11 days/10 nights Simien Mountains & Danakil Depression with Tigray Churches Tour

Day 1. Gondar/Debark – Simien Mountains (Buyit Ras – Sankaber)

– Pick up from Gondar/Debark and drive to Buyit Ras.

– Trek (total 3-4 hours) from Buyit Ras to Sankaber in route, visit:

• The wonderful scenario of the landscapes
• Endemic Gelada Baboons

Overnight camping in Sankaber

Day 2. Simien Mountains [Sankaber – Jinbar Waterfall (Geech Abyss) – Geech]

– Trek (total 5-6 hours) from Sankaber to Geech in route, visit:

• The place where the Jinbar Waterfall plunges into Geech Abyss.
• Jinbar Waterfall & its adorable landscape.
• Endemic Gelada Baboons 

Overnight camping in Geech

Day 3. Simien Mountains (Geech – Imet Gogo – Ennatiye – Chennek)

– Trek (total 5 hours) from Geech to Chennek in route, ascend to:

• Imet Gogo (3,926m): To see the spectacular views over the Valleys.
• Ennatiye (4,070m): The perfect place to witness the beauty of the landscapes of the Simien Mountains. 

– Afterwards, descend to Chennek passing through Korbete Matia a solid rock wall on the way, spotting Lammergeiers (the long-winged bearded Vultures).

Overnight camping in Chennek 

Day 4. Simien Mountains (Chennek – Ras Bwahit – Chennek) – Debark

– Trek (total 4-5 hours) from Chennek to Ras Bwahit and back to Chennek.

Ascend to: 

– Ras Bwahit peak (4,430m): To see the excellent views of the Simien Mountains and endemic animals [Walia Ibex, Ethiopian Wolf (Red Fox), Gelada Baboon (Red/Bleeding-Chested Baboon)…]

– Car picks us up from Chennek and drive to Debark.

Overnight hotel/lodge in Debark

Day 5. Debark – Axum

– Morning, drive to Axum enjoying by the beautiful views of the landscapes.

– Afternoon, visit sites in Axum:

• The famous Obelisks
• Archeological museum
• Queen of Shebas Bath
• Ezanas enscription
• King Kalebs tomb
• King Bazens tomb
• Queen of Shebas Palace
• Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept.

Overnight hotel in Axum

Day 6. Axum – Yeha – Teka Tesfay – Hawzen/Wukro

– Drive to Hawzen/Wukro in route, visit:

• Ruins of Yeha Temple
• MedhaneAlem AdiKosho rock-hewn church (total trek: 1 hour)
• Michael MelhayZengi rock-hewn church (total trek: 1 hour)

Overnight hotel/lodge in Hawzen

Day 7. Hawzen – Gheralta – Wukro/Mekelle

– Drive to Wukro/Mekelle in route, visit: 

• Abune Yemata Guh rock-hewn church (total trek & climb: 2 hours)
• Maryam & Daniel Korkor rock-hewn churches (total trek: 2.5 hours)

Overnight hotel/lodge in Wukro/Mekelle

Day 8. Mekelle – Danakil Depression (Lake Asale/Karum – HamadEla) 

– Drive to the Northern part of the Danakil Depression (Dallol area).

– Visit:

• Camel caravans heading back from the salt mining area to HamadEla & highlands (if available)
• Sunset on Lake Asale/Karum.

Overnight outside under the stars in HamadEla 

Day 9. Danakil Depression (HamadEla – Dallol – Abala)

– Morning, visit:

• Dallol Volcano
• Salt Mountains (Canyons)
• Sulfur Lake (Yellow Ponds)
• Camel Caravans & Local Salt Mining (if available)

– Afterwards, drive to Abala.

Overnight in a local guest house in Abala town 

Day 10. Danakil Depression (Abala – Erta Ale)

– Drive to the Southern part of the Danakil Depression (Erta Ale area) in route, meet local people in Kesrawad (a village in a middle of unexpected remote area).

– TREK (30-40min) to the top of the Erta Ale Mountain.

– Visit Erta Ale Volcano (Lava Lake) during the night.

Overnight outside/inside local huts made up of lava rocks near to the rim.

Day 11. Danakil Depression (Erta Ale – Afdera) – Mekelle 

– 2nd visit of the Erta Ale Volcano during the sunrise (if interested).

– Trek (30-40min) back, meet cars and drive to Afdera.

– Swim in Lake Afrera & take a bath in hydrothermal springs (if interested).

– Drive back to Mekelle where we reach at around 5pm.

Possible options:

• To book full and/or part of the tour program.
• To book Simien Mountains and/or Danakil Depression tour/s with shorter durations.
• Day 4. After the tour in Simien, drive directly to Axum.