Explore Danakil Depression 4 days

Day 1 Mekele – Hamad Ela

The tour starts in Mekele, from where we drive to Hamad Ela town via Berhale. The Danakil Depression can be said to ‘begin’ here. The vaste desert is more than 100 meters (328 ft) below sea level in several points. On our journey (3-4 hrs drive) we pass through a small town of Berhale, this is where the camel caravans stop before proceeding to the northern highlands. It's a great places to watch many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels and opportunity to take beautiful photosgraphs. Campsite at Hamedela.

Day 2 Hamd Ela – Dodom - Erta Ale

We wake up early and shortly after 06:30am breakfast we continue the tour and drive to Dodom at the base of Erta Ale volcano. This may be one of the worst road in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and the occasional palm lined oasis. We pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert land before reaching Dodom. We will trek from Dodom to Erta Ale which takes about 3 hrs.

We will have an early dinner at around 17:00 and trek up to Ert Ale at 20:00. Camels will be transporting all the camping materials and some food, sleeping materials, mattresses and water, to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks 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. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake and you will spend an unforgettable night on the top of the mountain.

Day 3 Erta Ale - Dodom - Hamad Ela

Early morning you will rise with the sun just at time to walk around pits and craters. The main pit-crater is 200m deep and 350m across and is sub-circular and three storied. The southern pit is smaller and is 65m wide and about 100m deep. We will leave around 7:00 to head back to Dodom for breakfast which we will reach the latest at 10:30am. After some time to relax at the camp we will drive on to Hamad Ela, a village with a total population about 500 people. Over night camping at Hamed Ela.

Day 4 Ragad - Dallol - Mekele

In the morning we drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the salts are mined. There you will be able to observe the breaking of the salt from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces and loading on camels. Driving ahead to Dallol we can see the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele.

Danakil Depression Tour is one of the most popular of our tours and the best of Erta Ale salt mines and all Danakil tours. If you don't have as much as 4 days to spend there we recommend you our short Danakil Depression tour.