Dallol Depression, Erta Ale, Gheralta Mountains, Axum & Lalibela Tours – 10 Days

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed and transferred to the Harmony Hotel. Spend the morning at leisure before enjoying lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum, home to “Lucy,” the famous 3.6-million-year-old hominid. Continue to the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, followed by a visit to the Holy Trinity Cathedral. End the day with a scenic drive to Mount Entoto for panoramic views over the city.
Overnight: Harmony Hotel (L, D)

Fly to Mekelle, where your adventure continues with a drive to HamedEla via Berehale. En route, secure Afar permits and meet local guides. Witness the famous camel caravans carrying salt slabs from the desert.
Overnight: Camping in HamedEla (B, L, D)

Drive to Dallol, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth at 116m below sea level. Explore the kaleidoscopic landscape formed by mineral springs. Visit Lake Asale, where Afar people extract salt using ancient techniques. Watch as camels rest before their return trek to Mekelle.
Overnight: Camping in HamedEla (B, L, D)

Drive to Dodom, the base camp of Erta Ale. After resting, begin your late afternoon trek to the crater rim, accompanied by camels carrying your gear. At the summit, view the active lava lake, one of only a few in the world. Overnight near the rim to enjoy this surreal experience.
Overnight: Camping at Erta Ale (B, L, D)

Descend from Erta Ale and begin the drive towards Gheralta, home to some of Ethiopia’s most breathtaking rock churches. En route, stop to visit Abreha we Atsbeha, a 4th-century cruciform church carved into a sandstone cliff.
Overnight: Gheralta Lodge (B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive to Axum, the ancient capital of the Aksumite Empire. En route, visit Mariam Korkor and Dugum Selassie, both exceptional examples of Tigray’s rock-hewn churches. Explore Yeha, the oldest city in Ethiopia, known for its impressive Temple of the Moon and pre-Aksumite archaeological sites.
Overnight: Consolar Hotel, Axum (B, L, D)

Spend the day exploring Axum’s legendary history. Visit the towering obelisks, the Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins, and the tombs of ancient kings. Enter the sacred precinct of St. Mary of Zion Cathedral, believed to house the Ark of the Covenant.
Overnight: Consolar Hotel (B, L, D)

Fly to Lalibela, famed for its 11 medieval rock-hewn churches carved into the earth in the 12th century. These architectural marvels, still in active use, are considered Ethiopia’s most iconic religious sites.
Overnight: Mountain View Lodge (B, L, D)

Morning flight to Gondar, Ethiopia’s former royal capital. Explore the Royal Enclosure, with its series of palaces and castles. Visit the Debre Berhan Selassie Church, renowned for its vivid ceiling of winged angels.
Overnight: Goha Hotel (B, L, D)

Fly back to Addis Ababa. Explore Merkato, the largest open-air market in East Africa. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant, featuring live folkloric dance and a coffee ceremony. Transfer to the airport for your international departure.
(B, L, D)