Dates: January 5 – 15, 2026

Duration: 11 days / 10 nights

Number of participants: 6 – 12

Cost per person:
• 2650 USD subject to 11 — 12 participants, or
• 2750 USD subject to 9 — 10 participants, or
• 2890 USD subject to 6 — 8 participants.

10% early booking discount (in case you book before August 5, 2025)


Everything is included except for:
- international flights to Addis Ababa roundtrip,
- domestic flight Addis Ababa - Lalibela, Lalibela - Gondar, Gondar - Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa -Semera (Mekelle), Mekelle - Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa - Diredawa, Diredawa - Addis Ababa,
- international medical insurance,
- Ethiopian visa (e-visa to be obtained in advance, or visa on arrival in the airport of Addis Ababa, at 50 USD (applicable for Russian Federation citizens, please check eligibility for your passport. The fee may change)

Estimated cost of flight from Moscow to Addis Ababa roundtrip: 950 - 1000 USD (Usually bought on your own. We consult)

Estimated cost of domestic flights (Usually bought on your own. We consult):

• from Addis Ababa to Lalibela: about 130 USD
• from Lalibela to Gondar: about 120 USD
• from Gondar to Addis Ababa: about 150 USD
• from Addis Ababa to Semera (Mekelle): about 145 USD
• from Mekelle to Addis Ababa: about 175 USD
• from Addis Ababa to Diredawa: about 130 USD
• from Diredawa to Addis Ababa: about 130 USD

Single supplement in hotels: 300 USD




TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO ETHIOPIA

Day 1. January 5, 2026. ADDIS ABABA

Early morning arrival in Addis Ababa airport. Transfer to the hotel.
After rest, Addis Ababa city tour with visiting the Orthodox Church, Merkato 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, dinner
Accommodation included: Haile Grand Addis Ababa 5*

* Recommended flight from Moscow to Addis Ababa:
— with Egypt Air, with 2 hours stopover in Cairo, departure from Moscow at 15:45 on January 4 and an arrival in Addis Ababa at 3:05 am on next day, January 5,
— direct flight with Ethiopian Airlines, departure from Moscow at 21:30 on January 3 and an arrival in Addis Ababa at 5:40 am on next day, January 4 (additional night in Addis Ababa is required),
— or any other flight arriving in Addis Ababa no later than at 9 am on January 5.


Day 2. January 6, 2026. LALIBELA

After breakfast, your flight will take you to Lalibela. After short break, start visiting the northern cluster rock hewn churches of Lalibela, hewn out from a single rock, and the first groups of churches which comprises six churches namely Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael and Bet Golgotha.
In the evening, you will attend the Christmas Eve ceremony to be held at Bete Mariam church with the presence of tens thousands of pilgrimage from different parts of the globe. Overnight in Lalibela.

* Recommended flight:

• with Ethiopian Airlines, direct flight ET‑120, departure from Addis Ababa on January 6 at 10:15 am, arrival in Lalibela at 11:30 am.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Maribela Hotel Lalibela or Panoramic View Hotel


Day 3. January 7, 2026. FULL DAY IN LALIBELA

Early morning you will be transferred to the churches to attend the morning colorful mass celebration. After breakfast and short break, visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, a huge monolith in the shape of a cross, and constructed in honor of St. George, the patron saint of Ethiopia and the king of all churches. Overnight in Lalibela.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Maribela Hotel Lalibela or Panoramic View Hotel


Day 4. January 8, 2026. FLY TO GONDAR

Morning flight to Gondar. Right after arrival, we will check in a hotel and after a short break, you will visit to the Royal Castles built in the 17th Century A.D. It is surrounded by high stone walls. We explore the royal enclosure with six lofty castles built by different emperors for different purpose. After lunch, proceed to visit Debre Birhan selassiee well known for its elaborately decorated wall paintings and visit the swimming pool of Emperor Fasiledes. Overnight in Gondar.

* Recommended flight:

• with Ethiopian Airlines, direct flight ET‑123, departure from Lalibela on January 8 at 10:55 am, arrival in Gondar at 11:25 am.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Haile Resort-Gondar


Day 5. January 9, 2026. DRIVE TO SEMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Morning drive from Gondar to Debark, which is the headquarter town for the national park. We will stop here to get a permission to enter the park and meet the scout. We will have tea and coffee break and visit the local market if we have time. The local market is open every day, and every Wednesday and Saturday there is the big market day.
From Debark town, we will drive to the park gate, which is about 16km from the town. Then, we are heading about 6 km to Buit Ras, the first area of the national park. From Buit Ras, we will trek for about 3 - 4 hours to Chilkuwanit which is one of the most beautiful viewpoints. This area offers stunning views over the escarpment dropping vertically. You will most certainly encounter troops of the endemic Gelada Baboons and see them up-close. You may also see common jackal, klipspringer and more.
There are a lot of birds, such as Thick-billed Raven, Augar Buzard, Black Kites, Lammergeyer and different plant species such as Abyssinian Rose, Erica Arboria tree, Euphorbia Species, St. Johns Worttree (Hypercumrevoltum) and so on. Our car will pick you up at Chilkuwanit and drive to Gondar to catch a flight to Addis Ababa.
Overnight in Addis Ababa.

* Recommended flight:

• with Ethiopian Airlines, direct flight ET‑297, departure from Gondar on January 9 at 19:05, arrival in Addis Ababa at 20:25.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Haile Grand Addis Ababa 5*


Day 6. January 10, 2026. FLIGHT FROM ADDIS ABABA TO SEMERA (MEKELLE) - DANAKIL DEPRESSION - ERTA ALE

Early morning flight from Addis Ababa to Semera (Mekelle). After arrival, We set off on 4WD jeeps to Danakil depression, Afar region. Travel through the Danakil desert to Erta Ale volcano area (270 km, driving time 5-6 hours).
Visit Alolebed spring waters en route. Lunch picnic by our chef at one of the local villages.
Arrive at the Ertale 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.

* Recommended flight:

• with Ethiopian Airlines, direct flight ET‑110, departure from Addis Ababa on January 10 at 6:45, arrival in Semera at 8:05.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: in a shack or on the open air


Day 7. January 11, 2026. ERTA ALE – HAMAD ELA - SALT LAKE ASALE

Early morning of the day, we hike back to the top of the crater to visit the volcanic activities for the second time during sunrise.After breakfast, early descent to the base camp (20 minutes walk) and drive to lake Afdera.
Bathing in hot springs and in the extremely salt lake. Visit salt mining systems at Afdera lake.
Early lunch and drive further to Hamad Ela village, where some 600 Afar people live (3 hours drive). Lunch in our basic camp in Hamad Ela, 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. Photographers would find insane angles and amazing reflections for taking pictures. Overnight in camping in Hamad Ela.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: camping


Day 8. January 12, 2026. HAMAD ELA – DALLOL – MEKELLE

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. 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 Mekele (180 km, around 4 hours), leaving the lowland and make our way up (Mekele is situated at 2100 m absl), having wonderful mountains and passes.
Arrive in Mekele. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Planet hotel 4*


Day 9. January 13, 2026. MEKELLE — GHERALTA — TYGRAY ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES — MEKELE — ADDIS ABABA

In one day you will visit three churches: Abuna Yemata Guh; Maryam Korkor and Daniel Korkor. All of which are very different in style but stunningly beautiful in their own way.
To visit Abuna Yemata Guh, walking for about an hour to commence a steep ascent up the side of the Gheralta massif. This steep ascent soon turn into a climb using foot holds and hand holds chipped into the sandstone rock by the passage of many hands and feet. The climb and the walk along very narrow ledges with sheer drops to the side is not one for the faint hearted. The church itself can be reached by walking out on a ledge one meter wide and with a 200m drop to the left hand side. At the entrance there is a small cave and a wooden door built into the rock.
The trek to Maryam Korkor is the most impressive architecturally. A huge, high ceiling is supported by 12 free standing pillars. Looking at it you could not help but wonder how the architect managed to carve so high from the ground. Afternoon drive back to Mekelle and flight to Addis Ababa.

* Recommended flight:

• with Ethiopian Airlines, direct flight ET‑299, departure from Mekelle on January 13 at 19:45, arrival in Addis Ababa at 21:20.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Haile Grand Addis Ababa 5*


Day 10. January 14, 2026. FLIGHT FROM ADDIS ABABA TO DIREDAWA - HARAR - HYENAS

Early morning flight from Addis Ababa to Diredawa, then drive to Harar.
During Harar city tour, we will walk in the narrow alleyways of city paths passing through its colorful house and visit Sheriff Museum (former Ras Teferi Honeymoon house), Rimbaud House, and Harari National Cultural Center. Visit Harari’s colorful house and local market.
One of The Best Experiences of Harar is to see the hyena man. He is a man who tames the wild hyena. He feeds meat to the wild hyenas every night. Sometimes by holding meat in his mouth, and a hyena comes to grab. The hyenas obey him and they will not come unless he calls them by their names. It is a nice experience to feed the hyena, many do it and we may also feed them some meat mouth to mouth.
Overnight in Harer.

* Recommended flight:

• with Ethiopian Airlines, direct flight ET‑214, departure from Addis Ababa on January 14 at 7:20 am, arrival in Diredawa at 8:35 am.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Grand Gato Hotel


Day 11. January 15, 2026. HARAR - ADDIS ABABA - BACK INTERNATONAL FLIGHT

Morning drive from Harar to Diredawa to take flight to Addis Ababa. On the way, stop over in Awaday - a small town where most of the Ethiopian chat (gat) that goes till Yemen and many Arab country comes from this place.
Then proceed to Diredawa and take a flight to Addis Ababa. International evening flight from Addis Ababa.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: no

* Recommended flight from Diredawa to Addis Ababa:

• with Ethiopian Airlines, direct flight ET‑215, departure from Diredawa on January 15 at 10:05 am, arrival in Addis Ababa at 11:05 am.

**Recommended flight from Addis Ababa to Moscow:
— a direct flight operated by Ethiopian Airlines, departing at 23:15 on January 15, arriving in Moscow at 7:50 am the next day, January 16.
— or an Egypt Air flight with a transfer in Cairo 6 hour 50 minutes, departing from Addis Ababa at 22:05 on January 15 and arriving in Moscow at 14:45 on January 16,
— or any other flight departing from Addis Ababa on January 15.


* 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.