Tour to the Danakil Depression, North & South Ethiopia
Danakil Depression, Gheralta, Axum, Simien Mountains, Gondar, Baher Dar, Lalibela, Omo Tribe
Duration: 21days/20nights
Day 1: Addis-Mekelle-Afdera
Fly from Addis to Mekelle with the morning flight and proceed driving to afdera 220km, Danakil Depression can be said to 'begin' here. It is one of the spectacular most inhospitable regions of the world, but is nonetheless spectacular, Drive to afdera via small village of eribt. afdera is one of the city in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the saline Lake Afdera, located in the southern part of the Afar Depression. swimming on the salt lake and enjoy the hot spring near the lake,
Overnight: camping near the lake,
Day 2: Afdera-ErtaAle
afdera - Dodom 70km. visit the salt Mainers(local people are pumping the salt water and evaporating the water) near the lake, start let drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). Dodom is about 8.5km from Erta Ale and it takes about 3 hrs trekking. Early dinner around 17:00 and trek up to Ertale at 20:00 hours. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. Erta Ale is 613 meters high, with a lava lake one of the five in the world with two creates north creator with native( sleepy)creator It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, and south creator is the most active with lava lake summit. Present since the early years of the twentieth century.
Overnight: Camping on the top of the mountain
Day 3: ErtaAle-HamadEla
waking up early for sunset and visit north crater, Descend from Erta Ale around 7:00am artale-dedom Leave back to Dodom you will reach latest at 09:300 am at the camp , after breakfast time to relax. at 10:30 drive to hamad ela 100km,picnic lunch on the way on shed of palm tree,
reach Hamad Ela 04:30, better village with a total population about 500
people.
Overnight: Camping at Hamed Ela.
Day 4; HamadEla - Dallol - Mekelle
Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the
localities are mining salt. 1,200 km square (460 sq mi) the Afar Depression is covered by salt, and salt Look the activity of breaking the salt from the ground, local people are cutting in to rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal + salt canon, camel caravans, follow up camel caravans and Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele.
Overnight: Hotel in Mekelle
Day 5: Mekelle – Hawzien
Morning drive hawzen to visit the rock churches of Gheralta cluster, on the way visit Abreha we Atsbeha and then proceed to Mariam Korkor. You will have time to have your lunch in the Gheralta Lodge. After lunch, drive 10km to abune yemata around one hour walking then turn to climbing foot hold and hand hold chipped in to the sandstone rock, after few minute climbing visit abune yemata church.
Overnight: Hotel in Hawzien
Day 6: Hawzien – Axum
After having breakfast, drive to Axum. On the way visit monastery of debre damo( not allowed for women and accessible only by rope) and Yeha Temple.
Lunch: takeaway
After lunch proceed to Axum and visit the stelas and st.marry church and the grave of queen shaba
Overnight: Hotel in Axum
Day 7: Axum – Debarek
Drive from Axum to Debarek.
Overnight: Hotel in Debarek
Day 8: Debarek – Sankaber – Gich
Drive from Debarek to Sankaber and then trek from Sankaber to Gich.
Overnight: Hotel in Debarek
Day 9: Debarek – Gondar
Drive from Debarek and visit Gondar after you have lunch in Gondar.
Overnight: Hotel in Gondar
Day 10: Gondar – BaherDar
Drive 185km from Gondar to BaherDar and start visitation when you reach BaherDar.
Overnight: Hotel in BaherDar
Day 11: BaherDar - Lalibela
Drive BaherDar to Lalibela.
Overnight: Hotel in Lalibela
Day 12: Lalibela
Fullday churches visitation in Lalibela.
Overnight: Hotel in Lalibela
Day 13: Lalibela – Addis – Omo vally
Fly from Lalibela to Addis with the morning flight.Pick from airport and drive to omo valy, from Addis Ababa - arbamnch,
Overnight: Hotel in Arbaminch
Day 14: Arbaminch - Turmi
In the monig a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market”, and the local hippos. Afterwards, depart from Arba Minch to Turmi. On the way you will pass through the village of Weyto (market day Saturday), which is home to the Tsemai tribe. Continue through the Weyto Valley to Erbore, where you will have a brief visit to a local Erbore village (market day is Saturday). Finally, proceed to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribe. At night, ''if there is''you can see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer tribe, known as evangadi.
Overnight: Hotel/Camping in Turmi
Day 15: Turmi
In the morning, take a day trip to Omorate to visit the Dassenech tribe. Here you will cross the Omo River by local boat and enter a Dassenech village. Afterwards, return to Turmi (Monday is market day) for a visit to a local Hamer village. If there is Jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer coming-of-age ceremony, that will be visited.
Overnight: Hotel/Camping in Turmi
Day 16: Turmi - Jinka
Depart for Jinka, via Dimeka and Key Afar. Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days in Dimeka, which is one of the most colorful markets in the area and is visited by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna and Karo. Afterwards, continue to Jinka
Overnight: Hotel in Jinka
Day 17: Jinka
In the morning, drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates. In the afternoon, after returning to Jinka, you can visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center to learn more about the local tribes. Alternatively, take a hike in the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village.
Overnight: Hotel in Jinka
Day 18: Jinka - Arbaminch
After breakfast, depart from Jinka to Arba Minch via Key Afar and Konso. Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods. This is another very popular market in the region. After the visit, proceed to Konso (market days are Mondays and Thursdays). The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing. Today you will have a brief opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. After the visit, proceed driving to Arba Minch.
Overnight: Hotel in Arba Minch
Day 19: Arbaminch - Addis
Early in the morning, depart from Arba Minch for a full day’s drive to Addis Ababa. On the way you may have time to visit one of the following archeological sites of interest:
- Tiya - ancient stellae field and UNESCO World Heritage site
- Adadi Maryam – rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela
- Melka Kunture – pre-historic tool-making site
Overnight: Hotel in Addis
Day 20: Addis
City tour in Addis
Overnight: Hotel in Addis
Day 21: Addis – Home
City tour in Addis and at night fly back home
