Itinerary

1. Day 1: Addis Ababa- Mekelle – Volcano

   • Take an early flight from Addis Ababa to Mekele with your Ethiopian tour guide.
   • Pick up by your driver and begin the journey from Mekele to – Dodom, the beginning to discover Danakil depression.
   • Start an early drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale).
   • Leave after an early breakfast, possible at 07:30. This is maybe one of the worst roads in the world. The 70 km distance may take about 5 hrs 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 land, Dodom is about 9.5km from Erta Ale, and it takes about 3 hrs of trekking. Have an early dinner around 17:00
   • Trek up to Erta Ale at 20:00 hours. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the volcano's rim, where you spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Danakil Depression (Dallol and 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. Erta Ale is 613 meters, with a lava lake, one of only five globally, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century.

   Overnight camping on the mountain

2. Day 2: Erta Ale-Dodom-Hamed Ela

   • Wake up early at Erta Ale
   • Leave for Dodom and reach at the latest at 8.00 am at the camp.
   • After breakfast, drive to Hamed Ela 100 km, with a picnic lunch on the way under the shade of a palm tree.
   • Reach Hamed Ela 04:30, a better village with a total population of about 500 people. You will see lots of camel caravans, and you will have the sunset look from the very shallow salt Lake Assale.

   Overnight camping at Hamed Ela.

3. Day 3: Hamed Ela- Dallol- Mekelle

   • Drive to Ragad (Asebo), where the localities are mining salt. 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi). The Afar Depression is covered by salt, and you will look at the activity of breaking the salt from the ground. Local people are cutting into rectangular pieces and loading them on camels. 
   • Head to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity: Dallol + Lake Assale + salt canon, camel caravans, and follow up camel caravans. 
   • Return to Hamed Ela for lunch and then proceed to Mekele.

4. Day 4: Addis Ababa

   • Fly back to Addis Ababa or explore the city of Mekele. Take a late flight out depending on the interest of the traveller.