Quick Summary

6-Day Lalibela Churches and Danakil Depression is a 6 days tour in Ethiopia via the Lalibela Churches and Danakil Depression route, starting from USD 1221. Below you'll find the latest itinerary, inclusions & exclusions, and how to book.

Duration
6 days

Route
Lalibela Churches and Danakil Depression

From
USD 1221

Operator
Kitano Tours & Safaris

ABOUT 6-Day Lalibela Churches and Danakil Depression

Lalibela is home to the famous rock-hewn churches, carved out of solid stone in the 12th and 13th centuries by King Lalibela. It’s often referred to as "New Jerusalem" because of its profound religious significance. The town is one of Ethiopia’s holiest sites and an important pilgrimage destination for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.

Duration: 6 days
Route: Lalibela Churches and Danakil Depression
Starts at: USD 1221

Overview

Itinerary

include & exclude

Highlights for 6-Day Lalibela Churches and Danakil Depression

Day 1: Fly to Lalibela and Visit the Rock Hewn Churches
Day 2: Drive to Semera
Day 3: Semera- Ert-Ale Volcano
Day 4: Ert-Ale- Dallol
Day 5: Sunrise and Drive to Mekele
Day 6: Mekele-Addis Ababa

Itinerary Overview

Day	Title
Day 01	Fly to Lalibela and Visit the Rock Hewn Churches
Day 02	Drive to Semera
Day 03	Semera- Ert-Ale Volcano
Day 04	Ert-Ale- Dallol
Day 05	Sunrise and Drive to Mekele
Day 06	Mekele-Addis Ababa

Day 01: Fly to Lalibela and Visit the Rock Hewn Churches

>> You'll fly to Lalibela on Ethiopian Airlines. You'll meet your guide and driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel, and have lunch at the hotel. You'll tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in the afternoon, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group of ten monolithic and semi-monolithic structures was carved directly into the stone of the mountainside at least 900 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings. You'll explore the churches of Lalibela, the first group of churches called Bete Medehanialem, Bete Maryam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil, and Debre Sina, we Golegotha and the second group of churches, which includes Bete Emanuel, Bete Gabriel, Bete Merkorious, and Aba Libanos. Finally, you'll visit the famous St'George church.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Sora Lodge Lalibela Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

Day 02: Drive to Semera

>> Driving from Lalibela to Semera is an adventurous and scenic journey, taking you through some of Ethiopia’s diverse landscapes. Semera is the capital of the Afar Region and lies in the Danakil Depression, so the route will take you from the highlands of Lalibela into the lowlands.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Kuriftu Afar Semera Resort Mid-range hotel located in Semera (Town)

Day 03: Semera- Ert-Ale Volcano

>> After breakfast, you'll drive from Semera to Afedra, where you will have lunch. After lunch, you'll continue driving to Ert-ale active volcano. The drive will take 4-6 hours. You'll reach your camping ground at the top of the Caldera. You'll walk 30 minutes to the summit crater lake, currently in its active cycle. You'll enjoy the wonder happening right in front of you and walk back to the camping ground. You'll leave for the volcano around 5:30 pm, late in the afternoon, and walk back after visiting around 8:00 PM.
Your overnight stay is open-air camping on a flat ground with a suitable mattress, pillow, clean bed sheets, and a quiet environment.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Budget camping

Day 04: Ert-Ale- Dallol

>> You'll wake up early in the morning and walk again 30 minutes one way to see the sunrise. You'll return to the camp for breakfast, then continue driving to Afdera. Lake Afdera is a salt lake that is located in the heart of the Danakil Depression. At this lake, you may have a chance at the natural hot springs. Later, you'll have to swim around this lake, and we will be driving to the town of Dallol. You'll enjoy the sunset at Lake Assale late in the afternoon. Your overnight stay will be open-air camping with clean beds, mattresses, pillows, clean bed sheets, and a lot of water for hydration.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Budget camping

Day 05: Sunrise and Drive to Mekele

>> Early in the morning, before sunrise, you'll drive to the lunar landscape of the Dallol geothermal site for an amazing wonder seen nowhere else on the planet. A chemical reaction happening right in front of you lives face to face with raw nature. You will revise your knowledge of colors from that moment on. After this, you'll drive to the salt and mud-formed mountain cave right underneath the Dallol crater. Another 10-minute drive and a completely different world. You will have a picnic breakfast in nearby the cave with wonder. After this visit, you'll drive to the vast salt plains, Lake Karum, swim in the saltwater pool in that scorching sun, before returning to Hamedela for some rest. After lunch, you'll drive to Mekele. This drive will take 3-4 hours.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Planet Hotel Budget hotel located in Mekele (City)

Day 06: Mekele-Addis Ababa

>> Today is the last day of the tour. After breakfast, we will accompany you to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa or any other tour destinations. If you need any assistance, we are here to help.