Compare 3 Days Danakil Tour by Ethio Travel & Tours vs 9-Day Special Package: Madrid and Andalusia - English Monolingual by Julia Travel

Day 1:

We start our day by driving to Erta Ale (which means smoky mountain in Afar language). Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. It is 613 meters, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century. At 9 am we will drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). This is may be one of the roughest roads in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm lined oasis. After passing several small hamlets scattered here and there in this deserted land, you will arrive to Dodom camping site, located about 17km from Erta Ale. Dinner will be served around 17:00 o’clock. After a short break, trek up to Ertale at 20:00 hours. Camels will be transporting all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. You will spend the night on top of the mountain, at the rim of the Volcano.

Day 2:

Early morning sun rise at the northern one corresponds to the main pit crater and walk 5 minutes for the southern and central pits could either corresponds to an ancient pit, or to a simple collapse structure. The main pit-crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub circular and three storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. Descend from Erta Ale around 9 am Dodom – Leave back to Dodom after an early breakfast, if possible at 07:00 o’clock. You will reach latest at 10:30 o’clock at the camp, where you will be relaxing. As soon as possible, drive to reach the mythical Lake Giulietti (or Lake Afrera)(optional may not be available during summer time), a salt water lake located more than100 meters below sea level, in one of the deepest depressions of the planet. Because of the picturesque landscape, it is interesting to visit the salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the water of the lake and continue to Erbiti then proceed to Abaala/ Hamed ela

Day 3:

Danakil to Mekele Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look the activity of workers breaking salts from the ground, cutting in to rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans (No camel caravan on July, August and early September)and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele.

End of Danakil tour

1st Day (Fri.) MADRID
Meet and greet at the airport. Take a transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure Accommodation at the hotel

2nd Day (Sat.) MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the beauties of the city with a guided city tour. Barrio de la Morería, the Hapsburgs District, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa; the Madrid of the Bourbons and the complex town planning schemes of Charles III, the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains and the Puerta de Alcalá. The contemporary Madrid with areas such as Gran Vía, Castellana, the district of Salamanca, Plaza Castilla and Parque del Oeste, as well as commercial and financial areas of Modern Madrid, the emblematic Las Ventas Bullring and the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium. Afternoon at leisure to continue exploring the wonders that the city has to offer. Join your fellow travelers for an authentic Welcome Tapas Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel.

3rd Day (Sun.) MADRID – CACERES – CORDOBA
Breakfast at the hotel. Bond for Andalusian soils, we drive to Caceres, considered World Heritage site because of the city’s blend of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance architecture. Walk through its Plaza Mayor and the Old Town with its famous Medieval Quarter. We continue towards Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate.
Accommodation at the hotel.

4th Day (Mon.) CORDOBA – SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the impressive tour of Cordoba´s Mosque (entrance included) and other sites that will ease our mind and spirit strolling through its narrow winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, continue your journey towards Seville. Accommodation at the hotel.

5th Day (Tue.) SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning city tour of the Andalusian Capital, Seville. Visit the Cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peters in Rome. Continue to Santa Cruz quarter, the natural scenario of Carmen as well as the myth of Don Juan; Continue to Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy the city of light. Accommodation at the hotel.

6th Day (Wed.) SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL
After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive south passing through typical Andalusian villages to reach Ronda. Enjoy some free time to admire this town of Celtic origin and the marvelous view of the valley and mountain range. We continue our journey with an authentic Olive Oil Experience at a local Almazara, LA Organic. Walk through their olive tree fields and taste their organic olive oil production. Bond for beautiful Spanish Mediterranean coast, we will continue to Costa del Sol. Accommodation at the hotel.

7th Day (Thu.) COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA
Enjoy your daily breakfast at the hotel and depart to one of our favourite jewels in Spain, Granada. With its breathtaking monumental environment, we will visit the world famous Alhambra complex (entrance included) and Generalife Gardens. After some time at leisure, join your fellow travelers to experience the most authentic Gypsy Flamenco show including dinner. Accommodation at the hotel.

8th Day (Fri.) GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Bond to the impressive Imperial city of Toledo, World Heritage City, where the three cultures Christians, Moorish and Jewish, have lived together for centuries. Enjoy a guided city tour of this historical old town through its narrow streets. Continue to Madrid. Farewell Market experience dinner. Accommodation at the hotel.

9th Day (Sat.) MADRID
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport. END OF OUR SERVICE.