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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
8 Days Danakil, Gheralta and Lalibela
Lava lakes, cliff churches and the rock churches of Lalibela
About The Tour
8 Days Danakil, Gheralta and Lalibela Tour: Volcanoes, Cliff Churches and Rock Churches
Lava lakes, cliff churches and the rock churches of Lalibela
Overview
This 8 day tour links three of the most remarkable places in northern Ethiopia. You start in the Danakil Depression with the lava lake of Erta Ale, the salt flats of Lake Asale and the colours of Dallol. Then you climb up to the red sandstone mountains of Gheralta in Tigray, where churches are cut into cliff faces, and finish in Lalibela, home of the famous rock hewn churches.
There are no direct flights between regional cities in Ethiopia, so the tour is planned around flights through Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa to Semera at the start, Mekele to Addis Ababa after Gheralta, then Addis Ababa to Lalibela and back. There is no camping: the nights in the Danakil are in simple shelters and a guesthouse with mattresses and bedding provided. It is a private trip with your own 4×4, driver and guide.
Duration
8 Days (7 Nights)
Suggested Accommodations
- Erta Ale: basic stone shelters near the crater (mattress and bedding provided)
- Hamed Ela: basic local guesthouse (mattress and bedding provided)
- Gheralta: Gheralta Lodge or Korkor Lodge
- Addis Ababa: Hyatt Regency or Skylight Hotel
- Lalibela: Mountain View Hotel or Tukul Village Hotel
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Fly Addis Ababa to Semera, Drive to Erta Ale
Take the morning flight from Addis Ababa to Semera, the capital of the Afar region, about an hour in the air. Your driver and guide meet you at the airport and you cross the Afar lowlands, with a lunch stop on the way. Reach the Erta Ale area in the late afternoon. There is no long hike: the walk from the vehicles to the crater is short, about 20 minutes at most. After dark, watch the glowing lava of one of the few permanent lava lakes in the world. Dinner and overnight at the simple shelters near the crater.
Day 2: Erta Ale to Hamed Ela and Lake Asale
Return to the crater at sunrise for another look at the lava, then breakfast. Drive north across the Afar lowlands towards Dallol, stopping for lunch on the way. In the late afternoon reach Hamed Ela, the Afar village at the edge of the salt plain, and drive out to Lake Asale for sunset over the salt flats. Dinner and overnight at Hamed Ela.
Day 3: Dallol, Salt Mining and Drive to Gheralta
Start early to beat the heat and visit Dallol, a field of yellow, orange and green sulphur pools, salt pillars and acid springs. Continue to the salt mining area, where workers cut salt blocks by hand and load them on camel caravans. After lunch, drive up the escarpment through Berhale to Mekele and on into the Tigray highlands. Overnight at your lodge in Gheralta.
Day 4: Abuna Yemata Guh and Maryam Korkor
Morning climb to Abuna Yemata Guh, a church cut into a pinnacle 2,580 metres high, reached by a short rock scramble with footholds and a narrow ledge. In the afternoon hike up to Maryam Korkor and Daniel Korkor, with old paintings and wide views over Gheralta. Overnight at the lodge.
Day 5: Abraha we Atsbeha, Fly Mekele to Addis Ababa
Visit Abraha we Atsbeha, one of the finest rock churches in Tigray, and Wukro Cherkos on the way to Mekele. Afternoon flight from Mekele to Addis Ababa. Transfer to your hotel and a free evening. Overnight in Addis Ababa.
Day 6: Fly to Lalibela, Northern Group of Churches
Morning flight from Addis Ababa to Lalibela, about an hour. Drive up to town and, in the afternoon, visit the northern group of churches: Bete Medhane Alem, the largest monolithic church in the world, Bete Maryam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagel and the twin churches of Bete Golgotha and Bete Mikael. Overnight in Lalibela.
Day 7: Yemrehanna Kristos and the Eastern Churches
Morning drive to Yemrehanna Kristos (about 1 hour each way), a church of wood and stone built inside a cave. Back in Lalibela, visit the eastern group of churches, linked by tunnels and trenches, and end the day at Bete Giyorgis, the cross shaped church carved down into the rock. Overnight in Lalibela.
Day 8: Lalibela to Addis Ababa
Free morning to revisit a favourite church or walk through town, or take the optional hike or mule ride to the mountain monastery of Asheten Maryam. Transfer to Lalibela airport for your flight to Addis Ababa and your onward journey.
Travel Advice
Current travel advice (October 2026): the US government currently advises avoiding the Afar, Tigray and Amhara regions. The UK advises against all travel to Tigray and to the Amhara region (which includes Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar and the Simien Mountains), and against all but essential travel to Afar, which includes the Danakil. Check your own government’s latest advice and make sure your travel insurance covers you before you book. We follow the situation on the ground every day, run this route only when we judge it safe, and will talk to you about other dates or another itinerary if conditions change.
Price and Booking
Price: on request. This tour runs as a private trip on any date you choose. The price depends on group size, hotel level and season, so we quote each trip individually. Tell us your dates and number of travellers and we reply within 2 hours, with a full itinerary and quote within 24 hours.
Tip on domestic flights: if you fly into Ethiopia on Ethiopian Airlines, you can usually get large discounts on domestic flights. Book them on the same booking reference or send us your ticket and we book them for you.
Get a free quote or message us on WhatsApp +251 988 111 222.
What Is Included
- Private air conditioned vehicle (4×4 where needed) with fuel and an experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide throughout (other languages on request)
- Hotels as listed, twin or double room with breakfast
- All entrance fees and local guide fees at the sites in the itinerary
- Airport and hotel transfers
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Afar local guides, scouts and Danakil permit fees
- Full board meals in the Danakil
- Church entrance fees and local guides in Gheralta and Lalibela
Not Included
- International flights and Ethiopian visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Domestic flights (Addis Ababa to Semera, Mekele to Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa to Lalibela and back)
- Lunch and dinner outside the Danakil
- Drinks, tips and personal expenses
Best Time to Go
November to February is the most comfortable time for the Danakil, when daytime heat is lowest. Gheralta and Lalibela are pleasant all year, with green hills after the rains in September and October. Genna (7 January) and Timkat (19 January) are spectacular in Lalibela, but book 6 to 12 months ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any camping on this tour?
No. In the Danakil you sleep in simple stone shelters near Erta Ale and a basic guesthouse at Hamed Ela, with mattresses and bedding provided. All other nights are in hotels and lodges.
Why do we fly back to Addis Ababa between Mekele and Lalibela?
There are no direct flights between regional cities in Ethiopia. All domestic flights connect through Addis Ababa, so a night there is the most comfortable way to link Tigray and Lalibela.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes. The minimum age for the Danakil is 15 years.
Do I have to climb Abuna Yemata Guh?
No. The climb needs a head for heights. If you prefer, we visit Maryam Korkor and other churches that need only a hike.
Tour Languages
Amharic, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Please inform us of your preferred language when booking.
Note: The itinerary can be customized based on your preferences and time availability.
Booking Form
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