Morning time fly to addis

Afternoon fly SEMERA Danakil depression

Overnight hotel semera

Drive Time: 6–8 hours, depending on road conditions

Required: 4WD vehicle and an experienced local guide (necessary for safety and navigation)

Depart from Semera: Start early from Semera with a 4WD and local guides. Ensure you have permits, as Erta Ale is in a restricted area, and permits are mandatory.

Drive through the Afar Desert: This route will take you through harsh yet beautiful desert landscapes.

Arrive at Erta Ale Base Camp: By evening, reach the base camp near the volcano. Discover the volcano

dinner at the site.

Overnight camping

Early Morning Trek to the Crater: Begin the ascent to Erta Ale (about a 3-hour hike) in the early morning to avoid the midday heat.

Experience the Active Lava Lake: Erta Ale is one of the world’s few permanent lava lakes, and seeing the molten lava up close is an unforgettable experience. Be prepared for intense heat and volcanic gases.

Descend to Base Camp: Return to base camp by late morning for rest and lunch.

Afternoon Drive to Lake Afdera (optional): If time allows, visit Lake Afdera, a highly saline lake known for its salt extraction.

Overnight at Base Camp or Camp near Lake Afdera: Spend the night either at the base camp or near Lake Afdera, depending on your chosen route and energy levels.

Depart for Dallol: Head further north towards the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and lowest points on Earth.

Arrive in Dallol: Check in with local guides and set up camp or prepare to stay in a local Afar village.

Explore the Salt Flats and Camel Caravans: Dallol is known for its vast salt flats where locals extract salt in traditional methods.

Overnight in ahemedela or Local Camp: Camp in Dallol

Early Morning Departure: Depart from Dallol and head toward Tigray, driving through the Afar desert landscape.

Arrival in Mekele: By midday, arrive in Mekele, the largest city in the Tigray region

Explore Mekele: Visit notable sites like the Martyrs' Memorial Monument or the local market.

Accommodation in Mekele: Check into a hotel in Mekele, where you can relax and enjoy a warm shower and a comfortable bed after several days in the desert.

Drive to Gheralta Mountains: The Tigray region is famous for its ancient rock-hewn churches, many of which are carved into cliff faces.

Visit Select Rock Churches:Abuna Yemata Guh: A challenging climb is rewarded with one of the most dramatic church settings in the world, carved into a sheer cliff

Maryam Korkor: Another popular church, reachable after a steep climb, offering sweeping views over the Tigray landscape.

overnight HAWUZEN

Morning Departure from Hawuzen

Start early to allow time for exploration along the way. Take the road northwest from Hawuzen towards Adigrat. The drive will take you through the Gheralta Mountains, known for some of Ethiopia’s most famous rock-hewn churches.

Brief Stop in Adigrat: Adigrat is a good place to stretch your legs, refuel, and perhaps grab a quick meal. It’s the largest town in the area and has a vibrant atmosphere.

Drive from Adigrat to Yeha

Yeha Temple: Yeha is home to Ethiopia's oldest standing structure, the Temple of Yeha (built around the 8th century BC). It’s an important pre-Aksumite archaeological site with connections to ancient South Arabian civilization. Spend some time here to explore the temple ruins and the nearby museum, which showcases artifacts from the area.

Arrival in Axum: Aim to arrive in Axum by late afternoon or early evening. Check into a local hotel and relax after your journey.

Spend a full day exploring Axum, one of Ethiopia's most historically rich cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here’s a recommended list of places to visit:

The Northern Stelae Field: Home to some of the tallest obelisks in the world, these granite stelae are ancient markers of Aksumite civilization.

Queen of Sheba’s Palace: Explore the ruins that are believed to have been the palace of the legendary Queen of Sheba.

Church of St. Mary of Zion: This complex is one of Ethiopia's holiest sites and is believed to house the Ark of the Covenant

King Ezana’s Stone: Known as the Ethiopian "Rosetta Stone," this inscription provides insights into ancient Aksumite history and language

The Tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel: Explore the ancient tombs of these Aksumite kings, located near the city center.

Overnight hotel

Flight Duration: Generally around 1.5–3 hours, including a possible layover in Addis Ababa

Frequency: Ethiopian Airlines operates several flights weekly, but schedules can vary.

Arrival in Gondar

Gondar Airport to City Center: Gondar Airport is about 18 km from the city center, and taxis or hotel shuttles can transport you to your accommodation.
Exploring Gondar:Royal Enclosure (Fasil Ghebbi): Visit the famous castle complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site with well-preserved castles and palaces.

Fasilides’ Bath: Known for its significance in Timkat celebrations, this beautiful site includes a large, castle-like pool.

Debre Berhan Selassie Church: Famous for its intricately painted ceilings and frescoes, this church is a must-see for art lovers.

Overnight hotel

Debark to Sankaber Camp
Starting Point: Debark (the gateway to Simien Mountains National Park)

Drive Time to Park Entrance: 30 minutes from Debark to the park entrance

Elevation Gain: Moderate, mostly rolling terrain

Morning Arrival in Debark: Arrange for your park permits, hire a guide, and rent any necessary gear (e.g., sleeping bags, tents, and cooking equipment).

Drive to Simien Mountains National Park Entrance: After obtaining permits, drive about 30 minutes from Debark to the park entrance.

Begin Hike from the Entrance to Sankaber Camp: The trail to Sankaber offers stunning views of dramatic cliffs, deep valleys, and jagged peaks.

Wildlife Spotting: Keep an eye out for Gelada baboons, which are commonly found along this trail, as well as klipspringer antelopes and diverse bird species.

Arrive at Sankaber Camp: Set up camp and relax, enjoying the panoramic views.

Altitude: Approximately 3,250 meters (10,660 feet)

Overnight at Sankaber Camp

Elevation Gain: Moderate, with some steep sections

Depart from Sankaber: After breakfast, begin your hike toward Geech Camp. The trail offers a mix of open plains and wooded areas, giving you a chance to see various flora and fauna.

Waterfall at Jinbar River Gorge: After about 2 hours, reach Jinbar Falls, a spectacular waterfall plunging into the deep Jinbar River Gorge. This is a great spot for photos and a short break.

Continue to Geech Camp: From the falls, the trail heads up to Geech. The ascent can be challenging, but the views make it worthwhile.

Arrive at Geech Camp: Geech Camp is in a beautiful, open area with fantastic sunset views and expansive mountain scenery. Spend the evening relaxing and taking in the sights.

Overnight at Geech Camp

Distance: 15 km round trip (hike to Imet Gogo and back to Geech, then back to Debark)

Hiking Time: 7–8 hours total

Elevation Gain: Moderate to challenging, depending on the route

Morning Hike to Imet Gogo: Depart Geech early to reach Imet Gogo, one of the most iconic viewpoints in the Simien Mountains. This spot offers panoramic views of the vast valleys and towering peaks of the Simien range.

Altitude at Imet Gogo: Approximately 3,926 meters (12,880 feet)

Return to Geech Camp: After spending time at Imet Gogo, head back to Geech Camp for a quick rest and lunch.

Descend to Debark: After lunch, start your descent back to the park entrance, where your driver can pick you up for the ride back to GONDER.

Flight Details: Gondar to Lalibela

Departure Airport: Gondar Airport

Arrival Airport: Lalibela Airport

Flight Duration: Generally around 3–4 hours, including a layover in Addis Ababa.Frequency: Ethiopian Airlines operates multiple flights weekly on this route.

Visit Lalibela surround

Lalibela Airport to City Center: Lalibela Airport is located about 23 km from the town. You can take a taxi or arrange a hotel shuttle, which often costs around 300–500 ETB (prices may vary).

Exploring Lalibela:

Rock-Hewn Churches: Visit the UNESCO-listed rock-hewn churches, including Bet Giyorgis (St. George), Bet Medhane Alem, and Bet Maryam.

Asheten Maryam Monastery: For a short hike, head to Asheten Maryam, which offers views over the Lalibela area and a peaceful monastic setting