Private Tour
5 DAYS Lalibela, Axum, Tigray churches and Danakil
Overview
Available languages
120 hours
Mobile ticket
Danakil is one of the most geologically active regions with three tectonic plates meeting at the Afar Triple Junction. When tectonic plates move apart like at Danakil, it creates lave lakes, hot springs, geysers and fissures in the ground. Our tour is unique as it is well-arranged including "must visit" historic sites of Lalibela and Axum together with the breathtaking landscape in Tigray which we deliver all with Ethiopian hospitality and touch.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Addis – Lalibela
Accommodations
Overnight at Mountain View Hotel, 3 Star Hotel
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
In the morning, fly north to Lalibela and be transferred to your hotel. After lunch, visit the first group of Lalibela Churches which are located north of a small stream named Jordan River. These Churches were carved during the time of King Lalibela (1181 – 1221) and are registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In the city of Lalibela you will see about Eleven Rock Churches organized into groups of three with overnight Lalibela Lodge.
Ruins of Axum and Gheralta plains in Hawzen
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
The Ruins of Aksum
Catch a flight from Lalibela to Axum in the morning. Visit for hours in Axum and drive from Axum – Hawzien (190 kms, 2 hours). Drive from Axum to Hawzein via Adwa Finally drive to Hawzen for overnight via Gheralta plains. You can use the town as the base from which to visit the rock hewn churches at Gheralta. Over night at Hawzien. (Gerealta Lodge or Wukro Lodge)
Hawzien - Mekele – Danakil Ertale
Accommodations
Camping
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Danakil Depression
We start our day by driving to Erta Ale via Mekele (which means smoky mountain in Afar language). Erta Ale 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. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. It 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. We start early 9:00 AM, drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). This is may be one of the roughest roads in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm lined oasis. After passing several small hamlets scattered here and there in this deserted land, you will arrive to Dodom camping site, located about 17km from Erta Ale. Dinner will be served around 17:00 o’clock. After a short break, trek up to Ertale at 20:00 hours. Camels will be transporting 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. You will spend the night on top of the mountain, at the rim of the Volcano.
Danakil Depression, Afar Region
Accommodations
Camping
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Danakil Depression
Early Morning sunrise at the northern one corresponds to the main pit crater and walk 5 minutes for the southern and central pits could either corresponds to an ancient pit, or to a simple collapse structure. The main pit-crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three-storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. Descend from Erta Ale around 9 am Dodom – Leave back to Dodom after an early breakfast, if possible at 07:00 o’clock. You will reach the latest at 10:30 o’clock at the camp, where you will be relaxing. As soon as possible, drive to reach the mythical Lake Giulietti (or Lake Afrera)(optional may not be available during summer time), a saltwater lake located more than100 meters below sea level, in one of the deepest depressions of the planet. Because of the picturesque landscape, it is interesting to visit the salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the water of the lake., continue to Erbiti and proceed Abaala/ Hamed Ela
Danakil or Dallol to Mekele
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Danakil Depression
Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look the activity of workers breaking salts from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans (No camel caravan on July, August, and early September) and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele. End of Danakil tour Catch a flight back to Addis at 7:50 pm, arriving in Addis at 9:10 pm.
What‘s Included
Domestic flights Three flight with Ethiopian airlines
Tip and Laundry
Pickup points
Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa
Kazanchis Business District, Kirkos Subcity 17/18 Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Golden Tulip Addis Ababa Hotel
Cameroon Street, Bole Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Capital Hotel & Spa
22 Haile Gebre Silase St, Next to Ministry of Water and Energy Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa
Meskel Square Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Ethiopian Skylight Hotel
Airport Road Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Monarch Park View Hotel
Colson Street, Near Medhanealem Church Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Options
ETT 1401 - DAILY TOUR
Pickup included
Reviews
37 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Lost of changes but otherwordly trip!!
Veronica,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The trip is advertised as a 5 days but now it's 7 days. I just finished the tour and had to drop Axum as I couldn't do the full 7 days having booked my flights already according to the originally promoted 5 days. Anyway despite several other setbacks i.e. change of itinerary last minute and many other minor "this is Africa" situations I have to say it's been a totally incredible adventure!! But you need to be physically and mentally ready for it because it's literally non stop!!! You will see a LOT and it's OTHERWORLDLY but you have to be ready for early morning or very early morning wake up and long days. ETHIOPIA IS FABULOUS. it totally deserves this level of commitment but yes it is a total adventure!! I wish only the hotel in Mekelle was as good as the one in Lalibela!! Danakil part is without a doubt the best section and very well organised, the places you will see are to be seen nowhere else on this planet. It's magical to say the least!! I would definitely recommend but I will also advise to make sure with the agency the timing and the itinerary and leave contingency because you will likely need it!! I loved every minute of it and met some amazing fellow travellers as majority were solo travellers but yes be a little prepared and open minded!! You will not regret it for sure! Ethiopia will not be easy to beat for the extraordinary things and spectacular nature it offers to us!! Final comment I want to thank ETT especially Habene for giving my group our first woman guide (in the entire tour) in the Tigray churches she was phenomenal and a great great woman!! She climbed like a cat and was the most confident guide ever!!! I would absolutely love to see more women like her leading tours in Ethiopia. A sign of great openness for a country like Ethiopia!!!
Extraordinary places but go with another agency
Dimitrios O,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00This trip does not exist After booking and few days before arriving the Ethiopian travel agent told us that the tour would only include Danakil and Lalibela. When we arrived at Mekele to start the Danakil tour the ethiopian agent had not payed the drivers at Mekele and they refused to start the tour. This was sorted out but after 4. hours of delay But the worst was when the ethiopian agent sent us to Lalibela and he did not book our return flight as he was supposed to do... We almost missed our international conexion. What a nightmare we experienced at Lalibela airport. The places we visited were amazing extraordinaty and the Ethiopian travel agent was kind and seemed nice. BUT he lacks seriousness and organisational capacity to deal with international travelers who are usually in tight time schedules. Go for this trip but try another agent
Avoid if possible or expect partial delivery
TravelAsh1985,,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00There are not a lot of alternatives to visit some of these sites but three key problems to warn other travellers about. We were a group of three solo travellers, the operator took us to wait in a hotel for the first day because they wanted to combine our group with the larger group arriving the next day - result was day 1/5 wasted in a hotel and 11 hours driving on day 2/5. The operator failed to book the included domestic flights until the last minute despite having taken the booking and full payment months in advance - result was that I did not visit Lalibela because no flights were available. The operator books domestic flights at the resident rate - result was additional costs incurred at the airport to pay the difference between resident and non-resident rate. Overall this was an unpleasant experience. The operator was constantly changing the itinerary with little or no communication. What communication was offered was usually obvious lies and excuses, or requests for more money. The operator was disrespectful of our time - at one point wanting to extend a 5 day tour to 8 days to suit their own preferences for combining groups.
Beyond our expectations. Every day was even better than the last.
Sherpa777388,,Apr 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had never, as on Erta Ale, approached the molten lava of an active volcano so closely, nor seen a mineral landscape as colorful and truly extraordinary as in the Danakil depression. The churches of Lalibela and Tigray are absolutely unique in the world. Aksoum was the historical highlight of this wonderful tour. Note that for flight reasons modified by Ethiopian Airlines due to the security situation at the time, we had to return from Lalibela to Addis to go to Semera to start the second part of the tour, which increased it from 5 to 7 days but which we did not regret at all.
Wonderful experience in a challenging environment
JosefKlaus S,,Jan 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00Well organized by Ethio Travel in spite of the obvious challenges Ethiopia provides. We could visit all destinations in time and reasonable comfort
Unique experience This is without any doubt a unique, breathtaking experience. ETT provided outstanding service.
566juergenp,,Aug 12, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very well organized though tough and demanding to get there. But worthwhile the effort. A glance into a different world, precious and precious unforgettable.
Simply superb Danakil
vijayanand16in,,May 13, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The whole trip was simple amazing and the staff from both tours ( Danakil and TIgray) were amazing. They took care of our needs and safety and we left with very fond memories. Highly recommended with ETT
Remarkable and wonderful experience
Catherine M,,Dec 2, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Due to tensions in The country this trip was split in to 2 days in Lalibela and 4 days in Dankil. I could not get to Axum and Tigray but the tour company (ETT) asked what I wanted to do and arranged everything. The flights were all on time and organisation went well. Lalibela was fascinating and a great local guide. I then flew back to Addis for a night before going back out to Semera and seeing Dankil/ Dalol. Staying in the camps is a great experience and the local guides are brilliant. I saw an active volcano, the wonderful dankil depression with amazing colours and the salt plains. Simply wonderful trip. There are long days driving and rough terrain so a very bumpy ride so maybe not for those that get travel sick. Whilst in Dankil area there are no toilet : shower facilities, it really is an authentic experience but one I loved. If you can’t be without a shower for a few days this is not for you. I would urge anyone to do this tour
The best trip of our lifetime.
richardlB783ET,,Jan 11, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The trip planner and his team made this unquestionably the best trip of our lifetime. During the planning stages, the travel company listened closely to what we wanted to get out of our trip and created the perfect custom trip to meet and exceed all of our expectations.
Magnificent trip.
amberbD4832OG,,Jan 4, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This 5 days trip was perfectly scheduled with the we wanted to visit and Ethio Travel and Tours did a great job organizing the whole trip. Everything went perfectly and I really like to thank ETT and the travel team for the amazing experience.
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