6-day tour to Lalibela, Danakil Depression & Erta Ale volcano

Trek into a live volcano and across salt flats where camels still carry currency

A 6-day guided tour from Addis Ababa to Ethiopia's north and east, combining the UNESCO rock churches of Lalibela with the Danakil Depression and Erta Ale volcano. You'll fly to Lalibela, explore three groups of churches carved from stone, then travel overland through volcanic rifts to climb Erta Ale at night and watch its lava lake bubble from the rim. The route includes the salt mines of Dallol, Lake Afdera's hot springs, and the Nakutola'ab monastery before returning to Addis Ababa.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Lalibela and explore churches

• Take morning flight from Addis Ababa
• Drive 30 minutes to Lalibela town
• Check in hotel and have lunch
• Visit first group of Lalibela churches
• Walk and explore local Saturday market

Day 2: Visit Asheton Maryam and Yemrehanna Kristos

• Drive and hike to Asheton Maryam cave church
• Return to Lalibela for lunch
• Drive 42km to Monastery of Yemrehanna Kristos
• Explore cave church and skeleton fossils
• Visit traditional honey wine bar with live music

Day 3: Visit Nakutola'ab monastery and fly back

• Drive to Nakutola'ab monastery
• Explore semi monolithic church under cave
• Drive to airport for departure to Addis Ababa

Day 4: Fly to Semera and drive to Erta Ale base

• Catch morning flight to Semera
• Drive 180km to Afdera and Dodom
• Meet local guide, camels, and policemen
• Drive 90km to Erta Ale base and set camp
• Climb volcano and enjoy bubbling lava

Day 5: Hike back and visit salt mining

• Hike down from Erta Ale base early morning
• Have breakfast at base camp
• Drive to Hamadela and salt mountain
• Visit salt mining and see camel caravans
• Enjoy sunset at salt mining area

Day 6: Visit Dallol and return to Addis Ababa

• Enjoy sunrise and camel caravan
• Drive to Dallol sulfuric pools
• Drive to Lake Afdera and swim in hot springs
• Drive to Semera for flight back to Addis Ababa

The experience

You arrive in Addis Ababa and fly north to Lalibela on the morning of day one. After a 30-minute drive from the airport through countryside, you check into a mid-range hotel and begin exploring the first group of churches: structures carved directly from the bedrock centuries ago. If you arrive on a Saturday, the local market fills the town. A guide walks you through it to get a feel for daily life there. The next two days focus on the churches: Asheton Maryam, reached by a 20-minute walk or optional hike after a 35-to-40-minute drive, sits in a cave overlooking the landscape. Yemrehanna Kristos, 42km away, is a wood-and-granite church built inside a massive cavern with marble walls. You walk into the back chamber to see thousands of skeleton fossils left by pilgrims who came to die in that holy place. On day three, you stop at the Nakutola'ab monastery (another semi-monolithic church under a huge cave) on the way to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa.

Day four shifts the geography entirely. You fly to Semera and drive 180km through rugged, moon-like terrain marked by volcanic rifts and young black lava flows to reach Afdera, then another 90km to Dodom at the base of Erta Ale. A local guide, camels to carry gear, and a police escort join you for the climb. After dinner at camp, you hike to the rim of the caldera and spend the night watching the volcano's lava lake bubble and glow. On day five, you descend early (around 4am), have breakfast, then drive across otherworldly landscape to the salt mountain and salt mines of Hamadela, where you watch miners prepare salt bars loaded onto camels: the same bars that served as currency in the highlands for centuries. You camp again and catch the sunset. Day six begins with sunrise and a camel caravan, then a drive to Dallol to see its colorful sulfuric pools, followed by Lake Afdera, where you can swim in fresh-water hot springs before driving back to Semera for your flight to Addis Ababa.

All domestic flights, mid-range hotel stays in Lalibela, camping in the Danakil, an air-conditioned vehicle, and all fees and taxes are included. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language. Children from age 3 are welcome, and pickup is included. The tour suits travelers with moderate physical fitness who are ready for high altitude, heat, and nights under canvas in remote terrain.

What’s included

• Domestic flights from Addis Ababa to Lalibela and Semera.
• mid-range hotel accommodation in Lalibela.
• camping in the Danakil Depression.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all ground transport.
• local guide, camels and police escort in the Danakil.
• all park entry fees and taxes.
• pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 01:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (19 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 79 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 16 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by East Africa Tour Operator

Is this one for you?Six days is the minimum needed to reach Erta Ale's lava lake and return to Addis Ababa, so this tour leaves little room for other activities in the capital. Book it as your main event in Ethiopia, or pair it with a separate city day. The itinerary combines high-altitude church exploration with remote desert camping and volcano climbing, so it suits travelers with moderate fitness who are ready for heat, altitude and nights under canvas.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela actually like when you get there?

The churches of Lalibela are carved directly from the bedrock, not built on top of it: entire structures chiseled down into the stone. Yemrehanna Kristos sits inside a massive cave with marble walls, and the back chamber holds thousands of skeleton fossils left by pilgrims. Asheton Maryam overlooks the landscape from a cave perch. You explore three separate groups of these churches across two days, with walks through the town and market included.

How do you actually get to the top of Erta Ale, and what do you see there?

Erta Ale is Ethiopia's most active volcano, and you climb it at night with a local guide, camels carrying your camping gear, and a police escort. After dinner at the base camp in Dodom, you hike to the rim of the caldera and set up camp on the crater edge. You spend the night watching the lava lake bubble and glow from above: the volcano's molten interior visible from where you sleep.

What is the Danakil Depression like to travel through?

The Danakil is a remote, otherworldly landscape of volcanic rifts, young black lava flows, and salt flats. You drive 180km from Semera through rugged terrain to reach the base of Erta Ale, then continue to Dallol to see colorful sulfuric pools and salt mines where local miners prepare salt bars by hand and load them onto camels. Lake Afdera, with its emerald water and salt beds, sits at 103 meters below sea level. You camp in this terrain for two nights.

Do you need special climbing experience to reach Erta Ale's lava lake?

No special climbing experience is required, but the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health. You should have at least moderate physical fitness to handle the hike to the rim, the altitude, heat, and nights camping in remote areas. Children from age 3 are welcome on the tour.

What meals and accommodation are provided across the six days?

You stay in mid-range hotels in Lalibela for three nights and camp in the Danakil for two nights. Meals are included during the Danakil portion (breakfast, lunch and dinner on days four and five). The tour provides an air-conditioned vehicle for all ground transport, domestic flights between Addis Ababa and Lalibela and between Lalibela and Semera, and all entry fees and taxes.