Tour Duration: 7 days (with round trip flights from Addis Ababa to Mekelle)
Day 1: Addis Ababa – Melelle – Erta Ale
Morning flight to Mekelle and met by your drivers. Start your journey to the Denakil depression to Errta Ale via Kusrawad, here you will pick up local Afars to assist you and head further to Dodom. Start trekking for about an hour to reach to the summit of the mountain with all your camping equipment on the camels and local Afars. After dinner you will be able to pay a visit to this extraordinary lava lake. Back to base camp to Overnight. Visit again for additional enjoyment next morning.
Overnight: Camping
Day 2: Erta Ale – Aba’la
Trek down from mount Erta Ale and drive to Afdera. At Afdera, you will be visiting the salt lakes where powder salt is extracted and transported to the Central Ethiopian highlands for sale. End the day swimming in the Salt Lake and enjoying the beautiful sunset.
Overnight: Camping
Day 3: Afdera – Hamed Ella
Start your journey to Hamed Ella via Aba’la. On the way you will get a chance to visit local Afar villages. Arrive at your base camp. During the late afternoon hours, you will be able to see and photograph Camel caravans loaded up with salt bars from the Dallol Plains heading for the central Ethiopian highlands.
Overnight. Camping
Day 4: Hamed Ila – Dallol / Asa’le – Hamed Ila
You spend this day exploring the treasures of Afar below sea level. Driving on the salt take you Dallol plains where you can experience the hottest weather and a unique land form created by intense tectonic force. You will be also able to see the Tigrian and Afar men cutting, shaping and packing the Salt bars on camel and donkeys. Back to camp and overnight
Overnight. Camping
Day 5: Hamed Ella – Tigray churches – Hawzen
After breakfast at the camp in the morning, you will be heading to the Tigrian highlands via Berahale Agula. On your way you will be visit the rock-hewn church of Abreha we Atsebeha which is believed to be the finniest in the region. After your visit continue your drive to Hawzen enjoying the most dramatic scenery and beautiful landscape.
Overnight. hotel/lodge
Day 6: Exploring rock-hewn churches
Today is dedicated to explore some of the less-visited rock-hewn churches of Ethiopia. Abune Yemeata and Mariam Korkor can be visited. Visiting these chrches could be physically challenging as it is having foot holding to climb to the church. Relax at our lodge and end the day.
Overnight. hotel/lodge
Day 7: Hawzen – Mekelle – Addis Ababa
Depart Hawzen to Mekelle. If time allows visit the local market and the city before you will be transferred to the airport to fly back to Addis Ababa.
End of tour.
