Top Mek’ele Cruises: Reviews & Sailing Tour Recommendations

So, are you looking at doing something different during your trip, eh? You know, forget your everyday sort of travel stuff, maybe even the regular tours. Picture this: you are, arguably, checking out the scenery around Mek’ele, not from dry land, that is, but from, say, a boat. Getting onto the water, after all, might be a good option for seeing places differently, a new point of view and maybe something more relaxing as well. Here we’re looking into some boat trips in Mek’ele. Very, very carefully researched, mind. I mean these tours let you, as a matter of fact, see everything from peaceful lakes to old sites along the shore. Let’s have a quick look, could we?

Exploring Lake Ashenge’s Calm Waters

The Lake Ashenge cruise is actually the top choice, right? It is very much a beauty. Is it scenic, that lake? Yep, it is! Now, the tour normally starts early, I mean when the sun starts its business of coming up. From what I hear, local fishermen often push their little boats onto the water to find today’s meal. What I think would be cool would be grabbing a boat. A traditional one if possible. What is often said is that they let you just ease through the quiet waters, and you sort of just relax, you know? It is, admittedly, a pretty cool contrast to the normal busy pace, right? It makes you slow down.

A cool story about Lake Ashenge goes back to what some have said about Empress Menen, Emperor Haile Selassie’s wife. There’s this supposed belief that she actually used the lake as a peaceful place to chill. Makes sense too, eh? So, a trip around there gives you a bit of what happened back then while giving you cool views of the mountains all around. Very good. I think I saw something, anyway: Read our full review: Lake Ashenge boat tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Lake Ashenge boat tours)

Sailing Near the Gheralta Churches: A Spiritual View

Yep, this boat dealie goes a bit past just chilling on a lake. We’re also talking a spiritual exploration angle, too! And a great experience, they also mention. Picture this: you could be sliding, right?, along waters with views of the Gheralta Churches right there. The thing, by the way, is, well, some say the tour guides, you know?, really get into sharing the place’s past. Stories that help explain so much about what went on around the churches and even why they matter these days. So, it gets educational very fast, really.

Boats of that sort let travelers check out places like Debre Maryam Korkor and Abuna Yemata Guh, and the views from a lake, I mean from the water, kind of just give a twist to seeing churches perched on rocks. It feels like the old world when it hits you. Oh, one of the better times? Some mention it being sunrise or sunset, they are, I guess, better times for photographers with good views. So consider that when picking the sailing dates to optimize light: Read our full review: Gheralta Churches boat tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Gheralta Churches boat tours)

Danakil Depression: Unusual Sailing Spots

If someone mentions sailing in Ethiopia, a lot of folk actually would, just a little, stare blankly and start wondering where exactly someone could do that. Here we get to the Danakil Depression! Odd landscape, in a way. We can also include salt lakes, hot springs, and you could say harsh deserts here. As a matter of fact, here’s a tip; there happen to be some tours. It is true that these unusual boat trips give you chances to explore places only a handful normally view. I mean imagine going to see, virtually, islands made of salt in Lake Afar from, naturally, a small boat. Then, some of these guides come from Afar communities too! Getting their insight gives anyone that comes a solid grasp of that harsh area. I gather those communities do actually depend a lot on what the land has to provide them.

One travel fact to be considered, though, when thinking about the Danakil Depression, is, I gather, this location is the hottest on earth. Therefore you might, probably, choose the cooler times to travel! Regardless, just going out onto its lakes is, as I was saying, unforgettable. Read our full review: Danakil Depression boat tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Danakil Depression boat tours)

Tekeze River Exploration: Canyon Views from the Water

So, are you keen on canyons? Ethiopia is one place that’s got ’em. Now consider the Tekeze River trips which usually take the sort of travelers looking for action down waterways right on past huge canyons. Apparently the rock looks pretty impressive while you’re on the water. Local companies run boat tours with safe rides along the currents. With them? Yep, and you get solid views of landscapes that cannot be reached otherwise.

Something neat here is, the rock walls. Rock faces? So, when on such a river boat there it tends to offer views you mostly cannot grab while sticking around up above the cliffs. These kinds of cruises? I mean I gather some even add a mix, which, actually, involves short hikes at places that are very calm to wander: Read our full review: Tekeze River boat tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Tekeze River boat tours)

Hawzien Rock Churches: Boat Trips with a Twist

Lastly, do not disregard Hawzien’s rock church location since this trip also throws something a tiny bit different at the tourist, yes. Trips may start near lakes, usually where a guide handles how the churches over there are tied into Ethiopia’s timeline and culture. Apparently seeing things this way helps some travelers to appreciate better both local stories and old church architecture.

While visiting, people have mentioned how they like to spend time taking photos of these churches near waters and then usually spend their day chatting with guides and inhabitants to absorb Ethiopia’s historic fabric better. You might just discover some hidden gems on the cruise as well, right? Oh, that includes small get-togethers inside settlements by rivers where ancient local life may carry on much as always, possibly. These trips, again, may prove really awesome if mixing calm water tourism with real culture and historical study works great for what an out-of-towner enjoys best: Read our full review: Hawzien Rock Churches boat tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Hawzien Rock Churches boat tours)