Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Mekele

   • Take a flight from Addis Ababa to Mekele. 

   Overnight in Mekele.

2. Day 2: Hamed Ela to Danakil

   • Drive to Hamed Ela via Berhale. The Danakil can be said to begin here. It is one of the most inhospitable regions of the world but is nonetheless spectacular with the eye-catching colours of the sulfur springs. The Dallol Depression is officially the hottest place on earth, with more than 109m below sea level and the temperature reaching up to 45-50 deg C.

   • Pass through a small town of Berhale, where the camel caravan stops before they proceed to the northern highlands. 

   • En route, see many long camel caravans coming to the salt mine and others going out of the Danakil with their salt loads (3-4 hours’ drive)

   Camp in Hamed Ela.

3. Day 3: Hamed Ela to Dodom to Erta Ale

   • Start an early drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta –Ale). 

   • Leave after an early breakfast, if possible, at 06:30 am. The 80km distance may take about 6 hours to complete, passing through changing landscapes of solidified lava, rock sand, and the occasional palm-lined oasis. 

   • After you pass several small hamlets scattered in this desert land, Dodom is about 17 km from Erta Ale and it takes about 3-hour trekking to reach there. 

   • Have an early dinner at around 5 pm and trek up to Erta Ale at 8 pm. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food to the rim of the volcano, where you spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava.

   Overnight camping on the top of the mountain.

4. Day 4: Erta Ale to Dodom to Hamed Ela

   • Drive from Erta Ale to Dodom.

   • Depart for Dodom after an early breakfast.

   • Reach Hamed Ela, a better village with a total population about 500 people.

   Overnight camping at Hamed Ela.

5. Day 5: Ragad (Acebo) to Dallol to Mekele

   • In the morning, drive to Ragad (Acebo), the place where the locals mine salt.

   • Observe the activities of breaking salt from the ground, cutting it into blocks and loading them on to camels.

   • Drive ahead from Dallol and see the landscape formed by volcanic activity.

   • Go on an excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world).

   • See colourful salt mining, visit Lake Assal, follow camel caravans and walk with the Afar people.

   • Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele. 

   Overnight in Hotel.

6. Day 6: Back to Addis Ababa

   • Fly back to Addis Ababa.

     • Optional: City tour and sightseeing that includes the National Museum, Entoto, Trinity Cathedral and Merkato.