Duration
8-Day
Awash National Park, Ethiopia
8-Day Through the Afar Desert and into the Danakil
Overview
Ethiopia has some spectacular sights, including active volcanoes and beautiful landscapes. Dallol is one of Africa's most notable geographical features, a massive tear across the earth's surface visible from space. The country also has hot, dry, and barren regions, and a string of beautiful lakes. These locations, like the others in Ethiopia, compel you to imagine yourself on another planet. Dallol is the lowest and hottest point on the planet.
Plan snapshot
Quick Facts
Route
Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa (City)
Via Awash NP, Semera (Town), Danakil Depression
Country & park
Ethiopia / Awash National Park
Style
Safari
Group size
1-12 travelers
Starts
Any day if available
Minimum age
18 years
Activities
game drives & nature hikes/walks
Accommodation
Sunspot Hotel Mid-range hotel in Addis Ababa (City) – All Meals Included +5 Photos +4 Photos - Mid-range hotel in Addis Ababa (City) – All Meals Included
Meals
All Meals Included
Pickup
Airport transfer included
Booking
Request quote
Currency
USD
Rates
Rates Per Person
USD
Start datesSingle2+ people
Jan 1, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
$6,886 USD
$3,663 USD
Before booking
Important To Know
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).
This tour is unavailable for children.
Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. Flights may cost more, depending on travel dates. If so, your quote will reflect this.
Quote flow
Request Guidance
We advise requesting quotes from 3 operators ()
Requests are sent directly to the tour operator
If preferred, you can contact the tour operator directly
Route
country
Ethiopia
Start
Addis Ababa (Day 1)
Day 2
Awash NP
Day 3
Semera (Town)
Day 4
Danakil Depression (Highlight)
Day 5
Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)
Day 6
Danakil Depression (Highlight)
Day 7
Semera (Town)
End
Addis Ababa (City) (Day 8)
Tour Features
Budget tour
This budget tour includes camping and lodges.
Private tour
This tour will be organized exclusively for you and won't be shared with others.
Can start any day
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
Can be customized
You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
Suitable for solo travelers
Solo travelers can book this private tour.
18
Minimum age of 18 years
The minimum age for this tour is 18 years.
Activities & Transportation
Activities: game drives & nature hikes/walks
Game drives: normal 4x4 vehicle
Getting around: normal 4x4 vehicle & air transfer
This operator can select your international flights, but you'll have to book them yourself
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Accommodation & Meals
Day 1
Sunspot Hotel Mid-range hotel in Addis Ababa (City) – All Meals Included +5 Photos +4 Photos
Mid-range hotel in Addis Ababa (City) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 2
Doho Lodge & Hot Springs
Mid-range lodge just outside Awash NP – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 3
Ruftana Hotel
Mid-range hotel in Semera (Town) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 4
Budget camping Danakil Depression (Highlight) – All Meals Included
Danakil Depression (Highlight) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 5
Budget camping Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included
Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 6
Budget camping Danakil Depression (Highlight) – All Meals Included
Danakil Depression (Highlight) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 7
Ruftana Hotel
Mid-range hotel in Semera (Town) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 8
End of tour
(No accommodation)
All Meals Included
Day By Day
Tour step
Arrival
You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1
Addis Ababa arrival, city sightseeing
Arrival in the morning. Transfer to the hotel (if the rooms are ready for occupancy). Sightseeing tour through the capital, which is located at an altitude of up to 2,450 masl. A city of contrasts with modern skyscrapers next to corrugated iron huts, donkey and horse carts next to modern means of transport, colourful traditional markets next to supermarkets. Besides the most important historical monuments you visit the National Museum, where the famous skeleton Lucy is kept. Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City) All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Destination: Addis Ababa (City) Stay: Sunspot Hotel Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City) Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 2
Drive from Addis Ababa to the Awash National Park
This day's drive continues for another 180 km north east to get to Awash national park, one of the earliest and rich in fauna’s and flora’s national parks of Ethiopia. Upon arrival to the National Park we visit the majestic Awash River Falls to spot different types of birds, and driving through the bush land of the park provides you the opportunity to see antelopes like Greater Kudu, Gazelles, Orix and other wildlife in the interior parts of the park. Then we move on to the Doho Lodge located directly at the hot springs where we can take a relaxing bath. Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Destination: Awash National Park Stay: Doho Lodge & Hot Springs Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 3
Driving from Awash National park - Semera
In the morning we will continue our journey by car to the north-east, until we reach the small town of Semera, the last inhabited centre before entering the desert regions of the Danakil (Afar). In the evening we will have a typical dinner and then accommodation in the hotel in Semera. Mid-range hotel located in Semera (Town) All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Destination: Semera (Town) Stay: Ruftana Hotel Mid-range hotel located in Semera (Town) Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 4
Drive from Semera to Lake Aftera, swim in the salt lake
Today we slowly approach the desert of the Danakil. The landscape is getting drier, but it remains hilly until salt lake Aftera. From time to time we pass small oases, where they bring their animals for water supply. On the way we will visit a village of the Afar people. Already from a distance you can see Lake Aftera and its basins used for the production of salt. We spend the night in a tent under the palm trees by the lake. There are hot springs with mineral water. The lake as well as the springs themselves invite you to take a bath. All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Destination: Danakil Depression (Highlight) Stay: Budget camping Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 5
Drive from Aftera to Erta Ale to see the active volcano lava lake
Departure for Kusrewad, from where we are accompanied by military escort and where you can take dromedaries for our luggage and for those who they want to ride. In the late afternoon, after some walking, we get to the edge of the crater. Erta Ale is 613 metres high and on its summit there is a lava lake. This is one of the few permanently active lava lakes in the world. After having seen the night activity of the lava lake, we will spend the night at a certain distance from the crater in simple shelters or outdoors on mattresses and sleeping bags. It is noted that the volcano is constantly evolving and that for safety reasons it is not always possible to visit the main crater. All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Destination: Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) Stay: Budget camping Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 6
Drive from Erta Ale - Hammed Ela to the colourful Dallol
In the morning we approach the crater lake again to observe the morning activity. Then we descended from the summit where our cook awaits us with the first breakfast. Strengthened we continue north by car until we reach in the desert village of Hammed Ela. Here we rest from the night before. All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Destination: Danakil Depression (Highlight) Stay: Budget camping Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 7
Drive Hammed Ela - Semera
Excursion to Dallol, which is located 116 metres below sea level, one of the lowest places on the planet. We visit fields, lakes and colourful springs, a lake of oil and Lake Assale, where salt extraction is done with Ancient techniques. Salt bars were once used as a coin national. We see the Afar in their hard work of salt extraction. Mid-range hotel located in Semera (Town) All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Destination: Semera (Town) Stay: Ruftana Hotel Mid-range hotel located in Semera (Town) Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 8
Flight Semera - Addis Ababa, shopping, dinner and departure
You will be transferred to the airport and with a short domestic flight to Addis Ababa. Here’s the last opportunity to buy souvenirs. After this we move to the restaurant for a farewell dinner with traditional music and folk dance groups. In the late evening, or depending on your flight schedule, you will return home. All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Destination: Addis Ababa (City) Stay: No accommodation (End of tour) Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Tour step
End of tour
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport.
Included
Park fees (For non-residents)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
Camping equipment
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All flights during the tour
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Excluded
International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Sleeping bag
Bath towels
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Getting There
This tour starts and ends in Addis Ababa
This operator can select your international flights, but you'll have to book them yourself
Fly to/from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD - Check price)
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
Offered by
SimienEcoTours
5.0 operator rating
46 reviews
We organise individual & group tours through whole Ethiopia in an ecologically & socially responsible & sustainable way. The founders of SimienEcoTours are manager Marco from Italy, who currently lives in Addis Ababa, Franziska from Germany, who lived in Ethiopia for more than 7 years, and Birhan, Tadele, Yirga and Solomon, four experienced Ethiopian tour guides. What brought us together is our social and ecological commitment in Ethiopia as well as our love for this country.
Office In
Ethiopia
Size
10-20 employees (Founded in 2014)
Tour Types
Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
Destinations
Ethiopia
Traveler feedback
Reviews
Overall
5.0/5Communication
5.0/5Accuracy
5.0/5Value
5.0/5Safety clarity
5.0/5Cultural value
5.0/5Very well organized tour !
Best way of visiting Ethiopia is a Tour organized by Simien Eco Tours. Our guide, David, spoke good French and was able to give us all explanations of the places we’ve been visiting.
Sandra · France
Meeting communities in harmony with nature.
I went on a 4 day trip with SimienEcoTours to the Guge Mountain near to Arba Minch. It was such a unique experience. Meeting communities on the way to the top, eating and participating in daily lifestyle and routines, crossing agricultural land in perfect harmony with nature and being accompanied by kind, knowledgeable, sensitive, amazing guides. It was a one-kind experience. My heartfelt thanks !! I will carry the memories fondly with me.
Bärbel · Netherlands
Experience Ethiopia's peoples
I had the pleasure of going on a group trip to southern Ethiopia in February and it was simply unforgettable! The insights into the lives of Ethiopians were impressive and gave me a whole new perspective on this wonderful country. The trekking tours through the remote villages allowed us to experience the incredible diversity and warm hospitality of the people at first hand. Every day was a new adventure and I am grateful for the many wonderful memories I was able to take home with me. Special thanks go to our guide Abebe, who inspired us with his knowledge and passion for the country. The entire team - from the cook to the driver - also did a great job and made sure that we felt comfortable and well looked after at all times. A big thank you also to Marco for organizing this fantastic trip. I highly recommend this experience!
Sandra · Germany
The best experience
Excellent expérience. Well balance itinerary. Reliable hotels. Most of all an outstanding guide who lead the entier trip
Frédéric Jochem · United States
Practical answers
Tour FAQs
Are rates charged per person?
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
Which currency is this tour priced in?
This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).
Can children join this tour?
This tour is unavailable for children.
Can this tour start on my preferred date?
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
Can the itinerary be customized?
You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
Where do travelers stay during this tour?
Sunspot Hotel Mid-range hotel in Addis Ababa (City) – All Meals Included +5 Photos +4 Photos - Mid-range hotel in Addis Ababa (City) – All Meals Included. Meals: All Meals Included
Where does this tour start and end?
This tour starts and ends in Addis Ababa
Are airport transfers included?
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Operator policy
Terms and Conditions
Disclaimer
This tour is offered by SimienEcoTours, not SafariBookings.
This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. If flights cost more, your quote will reflect this.
The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of SimienEcoTours.
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