5-Day Tour To Danakil Depression from Addis Ababa
Highlights
Addis Ababa, Mekele, Erta Ale, Dallol
Locations Covered
Addis Ababa, Mekele, Erta Ale, Dallol
nature, Desert, Volcano
Group Tour
5 Days
Easy
English
Description
Embark on a thrilling 5-day adventure to the Danakil Depression. Trek through a changing landscape of solidified lava and sand to reach the base of the awe-inspiring ErtaAle volcano. Explore the vibrant salt mines of Ragad and the colourful volcanic landscapes of Dallol. Witness camel caravans and bask at sunset at the shallow salt lake Assale. Conclude the tour with a flight back to Addis Ababa, carrying memories of an extraordinary adventure.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Fly from Addis Ababa to Mekelle
- Fly from Addis Ababa to Mekelle. Overnight in Mekelle.
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Day 2: Mekelle – Volcano
- We drive from Mekelle to Dodom. We start early and drive to Dodom, which is located at the base of Erta Ale. We embark on the journey after an early breakfast, possibly at 07:30. The road conditions are challenging, and the 70 km distance may take around 5 hours.
- Along the way, we pass through a changing landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand, and occasional palm-lined oases. As we pass small hamlets scattered in this desert land, Dodom is approximately 9.5 km from Erta Ale and takes about 3 hours of trekking.
- We have an early dinner around 17:00 and then trek to Erta Ale at 20:00 hours. Camels transport camping materials, sleeping materials, water, and food to the volcano's rim. We spend the night there, witnessing the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Overnight camping on the mountain.
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Day 3: Erta Ale - Hamad Ela
- We wake up early at Erta Ale and head back to Dodom. After breakfast, we have some time to relax before driving to Hamad Ela, covering a distance of 100 km.
- Along the way, we enjoy a picnic lunch under the shade of palm trees. HamadEla is a village with a population of around 500 people. Here, we can witness the sunset and explore the very shallow salt lake, Assale—overnight camping at HamadEla.
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Day 4: HamadEla - Dallol - Mekelle
- We drive to Ragad (Asebo) in the morning, where the locals mine salt. The Afar Depression, covering 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi), is abundant in salt.
- We observe the activity of breaking salt from the ground, where local people cut rectangular pieces and loaded them onto camels.
- We then proceed to Dallol and explore the unique landscape formed by volcanic activity, including Dallol, Lake Assale, and the salt canyons.
- We also have the opportunity to follow camel caravans. Afterwards, we drive back to HamadEla for lunch and continue our journey to Mekelle.
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Day 5: Fly back to Addis from Mekelle
- Today, there are no activities as our trip comes to an end. Once we arrive in Addis, you are free to go.
What's Included
What's Excluded
What To Bring
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
| Persons | |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | /person |
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This is a group tour |
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