Itinerary

1. Day 1: Mekele - Erta Ale

   • Have breakfast, drive to Eart Ale (the crust of the earth) via Dodom (the base of Erta Ale). 

   • Experience the worst roads in the world for a distance of about 70-80 km. It takes around 6 hours to drive whilst passing through changing landscapes of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm-lined oasis. After you pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert, you will watch the smock of the earth's crust. 

   • Have early dinner and proceed to “the gateway to hell!” Dodom to Eart Ale takes approximately about 3 hours of trekking. Don’t worry. Camels will transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the volcano's rim, where you can spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava just a km away.

   • Overnight stay in a nearby active volcano.

2. Day 2: Erta Ale - Danakil Depression

   • Head back to Dodom after an early breakfast with the Ethiopian tour guide. You will reach the latest by 10:30 at the camp, where you will be relaxing. 

   • Drive to reach the mythical Lake Giulietti (or Lake Afdera), a saltwater lake located more than 100 meters below sea level in one of the deepest depressions on 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 lake's water.

   • Enjoy caravan camels bring or towards to bring salts from Asebot. You will enjoy the area by passing through a small town called “Berhale”, where the caravan camels stop before going to the northern highlands.

   • Continue to Erbiti and overnight stay at Abaala/ Hamedela.

3. Day 3: Danakil Depression - Mekele

   • Drive to Ragad (Asebot) with the Ethiopian tour guide.

   • Proceed to the Danakil Depression and visit the different landscapes formed by volcanic activity. Danakil is 116 meters below sea level and one of the lowest places in the world with colourful salts mining. 

   • Visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans (No camel caravan in July, August, and early September), and walk with the Afar people.

   • Drive back to Hamedela in the late afternoon and proceed to Mekelle.

   Overnight stay in Mekele.