Excursion Lac assal and goubet tour at Djibouti

Take a full day (eight-hour) road trip to several standout natural Dijboutian phenomena, including Lac Assal and Goubet. Bring your camera for the many great photo opportunities.

Embark from the pier and board your coach for the 50-minute drive to the Great Canyon at Deimbiyo. Stop for photos of the panoramic views of the canyon located at the point where the three tectonic plates are pulling apart. Capture the colors created by the various metal oxides in the rocks, the spectacular views of the Bay of Djibouti, and the mountains along the coastline.

Continue your drive to the beautiful Gulf of Tadjourah for a comfort break and photos. Travel to the hot springs that supply Lake Assal with saline water from the gulf. Let your feet be massaged by the fish that live here.

Continue to Lac Assal, the lowest point on the African continent, located over 500 feet below sea level. Learn about the volcanic geology of this saline crater lake from your guide. Experience the intense heat, and the expanse of salt as far as the eye can see in striking contrast with the black lava of the surrounding volcanoes. Take in the lake's colorful appearance - green, white, black, brown, and blue.

Next, explore the area around the fault of Goubet, also named as Abyss of Demons. See the rocky cliffs of the famous Devil's Island where Jacques COUSTEAU, in 1952, claimed to have seen and filmed a monster. Explore the entrance of the lake, the tumultuous Goubet Pass, a mythic place for fishing because of the strong current flow that brings in big fish. Look for red carp, kingfish, barracudas, groupers, dolphinfish, and sailfish. At La Plage Goubet, enjoy a picnic lunch.

Take the half-hour drive to the Ardoukôba Volcano, 62 miles from Dijbuouti City. Climb the crater of the volcano that peaks at 978 feet above sea level with an eleven-mile-wide rift that is 2,600 feet deep. Walk on the dark lava flows, which still seem warm despite their thousands of years as igneous rock.

Reboard your coach for the two-hour drive back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Lac Assal, the Great Canyon, Goubet, the hot springs, Ardoukoba Volcano.

Note

Please note: This excursion may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility due to some walking over difficult terrain. Casual, cool clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Cameras and binoculars as well as sun protection are also recommended.