Top 5 Djibouti Sightseeing Escapes: Find Your Perfect Adventure

So, you’re thinking of checking out Djibouti, are you? It’s a country that’s often overlooked, yet it’s full of landscapes that look almost unreal. If you get the chance to go, the tours can really show you some once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Picking the right one makes all the difference. With a bunch of options out there, very figuring out where to start is hard, to say the least.

1. Lake Assal Full-Day Discovery

If you could see one thing in Djibouti, it’d probably be Lake Assal. That it sits over 500 feet below sea level really sets the scene, creating a view you almost never see anywhere else. So, a full-day tour dedicated just to seeing and experiencing this natural wonder is a very worthwhile thing. You can wander around the shores covered in salt crystals, that seemingly sparkle so brightly they almost look like diamonds, and floating is extremely easy because the water has so much salt.

Tours to Lake Assal often give you something extra; it’s often almost visiting the geological formations at the ‘Devil’s Island’ or drive through interesting desert landscapes to show a little about how harsh, and wonderful, nature actually is. Lunch is usually handled by your tour guides, typically more or less some locally sourced food set up in a spot with views. Expect a day of beautiful scenery, very photo-ready locations, and a real experience of a location unlike most spots on Earth. That this place gives you the feeling of seeing somewhere so completely different is truly impressive.

2. Ghoubbet-Al-Kharab & Lake Assal Combined

Okay, so how about doubling down on crazy spots? This tour usually blends a trip to the otherworldly Lake Assal, which we mentioned already, with the mysterious Ghoubbet-Al-Kharab – which means “Abyss of Demons.” That name comes, at least to some degree, from the volcanic landscape and the stories attached to it from locals who live around it, which can sound a little scary. The views, yet, they are the real reward.

First, Ghoubbet is just awesome to look at; it connects to the Gulf of Tadjoura and it feels super quiet and cut off. Some tours will take you on boats to see this better and maybe catch a quick peek at some whale sharks if you’re very fortunate and go at just the right time of year. From Ghoubbet, many of these tours move on to Lake Assal, often too it’s an amazing change from sea views to salt flats. Expect very diverse photo opportunities in this combo deal, the sort of shots that would look amazing up on your wall, along with experiencing just how different the landscape is.

3. Tadjoura City and Beaches Escape

Ready for a bit of calm after all that wilderness? That there are beaches could come as a complete surprise, because it’s rarely what one thinks of with Djibouti. Yet, so Tadjoura has great appeal to it, it’s one of the older towns in the area and is known for its whitewashed buildings and actually laid-back vibe. Tadjoura’s beaches offer the kind of soft sand and blue sea that actually help clear your head. Tours often combine the beach time with a look at the town.

Explore the old mosques, more or less, the central squares, and see how daily life just happens in Djibouti outside the capital city. Then, it is actually chill out on the sand, probably going swimming or snorkeling in some clean spots. That said, this is good for getting away from it all with a change of pace for a little relaxation.

4. Day Trip to Goda Mountains

So, that you picture deserts when you picture Djibouti makes sense, yet you wouldn’t imagine lush mountains. The Goda Mountains are a refreshing contrast. That there’s an opportunity to see such scenery at all in Djibouti will make your photos extremely contrasting, to say the least. Some tours arrange for hikes along a little easier trails to give good views.

There’s something else: because it’s cooler up in the mountains, many birds are there, sometimes offering you a look at species very rare or actually not seen anyplace else. Very experiencing some cooler, greener landscapes is actually an experience that really gives contrast with the standard Djibouti scenery. Many of these tours include a chance to see traditional houses of the people who live up here. This helps with gaining something of a culture insight at the same time.

5. Djibouti City Historical Walk

Do you like wandering around old streets and feeling what a city used to be like? So, Djibouti City does not seem that obvious, it’s very mixed up in past and present, full of history. A walking tour may be more relaxed than an off-road adventure, yet offers a look at colonial buildings. It tends to show you important spots with stories, typically leading to places where deals happened back in the day. These locations have actually shaped Djibouti today. Explore local markets for seeing all sorts of colors, fragrances and a lot of action.

The city is where you’re also able to grab some excellent photos, for example that contrast super-new shops set in front of classic French colonial structure. Many times the guides, as is normal, can suggest trying local coffee and breads at smaller cafes. Djibouti City Historical Walk really enables you to appreciate just how complex and different Djibouti is these days.