Dates: October 31 – November 6, 2026
Program is linked to the expedition to the Southern Ethiopia from November 6 - 15, 2026.Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Number of participants: 7 – 12
Cost per person: • 1 850 USD subject to 11 – 12 participants,
• 1 990 USD subject to 9 – 10 participants,
• 2 190 USD subject to 7 – 8 participants.
Everything is included, except for:
- international flight to Addis Ababa roundtrip,
- domestic flight Addis Ababa – Semera and Mekele – Addis Ababa,
- international medical insurance,
- Ethiopian visa (e-visa to be obtained in advance, or VoA in the airport of Addis Ababa, at 50 USD. The fee may change)
Estimated cost of flight from Moscow to Addis Ababa roundtrip: 800 – 950 USD (Usually bought on your own. We consult) Estimated cost of flights from Addis Ababa to Semera and back from Mekele to Addis Ababa: about 350 – 400 USD (Usually bought on your own. We consult) Single supplement in hotels: 170 USD
TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO ETHIOPIA Day 1. October 31, 2026 (Saturday). ADDIS ABABAEarly morning arrival in Addis Ababa airport. Transfer to the hotel. After rest, Addis Ababa city tour with visiting the Orthodox Church, Mercato market, the biggest in Africa, National Museum with Lucy skeleton, local cafe and observation desk. Back to the hotel for overnight.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation included: Haile grand resort * Recommended flight from Moscow to Addis Ababa:— with Ethiopian Airlines direct flight, departure from Moscow on October 31 at 21:30, arrival in Addis Ababa the next day, November 1, at 6:00 am,— or with Egypt Air, with 2 hours stopover in Cairo, departure from Moscow at 15:45 on October 31 and an arrival in Addis Ababa at 3:05 am on next day, November 1,— or any other flight arriving in Addis Ababa no later than at 9 am on November 1.Day 2. November 1, 2026 (Sunday). ADDIS ABABA — MEKELE (SEMERA) — ERTA-ALEAfter early breakfast, morning flight to the North, to Semera, the capital of Afar region. Departure at 07:10 am. Arrival in Semera at 8:30 am. We set off on 4WD jeeps to Danakil depression, Afar region. Travel through the Danakil desert to Erta Ale volcano area (250 km, driving time 5 hours). Lunch picnic by our chef at one of the locals village, arrive at the camp around 3-4 pm and after taking coffee/tea and snacks, we pack to start walking to the caldera rim on the top of volcano. 20-30 minutes walking to the top of the mountain (613 meters above sea level). Dismount into caldera and watch the lava lake starting at sunset till the night, standing on the edge of a 100-meter crater. Later walk back to the camp on caldera rim for Dinner and night in a shack or in the open air.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation included: in a shack or in the open airDay 3. November 2, 2026 (Monday). ERTA ALE — HAMEDELA — LAKE ASSALEOne more chance for sunrise at the unique place. After breakfast descent to the base camp (30 minutes walk) and drive to Hamedela village, where some 600 Afar people live (3 hours drive). Lunch in our basic camp in Hamdela, where we will also spend the night. After lunch, visit Afar traditional hat (called akal) in Hamedela or in the area. Communicate with Afar people, photography the local life of Afar people. Around 4 pm drive to Lake Assale. Swim in the natural pool in Assale lake, where the water is much salter than in the Dead Sea. A huge salt lake in walking distance where we take a deep breath and have some wine or beer for sunset. Photographer would find insane angles and amazing reflections for taking pictures. At sunset try to find the caravans of camels carrying salt (however it is not easy nowadays). Short drive back to Hamedela.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation included: open air campingDay 4. November 3, 2026 (Tuesday). HAMEDELA — DALLOL — DANAKIL DEPRESSION — GHERALTA You get served an early breakfast at 6. Around 7 we start driving the short distance (approx 30 min) to Dallol volcano (‘a colorful place’) via Asebo (‘the salt desert’). 1200 square km of the Afar Depression is covered by salt. You will watch the workers breaking the salt from the ground, cutting it into rectangular pieces and loading it onto camels. The caravans start from here. This is also the lowest point of the Danakil – 116 meters! We continue driving ahead to Dallol and stroll through the different landscapes formed by volcanic activities. Incredible, moon-like, colorful creations of the sulfur and huge salt mountains, a bumbling oil lake, are to be found here. Due to incredible colors at Dallol you feel like on Venus. Visiting another extraterrestrial place nearby, called New York. Will have half day to see this all and proceed to Gheralta (260 km), leaving the lowland and make our way up to Tigray region having lunch and drive to the remarkable Gheralta mountains the home of more than 30 rock churches.
Overnight Gheralta Lodge.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation included: Gheralta Lodge Day 5. November 4, 2026 (Wednesday). GHERALTA — TIGRAY ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES After a relaxed breakfast and sunrise from the lodge, drive to Abune Yemata Guh to see the well known rock-hewn church in the region carved high into the mountain cliffs.
The climb takes about 40 minutes and requires handholds where we can use ropes and harness for safety making it both thrilling and unforgettable.
At the top, you are rewarded with breathtaking views and the chance to step inside one of the greatest rock churches, a masterpiece formed in the 11th century,
Afterwards, share lunch in one of the farmers house with traditional coffee with the warm-hearted Tigray people, and spend time learning about their traditional lifestyle. In the afternoon, trek to Mariam Korkor, a vast plateau offering one of the most amazing 360° views in the region. Attend the sunset from the top of Mariam Korkor, where the sky glows in shades of gold
At night, camp near the monastery on the Korkor mountains. The silence of the highlands, the rising moon, and the endless stars above make the evening magical and deeply peaceful.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation included: camping Day 6. November 5, 2026 (Thursday). MARIAM KORKOR — ABREHA WE ATSBEHA — ADDIS ABABAWake early to join the Orthodox morning prayer at Mariam Korkor church, a spiritual experience that connects you to centuries of devotion. Afterwards, step outside to witness the most beautiful sunrise from your camping spot—soft light spilling across the mountains while you sip fresh coffee, a moment that feels timeless.
Spend the morning visiting the monastery of Mariam Korkor, exploring its sacred spaces and learning about its history. Then trek down from the mountain and drive to Abreha We Atsbeha, the most painted and colorful church in Gheralta, famous for its rich frescoes and ancient inscriptions.
In the afternoon, continue to Mek’elē for your flight back to Addis Ababa. Depending on your arrival, you may enjoy a final evening in the capital with traditional food, music, and dance. Overnight in Addis Ababa Haile resort.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation included: Addis Ababa Haile resort Day 7. November 6, 2026 (Friday). ADDIS ABABA — RETURN FLIGHTFree time in Addis Ababa, make a shopping coffee, souvenirs.. and further connection evening departure back home. Or, for those who travel to Southern Ethiopia, further connection to Jimma with the morning flight.
Meals included: breakfastAccommodation included: no**Recommended flight from Addis Ababa to Moscow:— a direct flight operated by Ethiopian Airlines, departing at 23:50 on November 7, arriving in Moscow at 7:40 am the next day, November 8.— or an Egypt Air flight with a transfer in Cairo 1 hour 15 minutes, departing from Addis Ababa at 04:05 on November 8 and arriving in Moscow at 14:45 on November 8,— or any other flight departing from Addis Ababa on November 7. * The order of visits and excursions can be modified according to local conditions (i.e. state of roads, ceremonies etc.). If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible. ** Depending on local conditions and decision of local authorities, the start of the program is possible from Mekele (instead of Semera). In this case the flight on Day 2 is to be purchased until Mekele, for morning time, departure at 7:30 am.