: Game drive and spot many antelopes as the Orix, the Awash river and very nice falls, many birds, crocodiles and more. ON camping in the park or Fafate lodge

19: Addis Ababa

Breakfast & game drive. Then drive back Addis Ababa, to reach for lunch. Ones in Addis, short visit of the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Dinner in traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Then transfer airport for departure

Trekking and Adventure with unique people
1: Addis Ababa

Arrival Addis Ababa. Meet the guide at the airport. Transfer hotel. Rest. Afternoon tour of Addis. ON htl

2: Awash

We drive to Sodore, admiring Awash river, a bath in the hot water swimming pool and lunch. We so proceed to the Awash National park. Game drive and spot many antelopes as the Orix, the Awash river and very nice falls, many birds, crocodiles and more. ON camping in the park or Fafate lodge

3: Semera

Breakfast & game drive. Proceed then to the Afar people and reach Semera, where we take the permits for the Danakil. ON camping Me’aseni lodge.

4: Lake Afrera

Visit Afar people extracting salt from lake Afrera. Proceed to the hot springs, where we’ll camp.

5: Ertale

Drive till Dodom. Then organize the camels for the materials and trek from around 1500 hrs till late afternoon to the volcano. Here are fantastic views, with the lava and the volcano rim. ON camping

6: Ertale

Full day at the volcano

7: Emegubi

Walk back to Dodom, where we meet the vehicles. Then drive to some Afar villages, as Emegubi. Is very interesting experiencing their way of life. ON in the village.

8: Ahmedale

Visit the morning life of the people in the village. Then proceed to Ahmedale. camp

9: Dalol

Is another special day: drive to Dalol, to see the Afar men extracting salt. Are spectacular colors of nature, unique in the world. ON camping AhmedAle

10: Caravans

Two days of trekking bring us more in contact with these special people. The trekking is not so hard not having any altitude to do, but is very hot, so must be fit. You’ll admire the camel caravans bringing the salt from Ahmedale to to cities in the Tigray and nearby regions; and viceversa camels having sold their products coming back to AhmedAle & Dalol. You’ll see how the Afar people leave and move during these days; how they prepare their traditional bread, tea and lot of new interesting discoveries. ON camping along the river side

11: Caravans

Another full day trekking and discovering. ON camping Berhale

12: Tigray Churches

In ones from 120 mts below sea level we go to the Ethiopian highlands. Here in the Tigray regioni are found more than 110 different churches, with different architectural and ornamental designs, from the Axumite to the Zegwe dinasty, built in such difficult places over mountains to protect the churches and monasteries from any enemy. Visit at least one church: we suggest Micael Imba. ON Gheralta lodge (orAxum htl Mekele)

13: Tigray Churches

Full day for Tigray churches: we suggest Abreha We Atsbeha, Degum Selassie & Wikro Cherkos. ON Gheralta lodge (orAxum htl Mekele)

14: Lake Hayk

Crossing lake Ashandi, we proceed to lake Hayk. Visit Debre Estifanos monastery, over an island of the lake. We proceed then to Kombolcha. ON hotel (Sunny side or Hikma or Tecle)

15: Addis Ababa

Crossing fantastic views, we reach for the afternoon Addis Ababa. If Sunday, on the way visit Afar & Oromo people market at Senbete village. Ones in Addis, short visit of the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Dinner in traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Then transfer airport for departure

Note:
if you have 2-3 more days, we suggest, after the Tigray churches, to visit also the rock-hwn churches in and around Lalibela