Explore the alien landscapes of Ethiopia on our 4 Days Danakil Depression Tour.
This 4-Day Danakil Depression & Erta’ale Ethiopia volcano tour takes you to one of Earth’s most extraordinary locations, featuring the active Erta’ale Volcano and the colorful geothermal fields of Dallol.
Experience the heat and beauty of the Danakil Depression, renowned for its surreal terrain.
Witness traditional salt mining at Lake Afdera, adding a cultural element to this natural spectacle.
Ideal for adventurers and geology enthusiasts, this Ethiopia tour offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a landscape that defies imagination.
4-Day Danakil Depression & Erta’ale – Ethiopia Volcano Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Flight To Semera – Erta’ale
- Day 2: Drive Erta’ale – Dallol
- Day 3: Drive Dalol – Afdera
- Day 4: Afdera – Allalobad – Semera
Detailed 4-Day Danakil Depression & Erta’ale – Ethiopia Volcano Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Flight To Semera – Erta’ale
Meeting your guide upon arrival at Semera Airport.
Following a briefing on general Ethiopian geology and the program as a whole, travel to Erta’ale.
After stopping for lunch in Afdera town, we will continue our journey over the dunes to the Erta Ale Volcano.
Afterwards, we enter the desert and eventually reach basalt rock, which was formerly created by prehistoric lava flows.
After a slow and uneven drive, we reach the base of the Erta Ale Volcano.
We’ll take a nap after arriving at our camp.
After a light dinner, we will walk for thirty minutes to the Erta Ale summit crater.
It is important that everyone wears a torch and stays together, even though the path is not very steep.
We pitched a tent safely far enough away from the lava on the crater’s edge!
Visit Open Air Camping 300masl for an overnight stay.
Day 2: Drive Erta’ale – Dallol
We start our climb back to the cars after seeing a magnificent sunrise over the lava lake, from whence we will travel to Dallol.
The majority of the journey through the desert is taken off-road.
We stop in a palm grove for lunch.
In the evening, we will reach Ahmedela, a small village where the salt caravans congregate before starting their difficult trek to other towns.
You will be able to see numerous camel caravans, and the relatively shallow Assale Salt Lake provides stunning sunset views.
At Open Air Camping 125mbsl, spend the night.
Day 3: Drive Dalol – Afdera
We drive to Dallol, which has colorful geothermal pools and salt domes, early in the morning before breakfast.
We’ll have the morning to explore Dallol, a surreal location that is unmatched anywhere on Earth and features sulfur lakes, geysers, and colorful mineral formations.
We will see the unusual salt canyons before moving on to the village of Afdera.
While traveling, we might be able to observe the arduous process of manually extracting salt and loading it onto camels.
The Danakil Depression is covered in salt to the extent of about 1,200 km2.
Once breakfast is finished, we will resume our journey to Lake Afdera.
Not only can we observe the traditional ways that salt is mined in the region, but we can also relax in the naturally occurring hot springs following our hike.
There are naturally occurring hot springs nearby where you can take a shower.
Spending the night by the lakeside while camping.
Day 4: Afdera – Allalobad – Semera
After breakfast, make your way to the geothermal site known as Allalobad, also known as “the water of Allah.”
Having made a brief visit to Allalobad Return to Semera Town in time for your flight back to Addis.
