This will be an unforgettable adventure trip to one of the most impressive African countries – Ethiopia.
The trip will include the North and Northeast of country with many popular and truly impressive natural and historical attractions. The landscape here truly will be ever-changing and beautuful every moment … The same like people…
Day 1-th:
Flight from Addis Ababa to Gondar early in the morning. After lunch you will go on a first tour – it’s Gonder Castle and the Fortification Complex, the only one of its kind castles in Ethiopia. Built for 4 generations and occupies many ha. The fortress town is surrounded by a 900-meter-long wall and has various buildings, of which the best preserved palace and chapel, the sauna, banquet halls and the ruins of the queen Mentevaba castle are preserved.
And you should definitely see Debre Berhane Selassie churche, decorated with colorful wall paintings.
In the evening you will visit a local traditional restaurant to get to know each other better. Overnight in Gonder.
Day 2-nd:
Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park (Debark)
Going to the Simiena Mountain National Park (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), enjoying one of Africa’s most picturesque landscapes, which will surprise you with steep slopes, interesting shapes and massive rock blocks, spectacular waterfalls, unusual vegetation and Galed monkey crowds. A hike (~ 1.5 h one way walk) to the Jinbar Falls, which falls 800 m deep in the Simiena mountain gorge, and is one of Ethiopia’s carefully kept secrets. A trip to the village of Chennek, surrounded by a few spectacular views over the mountains of Simiena. Night camping.
Day 3-th:
Simien NP
Trekking through beautiful mountain trails. An the afternoon, cars are waiting to get you back to Gonder. Overnight at Gondar.
Day 4-th:
Gonder – Lalibela
Relaxing full day driving to Lalibel. On your way there is a breathtaking mountain landscape. An the evening you will enjoy the sunset of Lalibel and have a refreshing drink.
Day 5-th:
One of Ethiopian cultural treasures, is the Lalibela rock-hewn church complex (included in UNESCO), also known as the “New Jerusalem”, which has nothing similar in the world. They were created between the 12th and 14th centuries as a new place for Christian pilgrimages after Jerusalem was conquered by Muslims.
But if you would like, you can divide the day into two parts. Shorten the excursion to the churches and spend the second part of day walking around the nearby mountain – trekking on Asheton Maryam Monastery. Or visit to Yemrehanna Krestos church.
In the evening you can visit the traditional tej bar. Overnight in Lalibela.
Day 6-th:
Lalibela – Mekelle
Throughout the full day, driving with a mountainous scenic landscape. Overnight Mekelle hotel.
Day 7-th:
Mekellle-Hawzen
In the morning, a scenic driving to the Gheralta Plateau or Arizon of Ethiopia – Tigrai region, where are the oldest rock-hewn churches in Africa, hidden in the sandstone mountains. Some of which date back to the 4th century. Before lunch, you will explore the rocky mountains of Geralt and head for the mid-difficult climb to the Mariam Korkor Church (a 1 hour long climb), with stunning views of the Ethiopian rocks.
After lunch, you will continue to explore the churches in the cliffs of Geralt – Abuna Yemata Guh.
Overnight back to Mekelle.
Day 8-th:
Mekelle – Dallol (Ahmed Ela)
After breakfast you will get the permission and go about 4 hours to the Dallol volcano area and the world’s hottest place – Danakil Depression (175 km). Crossing the beautiful mountains in the evening you will reach the Danakila desert to see the sunset on the salt lake, watching camel caravans carrying salt to the nearest town. Night in the Hamed Ela camp in tents or bamboo beds under the open air (need a thin sleeping bag).
Day 9-th:
Dallol (Hamed Ela Afar Camp)
Visit to the African Wonderland. Wake up with the first rays of the sun and the first donkey cries to go to the salt mines, where until now people are working with primitive methods to get a salt. Dallol, and salt canyons. And the salt lake – where are the centuries-old traditions of salt mining, and from where countless camel caravans start their way to the market… just like getting past 1000 years ago…
One of the most unusual places on our planet, the Dallol volcano – multicolored hot springs, fumarols, sulfur deposits, mini-geysers, salt-sulfuric acid lagoons, strange forms of fossilized salt crystals… The earth is bubbling here and boils … it cannot be described or told. Welcome to the Mars!
Dallol salt canyon – another place during this journey, where to be amazed to ask yourself, is it really that can be on our Planet?
Night at a small town of Abala.
Day 10-th:
Abala – Erta Ale volcano
Getting around the paved road to the heart of Danakil Depression and the Afar Triangle – the Erta Ale volcano (95 km). The last few kilometers at the natural desert and lava fields. At times, it seems that walking is easier and faster.
The climax of this trip – the climb to the Erta Ale volcano, where the lava lake is active! The opportunity to watch the orange lava splashes and small eruptions in the night black is an unforgettable event of life! The climbing is characterized by a medium degree of difficulty – long, but with a very flat rise (rise of 470 m, length of 12 km; it is possible to rent a camel). The climbing may take two to three and a half hours depending on physical fitness (it is advisable to start in the late afternoon or when the darkness approaches when the temperature is not so high). Already in the evening, in the dark, let’s watch this phenomenal form of nature (accompanied by guards)! The peace of the night at the edge of the crater in the stone houses (you’ll need sleeping bags again).
Day 11-th:
Erta Ale – Afdera Lake
Wake up a little before sunrise to see the sun beyond the crater – the dream of a photographer 😊.
Relaxing, but enough fast walking around the area, to the enchanted but still smoking Big Erta Ale volcanic crater, sulfur fields, lava plains and look into the lava lake in the morning light. While the sun is not overheating, we go back to El Dom camp and breakfast.
And again, an adventurous journey around 4 hours across the lava fields to the salt basin and the Afder Lake (80 km) surrounded by volcanoes, located 103 meters below sea level and one of the world’s most salty water bodies. It keeps the human body over the water, even without swiming… Overnight at camp in tents or under the open air close to Lake Afder.
Day 12-th:
Lake Afdera – Semera
We advise you to wake up early and to see the sunrise over Lake Afdera …
Then after a good breakfast you are goind further. At Semera, you will have a lunch and go to see the Allolapad (also called Tendaho) geysers – a geothermal site that is unlikely to be available to visitors in the near future… Allalobeda (Allhaws Sources) – small geysers, bubbling quakes, mud craters and multicolored hot spring pools from blue and green to brown and gray. Nature’s new form on African land that has just begun to form … Night in Semera.
Day 13-th:
Driving from Semera to Awash City (400km). It’s a hot journey is not easy.
Day 14-th:
Awash National Park
Early in the morning you will go to Avash National Park to see as many animals as possible at the sunrise.
Awash NP main business card is the wide Avash waterfall and Avash gorge. Antelopes, gazelles, oriks, baboons, wart pigs, ostriches, griffins, and crocodiles, as well as a rich bird country, they are live in acacia savannas.
After lunch time you will drive almost off-road 35 km to Filwoha thermal springs. Swimming and relaxing in springs. Night in the hotel in Avash.
Day 15-th:
Awash – Addis Ababa
Drive about 4 hours to Addis Ababa (215 km). There you will go for small tour of the city,
- visit an Ethnographic museum,
- souvenir shops,
- coffee and spices.
At the evening, a national dinner in the restaurant with a dance show and music. At the night transfer to the airport to go home.