Danakil Depression Adventure – 3 Days / 2 Nights (From Addis Ababa)
Explore Tours
Included/Exclude
- Round-trip flights (Addis Ababa – Mekelle – Addis Ababa)
- All ground transport in 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers
- All entrance and security fees (Afar police & scouts)
- Accommodation (camping gear provided)
- All meals and bottled water during the tour
- Experienced local guide and cook
- Camels to transport gear to/from Erta Ale
- Hotel in Addis Ababa (can be arranged separately)
- Personal camping gear (e.g., sleeping bag recommended)
- Alcohol and personal expenses
- Tips and travel insurance
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Take a morning flight from Addis Ababa to Mekelle. Upon arrival, meet your guide and depart in 4x4 vehicles. Drive through desert landscapes, passing Berhale, where the Afar culture begins to unfold. Arrive in Hamed Ela, a remote desert settlement. Enjoy the sunset and glimpse camel caravans.
Overnight: Camping in Hamed Ela (open-air with mattress)
Early morning visit to the Dallol geothermal field, famous for its otherworldly colors, salt chimneys, and acid springs. See salt mining and camel caravans at the salt flats. Return briefly to Hamed Ela for lunch, then drive across black lava fields to the base of Erta Ale. In the evening, trek (~3 hours) to the rim of the volcano and witness the lava lake glowing at night.
Overnight: Camping near the crater (mattress and blanket provided)
Before sunrise, descend from the volcano. After breakfast at the base camp, drive back to Mekelle. Catch your late afternoon flight to Addis Ababa. End of tour.
