5 Day Lalibela, Danakil and Axum Tour
Overview
Tour Plan
Begin your journey by flying into Lalibela, often referred to as the Jerusalem of Africa, a hilltop town famed for its monolithic rock-hewn churches. After your arrival and hotel check-in, you'll dive straight into the awe-inspiring Northern Church Cluster, a collection of ancient churches.
Wander through Bete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), considered the largest monolithic church in the world, and Bete Maryam, thought to be the oldest. Explore interconnected tunnels and sunken courtyards that lead to other sanctified spaces like Bete Meskel and Bete Golgotha, still active places of worship today.
You’ll gain insights into Ethiopia’s rich Orthodox Christian traditions as you observe white-robed priests and local pilgrims in a truly sacred setting. Overnight: Overnight stay Mountain view Hotel
After breakfast, take a short domestic drive to Axum, once the capital of the ancient Axumite Empire, one of the great civilizations of antiquity. Upon arrival, begin exploring this legendary city, starting with the Stelae Field, home to towering granite obelisks erected over royal tombs some dating back more than 1,700 years.
Next, visit the Queen of Sheba’s Palace, believed by many to be the remains of the legendary monarch’s royal residence, and the Queen of Sheba’s Bath, a still-functioning water reservoir used during the annual Timkat (Epiphany) celebration.
In the afternoon, explore the Church of St. Mary of Zion, the most sacred site in Ethiopian Orthodoxy. A small, heavily guarded chapel nearby is believed to house the Ark of the Covenant though no one but the appointed guardian is allowed to see it.
Overnight: Sabean Hotel
After breakfast, begin the scenic drive from Axum to Mekelle, passing through Ethiopia’s rugged Tigray region. Your first stop is at Yeha, where the remains of a 7th-century BC Sabean style temple rise proudly above the countryside. Believed to have been dedicated to a South Arabian moon god, this structure is the oldest standing building in Ethiopia and offers a window into pre-Christian civilizations.
Continue through the Adwa Mountains, where Emperor Menelik II’s forces defeated the Italian army in 1896 at the Battle of Adwa a pivotal event in African history that preserved Ethiopian independence.
Arrive in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, by late afternoon. Relax and prepare for your journey into the Danakil Depression the next day.
Overnight: Homeland Hotel in Mekelle.
Begin your descent into one of the most extreme and mesmerizing places on Earth: the Danakil Depression, located at the junction of three tectonic plates and sitting over 100 meters below sea level. This region is among the hottest and driest on the planet, yet teeming with geological and cultural significance. You’ll drive through vast, desolate plains and small Afar villages before reaching Lake Asale, a shallow salt lake known for its mirror-like surface and brilliant white salt crust. Here, witness traditional Afar salt miners extracting salt slabs by hand, then loading them onto long camel caravans bound. As the sun sets, the white salt flats reflect fiery hues of orange and red, creating one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth. Camp under a canopy of stars for a night you won’t forget. Overnight: Camping near Hamed Ela.
You'll drive back to Semera and later drive back to Addis Ababa. Early in the morning, you'll have another chance to see the stunning sunrise at the volcano. After the visit, you will return to the base camp for breakfast. After breakfast, you'll start your journey back to Semera. You'll arrive in Semera for a late lunch, followed by a drop off at the airport back to Addis Ababa.
