Itinerary

1. Day 1: Mekele to Hamede Ela

   • Drive to Hamed Ela via Berhale. The Danakil Depression can be said to ‘begin’ here.

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

   • En route see many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt-loaded camels. 

   • Reach the campsite at Hamedela.

2. Day 2: Hamad Ela to Dodom

   • Drive to Askoma at the base of the new Erta Ale.

   • Pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in the desert land, before reaching Askoma Village or the parking area. 

   • Trek from Askoma to the new Erta Ale which takes about 4 hrs.

   • Spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. 

3. Day 3: Lake Afdera

   • Walk around pits and craters. The main pit-crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three-storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. 

   • Head back to Askoma

   • Drive to Lake Afdera the mythical Lake Giulietti, a saltwater lake located more than100 meters below sea level, in one of the deepest depressions of the planet. 

   • Visit the salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the water of the lake.

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

   Overnight camping at Hamed Ela.

4. Day 4: Asebo

   • Drive to Asebot, the place where the salts are mined. 

   • Observe the breaking of the salt from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces, and loading on camels.

   • Continue to Dallol and see colorful salts mining.

   • Follow the camel caravans and walk with the Afar people. 

   • Drive back to Hamad Ela and proceed to Mekele.