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Home3-Day Tour Of Mekele, Danakil Depression & Lake Assal
Description
Embark on this tour to head to the "gateway to hell" at the Danakil Depression - one of the driest and lowest regions on earth and spend a night observing the boiling lava just a km away. See the saltwater lake of Giulietti, the crater lake of Assal and pass by the Berhale town during this tour. Head to Danakil Depression and visit the different landscapes formed by volcanic activity.
Highlights
- Witness different landscapes formed by volcanic activity at Danakil Depression
- Visit the saltwater lake of Giulietti and see the salt flats
- Marvel at the famous crater lake of Assal
Itinerary Expand All Collapse All
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Day 1: Mekele - Erta Ale expand_more
Have breakfast, drive to Eart Ale (the crust of the earth) via Dodom (the base of Erta Ale).
Experience the worst roads in the world for a distance of about 70-80 km. It takes around 6 hours to drive whilst passing through changing landscapes of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm-lined oasis. After you pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert, you will watch the smock of the earth's crust.
Have early dinner and proceed to “the gateway to hell!” Dodom to Eart Ale takes approximately about 3 hours of trekking. Don’t worry. Camels will transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the volcano's rim, where you can spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava just a km away.
Overnight stay in a nearby active volcano.
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Day 2: Erta Ale - Danakil Depression expand_more
Head back to Dodom after an early breakfast with the Ethiopian tour guide. You will reach the latest by 10:30 at the camp, where you will be relaxing.
Drive to reach the mythical Lake Giulietti (or Lake Afdera), a saltwater lake located more than 100 meters below sea level in one of the deepest depressions on the planet. Because of the picturesque landscape, it is interesting to visit the salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the lake's water.
Enjoy caravan camels bring or towards to bring salts from Asebot. You will enjoy the area by passing through a small town called “Berhale”, where the caravan camels stop before going to the northern highlands.
Continue to Erbiti and overnight stay at Abaala/ Hamedela.
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Day 3: Danakil Depression - Mekele expand_more
Drive to Ragad (Asebot) with the Ethiopian tour guide.
Proceed to the Danakil Depression and visit the different landscapes formed by volcanic activity. Danakil is 116 meters below sea level and one of the lowest places in the world with colourful salts mining.
Visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans (No camel caravan in July, August, and early September), and walk with the Afar people.
Drive back to Hamedela in the late afternoon and proceed to Mekelle.
Overnight stay in Mekele.
What's Included
Transport the latest model Toyota with an Experienced driver throughout the Tour
Experienced English speaking Ethiopian tour guide throughout the tour
All Entrance fees and licenses as per the program
Accommodation and all meals throughout the tour
Plenty of bottles of water and 1.2 litter for the trip
Surface Transport expense with four-wheel drive Land-cruiser including fuel expense and drivers allowance
Local guide service for the afar region as per the program
Cooking, camping equipment
Scout and police service in Afar Region as per the program
Experienced cook throughout the tour as per the program
Government Taxes-VAT
Minimum of 2 cars per trip with local security
For the duration of the trip, we are responsible for all meals, water, entrance fees, accommodation, security and transportation.
What's Excluded
All flights
alcohols
Tips are your responsibility. Giving tips is not mandatory but recommended. However, don’t give tips unless you are happy about the services of our colleague to you
What to bring
Small umbrella.
Sun blocker.
Sunglass.
Appropriate trekking shoes.
Torch.
Equipment for a desert tour.
Recommended medicines (get advice from your doctor).
Know before you go
Dodom has situated about 17 km from Erta Ale, and it takes approximately 3 hrs of trekking. It’s 613 masl, a lava lake and one of only five in the world, at the summit. Ert Ale is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century. Erta Ale ranks as 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 a 1 km square caldera at its Summit, and it contains the world’s lava lake.
Enjoy the activity of breaking the salt from the ground, cutting in into rectangular pieces and loading it up on camels, and visiting the different landscapes formed by volcanic activity. See oily lake, colourful salts mining, and follow up camel caravans. Walk over a sulfur-caked surface with the hospitable and be welcomed people of Afar.
Cancellation Policy
For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.Price Details
| Standard | |
| 1 To 4 | USD 450 Per Person |
This is a group tour | |