Itinerary

1. Day 1: Mekele – Hamede Ela

   • Drive to Hamedela via Berhale. 

   • The Danakil Depression can be said to ‘begin’ here. It is one of the most inhospitable regions of the world, but is nonetheless spectacular, with eye-catching colours of the sulfur springs. 

   • The desert has several points lying more than 100 meters (328 ft) below sea level. 

   • You pass through the small town of Berhale where the camel caravans stop before they proceed to the northern highlands. 

   • En route, you will see many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels. (3-4 hrs drive)

   Overnight in Hamedela.

2. Day 2: Hamd Ela – Dodom

   • Start early, shortly after breakfast, and drive to Dodom at the base of Erta Ale. This may be one of the worst roads in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs to cover, passing through changing the landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and the occasional palm-lined oasis. 
   • Pass several small hamlets scattered in this desert land before reaching Dodom.
   • Trek from Dodom to Erta Ale which takes about 3 hrs. 
   • Early dinner around 5:00 pm and then start the trek up to Erta Ale, where you reach 8:00 pm. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food and water to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. 
   • 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 1 km square caldera at its summit. 

3. Day 3: Hamed Ela

   • Early in the morning, you will rise with the sun in time to walk around the crater. The main pit-crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three-storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 meters wide and about 100 meters deep. 

   • Leave around 7:00 am to head back to Dodom for breakfast. 

   • Reach the latest at 10:30 am at the camp, and after some time to relax.

   • Drive on to Hamad Ela, a village with a total population of about 500 people.

   Overnight camping at Hamed Ela.

4. Day 4: Departure

   • Morning driving tour to Ragad (Acebo), the place where the salts are mined. 

   • Observe the breaking of the salt from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and witness the landscape formed by volcanic activity.

   • Excursion to Dallol's (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow camel caravans and walk with the Afar people. 

   Drive back to Mekele.