6-Day Dallol Depression and Erta Ale Tour from Mekele

• Take a flight from Addis Ababa to Mekele.

Overnight in Mekele.

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

• Pass through the small town of Berhale, where the camel caravan stops before proceeding 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.

• Start an early drive to Dodom, at the base of Erta Ale.

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

• After passing several small hamlets scattered across this desert land, Dodom is about 17 km from Erta Ale, and it takes about 3 hours of 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 top of the mountain.

• Drive from Erta Ale to Dodom.

• Depart for Dodom after an early breakfast.

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

Overnight camping at Hamed Ela.

• 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 it onto 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 Hamed Ela and proceed to Mekele.

Overnight in a hotel.

• Fly back to Addis Ababa.

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