3-Day Danakil Depression and Erta Ale Tour with Dallol

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Hike to the rim of Erta Ale and spend the night beside its dramatic lava crater
• 02 Travel through striking landscapes of solidified lava, rock, sand, and palm-lined oases
• 03 Explore the mythical Lake Giulietti, also known as Lake Afrera
• 04 Visit Dallol, one of the world's lowest places, famed for its colourful salt formations
• 05 Watch traditional salt mining and camel caravans with the Afar people

Embark on a 3-day adventure through the Danakil Depression, hiking to the rim of Erta Ale, one of Ethiopia's most active volcanoes, and spending the night at the crater's edge. Travel through dramatic landscapes of solidified lava, rock, sand, and occasional palm-lined oases before visiting the mythical Lake Giulietti, also known as Lake Afrera. Continue to Dallol's colourful salt formations and witness camel caravans and salt mining traditions alongside the Afar people.

Embark on a 3-day adventure through the Danakil Depression, hiking to the rim of Erta Ale, one of Ethiopia's most active volcanoes, and spending the night at the crater's edge.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Mekele, Danakil Depression, Afdera, Erta Ale, Dallol

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Drive to Dodom and Trek to Erta Ale

• Start the day with your Ethiopian driver and head out for Dodom. This road may be one of the roughest in the world, and the 80 km distance can take about 6 hours as you pass through changing landscapes of solidified lava, rock, sand, and occasional palm-lined oases.
• After passing several small hamlets scattered across this deserted land, arrive at the Dodom camping site, located about 17 km from Erta Ale. Then, have dinner around 5 pm.
• Trek up to Erta Ale at 8 pm. Camels will transport all the camping materials and some food, including sleeping materials such as light mattresses and water, to the volcano's rim, where you will spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava.
• Spend the night on top of the mountain, at the volcano's rim.

2

Day 02

Crater Walk, Descent, and Drive to Hamed Ela

• Take an early morning walk to the three main pits of the crater.
• Descend from Erta Ale around 9 am to Dodom, or at 7 am if possible.
• Reach the base camp by 10:30 am, where you will have time to relax.
• Drive to the mythical Lake Giulietti, also known as Lake Afrera. This visit is optional and may not be available during summer.
• Continue to Erbiti and proceed to Abaala/Hamed Ela.

3

Day 03

Dallol, Salt Mines, and Return to Mekele

• Head out on a morning drive to Ragad (Asebo), where the locals mine for salt. Observe the workers breaking salt from the ground, cutting it into rectangular pieces, and loading it onto camels.
• Proceed to Dallol, passing varied landscapes formed by volcanic activity.
• Start an excursion to Dallol, 116 meters below sea level and one of the lowest places in the world, famous for its colourful salt mine.
• Visit Lake Assal, followed by camel caravans (there are no camel caravans in July, August, and early September) and a walk with the Afar people.
• Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele to end your tour.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Latest Toyota model transport
• Experienced English-speaking Ethiopian driver throughout the tour
• All entrance fees and licenses as per the program
• Accommodation and all meals throughout the tour
• Surface transport expenses with a four-wheel-drive Land Cruiser, including fuel expenses and driver's allowance
• Cooking and camping equipment
• Non-alcoholic beverages with meals as per the program, and plenty of 1.5-litre bottled water for the trip
• Danakil Depression guide service
• Scout
• Government taxes - VAT

What's Not Included

• International air/flight tickets
• Alcoholic beverages
• Video filming and photography fees
• Tips and items of a personal nature, such as laundry and souvenirs
• All expenses not mentioned in the included part

Know before you go

• The tour's starting time might be flexible for the sake of the clients' safety, budget, and interest.
• 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. Erta Ale contains the world's only permanent lava lake. It stands at 613 meters, with a lava lake at the summit that is one of only five in the world. It is notable for having the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century.
• Lake Giulietti is 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 salt by evaporating the lake's water.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

FFV8+C7H, Mekele, Ethiopia

Tour start

FFV8+C7H, Mekele, Ethiopia

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.