Tour to Danakil Depression, 2-Days

The Danakil Depression is the northern part of the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression in Ethiopia, a geological depression that has resulted from the divergence of three tectonic plates in the Horn of Africa.

Departure Point
Traveler pickup is offered
We offer complimentary pickup from nearby around. Airports
Lalibela Airport, Lalibela Ethiopia
Departure Time
6:00 AM

What is included in this tour? Items that are included in the cost of the tour price.

Air-conditioned vehicle
All Fees and Taxes
Permits
All entrance fees
Dinner (2)
Lunch (3)
Breakfast (2)

What is not included in this tour? Items that are not included in the cost of the tour price.

Any alcoholic drinks
Any personal Item like internet, fax, telephone

Day 1 Danakil

Erta Ale

We start our day by driving to Erta Ale (which means smoky mountain in Afar language). 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 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. It is 613 meters, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century. (may not be as active as before and activity at flank eruption slows down.) We start early 9:00 AM, driving to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). This is maybe one of the roughest roads in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs passing through changing the landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand, and occasional palm-lined oasis. After passing several small hamlets scattered here and there in this deserted land, you will arrive at Dodom’s camping site, located about 17km from Erta Ale. Dinner will be served around 17:00 o’clock. After a short break, trek up to Ertale at 20:00 hours. Camels will be transporting all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mats and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. You will spend the night on top of the mountain, at the rim of the Volcano.

12 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Accommodation: Overnight camping at the volcano

Meals: LunchDinner

Day 2
Dallol
Erta Ale Early Morning sun rise at the northern one corresponds to the main pit crater and walking 5 minutes for the southern and central pits could either correspond to an ancient pit, or to a simple collapse structure. The main pit crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three-storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. Descend from Erta Ale around 9 am Dodom – Leave back to Dodom after an early breakfast, if possible at 07:00 o’clock. You will reach the the latest at 10:30 o’clock at the camp, where you will be relaxing. As soon as possible, drive to reach the mythical Lake Giulietti (or Lake Afrera)(optional may not be available during summertime), a saltwater lake located more than 100 meters below sea level, in one of the deepest depressions of the planet. Because of the picturesque landscape, it is interesting to visit the salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the water of the lake., continue to Erbiti and proceed to Abaala/ Hamed Ela.

12 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Accommodation: Overnight camping at Hamed Ela

Meals: BreakfastLunchDinner

Day 3
Sunrise at salt lake
Danakil Depression Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look at the activity of workers breaking salts from the ground, cutting them into rectangular pieces, and loading them on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up with camel caravans (No camel caravans in July, August, and early September), and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele.

12 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

End of Danakil tour