An incredible journey to the most inhospitable place on Earth. Discover Danakil depression and Ertale volcano. It is located below sea level, a colorful Elian-like landscape with an endless flat salt desert.
Danakil’s depression rises in a wild desert where life is hard to sustain. It is dominated by basaltic volcanic flows, where all the geological anxiety of the planet vibrates. During these days, you will climb the Erta Ale volcano, famous for its lake of molten lava, meet the Afar people who inhabited this hostile region, who has always animated the tales of many explorers under the name of savage rock raiders. Emerse in the colorful Dallol, A thrilling expedition to one of the most inhospitable and exciting places in the world, where temperatures can be very high but will reward travelers with one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Itinerary of the Danakil Depression and Ertale Volcano tour.
Day 1 – Mekle–Dodom-Ertale
Pick up from the hotel or airport in Mekele . Meet the group and begin the journey to Dodom, the base camp to reach the Ertale volcano. Late afternoon, 3 hours walk to the top of the mountain where you see the volcano, spend the night observing the beautiful view of the glowing volcano eruption! Observe the volcanic activity, structure and phenomena of the surrounding caldera and Lava Lake.
Volcanoes to see with lava lakes are very rare in the world. Ertale volcano is one and the most active volcano in the world. Ertale has been a continuously active volcano for the past 100 years. Lava constantly erupts from the surface. An incredible experience of a lifetime. At dawn, you will descend from the volcano and return to Dodom Base Camp.
Note – the volcano erupted in 2018, so you may not see the same photos of the volcano as those on websites.
Accommodation. Ertale Volcano Rime Camping or Hamedal Village
Day 2 Ertale – Hamedla
After enjoying the volcano early in the morning before sunrise, trek to base camp. Eat your breakfast before returning to Hamedla. Hamedla is a small rustic village where salt miners stop before crossing between the high and low lands of the Danakil depression. You will walk through the Afar village and see their life, watch the camel caravan. Salt was once very valuable and salt ingots were used as currency in Ethiopia. This tradition of the camel caravan carrying salt bars has thousands of years of history.
Camping in Hamedla
Day 3 – Hamedla – Dalol
Drive from Hamedla to Dallol. Dallo is formed by the drift of three tectonic plates. It is found 130 meters below sea level in the geological depression. On the way, you will see the lake of Assale, where salt is extracted, and the camel caravans that bring the rock salt to the plateau. Drive and walk on the flat salt field, see the hot spring pools, etc. In general, Dallol is like a Mars-cape full of yellow, green, blue, and orange colors. This all comes from the sulfur, potassium, iron, and other various minerals that form at the top of the hot spring bubble. Drive to Mekele.
Fly to Addis Ababa to catch your flight home.
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