Ethiopia Community Based Tour
Danakil Depression Tour
HIGHLAND ECO TREKKING
TOURS ETHIOPIA
13 Days Round Tour
Addis Ababa -Lalibela -Abune Yosef Community Trekking -Mekele -Danakil Depression -Addis Ababa
Highlights
Lucy, 3,200,000 years old human skeleton
The world wonder rock hewn churches of Lalibela
Community Eco Trekking
Danakil Depression, Erta Ale active volcano, Dallol Sulfur Lake, Afdera Salt Lake
This tour includes community trekking and the very special Danakil Tour to the permanent active volcano Erta Ale, the hottest spot on this planet and also the lowest place on earth.
Apart from those highlights you will see and smell Sulphur lakes, watch salt cutting workers in the desert and camel- caravans plodding in the sand.
The conditions are not easy- the oldest customer we had was a 73 year old lady though. Anyway, also this tour calls for fit people.
Tour Detail
13 Days Package Tour
Maximum 12 / Minimum 8
Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ADDIS ABABA
Personal pick up from Bole International Airport, Addis Abeba, transfer to the hotel, depending on arrival time visit in a traditional restaurant
Overnight: Caravan Hotel, Addis
DAY 2: CITY TOUR IN ADDIS ABABA
Full day sight seeing tour in Addis including: NATIONAL MUSEUM, ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM, HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL and the biggest open air market in Africa- MERKATO
Overnight: Caravan Hotel, Addis
DAY 3: FLIGHT ADDIS ABABA-LALIBELA (2600m)
Flight to Lalibela, free afternoon for acclimatisation, exploring Lalibela/ the churches
visit of a traditional honey-wine house, traditional dances and music later at night
Overnight: Cliff Edge Hotel, Lalibela
DAY 4: FULL DAY LALIBELA WORLD HERITAGE CHURCHES TOUR
Full day guided church tour and Lalibela town
Overnight: Cliff Edge Hotel, Lalibela
DAY 5: TREKKING LALIBELA TOWN - AD MEDHANE ALEM ESCARPMENT (3600m)
Trekking in the highlands above Lalibela (3600m) exploring rural Ethiopian farmers traditional life.
Overnight: in a farmers family guest hut, Abune Yoseph Massif
DAY 6: AD MEDHANE ALEM – WEDEBYE ABO - ZIGGIT AND RIM GEDEL PEAKS (4284m)
Shorter trek deeper into highlands:
-later possible trek to (GELADA BABOONS in hordes) and climb of 3 different peaks, including RIM GEDEL (4284m)
or
-staying in another highlanders farmers village, spending time with the farmers, taking part in their activities.
Overnight: Abune Yosef Eco lodge- traditional Ethiopian round stone hut near TIGU KEBELE, ABUNE
YOSEPH MASSIF
DAY 7: WEDEBYE ABO – YEMREHANE KRISTOS – LALIBELA TOWN (2600m)
Trek towards the lowlands, visiting YEMREHANE KRISTOS CHURCH, drive back to Lalibela (42 km)
Overnight: Cliff Edge Hotel, Lalibela
DAY8: DRIVE LALIBELA-MEKELE
Drive to Mekele (8h, spectacular landscape)
Overnight: Atse Yohannes Hotel, Mekele
DAY 9: MEKELE – LAKE AFDERA
Danakil Depression Tour by 4WD (4h) to LAKE AFDERA, close to local village AFDERA, sunset swim in the salt lake
Overnight: camping
DAY 10: LAKE AFDERA – ERTA ALE VOLCANO
70 km drive to DODOM, we visit the salt miners (Afar tribe)
start of trekking ERTA ALE in the evening (3 h) enjoying the natural wonder of the longest existing lava lake on this planet
Overnight: camping
Day 11: ERTA ALE - DODOM - HAMED ELA
special sunrise (at 6am) we have to get up early, but you will see it is of course very well worth it.
Hike to Dodom (2 h) drive to HAMED ALE (100 km/7 hours)
visit of LAKE ASALE
Overnight: camp
Day 12: HAMED ALE - DALLOL – MEKELE
drive to DALLOL via ASEBO ('the salt desert') to the lowest point of the Danakil, visting and learning about Sulphur Lakes, proceed to Mekele (4 hours)
Overnight: Atse Yohannes Hotel, Mekele
DAY 13: FLIGHT MEKELE–ADDIS ABABA
Flight Mekele- Addis Ababa, free afternoon, farewell dinner, transfer to Bole international Airport for your international flight