3 Days Danakil Depression, 2 days lalibela, 6 days omo valley Itinerary
To start the tour we will meet you at adis air port and transfer to hotel for overnight or street fly to mekele to start the trip via the Danakil; depression
Day1: Mekelle – Volcano
We drive from Mekelle to – Dodom. We start early drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). Leave after an early breakfast, possible at 07:30. This is may be one of the worst roads in the world. The 70 km distance may take about 5 hrs passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm lined oasis. After you pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert land, Dodom is about 9.5km from ErtaAle and it takes about 3 hrs trekking. Early dinner around 17:00 and trek up to ErtaAle at 20:00 hours. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. ErtaAle ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit. ErtaAle contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. ErtaAle is 613 meters, 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. O/n camping on the mountain
Day 2 ErtaAle-HamadEla
waking up early ErtaAle -Dodom Leave back to Dodom you will reach latest at 8.00 am at the camp , after breakfast time to relax. then drive to HamadEla 100km, picnic lunch on the way on shed of palm tree, reach HamadEla 04:30, better village with a total population about 500 people. You will see lots of camel caravans and you will have the sun set look from the very shallow salt lake Assale. Overnight camping at HamadEla.
Day 3 HamadEla- Dallol- Mekelle
Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the
localities are mining salt. 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi) the Afar Depression is covered by salt, and you will Look the activity of breaking the salt from the ground, local people are cutting in to rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity; Dallol + Lake Assale + salt canon, camel caravans, follow up camel caravans and Drive back to HamadEla for lunch and proceed to Mekele. Night Mekelle
Day 4
Early in the morning embark on a full day of driving to Lalibela. Here you will pass through several small villages, with typical sandstone homes of the Tigray people. Proceed through this rural area for the stunning approach to the home of Ethiopia’s most prized destination – Lalibela. Overnight in Lalibela.
Day 5
In the morning, start your tour of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches – Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha (entry not permitted for women). After lunch, continue with the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – Saint George. Overnight in Lalibela.
Day 6
morning fly lalibela to adis then connected flight to arbaminch, upon your arrival, our driver will pick you and transfer you to your hotel OR directly proceed driving to Dorze, set in the highlands above Arba Minch. The Dorze people are known for their tall beehive-like houses and their fine cotton weaving. You will visit the village and learn about the daily lives of these industrious people. If today is market day (in Dorze village on Monday and Thursday and in nearby Chencha on Tuesday and Saturday), that will be visited. Overnight in Dorze in traditional Dorze hut (shared toilet facilities) or continue to Arba Minch for overnight.
Day 7
Wake up morning around 7:30am, have breakfast and start your last day visit in Arba Minch.
This morning, depart to Arba Minch for a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market”, and the local hippos then drive arbaminch to turmi to see the hamer people . If there is Jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer coming-of-age ceremony, that will be visited. Overnight in Turmi,
Day 8
In the morning, take a day trip to Omorate to visit the Dassenech tribe. Here you will cross the Omo River by local boat and enter a Dassenech village. Afterwards lunch drive to karo to see the karo people but. If there is jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer coming-of-age ceremony that will be visited instead of karo. Overnight in Turmi
Day 9
In the morning drive turmy to jinka and drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates, after returning to Jinka. After lunch take a hike in the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village. Overnight in Jinka.
Day 10
After breakfast, depart from Jinka to Arba Minch via Key Afar and Konso. Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods. This is another very popular market in the region. After the visit, proceed to Konso (market days are Mondays and Thursdays). The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing. Today you will have a brief opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. After the visit, proceed driving to Arba Minch. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Day 11
Drive back to adis
Morning after breakfast drive Arba Minch to Addis if time permit drive to Merkato for shopping
The Omo valley tour itinerary is fixable as per the market days in each village.
End of the tour
