The trip is named as from green land to desert, as the main sites are the Awash National Park full of trees and wild life and Afar Danakil Depression the hottest place on earth -130 meter below sea level. Secondly this unique trip to Ethiopia can be called from the shallowest place on earth/Ethiopia in Dallol Afar up to the highest mountain in Ethiopia: 4620 meter above sea level including the main known historical routes Addis, Bahir Dar, Gonder except Axum in 14 days.
Duration: 14 days overland tour
Drive from Addis Ababa to Awash National Park. Visit the whole day the fauna and flora of the park. Such as gazelle, Oryx, warthogs, etc and Avifauna (birdlife) such as catbird, yellow throat birds, etc See the Awash River course that gave the name to the park and bath in the hot spring.
Overnight: Awash – lodges
Drive to Assaita one of the principal towns in Afar region. Collect permit papers from tourism office and head to Afdera salt lake: Ethiopians’ unfinished source of salt. Attend Afari people extracting salt, salt caravan. On your way take the pictures of the landscape of sulphur, phosphate etc minerals, blue, white, yellow and other colors in between make it colorful planet on earth.
Overnight: Afdera – camping
Drive to Dodom 60km base camp, this is the place where you will arrange camels to transport your luggage and water evening start trek to Erta-Ale volcanic lake. At night time the view of the volcanic lake standing on the rim of the well is astonishing breath taking, see the exploding volcano and returns to the well before reaching your leg, again and again , molten lava temperature inside the well is over 3000 degree centigrade.
Overnight: Ertale – camping
After you arrive near Erta’ale Stretch your tents and walk in the middle of nowhere only you feel sandy wind in a very hot temperature. In the evening again admire Erta-Ale lake, Earta’ale hell, Erta’ale paradise find a word to describe it the whole day and night.
Overnight: Ertale – camping
Early start trekking back to Dodom base camp meet the car and drive on the way to Hamedale After Camping in the early evening observe the caravan crossing in the moon light
Overnight: Dodom – camping
Morning excursion to Dallol to visit the salt extraction by the Afar and Tigray people, This day is a special day in your life to sink in -130 meter below sea level surface a place called Dallol. It is the hottest place on earth. On the way surprisingly see half dressed men extracting salts in the desert and visit different colors of minerals bubbling out.
Overnight: Hamedela – camping
Drive to and stop over Barehalie town of Afar tribe. It is the place of market in the region heading to Mekelle town of the Tigray people.
Overnight: Mekelle – hotel
Morning drive to Lalibela town of rock hewn churches.
Overnight: Lalibela – hotel
Visit half of the 11 rock hewn churches in the morning and half in the afternoon, may be after lunch. Stunning the stones carved to make these monolithic churches in the 12 century, using the tools of that time Entrance for the whole churches for 5 days is 400 birr the most expensive place according to Ethiopians for these the first must see place in Ethiopia.
Overnight: Lalibela – hotel
Drive to Bahir Dar town of source of Blue Nile River. The river passes over the waters of Lake tana you can identify it the river path Abay is muddier than Tana on which there are more than 30 islands hosting monasteries and aquatic birds, hippos. Finish the day with the sunset over the lake.
Overnight: Bahir Dar – hotel
Drive to Gonder town of castles which used as a palace of Kings who ruled Ethiopia’s best time in the 17th century. Fasil ghibie/compound, his swimming pool, and roof paintings of Debre Birhan Silasie church are some of the attractions to be visited the whole day.
Overnight: Gonder – hotel
Drive to Debark town and hike to Semien Mountains which is the highest pick in Ethiopia, Campsites of Sankaber to chenek are accessible by car. Game searching of the endemic Walia Ibex, Abyssinian wolf, and bird species in couple of days.
Overnight: Siemen Mountans – camping
Drive back to Gonder Town and Bahrdar town at night to head to Addis the next day.
Overnight: Bahir Dar – hotel
Drive to Addis from Bahir Dar 525 km. on nth way cross the Blue Nile Gorge and town of Debre Markos known for the honey production.
Overnight: Addis Ababa – hotel
* Please check prices for full list of inclusions and exclusions
English
(Other languages possible on request)
Children, Students, Adults, Seniors
Start city: Addis Ababa , Ethiopia
Pick up times available: 9:00
Pick up location: Your hotel, Bole International Airport or Taitu Hotel - your choice
Ends at: Your hotel, Bole International Airport or Taitu Hotel - your choice
Nearest airport: Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD)
0% cancellation fee - 11 days or more before the travel date
50% cancellation fee - between 3-10 days before the travel date
100% cancellation fee - between 0-2 days before the travel date
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2 May 2018
I did a15-day private tour (just a friend and I) of the Northern historical circuit with Afrotours in December-January 2013/14. Afro Tours did a really great job in customizing the trip to our particular interests, preferences for accommodation and budget. A real differentiator between them and other tours I've been on is that they were flexible in real time - When illness struck, we spent an unexpectedly long time in one place or just wanted to slow down a bit, they were totally willing to change the schedule and accommodations. Both the guide and driver were very knowledgeable, experienced, spoke wonderful English and gave good advice. In addition, having checked with several other tour operators, Afro Tours gave us significantly better pricing. All in all it was a great experience, and I would recommend them to anyone going to Ethiopia!
from $4580 per person