Lalibela, Simien Mountains & Danakil Tour: Rock-Hewn Churches

Trek past baboons, camp by a volcano, and explore churches carved from single stones

A 6-day guided tour visiting Lalibela's 11 rock-hewn churches, trekking Simien Mountains National Park and exploring the Danakil Depression's geologically active landscape. The tour includes all transport in a 4WD vehicle, meals, camping equipment, English-speaking guide and scout service in the Afar region; you fly between Gondar, Lalibela and Mekele, then drive overland through the Danakil. Children from age 4 are welcome; the trek and volcano camp involve physical exertion and rough roads.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Simien Mountain Trekking

• Meet at Gondar Airport or hotel
• Drive to Debark for park permission
• Tea and coffee break
• Visit local market if time allows
• Drive to park gate
• Drive to Buit Ras area
• Trek 3-4 hours to Chilkuwanit viewpoint
• Observe wildlife and plants

Day 2 — Visit Lalibela Churches

• Fly to Lalibela
• Visit 11 groups of Lalibela Churches

Day 3 — Drive to Mekele

• Drive from Lalibela to Mekele

Day 4 — Erta Ale Volcano Trek

• Drive to Dodom base of Erta Ale
• Arrive at Dodom camping site
• Dinner at camp
• Trek to Erta Ale volcano rim at night
• Overnight at volcano rim

Day 5 — Dallol and Lake Giulietti

• Sunrise at Erta Ale crater
• Descend from Erta Ale to Dodom
• Relax at camp
• Drive to Lake Giulietti salt flats
• Visit Erbiti and Abaala/Hamed ela

Day 6 — Salt Mine and Flight to Addis

• Drive to Ragad salt mining site
• Observe salt mining and camel loading
• Visit Dallol and Lake Assal
• Walk with Afar people
• Drive to Hamedela and Mekele
• Fly from Mekele to Addis Ababa

The Experience

Six days takes you through three of Ethiopia's most remote and geologically distinct regions. Day one starts at Gondar—you meet your guide and driver, drive to Debark to enter Simien Mountains National Park, and trek about 4 hours to Chilkuwanit, a viewpoint where the escarpment drops vertically and you'll encounter troops of endemic Gelada Baboons. The park's plateaus, valleys and pinnacles are home to klipspringer, common jackal and raptors like the Lammergeyer. You sleep at a hotel in Gondar.

Day two you fly to Lalibela and spend the day visiting the 11 groups of rock-hewn churches carved during the reign of King Lalibela (1181–1221) and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These churches sit north of a small stream called the Jordan River. Day three takes you by road from Lalibela to Mekele, driving through the country's landscape. From Mekele you fly to Semera to begin the Danakil portion of the tour.

Days four and five are the most physically demanding. You drive 80 km to Dodom at the base of Erta Ale—a shield volcano with a 1 km square caldera at its summit and the world's only permanent lava lake. The road passes through solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional oases; the journey takes about 6 hours. After dinner at the camp, you trek up to Erta Ale at 8 p.m. Camels carry your camping materials, light mattresses, mats and water to the rim, where you spend the night watching the boiling lava. At sunrise you descend and return to Dodom by 10:30 a.m. You then drive to Lake Giulietti (a saltwater lake more than 100 meters below sea level, weather permitting) and the salt flats where Afar people harvest salt by evaporation. Day six includes a morning visit to Ragad, where you watch workers break salt from the ground and load it onto camels, then drive to Dallol—116 meters below sea level and one of the lowest places on Earth—to see the colorful salt formations and volcanic landscape. You return to Mekele and fly back to Addis Ababa.

The tour provides all meals, accommodation (hotels in Gondar, Lalibela and Mekele; camping in the Danakil), cooking and camping equipment, water bottles, 4WD transport with fuel and driver allowance, entrance fees, scout and police service in the Afar region, and a camel and camel tires for the volcano trek. Your guide speaks English and will be with you throughout. Lunch and dinner in Lalibela and Gondar are optional and arranged at checkout.

What’s included

• All transport in a 4WD Land-cruiser with fuel and driver allowance.
• accommodation in hotels in Gondar, Lalibela and Mekele plus camping in the Danakil.
• all meals throughout the 6 days.
• cooking and camping equipment, sleeping materials and water bottles.
• entrance fees and licenses for all sites.
• English-speaking guide and driver.
• scout and police service in the Afar region.
• camel and camel tires for the Erta Ale trek.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ethio Travel And Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're comfortable with rough roads, high-altitude trekking and sleeping at a volcano's rim—the 6 days pack three distinct landscapes (mountains, ancient churches, geologically active desert) and require physical stamina, but all logistics, meals and transport are arranged so you focus on the experience rather than organizing it.

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Top questions

What are the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and why are they significant?

The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are 11 groups of churches carved from single stones during the reign of King Lalibela (1181–1221) and are registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. They are considered the most extraordinary man-made sites in sub-Saharan Africa and are located north of a small stream called the Jordan River.

What wildlife will I see in Simien Mountains National Park?

Simien Mountains National Park is home to endemic Gelada Baboons, which you'll encounter in troops during the trek, as well as common jackal, klipspringer and bird species including the Thick-billed Raven, Augar Buzzard, Black Kites and Lammergeyer.

What is Erta Ale and what makes it unique?

Erta Ale is a shield volcano in the Danakil Depression with a base diameter of 30 km and a 1 km square caldera at its summit. It contains the world's only permanent lava lake, which has existed since the early twentieth century and is one of only five lava lakes on Earth. You camp at the rim and watch the lava at night.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour involves a 4-hour trek in Simien Mountains with steep terrain and altitude, an 80 km drive over rough roads to Erta Ale (taking about 6 hours), a night trek up the volcano at 8 p.m. and a descent at sunrise. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnant travelers, though it is suitable for all fitness levels willing to attempt the physical exertion.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The tour includes all transport in a 4WD vehicle, meals throughout the 6 days, accommodation in hotels and camping, cooking and camping equipment, water, entrance fees, guide and driver service in English, scout and police service in the Afar region, and camel transport for the volcano trek. Lunch and dinner in Lalibela and Gondar are optional and arranged separately; international flights, alcoholic drinks, laundry and personal expenses like internet and phone calls are not included.

What is the best time to visit the Danakil Depression on this tour?

The tour operates year-round, though camel caravans are not available in July, August and early September. Lake Giulietti, a saltwater lake in one of the deepest depressions on the planet, may not be accessible during summer months.