4 Days Camping tour itinerary for Addis Ababa, Dallol & Mekele: Venture Inside Danakil Depression To Reach Erta Ale
Volcanic Hydrothermal Fields
Dallol-Ethiopia
Cross one of the most inhospitable places on earth to reach one of the longest-existing lava lakes in the world. Set up camp to observe volcanic activities at night. Also, see the daily work routine of local salt miners.
DAY 01
Flight to Addis / Mekelle-afdera
Take the 7 AM flight to Mekelle.
Your Ethiopia tour guide will pick you up at the airport. Then, embark on a drive to Mekelle-Afdera 220km. The spectacular yet inhospitable of Danakali Depression begins here.
Drive to Afdera via small village of Eribt.
Go swimming in the salt lake and enjoy the hot springs near the lake.
Set up camp by the lake.
DAY 02
Afdera-erta ale
Start the drive to Afdera-Dodom (70km).
Encounter the salt miners near the lake.
Drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale), about 8.5km from Erta Ale which takes about 3 hrs trekking.
Have an early dinner around 17:00 hrs and trek up to Erta Ale at 20:00 hours. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and water) to the rim of the volcano, where you spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit.
Overnight camping on the top of the volcano
DAY 03
Erta ale-hamad ela
Wake up early for an enchanting view of the sunrise.
Travel to the north of the crater.
Descend from Erta Ale around 7:00 am.
Return to the campsite in Dodom around 9:30 am.
After breakfast time to relax.
At 10:30 drive to Hamad Ela (100 km).
Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way to shed.
Reach Hamad Ela around 04:30 pm. Here, you will see lots of camel caravans and behold the sunset look by the shallow salt lake of Assale.
Overnight camping at Hamad Ela
DAY 04
Hamad ela-dallol-mekelle- Addis
In the morning, drive to Ragad (Asebo), which is a salt mining region.
Observe the miners breaking the salt from the ground, cutting them into rectangular pieces and loading it on camels.
Proceed to Dallol and visit the diverse landscape formed by volcanic activity; Dallol + Lake Assale + salt canon.
Enjoy camel caravans and then drive back to Hamad Ela for lunch.
Proceed to Mekele to catch the flight to Addis Ababa in the evening at 7 pm.
- 530 USD Per Adult
Transport with a recent model insured Toyota 4*4 land cruisers with an experienced English speaking driver and one additional car for staff.
All fuel expenses and drivers allowances.
Plenty of bottles of water and coffee or tea.
All needed entrance fees and licenses.
Necessary accommodations.
Full board meal with soft drinks.
Local Ethiopian tour guide services
Cooking, camping equipment (Experienced cook throughout the whole tour).
Scout and police service in Afar Region as per the program.
Flights
Alcohol drinks.
Personal insurance.
Tips.
Laundry.
Other personal expenses.
All Government Tax.
Things you need to carry:
Light (for walking in the night).
Small backpack for the trek to the top of the volcano.
Closed, comfortable shoes (trekking shoes).
Sunglasses.
Sun protection like sun cream, hat.
Jacket for the night on the volcano.
Sleeping bag, pillow or blanket (it can be provided by us).
Addis Ababa, Dallol, Mekele



4
Other Tours by this guide
-
From USD
580
Meet Gelada Baboons, the ...
4 Days
Visit the majestic Simien Mountain in Northern Ethiopia in an exotic setting with gentle highland ridges and high plateau. Trek ...
-
From USD
700
Interact with Ethiopia's ...
3 Days
Catch a flight from the Ethiopian capital to travel to ethnic villages and witness their unique traditions and customs, ...
-
From USD
1175
Attend the festivities ...
8 Days
Be a part of Genna, the Ethiopian Christmas to experience Ethiopian traditions and customs. Also, visit famous ...
-
From USD
895
Combine Erta Ale ...
7 Days
Visit one of the most inhospitable places on earth- the Erta'Ale volcano and also, the Danakil Depression where you set up ...
-
From USD
496
Inspect the iconic ...
6 Days
Take the historical route to Ethiopia's most famous monuments including the ancient Stella of Axum, the medieval rock-hewn ...