11 Days Lalibela, Danakil, Erta Ale, Awash National Park Tours

Day 1: Drive to Kombolecha

Drive to Kombolcha via Debre Birhan, passing the stunning Mezezo Escarpment, where you’ll have a great opportunity to spot the endemic Gelada baboons. If you’re traveling on a Sunday, make a stop in the town of Senbete to experience its lively market, including the fascinating camel market, offering a unique glimpse into the local culture.

Day 2: Drive to Lalibela

Enjoy a full day of driving through breathtaking countryside on the way to Lalibela. With little traffic along the route, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to stop and soak in the epic landscapes, making the journey as memorable as the destination.

Day 3: Lalibela

The short flight to Lalibela offers stunning views of rust-colored canyons and jagged peaks. Nestled over 8,500 feet in the Lasta Mountains, Lalibela remains remarkably undeveloped despite being a pilgrimage site since the 16th century. Today, we explore its rock-hewn churches, considered one of Africa’s most significant religious and historical landmarks. Lalibela’s churches, built during the 12th and 13th centuries under King Lalibela, are believed to have been inspired by his vision of a ‘New Jerusalem.’ Despite modern developments like paved roads and electricity, Lalibela still faces water shortages, with hotels rationing water.

Day 4: Drive to Mekele

Drive to Mekele via Woldia, with a stop in Hayk for a rest. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Lake Hayk and, for those interested, visit the local monastery (men only). It’s a peaceful stop to take in the natural beauty and cultural significance of the area.

Day 5: Mekele —Afdera /Danakil Depression

After breakfast, drive into the Afdera region, home to the Danakil Depression and the Afrera Salt Lake. Leaving the main road, we continue on an unpaved 4×4 track northward through rugged, moon-like landscapes marked by volcanic rifts, black lava flows, and gravel deserts. After approximately four hours of driving, we’ll reach the flat, salt-covered Danakil Depression and the Afrera Salt Lake by afternoon. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the fascinating salt flats, where pure salt is harvested.

Day 6: Afdera – Erta Ale

Drive to Dodom village, the base of Erta Ale. In the morning, you can join local salt workers to observe their unique harvesting technique. We’ll then meet our Afar guide and police escort before crossing the salt and lava desert to Dodom, where we’ll set up camp.

Afterward, we’ll begin an easy 10 km hike (500 m ascent, about 3 hours) up the flat flank of Erta Ale, passing fascinating lava formations like pahoehoe fields, tubes, and rare vegetation. Once on the rim of the caldera, we’ll descend to the floor, and in just 10 minutes, reach the active pit crater with its boiling lava lake.

Day 7: Ertale —Ahmed Ela —Dallol

After leaving Erta Ale, we embark on a challenging 4×4 drive north through the desert toward the large, mostly dry salt lake near Ahmed Ela. In the afternoon and evening, we’ll witness the endless camel caravans—arriving empty and leaving fully loaded with valuable salt blocks. After nightfall, you can participate in the assignment of salt cutters (focolo) to camel owners (Arho).

The next day, we explore the fascinating Dallol volcano, hidden beneath kilometers of salt deposits. This active volcano is marked by the up-doming of salt and colorful fumaroles and hot springs. We’ll also visit the remains of a ghost town, once inhabited by miners in the 1930s who extracted potash. Dallol holds the title of the hottest inhabited place on Earth.

Day 8: Ahmed Ela —Semera

In the morning, we watch thousands of camels heading out to the salt cutting area. We then visit the lake to observe the salt cutters and shapers at work, following age-old traditions. By late morning, the first camels are being loaded, and the cycle repeats. It’s time to leave the desert and head towards the highlands, passing through a stunning canyon. We stop for lunch at a small, clear waterfall, where you can bathe and we’ll clean the vehicles from the salt. By late afternoon, we reach the highland plateau and stay overnight in a small, lively town, where you can enjoy the first cold beer after more than a week in the desert!

Day 9: Drive to Awash

We’ll spend the remainder of the day driving slowly to Awash National Park. While the flat, dry farmlands offer little in terms of scenic beauty, the journey is a birdwatcher’s delight. Along the roadside, you’ll spot a variety of birds, including Augur Buzzards, Long-crested Eagles, Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, as well as Abyssinian and Rufous-crowned sparrows.

Day 10: Awash National Park

Today is dedicated to exploring Awash National Park. One of the park’s unique features is the freedom it offers for walking safaris, as it is free from typical East African park restrictions and dangerous large mammals. Covering 350 square miles, Awash became Ethiopia’s first national park in 1966. Located along the Awash River, the park is known for its spectacular gorges, acacia and scrub-covered plains, hills, and the active volcano, Mount Fantalle, in the northern section.

While Ethiopia’s recent challenges have affected its wildlife, with significant declines in large mammal populations, Awash still offers opportunities to spot Beisa Oryx, Lesser Kudu, Defassa Waterbuck, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Warthog, Salt’s Dik-dik, and Olive Baboons. Predators are rare, but the birdlife is exceptional. Species such as Buff-crested, White-bellied, Kori, and Arabian Bustards, Lichtenstein’s and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Rosy-patched Shrikes, numerous hornbills, weavers, woodpeckers, vultures, doves, pigeons, guineafowl, glossy starlings, parrots, bee-eaters, barbets, mousebirds, and finches can all be spotted in this vibrant ecosystem.

Day 11: Drive back to Addis Ababa

Drive back to Addis Ababa from Awash National Park, covering 215 km. As you head towards Meta Hara, you’ll cross Lake Beseka on a road that seems to float just above the water. Keep an eye out for great white pelicans, marabou storks, and yellow-billed storks along the shore. On the way, you can stop at Sodere to enjoy a refreshing soak in the therapeutic hot springs.

In the evening, before departure, you’ll be treated to a farewell dinner at one of Addis Ababa’s finest traditional restaurants. Savor a variety of authentic Ethiopian dishes while enjoying a vibrant performance of folkloric dances from different Ethiopian ethnic groups.