15 days (11 days Ethiopia + 4 days Djibouti)
Djibouti & Ethiopia Tour
$9200
$9600
/per person
ADDIS ABABA – DANAKIL DEPRESSION & EASTERN ETHIOPIA EXPEDITION Djibouti
Duration: 15 Days / 14 Nights
Addis Ababa, Danakil Depression (Erta Ale, Dallol), Semera, Mekele, Lake Assal, Lac Abbé, Tadjourah, Djibouti City
Tour Type: Private Guided Expedition
Accommodation: Mid-range Hotels & Camping
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Recommended Equipment
Important Notes
Practical & safety notes (important)
Permits & security: Visiting the Danakil / Afar area requires local permits, official escorts and often armed Afar escorts. The security environment in Ethiopia can change; several government travel advisories recommend care or avoiding some areas. We will arrange all permits and local security escorts but note the area has had incidents in past years — travel advisories should be checked before travel.
Physical demands: Erta Ale overnight requires trekking on uneven ground, heat and camping. Good fitness and warm/cold layered clothing for nights.
Health: Bring plenty of water, high-SPF sun protection; check yellow fever / routine vaccine recommendations and travel insurance that covers remote evacuation. U.S. / Commonwealth travel pages recommend caution.
Booking & payment terms (suggested)
To reserve: 30% non-refundable deposit at booking (covers permits & initial bookings).
Balance: 70% payable 30 days before start date. For bookings made within 30 days of travel, full payment required on booking.
Cancellation policy (recommended):
Cancel >30 days before departure: refund minus deposit (30%).
Cancel 15–30 days: 50% refund.
Cancel <15 days: no refund (or partial if we can re-sell dates).
If cancelled for recognized government travel advisory escalation or force majeure, we will attempt credit or reschedule; some fees (permits/flights) may be non-refundable.
Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance (medical + evacuation) mandatory; please send proof before departure.
Payment methods: Bank transfer (SWIFT), major credit card (card processing fee), or payment link. We will issue a pro-forma invoice with the exact breakdown once dates/hotel standards are confirmed.
Ethiopian cofee and tea
Travel Styles
Includes
- • Private 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with fuel and driver allowance
- • All domestic flight tickets (Addis–Semera–Mekelle–Addis)
- • English-speaking professional guide
- • All entrance and photo fees
- • Full board meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- • Bottled mineral water (2L per person daily)
- • Camping equipment, scouts, and police escort (in Afar region)
- • Camel support for trekking in Danakil
- • All transfers in/out
- • Train ticket to Djibouti
Excludes
- • International flights
- • Personal insurance
- • Alcoholic and soft drinks
- • Optional tours or extra activities
- • Tips and personal expenses
- • Video camera fees
Itinerary Overview
- Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our Horn Explore representative and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, begin your exploration of the capital with a visit to Unity Park, located within the 19th-century Grand Palace.
This landmark, initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, showcases Ethiopia’s royal history, diverse cultures, and native wildlife — including the famous black-maned lions, cheetahs, and gelada baboons. You’ll also explore the cultural pavilions, historical buildings from Emperor Menelik II’s era, and a fascinating aquarium.
Overnight: Addis Ababa | Meals: B, L, D
- After breakfast, visit the Adwa Museum, a national symbol of African resistance and unity. The museum honors the legendary Battle of Adwa (1896) — where Ethiopian forces under Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul defeated Italian colonial troops, preserving Ethiopia’s sovereignty and inspiring anti-colonial movements across Africa.
Explore historical exhibits, weapons, and narratives celebrating this victory of courage, diplomacy, and national pride.
Overnight: Addis Ababa | Meals: B, L, D
- Take a morning flight to Semera, capital of the Afar region. Upon arrival, meet your local driver and begin the journey to Erta Ale, known as the “Smoking Mountain.” This active volcano, one of only five lava lakes in the world, offers a mesmerizing natural spectacle.
After dinner at the base camp, trek up to the crater rim with camels transporting camping equipment. Witness the glowing lava lake under the night sky — an unforgettable experience.
Overnight: Erta Ale (Camping) | Meals: B, L, D
- Early morning descent from Erta Ale, followed by a drive to Lake Afdera — a saltwater lake located over 100 meters below sea level. Visit the salt extraction sites where the Afar people harvest salt through traditional evaporation methods.
Overnight: Hamed Ela (Camping) | Meals: B, L, D
- After breakfast, drive to Ragad (Asebo) to witness salt miners cutting and loading salt blocks onto camel caravans. Continue to Dallol, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth, famous for its surreal landscapes, colorful salt formations, and hydrothermal springs.
Later, drive to Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region.
Overnight: Mekelle | Meals: B, L, D
- After breakfast, head to Hawzen to explore the incredible Gheralta Mountains and rock-hewn churches — including Abune Yemata Guh, Maryam Korkor, and Daniel Korkor.
These churches, carved high into sandstone cliffs, are not only architectural marvels but also offer breathtaking views and a spiritual journey into Ethiopia’s early Christian heritage.
Overnight: Hawzen | Meals: B, L, D
- After breakfast, return to Mekelle and visit the Emperor Yohannes IV Museum, located in the former palace of the emperor.
Overnight: Mekelle | Meals: B, L, D
- Morning flight back to Addis Ababa, then continue driving to Awash National Park, Ethiopia’s first and most visited wildlife reserve.
The park features scenic gorges, hot springs, acacia forests, and over 400 bird species. En route, stop at Lake Beseka and meet the Karrayyu people, a pastoralist Oromo group known for their rich cultural heritage.
Overnight: Awash Park Lodge | Meals: B, L, D
- Full-day safari in Awash National Park. Spot oryx, gazelles, warthogs, baboons, and diverse birdlife in a beautiful volcanic landscape.
Overnight: Awash Park Lodge | Meals: B, L, D
- After breakfast, drive east to the historic walled city of Harar Jugol, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the “Fourth Holiest City of Islam,” Harar boasts 82 mosques, 102 shrines, and a labyrinth of narrow alleyways filled with vibrant culture and history.
In the evening, witness the legendary Hyena Feeding Ceremony, where locals feed wild hyenas — a centuries-old tradition unique to Harar.
Overnight: Harar | Meals: B, L, D
- After breakfast, depart Harar for Dire Dawa by road (approx. 2 hours). Board the modern Ethiopia–Djibouti Railway, an extraordinary journey through arid landscapes and pastoral villages.
Arrive in Djibouti City in the evening, where you’ll be welcomed by our local representative.
Check in at your hotel and enjoy a relaxing night with views over the Gulf of Tadjoura.
Overnight: Djibouti City
- After breakfast, begin a guided city tour of Djibouti — visit the Central Market, European Quarter, Port area, and the Hamoudi Mosque.
Later, take a boat trip to Moucha and Maskali Islands, famous for coral reefs, snorkeling, and clear turquoise waters.
Return to the city by evening for dinner at a seaside restaurant.
Overnight: Djibouti City
- Drive west towards Lac Assal, Africa’s lowest point (-155m below sea level) and one of the saltiest lakes on Earth.
En route, stop at Ardoukoba Volcano, Grand Bara desert, and Goubet Bay — a dramatic rift valley landscape that marks the meeting point of three tectonic plates.
Lunch picnic by the lake and return to Djibouti City by sunset.
Overnight: Djibouti City
- Morning transfer by speedboat to Tadjoura, one of the oldest towns on the Red Sea coast. Explore its whitewashed architecture and old port before relaxing on Les Sables Blancs Beach, known for its calm waters and palm-lined coast.
Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, or just sunbathing in paradise.
Overnight: Tadjoura Resort
- After breakfast, return to Djibouti City by road or boat depending on schedule. Free time for shopping or relaxing before your transfer to Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport for your onward flight.
End tour
