Tigray, Danakil & Epiphany Lalibela

Departure on an international flight to Addis Ababa

Night on board

Arrival at Bole International Airport, check-in at our hotel in downtown Addis Ababa. Panoramic city tour: we will explore the National Museum to see “Lucy,” the world’s most famous human fossil; the majestic Holy Trinity Cathedral; and from Entoto Hill, we will capture the capital from above as the afternoon fades.

Overnight stay at a hotel

We flew early to Mekele, the capital of the Tigray region. From there, we began a road trip to Geralta Lodge, a magical place surrounded by imposing rock formations. Along the way, the views transformed into a mosaic of deserts, mountains, and villages that beckoned us to stop and take photos. Upon arrival, we settled into the lodge and enjoyed the sunset over the mountains.

Overnight stay at a hotel

We dedicated this day to exploring and photographing some of Tigray’s most impressive churches. We started with Abuna Yemata Guh, perched atop a cliff: the climb is quite an adventure, but the view and the Byzantine frescoes are well worth the effort. We continued on to Mariam Korkor and Daniel Korkor, monolithic temples that seem suspended between heaven and earth. A perfect day to capture not only the spiritual heritage but also the paths that lead to it.

Overnight stay at a hotel

We continued exploring other hidden gems of Tigray, such as Yohannes Maequddi and Medhane Alem Kesho, less crowded but equally fascinating. This day offered excellent opportunities to capture intimate images of rural Ethiopian life: women collecting water, children playing, and elderly people walking along dusty paths. A peaceful day of visual and cultural depth.

Overnight stay at a hotel

We left the mountains and ventured into the desert. Our destination was the Danakil Depression, one of the most extreme and visually stunning places on the planet. On the way to Ahmed Ela, the landscape changed dramatically: salt flats, dunes, craters, and camel caravans accompanied our journey. We arrived at our base camp and enjoyed an open-air dinner, the perfect prelude to night photography under one of the most star-filled skies in the world.

One night in Deluxe Camp, full board

Today we will dedicate the day to an excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world).

The spectacle that nature offers in Dallol is practically indescribable. Numerous sulfur springs, volcanoes, geysers, acidic pools, vast salt flats, and colorful, mineral-rich lakes dot the landscape. Volcanic activity heats the spring water, bringing sulfur and iron to the surface and leaving behind yellow, green, and orange deposits. For centuries, locals have walked with camel caravans to extract salt by hand from this Ethiopian outpost whose landscape has an alien appearance.

In addition to the thousands of photos we will take of this dreamlike landscape, we will take advantage of the excursion to interact with and photograph the Afar people in their daily lives: how they prepare their traditional bread, how they travel or interact.

Our tour will also take us to Lake Assale, whose waters are so dense that you can’t sink, and which is covered with a thick crust of salt that is mined by the Afar people. We might see them extract the salt bars and load them onto camels, and we’ll have the opportunity to photograph the camel caravans transporting the salt to the markets. A photograph that will remain forever etched in your memory.

One night in Deluxe Camp, full board

We ventured deeper into the heart of the Danakil Depression to reach the active volcano Erta Ale . After hours of traversing an almost lunar landscape in a 4×4, we began our ascent at dusk. The reward: reaching the crater and witnessing the lava lake in full activity. Here, the contrasts between fire and darkness allow for unique, otherworldly photographs. We spent the night camping on the summit, on the edge of the volcano.

One night in Deluxe Camp, full board

At dawn, we can admire the lava lake once more before descending. The journey continues to Afdera, where we visit a salt lake where locals swim and harvest salt. The steam rising from the hot water at sunset creates a mystical atmosphere, perfect for portraits and minimalist landscapes. Overnight camping on the lake shore.

One night in Deluxe Camp, full board

We bid farewell to the desert and head towards Semera to catch our flight back to Addis Ababa. The afternoon is free to relax, review photographic material, or stroll through local markets in search of handicrafts.

Overnight stay at a hotel

We flew to Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the famous rock-hewn churches. During the day, we photographed the northern group of temples: Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Golgotha, and more. Each temple offers unique angles, textures, and light, enveloped in a reverent silence. A day to connect with Ethiopian spirituality.

Overnight stay at a hotel