Magma Flow Tours Ethiopia

26th. Addis - Shire - Axum (12:15 - 13:50)

- Pick up from Shire airport and drive to Axum.

Meal plan:

Overnight: Sabean Hotel Axum

Apr 27th. Axum

- Full day 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

• St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Sabean Hotel Axum

Apr 28th. Axum (Hosanna/Palm Sunday) - Gheralta

- Early in the morning, attend Hosanna/Palm Sunday celebration which commemorates:

• Entry of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem riding a donkey.

• People welcoming Jesus Christ by spreading palm branches.

• People wearing palm stripe on their head and ring on their finger.

- Afternoon, drive to Gheralta, en route visit:

• The ancient ruins of Yeha Temple.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Vision Hotel Hawzen

Apr 29th. Gheralta - Mekelle

- Morning, drive to Gheralta and visit:

• Abune Yemata Guh (not recommended if you have height phobia) - Requires a challenging 2h trekking and climbing.

• Maryam and Daniel Korkor - Requires a fairly challenging 2.5h trekking.

- Afterwards, proceed driving to Mekelle.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Axum Hotel Mekelle

Apr 30th. Mekelle - Danakil Depression

- Morning, pick up from hotel and drive to the Northern part of Danakil Depression (Dallol area).

• You will have a chance to Swim in a Salt pond.

• Visit Camel caravans heading back from the salt mining area to HamadEla & highlands (if available).

• Sunset over Lake Asale/Karum.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Outside under the stars at HamadEla

May 01st. Danakil Depression

- In the morning, visit:

• Dallol Volcano

• Salt Mountains (Canyons)

• Sulfur Lake

• Local Salt Mining (if available)

- After visit, 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.

- After visit, trek (30-40min) back to the camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Outside/inside local huts made up of lava rocks

May 02nd. Danakil Depression - Afdera - Semera

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

- Morning, drive to Afdera you can Swim in Lake Afrera & take a bath in hydrothermal springs.

- After lunch in Afdera, proceed driving to Semera.

Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Kuriftu Resort Semera

May 03rd. Semera - Lalibela (Good Friday) (10:10 - 13:05)

- Fly to Lalibela, pick up from airport and check in hotel.

- Attend Good Friday celebration, a special centuries-old practices for this day that remember the suffering of Jesus Christ when he was crucified.

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Sora Lodge Lalibela

May 04th. Lalibela

- Visit sites in Lalibela:

- Morning, visit half of the 11 rock-hewn churches (Northwestern cluster):

• BetMedhaneAlem

• BetMaryam

• BetMeskel

• BetDanaghel

• BetMikael

• BetGolgotha (entry not permitted for women).

- Afternoon, visit the rest half (Southeastern cluster):

• BetGabriel-Rufael

• BetMerkorios

• BetAmanual

• BetAbbaLibanos

• BetGiyorgis until the sunset (the most famous of all)

Meal plan: Breakfast

Overnight: Sora Lodge Lalibela

May 05th. Lalibela (Fasika/Easter) - Addis (13:35 - 14:50)

- At the midnight,

• Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• A celebration which will be held by prayers accompanied by chanting and dancing of the priest until 3:00am in the morning.

- Afterwards, return to hotel, take some rest and transfer to airport.

Meal plan: Breakfast