en
- Adventure
- 7-day trip
- From €5,795 per person
Djibouti trip | With Joshua on whale shark expedition
Join this exclusive Djibouti whale shark and desert expedition with keen underwater photographer and expedition leader Joshua Barton, and feel as though you’ve stepped into a nature documentary! Over the years, Joshua’s work has been published in dozens of newspapers and magazines, including National Geographic, International Wildlife, Better Photography, the Washington Post and others.
During this unique expedition, you’ll set off from the fascinating Djibouti in a small group of up to six participants , first in search of whale sharks. Djibouti remains a hidden gem and the best place in the world for reliable encounters with whale sharks, in crystal-clear waters, away from the crowds. Snorkel here with the world’s largest shark, which averages 9 metres in length and weighs 9 tonnes. You’ll then explore the still largely undiscovered Djibouti on a 4WD desert safari, spending a night camping by the spectacular Lake Abbes, a salt lake surrounded by stunning rock formations. An unforgettable adventure!
Travel dates: 12 December to 17 December 2026 (excluding the night before the return flight)
Travel programme
Travel overview
- Day 1 Flight to Djibouti
- Day 2 Arrival in Djibouti
- Days 3–5 Exclusive whale shark safari with Joshua Barton
- Day 6 4WD desert safari to the Abbes Salt Lake
- Day 7 Abbesmeer & departure from Djibouti
- Day 8 Arrival
Arrival in Djibouti
On arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our local representative and taken to the most comfortable hotel in the country, the Djibouti Palace Kempinski, a luxury five-star hotel. The hotel offers elegant rooms, a variety of restaurants, a spa, a swimming pool and stunning views of the Gulf of Aden.
Once you have freshened up in your room, a city tour is on the programme. Djibouti City, the capital of Djibouti, is the country’s political, economic and cultural centre. Situated on the Gulf of Aden, the city has an important port and several international military bases. The cityscape is characterised by markets, mosques and colonial architecture. The climate here is hot and dry.
Inclusief:
- Transfer to hotel
- City tour of Djibouti City
- Overnight accommodation including breakfast
Exclusive whale shark safari with Joshua Barton
Each morning, you’ll start with a generous breakfast buffet, after which you’ll set off by boat from the hotel, heading west towards the Gulf of Tadjoura. There you’ll find whale sharks feasting on spawning crabs – the reason they return here every winter. The water is almost always clear and calm, although the return journey against the midday wind can sometimes be a little bumpy.
Whale shark watching in Djibouti is a unique and breathtaking experience. Between November and February, these gigantic yet gentle creatures migrate to the warm waters of the Gulf of Tadjoura. Djibouti offers one of the best locations in the world for safe snorkelling and diving with whale sharks. The crystal-clear sea and abundance of plankton attract the sharks, meaning they often swim close to the coast. Respect for their natural habitat and ecotourism play a vital role in the conservation of these impressive giants of the sea.
After a few hours swimming with whale sharks, you’ll sail to an unspoilt section of Djibouti’s hundreds of kilometres of coral reefs. Here you’ll enjoy a packed lunch and explore the reefs, where you’ll have the chance to encounter rays, moray eels, batfish and hundreds of other species, in complete tranquillity. On these days, you’ll be back at the hotel around 3.00 pm.
Inclusief:
- Transfers to and from the harbour
- Private speedboat & crew for a whale shark expedition, including lunch on board
- Overnight stays including breakfast
4WD desert safari to the Abbes Salt Lake
After spending the past few days spotting whale sharks and snorkelling among the reefs, you’ll set off in powerful Land Cruisers through the Djibouti desert for a two-day safari with one overnight stay. You’ll drive over dunes, traverse impressive tribal territories of the Afar people and make photo stops at camel caravans and breathtaking landscapes, until you reach Lac Abbé camp and its impressive volcanic formations. Here you’ll spend the night in tents at the camp. Enjoy an unforgettable desert experience under an endless night sky full of stars!
Tips from the Travel Specialist
For these two days, you’ll only need to bring a small bag containing the bare essentials for the desert experience. You can leave the rest of your luggage in your room at the Palace Kempinski, which will remain booked for you during the desert safari.
Inclusief:
- 2-day/1-night 4WD desert safari with accommodation in tents, including all meals
Exclusief:
- Alcoholic drinks
Accommodations
Djibouti Palace Kempinski
The Djibouti Palace Kempinski is situated on the Ilot du Heron peninsula, where guests can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Gulf of Tadjourah. This luxury accommodation features a selection of rooms and suites, all equipped with comfortable beds, an en-suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi.…
The Djibouti Palace Kempinski is situated on the Ilot du Heron peninsula, where guests can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Gulf of Tadjourah. This luxury accommodation features a selection of rooms and suites, all equipped with comfortable beds, an en-suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. The hotel also features a luxury spa, an outdoor swimming pool, a private beach and a restaurant serving Asian, African, Arabic and Mediterranean cuisine.
Your stay: 5 nights
Experiences
Whale shark expedition in Djibouti
4WD desert safari in Djibouti
After two days of whale shark watching and snorkelling at the reefs, we set off in powerful Land Cruisers through the Djibouti desert for a two-day safari with one overnight stay. We drive over dunes, traverse impressive tribal territories of the Afar people and make photo stops at camel caravans and breathtaking…
After two days of whale shark spotting and snorkelling on the reefs, we set off in powerful Land Cruisers through the Djibouti desert for a two-day safari with one overnight stay. We drive over dunes, traverse the impressive tribal territories of the Afar people and make photo stops at camel caravans and breathtaking landscapes, until we reach Lac Abbé camp and the impressive volcanic formations. Enjoy an unforgettable desert experience beneath an endless night sky full of stars!
Destinations
Djibouti
The small country of Djibouti, nestled next to the Horn of East Africa, is one of Africa’s least-visited and most enigmatic destinations. Explore the vast desert plains, deep canyons, otherworldly rock formations and turquoise lakes of the interior, or marvel at the whale sharks, turtles and exceptional coral reefs along the coast. Don’t miss the steaming stone monoliths of Lake Abbe or Lake Assal – the lowest point in Africa, with turquoise waters surrounded by snow-white salt flats and black volcanic beaches.
Djibouti trip | With Joshua on whale shark expedition
We offer this trip for €5,795 per person, based on a 6-person expedition.
Single room supplement: €900 per person.
Fixed departure
The expedition departs on 12 December 2026 and ends on 17 December 2026.
Included
• Accommodation at the Djibouti Palace Kempinski and one night in a desert camp, based on shared standard double rooms
• All meals as specified in the itinerary
• All necessary private transfers as specified
• Djibouti whale shark & desert camp safari, including 3 days’ private boat and crew for whale shark excursions, 2 days/1 night 4WD desert safari, lunch on the boat every day and all meals during the desert safari
• Late check-out on the day of departure
• National Geographic or similar travel guide
• Booking fee (worth €50)
Positive impact of your trip:
• 5% of your total trip cost goes towards research and conservation of whale sharks
Not included
• Intercontinental flights
• Travel and/or cancellation insurance
• Visa fees (e-visa)
• Tourist tax (where applicable)
• Single room supplement
• Seat reservations
• Alcoholic drinks
• Any departure tax when leaving the destination
• Entrance fees, where applicable
• Meals not mentioned and optional excursions
• Personal expenses/tips
• Contribution to the Calamity Fund (€2.50 per booking)
• SGR contribution (€5 per person)