Day 1 – Arrival in Addis Abeba
Welcome to Ethiopia! You’ll be stepping off the plane into Africa’s fourth largest city and diplomatic capital, Addis Ababa. Your Yared Tour & Travel guide will be there to meet you at Bole International Airport and drive you to your hotel.
The direct translation of Addis Ababa is ‘new’ ‘flower’ and you are likely to find this rapidly growing city a fascinating place full of contrasts between traditional and modern Ethiopia, making it a great starting point for your tour.
Day 2 – City Highlights tour of Addis Abeba
Today begins with a drive to Entoto Mountain where we visit the historical site of Emperor Menelik’s Palace and Maryam church, the oldest in Addis Ababa. From Mount Entoto, we drive through Shiro Meda which hosts the city’s largest market for traditional clothing, continuing to the campus of Addis Ababa University, home to one of East Africa’s best Ethnological museums and the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. You can choose to visit this museum or Ethiopia's National Museum and see ‘Lucy’, the world-famous fossilized hominid discovered in 1974.
Close to the National Museum is the Holy Trinity Cathedral (built in 1933), the largest Orthodox church in Ethiopia and the final resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie, to whom there is a dedicated museum on site. To conclude the day, you will have the chance to shop and observe the busy life of traders in Mercato - Africa’s biggest outdoor market.
Day 3 – Fly to Mekele
Today you will fly to Mekele and drive through the Tigray region. The Gheralta Mountains is an extraordinary landscape, which hides a secret that was only discovered in 1966 when a Catholic priest from Adigrat revealed the existence of at least 123 rock-hewn churches in the area, of which more than 20 are in Gheralta. Many of the churches are built on high plateaus, hidden in caves and only partially separated from the host rocks. Their walls are often covered in artistic, colourful murals. Some can only be reached by difficult climbing routes although there are plenty to admire from easier pathways. Two of the most beautiful churches, with impressive locations and great views are the Debre Maryam Korkor church and the Abuna Yemata Guh church. To see is to believe!
Day 4 - Drive to HamadEla via Berhale town
We set off from the city of Mekele and drive through the remote Afar region to our first destination, HamadEla - a small village with a population of around 500 people. The total drive takes around 5 hours. We stop for lunch and visit Behale - a local Afar town (639m a.s.l) located halfway of the journey. From Berhale onwards, you’ll begin to spot traditional camel caravans carrying mined blocks of salt to market and see the volcanic landscapes transform around you.
After lunch we continue to HamadEla. In the evening, we watch the sunset from the salt plains and visit one of Danakil’s mesmerising salt lakes - lake Karum. Dinner and overnight camping at HamadEla.
Day 5 - Drive to Askoma and night trek up Erta Ale volcano
Today we start early to head off the day’s sun - breakfast at around 6am then we drive deeper through the Danakil desert towards Askoma (150 m a.s.l) - the base of Erta Ale volcano. The terrain for driving becomes increasingly adventurous as we off-road over solidified lava, rock and through the desert sands - covering around 12km in 1.5 hours(!) Sit back and enjoy the bumpy ride and otherworldly scenes from the window. We stop off for a picnic lunch along the way.
At Askoma base camp we get organised for the trek up Erta Ale. After dinner, we ascend the volcano with camels carrying our camping gear. The trek takes around 3 hours and we reach the edge of the cater for a night-time viewing of the bubbling lava lake – the world’s only permanent lava, enjoy a celebratory drink and sleep under the stars. Due to weather conditions, it is not always possible to get a good viewing of the lava all year around - it’s good to check with us first if this is something you’re really keen to see.
Day 6 - Drive to Afera Salt Lake and back to HamadEla
We wake up early at around 4am in time for a spectacular sunrise walk around the crater then descend the volcano to base camp for a delicious breakfast. After eating we drive further through the volcanic region towards Lake Afera - a saltwater lake located more than 100m below sea level in one of the deepest depressions on earth. at lake Afera, you’ll have the chance to float in the salty waters then take a refreshing rinse in a hot natural spring. After lunch we make the journey back to HamedEla for dinner, sunset and overnight camping.
Day 7 - Drive to Ragad salt mines and visit Dallol
Early in the morning at around 4.30am we set-off on a drive over salt plains to Ragad (Asebo). Here you’ll see Danakil’s salt mines and observe the extraction of salt from the ground being cut into rectangular pieces and loaded onto camels. From Ragad, we travel onwards to Dallol (-130m below sea level) – just 15km from the border of Eritrea. This is Danakil’s most otherworldly location and the scenery totally transforms. Our route takes us on an incredible journey through landscapes of foaming pools of sulphur radiating shades of green, yellow, orange, red and white. an experience which will truly feel like you’ve visited another planet. After our visit, we head back to Mekele via HamadEla.
Day 8 - Fly back to Addis Ababa
Today we head back to Addis Ababa by plane. You could shop or make a single final visit in the capital in the afternoon. Or you take a rest in your dayroom in Addis Ababa. On the final day you will enjoy a farewell meal and celebration in one of the city’s cultural restaurants. Enjoy the authentic Ethiopian cuisine for the last time, whilst enjoying traditional dance and music.
