Moonscapes trek + Whale Sharks | National Day Break in Djibouti

Name: Moonscapes trek + Whale Sharks | National Day Break in Djibouti
Start: 2025-11-29T02:00:00+04:00
End: 2025-12-04T03:00:00+04:00
Location: Dubai International Airport

Schedule

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025 at 02:00 am to Thu, 04 Dec, 2025 at 03:00 am

UTC+04:00

Location

Dubai International Airport | Dubai, DU

Djibouti, located right at the horn of Africa, is one of the smallest and safest countries in the region.
https://vimeo.com/247922902
https://vimeo.com/trekkup/djibouti
Falsely perceived as inhospitable place with stones scorching as hell, in fact combines an extraordinary natural laboratory with unique geological sites. The spectacular scenery and mesmerizing strangeness blends with an amazing variety in such a small space. Located far away from beaten tourist tracks remains genuine in its nomadic, Affar culture.
Activities: Trekking, boating, swimming with whale sharks (they are vegetarians). Do note wildlife experience is never 100% guaranteed. We will travel during high season with plankton in bloom, however its not a zoo.
Level of difficulty: Moderate with limited facilities ahead
Accommodation & meals: camping, huts, hotel. Basic facilities in the camps.
Cost: AED 8190 all incl. flights until NOV 06th. Past this date cost will change.
Specifically excluded: insurance, visas.
Visas:
Evisa or Embassy (AD): 210 AED based on NOC and LOI (we will guide you through the process).
Day 1: Djibouti - Great Barra - Lake Abbe
Arrival in the morning, short coffee break and departure by 4x4 to lake Abbe with the passage across the Great Bara, large flats of white clay, mirages, gazelles. Lunch at Dikhil.
The Abbe Lake is the meeting point of the Rift Valley and Rift Assal. At the lake, trek into the forest of limestone chimneys surrounded by bubbling sulfur springs. Before the desertification of the region, when the lake level was higher, hot water vapors and magma rose to the surface of the dissolved limestone that materialized in contact with cold water, creating natural sculptures . This landscape is unique on earth as to see similar chimneys, you have to go to the bottom of the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, where the cross major tectonic plates meet.
Overnight camp at the lake.
Day 2: Lake Abbe - Wadi Abbe Bad
Sunrise at the lake with soaring flamingos, chimneys are home to many herds. After a drive, we change 4WDs to caravan and hike up the wadi, direction to Lake Assal. Plenty off pools on the way, we ll take a dip in few of them.
Overnight at the camp in Wadi.
Day 3: Wadi Abbe Bad - Lake Assal
Departure for the region of volcanoes and Lake Assal.
Continue hike up the wadi until we reach the layers of blue and white flats of salts.
Lake Assal is in an area of collapse within a framework of volcanoes and black lava to 153 m below the sea level, lowest point of Africa. A huge saltfield 60 km2 and 80 mtrs thick is the starting point of nomadic Afar caravans, tribe that will share with us the story of Ethiopia salt mining.
Trek in the area for 4-5 hrs.
Bivouac at the edge of the ice salt.
Day 4: Goubet / Volcanoes
Early morning departure to the Goubet.
Areas between Lake Assal and the Gulf of Goubet stretches into 7km of volcanic land. We will trek on the rift of the Red Sea, where Asia is separated from the Africa. The adjectives of "apocalyptic" or "infernal" are most appropriate ones to describe the chaotic views.
The magnificent Goubet Gulf connects to the Gulf of Tadjoura by a narrow channel surrounded by steep black mountains called Day Forest. Basically, underwater volcanoes have dewatered Devil's Island and as the story goes, put an end to the dark times. You can also call it the Creation.
Short hike to lookout for a spectacular view of the volcanic area.
Come back to the city and night in the hotel with quick look at the nightlife.
Day 5: Whale sharks of Tadjoura
Before we take off home we will celebrate the trip with whale sharks in a Bay of Tadjoura.
Wildlife experience, despite high season, can not be guaranteed.
In the evening departure home.
Galleries from previous trips:
https://www.meetup.com/trekkup/photos/27496787/
https://www.meetup.com/trekkup/photos/25781725/
https://www.meetup.com/trekkup/photos/26600022/
See yah in Djibouti! x
Trekkup Crew
Whatsapp 050 4848238 // [email protected]
[Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup](https://linktr.ee/trekkup)