Introduction
This Information is for the Abyssinia Explorer 3 Days / 2 Nights tour to the Danakil Depression with extra stops along the way to
- Semera or Mekele
- Erta Ale
- Afdera
- Hamed Ela
- Dallol
- Lake Assal.
The second of 3 different tours that we currently offer at Abyssinia Explorer Tours this can be booked as an alternative to;
- the shorter 2 days / 1 nights tour and
- the longer 4 days / 2 nights tour.
Tour Description
This 3-day expedition takes you deep into Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression. Featuring evening hike and crater-rim camping at the Erta Ale lava lake.
Watching a volcanic sunrise, visiting Lake Afrera’s salt shores, and camping at Hamed Ela.
The last day covers Dallol’s vibrant mineral springs and traditional salt caravans before your return flight from Mekele.
How Much Does This Tour Cost?
Prices begin at $495 per person
*Group discounts are negotiable by request. Contact us through our link here for more Information.
Your Itinery
Here is what you can expect from this 3 Day and 2 Nights tour.
*Note: for day 1 there are 2 different options for domestic flights available Semera or Mekele.
Mekele is further away from Erta Ale but with this option you have the beautiful Tigrayan landscapes to observe along the way.
I will share more details of each option below.
Day 1 / Option 1— Semera and Erta Ale
Our adventure begins with a morning flight from Addis Ababa to Semera on the ET110, departing at 6:40 AM and arriving at approximately 8:00 AM.
After meeting our team in Semera, we begin our drive toward Erta Ale, known in the Afar language as the “smoking mountain.”
Erta Ale is one of Ethiopia’s most remarkable volcanic landscapes and is famous for its active lava lake.
Then after arriving in the Erta Ale area, we have dinner at around 5:00 PM.
Following a short rest, we begin our trek toward the volcano at approximately 8:00 PM.
Camels carry the camping equipment, water, food, and sleeping materials to the volcano rim, allowing us to make the trek with lighter backpacks.
At the summit, we settle in at the rim and spend the night experiencing the extraordinary volcanic landscape and, when conditions allow, watching the glow and activity of the lava lake.
Day 1 / Option 2: Mekele and Erta Ale
For the Mekele option, you’ll meet the rest of your tour group and join the Toyota Land Cruisers that will take you into the Danakil Depression in convoy.
You’ll begin the drive from Mekele at around 9:00 AM.
The roads leading out of Mekele are smooth and asphalted, and as you travel farther from the city, you’ll enjoy wonderful views of the Tigrayan landscape.
As you continue toward the Afar region, the roads become increasingly rough until you reach the Danakil Desert.
Here, the route becomes a maze of solidified lava, rocks, and sand, with occasional palm-lined oases.
You’ll stop for lunch along the way, where your cooking team will prepare a delicious meal before you continue to Aksoma, the base camp for Erta Ale Volcano.
The drive from Mekele to Aksoma takes approximately six hours. Upon arrival, your cooking team will prepare dinner, which will be served around 5:00 PM.
As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, you’ll begin the approximately three-hour hike up Erta Ale.
Camels will carry mattresses, blankets, and additional water to the campsite at the top of the volcano.
The trek follows a gentle incline and takes around three hours. You’ll reach the crater rim at approximately 11:00 PM, where you’ll have the opportunity to experience the dramatic volcanic landscape and, when conditions permit, see the glowing lava lake below.
You’ll spend the night camping on the volcano at a simple campsite.
Sleeping materials will be provided and transported up the volcano by camels. It’s a basic and adventurous experience, but that’s all part of the journey!
Activities: Drive from Mekele to Erta Ale, hike up Erta Ale
Overnight:
We stay at the Erta Ale volcano rim — camping until the morning before we set off again for our next set of locations.
Day 2 — Erta Ale Sunrise → Afdera → Hamed Ela
We wake early to experience the sunrise from Erta Ale and explore the volcanic craters around the summit.
The main pit crater is approximately 200 meters deep and 350 meters across, creating an impressive view of the volcano’s geological landscape.
After breakfast, we begin our descent around 7:00–9:00 AM, depending on conditions, and return to the Dodom camp area by approximately 10:30 AM.
After some time to rest, we continue toward the remarkable Lake Afrera (Lake Giulietti), a saltwater lake located more than 100 meters below sea level.
Subject to seasonal conditions and accessibility, we visit the lake and surrounding salt flats, where the Afar people traditionally collect salt.
We then continue through the Afar landscape toward Hamed Ela, where we spend the night and prepare for the next day’s exploration.
Overnight Day 2: Hamed Ela.
On the 2nd night of our tour we stay at Erta Ale at Hamed Ela camping again before the next day.
Day 3 — Salt Caravans → Dallol → Lake Assal → Mekelle → Addis Ababa
We begin our final day with an early visit to Ragad (Asebo), one of the traditional salt-mining areas of the Danakil. Here, we can see local workers cutting salt from the ground into rectangular blocks and loading them onto camel caravans—the continuation of a remarkable tradition that has shaped life in the region for generations.
We then continue to Dallol, one of the most extraordinary geological landscapes in the Danakil Depression. We explore its colorful mineral formations, salt landscapes, and volcanic features before continuing toward Lake Asale.
Along the way, we may encounter camel caravans crossing the desert and have the opportunity to meet and walk with members of the Afar community.
Important seasonal note:
Camel caravans may not operate during July, August, and early September.
After the excursion, we return to Hamed Ela and continue toward Mekelle for our return flight to Addis Ababa on ET261, departing at approximately 5:45 PM and arriving at approximately 6:50 PM. End of Service
Camel transport in the Afar region
Transportation and services specified as in the itinerary
What’s Included:
- All entrance fees and permits according to the itinerary
- Accommodation and meals throughout the tour
- Bottled drinking water
- 4WD Land Cruiser transportation, including fuel and driver’s allowance
- Local Afar Guide
- Cooking and camping equipment
- Scout and police/security services in the Afar region
- Camel transport in the Afar region
What to Bring
- Headlamp or flashlight,
- Small Backpack for Erta Ale (change of clothes etc.)
- Sunscreen,
- Sunglasses,
- Comfortable trekking/hiking Footwear
- Light Clothing,
- a Warm layer for the cold night. Hat and gloves may be good to have to.
- Personal first aid items and toiletries.
- Toilet paper
Other Tours To Danakil
- 3 Days / 2 Nights
- 4 Days / 3 Nights
Booking Your Tour To Danakil Depression Crater with Abyssinia Explorer Tours
If this tour to Danakil or any of our tours Interests you then please feel free to contact us here with any questions you might have.
Abyssinia Explorer Tours offers an experienced team of guides and drivers going all across Ethiopia where you can experience a wide variety of history, wildlife and culture in the many different landscapes this country is famous for.
Drop us a message today and let us see what we can arrange.
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