Djibouti

8:30 AM – Departure from Djibouti City Begin your journey with a pickup from your accommodation in Djibouti City. Set off in 4x4 vehicles designed to handle the rough desert terrain. The first part of the trip takes you through vast desert landscapes, offering beautiful views of the arid countryside.

12:00 PM – Arrival in Dikhil and Lunch at Gobaad Hotel Lunch break at Gobaad Hotel in Dikhil. Enjoy a traditional meal and a relaxing break before continuing the journey. 1:30 PM – Continue the Journey to Lake Abbe After lunch, head towards Lake Abbe, a journey of about 2 hours and 20 minutes (120 km), with scenic stops along the way to capture the unique beauty of the region.

3:30 PM – Photo Stop at As-Ela Village Stop for a 5-minute photo break in As-Ela, a charming village that offers a perfect snapshot of life in the Afar region.

4:00 PM – Proceed to Koutabouya Village Continue to Koutabouya, the penultimate village before reaching Lake Abbe. This is a great opportunity to see nomadic life and herds of camels, goats, and sheep.

Lake Abbe

5:30 PM – Arrive at Lake Abbe After a total of 200 km, arrive at the Lake Abbe area, renowned for its geothermal formations, limestone chimneys, and dramatic landscapes. Explore the salt flats, admire the bizarre geothermal chimneys, and take in the stunning views as the sun begins to set. This is a prime photography opportunity.

Lake Abbe

7:00 PM – Settle in for the Night Check into a local lodge or camping site near the lake. Enjoy dinner under the stars and rest after a day of travel and exploration.

Lake Abbe

Morning: we will get up very early to watch the sunrise in the middle of the chimneys! Then we will approach the flamingos by the lake. We will also observe some so

Lake Assal

Then we’ll go to Assal Lake. On the way, we will stop to admire the grandiose landscape of the Dimbiya canyon nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Djibouti"

Lake Assal

A few kilometres further on, another stop at the stele of B. Borrel, the French magistrate whose partially charred body was found at the bottom of the cliff on the morning of 18 October 1995. The "Borrel affair" soured relations between Djibouti and France for several years. Then we leave the road to take the «access ramp» to Lake Assal. Located 153 metres below sea level, Lake Assal is one of the saltiest in the world. This fact combined with the very high evaporation due to the intense heat that reigns there, explains that salt has been mined there for hundreds of years. No living organism can survive in the waters of Assal Lake. We will be able to bathe there because we take fresh water for the indispensable shower avoiding being transformed into a statue of salt (lol); plastic shoes are necessary to avoid injuring oneself on the sharp and hard salt crystals of the salt ice pack.

The very high temperatures that prevail in this place do not make it very hospitable, but its legendary beauty, described in particular by the adventurer writer J. Kessel, makes it a site not to be missed. On a longer tour, we can organize a bivouac on site to enjoy the sunrise the next day, and hike to the Ardoukoba volcano. Lunch: picnic at Lake Assal. Afternoon: Return to Djibouti. Depending on the time available for this day, it is possible to visit the lava field between Assal and Goubet. Transfer to the airport at the end of the evening.