DAY 1: LALIBELA WORLD HERITAGE CHURCH TOUR (full day with guide)

An early Start for the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE rock hewn churches of Lalibela, the so called ‘new Jerusalem’ and the holiest town in the whole of Ethiopia is highly recommended since there are 12 churches in town, so it’s much to see and learn about them

In the morning your guide will bring you to the entrance of the symbol of earthly Jerusalem- the north- western cluster of the group, called:
-Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha.

You will be surprised since after visiting them it will already be mid-day (btw the churches are closed from 12-2)

Your guide will pick you up at 1:30pm and you continue with the south-eastern cluster, built as the symbol of heavenly Jerusalem:

–Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos.

Last and finally, you will visit the most famous and very picturesque of all the churches: –Bet Giyorgis (St George), constructed in honour of the patron Saint George. (please note all the churches close at 5pm).

Overnight at: Cliff Edge Hotel,Lalibela

 

DAY 2: Drive Lalibela to Mekele

Car will wait in front of your hotel to bring you all the way from Lalibela to Mekele City.
Enjoy the spectacular landscape and towns, on you drive from Lalibela to Mekele, which will take you 8hrs.
Overnight at hotel Mekele

 

DAY 3: Drive Mekele to Hamdela (Danakil Desert)

After breakfast drove from Mekele to Hamdela, right in the Danakil Desert.

The Danakil is both one of the lowest and hottest places on earth, extremely inhospitable but incredibly spectacular with it’s colourful sulphur lakes, solidified lava, camel caravans, salt mines, little hamlets, outstanding landscapes and -of course- the unforgettable volcano Erta Ale.

Once in Hamdela we proceed to Lake Asale to enjoy the spectacular view of the sunset reflections.

Overnight will be local Afar style: right underneath the stars or in a hut.

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DAY 4: Hamdela – Dallol - Erta Ale Volcano

After breakfast we drive for around 20 min to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the salt miners work.

We continue to Dallol (25 min) where the landscape, formed by volcanic activity is somehow unreal. You will have time to admire the sulphur lakes and get many pictures. Also here it’s the place where are salt miners can be watched doing their work.

Then drive from Dallol - Erebti, the place for lunch, later on we continue to Kossorobat, where we get all necessary papers and also our own camels for climbing Erta Ale.

After reaching Askoma village we start the trekking uphill towards the volcano.( 3-3,5 hours)

At around 5pm dinner gets served, you got some time to relax before further trekking -at 8pm you will have reached Erta Ale.

We erect our camp right at the rim of the volcano, so we can clearly witness the activity of the boiling lava and will spend the night there watching this incredible spectacle of the world’s only permanent lava lake underneath a magnificent sky with millions of stars.

Overnight: open air

 

DAY 5: Sunrise at the volcano- Lake Afdera -Mekele

We get up as soon as sun is rising, we will surround the crater, walk over to the smaller, inactive second crater before leaving this adventurous place at around 7am.

In Askoma breakfast will be served (around 10:30 or earlier) and there you again will have time to reflect and relax.

Later on we continue to Lake Afdera, where you- to add another surprise of the desert, can go for a swim. Nearby you will also find hot wells where you can take a dip too.

We reach Mekele around 7pm and finish there our trip to one of the most impressive spots on earth with hopefully many unforgettable pictures in your head and your camera.

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