The holy city of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type
Hike
Duration
14 Days & 13 Nights
Next Departure
21 Nov 2026
Status
Confirmed Departure
Price
5.950 EUR
Hiking Ethiopia Danakil and Erta Ale
The Hiking Ethiopia Danakil and Erta Ale Volcano tour takes you across diverse and changing landscapes, towering highland peaks, wide alpine plateaus, volcanic ridges, and the dense green canopy of the Harenna Forest. From the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to the dramatic escarpments of the Simien Mountains and the untamed beauty of the Bale Highlands, this active vacation is created for hikers looking for more than scenic views. You’ll follow ancient trails once used by shepherds and pilgrims, explore remote mountain monasteries carved into stone, and connect with local communities living in close harmony with nature and tradition. Along the way, there is the chance to see Ethiopia’s remarkable wildlife, from Gelada baboons grazing in the highlands to the rare Ethiopian wolf on the Sanetti Plateau.
If you’re the kind of traveler who’s drawn to the world’s raw edges, Hiking Ethiopia: Danakil & Erta Ale Volcano leads you into one of the most extreme and surreal regions on the planet. After crossing the highland trails and sacred mountains of the north, the journey shifts to the Danakil Depression, a vast, harsh, and otherworldly landscape shaped by salt, fire, and geological force. You’ll walk across blinding salt flats, explore sulphur springs and acid pools in Dallol, and hike up to the rim of Erta Ale to watch molten lava churn in the crater below. It’s a complete change of pace and terrain, raw, intense, and unforgettable.
Highlights
Included
Excluded
- Tour Grade
Included and Optional Services
Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival
Welcome to Ethiopia!
Your hiking adventure in Ethiopia begins in Addis Ababa, the country’s lively capital. Upon arrival, our tour leader will meet you and guide you to your hotel in the city centre. If time allows, we’ll enjoy a local lunch and get a first taste of Ethiopia’s unique flavours. In the afternoon, we visit the National Museum, home to the famous fossil “Lucy” and a great place to explore the country’s deep human history. To ease into the altitude and prepare for the days of walking ahead, we head to the Entoto Hills for a gentle acclimatization hike. This short walk offers fresh air, panoramic views, and a chance to stretch your legs after the journey. This is the first step of your active holiday
Transfer
00:30 h
Sheraton Addis
DAY 2
Addis to Lalibela
Fly from Addis to Lalibela
Today we fly to Lalibela (2,600 m), one of Ethiopia’s most iconic destinations and a highlight of any hiking tour in the country. Often called the “Second Jerusalem”, this holy city is famous for its eleven medieval churches, carved directly into volcanic rock. We spend the day walking through this unique religious complex, a true marvel of architecture and devotion. Discover hidden passageways, ancient chapels, and the world’s largest monolithic church, all etched into stone in the 12th century. As the day ends, we gather at the famous Bet Giorgis church, shaped like a cross and glowing golden at sunset, a magical moment that captures the spirit of Lalibela.
Included
Domestic flight from Addis Ababa to Lalibela
Mezena Lodge
DAY 3
Lalibela Mountains
Hike to Asheten Mariam Monastery, Highland Trek
After breakfast, we set out on a half-day hiking tour to the Asheten Mariam Monastery, a rewarding trek that showcases the natural and spiritual heart of Ethiopia. This mountain hike takes us to over 3,000 metres, with panoramic views over the rugged highlands. The trail passes through remote landscapes and leads to a monastery carved into the rock, a place still active after centuries. As part of your walking adventure, today’s route offers physical challenge, quiet reflection, and rich cultural insight, everything an active holiday should deliver. Your guide will share stories of the region’s history, making this more than just a walk, it’s a adventure into Ethiopia’s living heritage.
Hike Distance
12 km
Elevation Gain
+ 600 m
Mezena Lodge
DAY 4
Lalibela to Gondar
Discovering Gondar, a Cultural Walking Day
Your active holiday continues with a flight to Gondar, the former royal capital of Ethiopia, nestled in the highlands. Known as the “Camelot of Africa,” this city is a treasure for travellers seeking cultural depth and walking exploration. This walking tour through Gondar reveals a city filled with legends and imperial history. You’ll visit Fasiladas’ Castle and the historic Royal Enclosure, UNESCO-listed landmarks that take you back to Ethiopia’s golden age. Discover the Fasilides’ Bath, still used during the colourful Timkat Festival, and admire the heavenly frescoes inside Debre Berhan Selassie Church. Today’s adventure may be light on hiking, but rich in discovery. A sunset drink at a scenic viewpoint closes the day.
Included
Domestic flight from Lalibela to Gondar
Gondar Hills Resort
DAY 5
Chinquanit to Jinbar Waterfall
Hike from Chinquanit to Jinbar Waterfall
Today marks the beginning of your hiking tour through the Simien Mountains, one of Africa’s most dramatic trekking regions. After an early drive to Debark, the gateway to Simien Mountains National Park, we start our walking adventure in this UNESCO-listed wilderness. Our trail leads from Chinkanit to the stunning Jinbar Waterfall, a route that offers panoramic views over deep valleys and sharp cliffs. This is active travel at its best, vast plateaus, alpine flora, and a chance to spot wildlife like Gelada Baboons and Lammergeyers soaring overhead. The trail winds through dense bushes, rocky outcrops, and ancient heather trees, immersing you in Ethiopia’s unique highland ecosystem, ideal for hikers seeking both nature and adventure.
Hike Distance
12 km
Elevation Gain
+ 600 m
Simien Lodge
DAY 6
Hike Ayna Meda – Enatye – Chenek
Conquering Enatye and Bwahit
This is one of the most memorable days of your hiking holiday in Ethiopia. Starting from Ayna Meda, we ascend towards Enatye (4,070 m), a panoramic viewpoint that reveals the full glory of the Simien Mountains, jagged cliffs, deep gorges, and raw wilderness. The trail continues across a rugged plateau before reaching Bwahit (4,330 m), the second-highest peak in Ethiopia. This high-altitude hike is a true walking adventure, challenging but deeply rewarding, with unforgettable views that stretch all the way to Ras Dashen, the country’s tallest mountain. As part of this guided tour, you’ll be supported throughout and given time to enjoy the scenery, wildlife, and peaceful isolation of this highland paradise. After a full day on the trail, a gentle descent leads you back to the vehicle for the return to the lodge.
Hike Distance
15/21 km
Elevation Gain
+ 1.200 m
Simien Lodge
DAY 7
Addis Ababa
Gondar to Addis Ababa – From Mountains to Capital Life
After a final morning walk around the lodge, a gentle farewell to the Simien Mountains, we begin our scenic drive back to Gondar, passing through highland plateaus and valleys carved by time and nature. Upon reaching Gondar, we catch a domestic flight back to Addis Ababa, returning from the wild majesty of Ethiopia’s mountains to the vibrant rhythm of its capital. Addis Ababa is the perfect contrast to the past days of hiking: colorful markets, rich history, modern cafés, and cultural landmarks all come together in one high-altitude metropolis. Depending on arrival time, enjoy optional city walks, a visit to the National Museum (home of Lucy), or a coffee tasting at one of Addis’s iconic roasters. This day seamlessly blends active travel with urban culture
Included
Domestic flight from Gondar to Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Skylight Hotel
DAY 8
Addis – Bale Mountains – Bale Robe
Hiking in the Afro-Alpine Highlands
This morning, your active adventure continues with a flight to Bale Goba, gateway to the majestic Bale Mountains National Park, one of Africa’s best-kept secrets for hiking holidays and wildlife exploration. Our first walk begins in the Gaysay Grasslands, a vast open space teeming with life and framed by dense juniper forests. This gentle hike offers the perfect introduction to the park’s biodiversity. Along the trail, you may spot endemic species such as the graceful Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, and countless rare birds that make this region a top destination for walking tours with wildlife experiences. Rising in the background is Mount Tullu Dimtu (4,377 m), a dramatic highland peak and symbol of the untamed Bale wilderness that awaits in the days ahead.
Hike Distance
10 km
Elevation Gain
+ 500 m
Nurobe Hotel
Included
Domestic flight from Addis Ababa to Bale Goba
DAY 9
Bale Mountains- Sennati Plateau
Trek the Sanetti Plateau
Today’s trek takes you across the dramatic Sanetti Plateau, the highest road-accessible plateau in Africa and a highlight for anyone on a trekking tour in Ethiopia. As you walk across this remote Afro-alpine landscape, the silence and stillness of the environment make for an immersive walking adventure. Surrounded by towering lobelias and endless wildflowers, this plateau feels like a world apart. Keep your eyes open for the Ethiopian wolf, the rarest wild canid on Earth. With some luck, you may see one gracefully moving across the open moorland. We end the hike at Mount Tullu Dimtu, the park’s highest peak, where sweeping views open over the entire Bale Highlands.
Hike Distance
12 km
Elevation Gain
+ 500 m
Bale Mountain Lodge
DAY 10
Bale Mountains to Harenna Forest
Into the Harenna Forest – Where Nature and Culture Flourish
Our hiking tour continues into the lush and mystical Harenna Forest, one of Ethiopia’s most biodiverse and atmospheric walking destinations. Today’s long but rewarding hike takes you through a rich jungle landscape where ancient trees tower overhead and wildlife thrives. Watch for Bale monkeys, Colobus monkeys, and olive baboons as you walk through mossy paths and dappled sunlight. But Harenna is more than just wilderness, it’s also a cultural heartland. During your hike, you’ll visit a traditional coffee farm and discover Ethiopia’s wild coffee heritage. This is the birthplace of coffee, and here, the experience goes far beyond the cup.
Hike Distance
10 km
Elevation Gain
+ 500 m
Bale Mountain Lodge
DAY 11
Flight to Addis Ababa
A quiet night in Addis
For those joining the optional Danakil extension, the journey continues. After tonight’s festive dinner in Addis Ababa, instead of heading to the airport, you’ll settle in for a restful night at your hotel in the capital. It’s a quiet pause before the next adventure and a chance to recharge, let the past days settle in your memory, and prepare for what lies ahead.
Sheraton Addis Hotel.
DAY 12
Flight to Semera and transfer to the Salt Plans
Welcome to the Danakil Depression!
Your Danakil adventure begins early with a short domestic flight from Addis Ababa to Semera, the gateway to one of the most geologically active regions on Earth. After touching down around 8:30 am, you’ll be picked up and driven toward the Afar lowlands. The drive is long but unforgettable. Around midday, you’ll pause by the shimmering shores of Lake Afdera, a vast salt lake surrounded by endless desert. This is the perfect spot for a relaxed outdoor lunch and a first taste of the heat and silence that define the Danakil. In the afternoon, the journey continues across gravel plains and lava flows until you reach Hamed Ela, a remote Afar outpost and your base for the night. Before settling in, you’ll make a short drive to Lake Assale, where the salt flats stretch out like a frozen ocean under the late afternoon sun. The perfect place to admire the sunset, especially on clear days, when it becomes a spectacular display of fire and light reflecting across the patterned salt crust.
Overnight at Basic Camp (tents, matress, shower, toillet)
Flight to Semera
DAY 13
Trekking Dallol and Erta Ale
Walk where the earth boils!
Today, you’ll wake up early for a truly unforgettable day. Around 5:00 am, you’ll set off on a short drive to the edge of the salt flats. As the first light rises over Lake Assale, the landscape comes alive with shifting colors and reflections. It’s calm, surreal, and like nothing else on Earth. You’ll enjoy a simple breakfast right on the salt crust, surrounded by silence and endless space. From here, it’s a short drive across the flats to Dallol, one of the world’s most geologically active and visually stunning places. After a 30-minute walk across the salt crust, you’ll reach the crater of this dormant volcano, where the ground is painted in wild shades of neon yellow, green, and rust-red. Next, a quick drive takes you to nearby salt mountains, where you’ll explore bizarre natural sculptures and formations carved by wind and time. This part of the desert feels almost lunar, yet deeply alive. After returning to Hamed Ela for lunch and to pack up camp, your journey continues toward Erta Ale, one of the few volcanoes on Earth with a permanent lava lake. Once settled, you’ll begin the final leg of the day: a 30-minute walk to the rim of the crater. As the sky darkens, the glow of molten rock lights up the night. Watch the lava swirl and breathe, then return to camp for dinner under the stars.
Overnight at Basic Camp (tents, matress, shower, toillet)
DAY 14
Erta Ale Sunrise and Lake Afdera
A sunrise over a volcano
Your final day in Danakil begins in the dark, with a pre-dawn walk back to the crater rim of Erta Ale. The shifting light reveals new textures in the cooled lava flows and rising fumaroles. You’ll have time to take it all in, explore the rim a little further, and reflect on the sheer force of the Earth beneath your feet. After about an hour at the crater, you’ll return to camp for a relaxed breakfast. Then, it’s time to begin the journey back to civilization. The drive to Semera takes you once again past Lake Afdera, where there’s time to stop for a quick swim. Perhaps, an unexpected treat after the dry heat of Danakil. After lunch near the lake, you’ll continue toward Mekelle Airport, reaching it by mid-afternoon in time for your return flight to Addis Ababa. Soon you’ll be back in the capital, still carrying the dust, light, and wonder of one of the world’s most unforgettable landscapes. This is where the journey ends, but the memories of Danakil will stay with you long after your boots are off.
Join us and experience a side of the Earth few will ever know, and even fewer will forget. This is your chance to explore a land of raw beauty and profound heritage, guided by those who call it home.
Flight to Addis Abada
