5 Days Lalibela-Danakil Tour

5 Days Lalibela-Danakil Tour

Danakil is one of the most geologically active regions with three tectonic plates meeting at the Afar Triple Junction. When tectonic plates move apart like at Danakil, it creates lave lakes, hot springs, geysers and fissures in the ground. Our tour is unique as it is well-arranged including "must visit" historic sites of Lalibela, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia are the most extraordinary man-made sites in sub-Saharan Africa which we deliver all with Ethiopian hospitality and touch.

Itinerary

Day 1: Addis - Lalibela

Stop At: Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Lalibela 1260 Ethiopia
In the morning, fly north to Lalibela and be transferred to your hotel. After lunch, visit the first group of Lalibela Churches which are located north of a small stream named Jordan River. These Churches were carved during the time of King Lalibela (1181 – 1221) and are registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

In the city of Lalibela you will see about Eleven Rock Churches organized into groups of three.

Biete Medhanealem

Biete Maryam

Biete Golgotha Mikael

Biete Maskal (House of the Cross)

Biete Denagel (House of Virgins)

Biete Giyorgis

Biete Amanuel

Biete Qeddus Merkoreos

Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abba Libanos)

Biete Gabriel-Ruphael

Biete Lehem (Bethlehem Hebrew: בֵּית לֶחֶם, House of Holy Bread).

Duration: 5 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight Lalibela Lodge

Day 2: Lalibela to Mekele (Drive)

Pass By: Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Lalibela 1260 Ethiopia
Drive from Lalibela to Mekele (The drive will take from 7 to 8 hours).



No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Atse Yohannes Hotel, Mekele.

Day 3: Start Danakil tour

Stop At: Erta Ale, Active volicano Afar, mekele, 6611 Ethiopia
We start our day by driving to Erta Ale (which means smoky mountain in Afar language). 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. It is 613 meters, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century.
We start early 9:00 AM, drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). This is may be one of the roughest roads in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs passing through changing the landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm-lined oasis. After passing several small hamlets scattered here and there in this deserted land, you will arrive at Dodom camping site, located about 17km from Erta Ale.
Dinner will be served around 17:00 o’clock. After a short break, trek up to Ertale at 20:00 hours. Camels will be transporting all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. You will spend the night on top of the mountain, at the rim of the Volcano.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner: All meals are served.
Accommodation included: Overnight Camping

Day 4: Hamed ela

Stop At: Afdera, Afar Zone 2, Ethiopia
Early Morning sunrise at the northern one corresponds to the main pit crater and walk 5 minutes for the southern and central pits could either corresponds to an ancient pit, or to a simple collapse structure. The main pit-crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three-storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. Descend from Erta Ale around 9 am Dodom – Leave back to Dodom after an early breakfast, if possible at 07:00 o’clock.
You will reach the latest at 10:30 o’clock at the camp, where you will be relaxing. As soon as possible, drive to reach the mythical Lake Giulietti (or Lake Afrera)(optional may not be available during summer time), a saltwater lake located more than100 meters below sea level, in one of the deepest depressions of the planet. Because of the picturesque landscape, it is interesting to visit the salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the water of the lake, continue to Erbiti and proceed to Abaala/ Hamed ela
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: All mealls are served.
Accommodation included: Overnight Camping


Day 5: Danakil to Mekele

Stop At: Erta Ale / Dallol, Erta Ale and dallol Ethiopia
Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look the activity of workers breaking salts from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans (No camel caravan on July, August, and early September) and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele.
End of Danakil tour
19.50 Fly to Addis Ababa
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast and Lunch are served
No accommodation included on this day.