| DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION | Axum, Drive to Adigrat |
| DEPARTURE TIME | Please arrive at least 1 hours before the flight. |
| INCLUDED | Airfare Accommodations Local transportation Professional instructor |
| NOT INCLUDED | Ski equipment Instructor gratuity |
Day 1:
Day 1: Drive from Axum to Adigrat, Trek TO ANAF (4 HRS, 3000 M)
Accommodation: Anaf Guesthouse
Meals Included: BLD
Transport: donkey for bag
Day Notes: Flat walking at the beginning from Agoro and then begin ascent for about 600 meters before arriving at the flats with a trail to Anaf Guesthouse. About 3000 m. and 5 hrs trek.
Day 2:
Day 2: ANAF TO ERAR (6-7) HRS, 2800 M)
Accommodation: Erar Guesthouse
Meals Included: BLD
Transport: donkey for bag
Day Notes: take local bus from Axum to Adigrat, meet your Guide at the bus station and start the Trek across the big Valley of Gohagot on the way experiencing the daily activities of farmers. Overnight at Erar Community Guest House. Here you have chance to see geladas.
Day 3: Afternoon
Day 3: TREK ERAR TO SHIMBREYTI (4-5 HRS, 2800M)
Accommodation: Erar Guesthouse
Meals Included: BLD
Transport: donkey for bag
Day Notes: After breakfast walk the escarpment for awhile before gently descending to the beautiful Valley of Degamba Village. Ascend again visiting Mariam Buzuhan rock hewn church and a very old manmade rock tunnel on the way. Overnight at Shimbreyti Community Guest house. While here, make sure to search for the resident Gelada baboons.
Day 4:
Day 4: TREK TO MUZITEY (2 HRS). DRIVE TO GHERALTA (1 HR) – Trek To Abune Yemata, AMriam Korkor & Daniel Korkor
Accommodation: Gheralta Lodge
Meals Included: BLD
Transport: Transfer by minivan
Day Notes: After breakfast, trek for two to three hrs, first descending from the mountain to the flats of the valley where the trail takes you through rural villages before meeting your pickup vehicle. Drive for about an hour to Gheralta. After lunch discuss with your local guide an afternoon excursion to visit Maryam Korkor or Abuna Yemata rock-hewn church.
In one day you will visit three churches; Abuna YemataGuh; Maryam Korkor and Daniel Korkor. All of which are very different in style but stunningly beautiful in their own way. To visit Abuna YemataGuh, 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.Of the three, 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.
After will continue the trek to Mariam korkor monastery and you will have a 3 hur (both way) trek to Mariam Korkor, it has unique view till you reach the monastery. The first church clinging to the rock face- Mariam Kokore. Built in approximately 600AD Mariam is one of the largest and most complex rock cave churches in Ethiopia.
You can stay at Hawzin or drive to mekele for your denakil trip.
