3 Danakil Depression Dallol & Ertale Tours

Tour itinerary: Addis Ababa → Mekele

 Day 1, fly addis abeba to mekelle -danakil depression 

you’ll meet your tour group in Mekele and board Toyota Land Cruisers for your journey into the Danakil Depression, departing around 9 AM. Enjoy smooth, asphalted roads leading out of Mekele, taking in breathtaking views of the Tigrayan landscape. As you approach the Afar region, the roads become rougher, transitioning into a maze of solidified lava, rock, and sand, with occasional palm-lined oases. Stop for lunch at a scenic roadside location, where a dedicated cooking team will prepare a delicious meal before continuing your drive towards Aksoma, the base camp for the Erta Ale volcano. After approximately 6 hours of driving, arrive at Aksoma and savor dinner prepared by your cooking team around 5 PM. As the sun sets, begin a 3-hour hike up Erta Ale. Camels will transport mattresses, blankets, and additional water. You’ll reach the crater rim around 11 PM, where the mesmerizing fiery lava lake awaits. Camp overnight on the volcano at a makeshift campsite, with sleeping materials provided.

 Day 2, Erta Ale to Hamed Ela 

start your day with a drive across the sweeping salt pans of the Danakil towards the small hamlet of Hamed Ela. If time allows, visit Lake Asale and observe the camel caravans, with the extraordinary sunset over the lake. Return to Hamed Ela for an overnight stay.

 after breakfast at Hamed Ela, drive to Ragad (Asebo) to witness local Afar people mining salt and loading it onto camel caravans. Continue to Dallol, renowned for its stunning geological features, where the kaleidoscopic landscape of greens, reds, and yellows formed by acidic springs and salt mounds resembles an alien world. In the afternoon, visit Lake Afrera, a hyper-saline lake fed by surrounding hot springs. Take a refreshing dip and experience the unique sensation of floating due to its high salt content, then wash off the salt in the nearby hot springs. Finally, begin your drive back to Mekele, aligning with your return flight to Addis Ababa or continuing your onward journey.

Activities: Drive from Mekele to Erta Ale, hike up Erta Ale, drive across the desert to Hamed Ela, visit Lake Asale and camel caravans, watch the salt miners, visit Dallol, swim in Lake Afrera and hot springs.
Overnight: Camping on Erta Ale volcano and Hamed Ela.

Enjoy your adventure in the breathtaking Danakil Depression!