Our Djibouti holidays & tours
Situated at the base of Africa's eastern horn, Djibouti highlights the diversity of this region with harsh grasslands and volcanic landscapes running into the gravel sand coastline of the Red Sea. Our holidays in Djibouti reveal crusted saline lakes, bellowing limestone stacks and incredible rock carved churches and temples, with the Foret Du Day National Park and Africa's lowest point, Lac Assal, just two of the highlights on these adventures. And as well as the natural wonders, we help you explore Djibouti culture, by exclusively using local Afar guides, the best people to explain their traditional ways of life. You can even spend the night in an Afar camp on the shore of Lake Abbe, enjoying a memorable sunset over the salt lake’s limestone chimneys.
Somaliland and Djibouti tailor made tour
A pioneering overland journey through Djibouti & Somaliland
From
US $2750
10 days
ex flights
Dijbouti and Somaliland tour, the Horn of Africa
Nomads, impressive rock art and geological phenomena
From
£3249 to £3299
10 days
ex flights
Ethiopia & Djibouti holiday, Danakil Depression
An amazing journey through Africa's most striking landscapes
From
£3499 to £3699
9 days
ex flights
Tour of Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somaliland
A comprehensive cultural trip through the Horn of Africa.
From
£4899 to £5099
13 days
ex flights
Complete Africa overland expedition, 47 weeks
The ultimate Trans African overland camping adventure
From
£10995
300 days
ex flights
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
01273 823 700
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Djibouti map & highlights
Although Djibouti isn’t big, it’s not necessarily quick to travel around; joining a small group or tailor made tour is therefore the best option here. Of its 2,900km of roads, only about 12 percent are paved and fewer than half can be used throughout the year. You will need a 4x4 to reach most places, although Tadjoura and Djibouti City are connected by a ferry. There is also a paved road, built in the 1980s, that links the capital and the south. Around 70 percent of Djibouti’s population lives in the capital, and beyond you’ll discover a country with very little infrastructure and few inhabitants except nomadic Afar tribespeople.
Djibouti City
1. Djibouti City
The French founded Djibouti City in 1888 on a previously uninhabited stretch of coast, and it’s now a vibrant, multi-ethnic capital with a mix of African, Asian, Arab and European influences. This diversity is expressed in the languages, food and architecture here and exploring on foot is the best way to appreciate the city’s people, markets and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Grand Bara
2. Grand Bara
This spectacular plain of dried, cracked white clay was once an ancient lake and one of the Space Shuttle’s emergency landing sites. You’ll skirt Grand Bara en route to Lac Abbé, via a road built across it in 1981 to connect the capital with the south. Runners congregate here each December for the annual Grand Bara 15km race, organised by the French military and starting at sunrise.
Lac Abbé
3. Lac Abbé
Straddling the Ethiopia border, Lac Abbé can only be reached by 4x4. Cross a weird, bleached out landscape where hot springs bubble and rock chimneys up to 50m high belch out steam and sulphur – all properly apocalyptic (although the flamingos soften the vibe a bit). Ideally, stay overnight here, in a simple Afar camp, so you can see the amazing scenery lit up at sunset and sunrise.
Lac Assal
4. Lac Assal
This dramatic crater lake, ringed by dark, dormant volcanoes, is the lowest point in Africa – it’s 155m below sea level – and the second saltiest body of water in the world. It’s a dazzling sight, with the aquamarine water ringed by a huge salt field, 60m deep, standing out starkly against the black lava fields beyond. You may see Afar herders here or local people collecting salt.
Plage de Sables Blancs
5. Plage de Sables Blancs
This appealing beach of pristine white sand backed by black basalt rocks, 7km east of Tadjoura, is a lovely place to relax after exploring Djibouti’s interior. It’s a popular spot for weekending expats, and has excellent facilities. Laze on the beach or head into the water to snorkel or kayak, looking out for whale sharks which visit the Gulf of Tadjoura from October to January.
Tadjoura
6. Tadjoura
This is the oldest town in Djibouti, an important port with a ferry linking it with Djibouti City. It’s a picturesque place, sitting below the green Goda Mountains, full of palm trees, whitewashed buildings and mosques, with a strongly Arabian feel. There’s not much to do here, but it’s a nice place to explore before moving on to one of the excellent beaches in this area.
Our Djibouti holidays reviews
5
2Djibouti holidays reviews
Diane Few17 Jan 2025
It was an amazing experience. Huge contrast between Djbouti and Somaliland. Volcanic to sand. Somaliland was a wonderful surprise. Very religious but welcoming and friendly. They are so proud of their country and really deserve UN
recognition.read more
Family from the UK28 Apr 2022
The country, lake Abbe, Djibouti City, Tadjoura, the Good mountains and Sable Blanc ... followed by Lake Assal, the Rift Valley canyon, the volcano, the ferry ride across the gulf of Tadjoura. Our guide, Akram was a gem - enthusiastic, very well informed, curious, speaks 7 languages and had a great sense of humour. read more
