5-Day Erta Ale and Danakil Depression Tour from Addis Ababa

After arrival, you will be welcomed by your guide and driven to your hotel.

After check-in, go sightseeing in Addis Ababa, including a visit to the National Archeological Museum, where the fossil remains of the oldest hominid - Lucy (3.25 million years old) - are kept, and Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa.

Finally, drive to Mt. Entoto (3,200 meters) for a panoramic view of Addis Ababa.

After an early morning breakfast, drive to the airport for your domestic flight to Mekele town, where you will be welcomed by your driver on arrival.

Proceed to Hamed Ela, stopping at Berahaile to process your travel permit.

After the permit is processed, continue to Hamed Ela.

After arrival and pitching the tents, walk to the viewpoint to take photos of the camel caravan carrying salt bars to Mekele town and other places.

After an early morning breakfast, drive to visit Dallol, which is 20 km north of Hamed Ela.

Dallol is the x-phosphate escarpment. The main attraction of this place is the multi-coloured sulphur hot springs and the strange wavy rock formations covered with yellow, red, and orange deposits that look almost deliberately dyed.

On the way back to the camp, stop to visit the Lake Assale salt extraction site, where locals excavate salt bars.

After an early breakfast, drive to Erta Ale, one of the oldest active volcanoes in the world, with a 30 km base diameter and a 1 km2 caldera at its summit. It contains the world's only permanent lava lake, measuring 100 m x 60 m. Scientists believe the lava lake has a continuous link with a shallow magma chamber that supplies it with magma.

After arriving at the base camp, the rest of the journey will be done on foot or by camelback. The trek takes between 3:00 and 4:00 hours.

After arrival, you will stay there for the whole night.

After seeing the morning activity of the magma, you will descend to the base camp, where food will be served on arrival.

Drive back to the village of El-dodom or Hamed Ela, depending on the time of arrival at the base camp.

After breakfast, drive back to Mekele and then proceed for your flight to Addis Ababa.

In the evening, you will be hosted as a guest at one of the best traditional restaurants in Addis Ababa to watch folkloric dancers from Ethiopia and taste a variety of Ethiopian meals.