DAY 1: Arrival at Addis Ababa

On your arrival at Addis Ababa bole international airport you will be welcomed by your tour guide from Landmark Ethiopia Tours. Then you will be transferred to your hotel. After a rest and refresh at the hotel, in the afternoon your guide will take you around the highlights of Addis. Founded in 1887 by Emperor Menelik II and Queen Taitu, Addis Ababa is the third highest capital of the world at an altitude of 2300-2500 m. with a pleasant climate. The tour starts with a visit to the National Museum to view a replica of the famous, 3.2 million-year-old fossilized hominid remains known to the rest of the world as “Lucy”. The visit also includes Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, the Holy trinity cathedral and you will enjoy a panoramic view of the capital with fresh air on top of Mount Entoto and end the tour with the bustling Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market. Overnight- Hotel in Addis Ababa.

 

DAY 2: Addis Ababa → Awash

In the morning drive 250 kms south of Addis Ababa through the Ethiopian rift valley region pass the town of Debre Zeit where you visit some of the Creator Lakes. Arrive in awash in the afternoon. And visit the park. Awash National Park with its volcano landscapes and savanna grassland habitat for a variety of bird species and mammals. Overnight – Lodge or Hotel in Awash.

 

DAY 3: Awash → Semera

Morning after breakfast start drive after passing the town of awash and cross the Awash River bridge outside the town we get to the junction where the road forks, straight ahead for Dire Dawa and Harar, and left for Djibouti and the Red Sea. This day we wonder the Rift valley scenery and Afar people and their village. Semera is a city in afar region and where you get the necessary permission for a visit to Erta Ale and Dallol. Overnight – Hotel in Semera.

 

DAY 4: Semera → Afdera

At Samara, process your entrance permission and also from here you will have two Police men and one road guide accompanies you for the Afar depression. Then you drive on a track through the desolate landscape with only some coned shaped volcanoes here and there to Afdera salt lake. Late in the afternoon we visit the salt extractors at the lakeside. Overnight – Camping in Afdera.

 

DAY 5: Afdera → Dodem → Erta Ale

Today you will drive to Dodem base camp and arrange the necessary materials to trek to Erta Ale active volcano. Around 5 pm 3 hours trek climb to Erta Ale volcano and overnight on the top of the mountain. Erta Ale is 613 meters tall, 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. Overnight- Camping on Erta Ale Summit.

 

DAY 6: Dodem → Hammed Ela

Early in the morning you trek down to Dodem where your cook and cars camp. Have your breakfast and drive to Hammed Ela via Kusrewad. This day drive will be the most challenging drive of all day which may be happen to stuck in the Sand and inhospitable weather. Overnight – Camping at Hammed Ela.

 

DAY 7: Hammed Ela

Today you visit Lake Assale and Dallol. Visit Lake Assale and watch the salt workers as they cut bricks of salt from the lake bed which once used as local currency. The bricks are then sold on the market and loaded on camel caravans for transport to the highlands. Proceed to Dallol and view the dramatic and colorful geological formations caused by the hot springs rich in sulfur, potash, and salt. Dallol depression is one of the lowest places on our planet earth (116 meters below sea level). Follow up camel caravans and walk with the Afar and people from the highland. Discover the traditional way of extracting Salt bar, packing on the Camel. See how they prepare their traditional bread, how they travel, communicate & more. It is another unique experience. Overnight – Camping at Hammed Ela.

 

DAY 8: Hammed Ela → Mekele

After morning breakfast Drive to Mekele via the town of Berhale in the River bed Ascend all way to the Tigrayan highland with the camel caravans and stop for photo over the depression. In Mekele visit the 17th century palace-museum of Emperor Yohannes IV. Overnight –Hotel in Mekele

 

DAY 9: Mekele → Lalibela

After an early breakfast start the journey to Ethiopia’s most prized destination, Lalibela. Here you will pass through several small villages, with typical sandstone homes of the Tigray people and small Amhara villages along the way there will be plenty of opportunities for photo stops. Overnight- Hotel in Lalibela.

 

DAY 10: Lalibela

Situated high in the Lasta Mountains Lalibela is arguably one of the most important religious and historical sites in the entire Christian world. The town is famous for the 11 remarkable rock churches built by the saint king Lalibela around 11 century. These elaborate edifices are each carved by hand entirely out of a single block of living granite rock and considered as ’the 8th Wonders of the World’, ‘The Newly Jerusalem’ and ‘The Petra of Africa’. This is a deeply spiritual place and quite rightly a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today you will visit these intriguing monuments to discover more about Ethiopia’s enigmatic past and sophisticated architectural techniques. Overnight- Hotel in Lalibela.

 

DAY 11: Lalibela

Another full day in Lalibela. Today you will take an excursion to visit rock churches located outside of the town of Lalibela. In the morning make excursion to visit Asheton Mariam by mule or drive to 45km gravel road North of Lalibela to visit Yemrhane Christos church. In afternoon visit Nacutolab rock church. Overnight- Hotel in Lalibela.

 

DAY 12: Lalibela → Kombolcha

Today you leave Lalibela and drive through the Ethiopian dramatic landscape. En route visit lovely Lake Hayk and its 13th Century Istafanos monastery, which is only accessible for men. If it is a market day you will have a good experience for Bati Color full market where you are going to find the Oromo, Amhara and Afar people after that continue to Kombolcha. Overnight- Hotel in Kombolcha.

 

DAY 13: Kombolcha → Addis Ababa & Departure

Drive back to Addis Ababa via Debre Birhan, on the way you pass the Mezezo escarpment, with a good chance to see the endemic gelada baboons. If today is Sunday you visit the lively Senbete market including the interesting camel market. In Addis Ababa You can do last minute shopping in the souvenir shops. Then late in afternoon you will have fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian cultural restaurant with tasty Ethiopian food and cultural dances from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for flight back home. The tour ends here.

On your arrival at Addis Ababa bole international airport you will be welcomed by your tour guide from Landmark Ethiopia Tours. Then you will be transferred to your hotel. After a rest and refresh at the hotel, in the afternoon your guide will take you around the highlights of Addis. Founded in 1887 by Emperor Menelik II and Queen Taitu, Addis Ababa is the third highest capital of the world at an altitude of 2300-2500 m. with a pleasant climate. The tour starts with a visit to the National Museum to view a replica of the famous, 3.2 million-year-old fossilized hominid remains known to the rest of the world as “Lucy”. The visit also includes Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, the Holy trinity cathedral and you will enjoy a panoramic view of the capital with fresh air on top of Mount Entoto and end the tour with the bustling Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market. Overnight- Hotel in Addis Ababa.

In the morning drive 250 kms south of Addis Ababa through the Ethiopian rift valley region pass the town of Debre Zeit where you visit some of the Creator Lakes. Arrive in awash in the afternoon. And visit the park. Awash National Park with its volcano landscapes and savanna grassland habitat for a variety of bird species and mammals. Overnight – Lodge or Hotel in Awash.

Morning after breakfast start drive after passing the town of awash and cross the Awash River bridge outside the town we get to the junction where the road forks, straight ahead for Dire Dawa and Harar, and left for Djibouti and the Red Sea. This day we wonder the Rift valley scenery and Afar people and their village. Semera is a city in afar region and where you get the necessary permission for a visit to Erta Ale and Dallol. Overnight – Hotel in Semera.

At Samara, process your entrance permission and also from here you will have two Police men and one road guide accompanies you for the Afar depression. Then you drive on a track through the desolate landscape with only some coned shaped volcanoes here and there to Afdera salt lake. Late in the afternoon we visit the salt extractors at the lakeside. Overnight – Camping in Afdera.

Today you will drive to Dodem base camp and arrange the necessary materials to trek to Erta Ale active volcano. Around 5 pm 3 hours trek climb to Erta Ale volcano and overnight on the top of the mountain. Erta Ale is 613 meters tall, 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. Overnight- Camping on Erta Ale Summit.

Early in the morning you trek down to Dodem where your cook and cars camp. Have your breakfast and drive to Hammed Ela via Kusrewad. This day drive will be the most challenging drive of all day which may be happen to stuck in the Sand and inhospitable weather. Overnight – Camping at Hammed Ela.

Today you visit Lake Assale and Dallol. Visit Lake Assale and watch the salt workers as they cut bricks of salt from the lake bed which once used as local currency. The bricks are then sold on the market and loaded on camel caravans for transport to the highlands. Proceed to Dallol and view the dramatic and colorful geological formations caused by the hot springs rich in sulfur, potash, and salt. Dallol depression is one of the lowest places on our planet earth (116 meters below sea level). Follow up camel caravans and walk with the Afar and people from the highland. Discover the traditional way of extracting Salt bar, packing on the Camel. See how they prepare their traditional bread, how they travel, communicate & more. It is another unique experience. Overnight – Camping at Hammed Ela.

After morning breakfast Drive to Mekele via the town of Berhale in the River bed Ascend all way to the Tigrayan highland with the camel caravans and stop for photo over the depression. In Mekele visit the 17th century palace-museum of Emperor Yohannes IV. Overnight –Hotel in Mekele

After an early breakfast start the journey to Ethiopia’s most prized destination, Lalibela. Here you will pass through several small villages, with typical sandstone homes of the Tigray people and small Amhara villages along the way there will be plenty of opportunities for photo stops. Overnight- Hotel in Lalibela.

Situated high in the Lasta Mountains Lalibela is arguably one of the most important religious and historical sites in the entire Christian world. The town is famous for the 11 remarkable rock churches built by the saint king Lalibela around 11 century. These elaborate edifices are each carved by hand entirely out of a single block of living granite rock and considered as ’the 8th Wonders of the World’, ‘The Newly Jerusalem’ and ‘The Petra of Africa’. This is a deeply spiritual place and quite rightly a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today you will visit these intriguing monuments to discover more about Ethiopia’s enigmatic past and sophisticated architectural techniques. Overnight- Hotel in Lalibela.

Another full day in Lalibela. Today you will take an excursion to visit rock churches located outside of the town of Lalibela. In the morning make excursion to visit Asheton Mariam by mule or drive to 45km gravel road North of Lalibela to visit Yemrhane Christos church. In afternoon visit Nacutolab rock church. Overnight- Hotel in Lalibela.

Today you leave Lalibela and drive through the Ethiopian dramatic landscape. En route visit lovely Lake Hayk and its 13th Century Istafanos monastery, which is only accessible for men. If it is a market day you will have a good experience for Bati Color full market where you are going to find the Oromo, Amhara and Afar people after that continue to Kombolcha. Overnight- Hotel in Kombolcha.

Drive back to Addis Ababa via Debre Birhan, on the way you pass the Mezezo escarpment, with a good chance to see the endemic gelada baboons. If today is Sunday you visit the lively Senbete market including the interesting camel market. In Addis Ababa You can do last minute shopping in the souvenir shops. Then late in afternoon you will have fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian cultural restaurant with tasty Ethiopian food and cultural dances from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for flight back home. The tour ends here.