2-day Lake Abbé and Lake Assal tour from Djibouti: Off-road camps

Two days in the salt lakes and canyons of southern Djibouti, sleeping at a camp between them.

A 2-day tour of Lake Abbé and Lake Assal from Djibouti using private 4x4 off-road vehicles with an English or French-speaking guide, accommodation in a camp on the first night, and all meals and park entry included. Day one departs at 8:30 am, passes through villages, and ends at Lake Abbé at sunset. Day two includes a hot spring visit, a canyon stop, and the panoramic view at Goubet before returning to Djibouti by afternoon.

The experience

The tour leaves Djibouti at 8:30 am in a private air-conditioned Hartop all-terrain vehicle. You reach Dikhil by noon, eat lunch at the Gobad Inn, then drive through the villages of As-eyla and Koutabouya on a track that opens onto Lake Abbé around 5 pm. The landscape shifts from scrub to stark rock formations as the sun sets over the water. You spend the night in a camp near the lake with dinner served at 7:30 pm.

The second morning starts before sunrise at the hot spring near Lake Abbé, then you return to camp for breakfast. After checkout, the route heads toward Lake Assal, the lowest point in Africa at 157 meters below sea level. A packed sandwich lunch breaks the drive. At noon you stop at the canyon of Dimbiya, then move to the panoramic view at Goubet. The final stop is Lake Assal itself before the return drive to Djibouti, arriving by mid-afternoon.

Your guide speaks English or French and holds certification from the State Tourism Agency. All transport, accommodation, meals, and park entry fees are included in the price. The vehicles are equipped for off-road terrain, and the camp provides basic overnight facilities with a restaurant serving dinner and breakfast.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned 4x4 off-road transport for the full two days.
• professional guide certified by the State Tourism Agency.
• accommodation in a camp on night one.
• lunch on both days.
• dinner on day one and breakfast on day two.
• entry to Lake Assal.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Two-day getaway to Lake Abbé and Lake AssalGuide in English or French · 07:00Check-out in Djibouti at 8:30. Lake Abbé is reached by 4×4, with pickup from your accommodation in Djibouti. The trip includes a visit to Lake Assal, Africa's lowest point, before returning to Djibouti. Pickup is included.

French, English00:00Meals and water are provided. Excursions to Lake Abbé and Lake Assal are made by 4×4, an all-terrain vehicle.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 82 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by arhotours Djibouti

Is this one for you?Book this two-day overnight trip if you need both Lake Abbé's sunset and Lake Assal's lowest point in one journey: the fixed itinerary connects them without backtracking to Djibouti between stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What time does the 2-day Lake Abbé and Lake Assal tour depart from Djibouti?

The tour departs at 8:30 am on day one from Djibouti, arriving in Dikhil by noon for lunch at the Gobad Inn before continuing to Lake Abbé.

Where do I sleep on the first night of this tour?

You stay in a camp near Lake Abbé, with dinner served at 7:30 pm and breakfast the following morning included in the tour price.

What is Lake Assal and why is it notable?

Lake Assal is the lowest point in Africa, lying 157 meters below sea level. The tour includes a visit to the lake on day two as the final major stop before returning to Djibouti.

Are meals included in this 2-day tour?

Yes, all meals are included: lunch on both days, dinner on the first night at the camp, and breakfast on the second morning before departure.

What happens on the morning of day two before we head to Lake Assal?

Day two begins before sunrise with a visit to a hot spring near Lake Abbé, followed by breakfast at the camp before checkout and the drive toward Lake Assal.