Danakil Depression and Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela

Danakil Depression and Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela

Take your holidays and tour to Danakil depressions and Labella churches, Escape into Ethiopia tours will take you the highlights of Ethiopia’s magnificent Rock-Hewn churches and Danakil Depression.

Start from the Danakil Depression, and end at underground rock-cut churches of Lasta. Escape into Ethiopia tours help combined the most fascinating and unique attraction of Ethiopia's best.

Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Danakil Depression

Stop At: Danakil Depression, 0125 Ethiopia
On this day drive to the most amazing and tough part of the whole trip. Explore the beginning of the Danakil depression and go down to the hottest place on the planet. This is one of the most extreme places of Ethiopia. It is one of the most inhospitable regions of the world, but is nonetheless spectacular, full of eye-catching colors, as in the Sulphur springs. Pass through a small town of Berhale, en route you may see many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels. Once you arrive in the campsite unload the car and take short break, after the short break drive to spend sometimes on the Salt Lake and watch the awe-inspiring sunset.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at HammedAle campsite

Day 2: Explore Dallol

Stop At: Dalol, Dallol, 135 Ethiopia
On this day start early, shortly after breakfast, drive deep into the focal point of the depression: be prepared to feel the heat and breath the different minerals like Potassium, salt and many more: continue driving to see the Salt Mountains and traditional Salt mining and witness how people do one of the hardest jobs on earth.

Continue driving, to the base campsite of Erta Ale, passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, and rock. Sortly after arriving in the base camp take early dinner and start trekking from Dodom to Erta Ale. Arrive at the top of erta Ale around midnight and watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake and you will spend an unforgettable night on the top of the mountain.

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Erta Ale in a camp

Day 3: Erta-Ale to Mekele

Stop At: Erta Ale, Active volicano Afar, mekele, 6611 Ethiopia
On this day, ErtaAel is a continually active volcano containing world only permanent Lava Lake. Walk down from Erta Ale to the base camp for breakfast. Drive to Lake Afdera for refreshing on the nice Salt Lake where you can swim and relax after all the long treks in the Danakil depression. After lunch, drive to back to Mekele for overnight at Atse Yohanis hotel or similar
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Atse Yohanis hotel or similar

Day 4: Drive to the famous Rock-hewn churches of Lalibela

Stop At: Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Lalibela 1260 Ethiopia
On this day, drive to Lalibela exploring yet another breathtaking view via the town of Sekota. This is route is less-traveled but amazingly refreshing and shows the typical countryside settlement and landscapes. En route, you will be able to visit Yimerehane Kirstos Church close to Lalibela: this is remarkable marble church built out of a big cave—an architectural combination of Axumite kingdom and Zagwe Dynasty.
Duration: 8 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Top 12 Hotel or similar

Day 5: Exploring underground Rock-Hewn churches

Stop At: Church of St. George, Lalibela Ethiopia
Lalibela is also called: Jerusalem of Africa” as the amazingly excavated underground churches resemble some churches in Israel. These amazing churches were excavated from one Solid volcanic rock in the beginning of 12th century. And on this day exploring every one of them, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha. After lunch, continue southeastern cluster including Bete Gabriel & Rufael, Bete Merkorios, Bete Emanuel, Bete Libanos and at the last visit the elegant church of Saint George—the big cross-shaped one. At the end of the day, participate in a cultural music and traditional drink called Tej- pure honey wine.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Top 12 Hotel or similar

Day 6: Fly from Lalibela to Addis Ababa

Stop At: Addis Mercato, Kenya St Addis Ketema, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Take the morning flight and arrive in Addis Ababa midday and you will have free time to do some shopping or sightseeing including the Merkato, said to be Africa’s largest market of its kind, and do shopping.
In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner at one of the famous cultural restaurants.
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Duration: 8 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.