$1,100 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
From Addis Ababa – Flight to Semera – Alolobad Hot Springs Exploration
From Addis Ababa – Flight to Semera – Alolobad Hot Springs Exploration
Start your adventure with a morning flight from Addis Ababa to Semera, the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Upon arrival, our team will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in and a short rest.
In the afternoon, head out to Alolobad Hot Springs, a fascinating geothermal site where steam vents rise from the desert floor and bubbling mud pools reveal the Earth’s inner heat. Enjoy time walking around this surreal landscape and capturing incredible photos.
Return to Semera in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay at a local hotel.
- Main Destination:
- Semera (Town)
- Accommodation:
- Kuriftu Afar Semera Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
From Semera – Lake Afdera – Erta Ale Volcano
From Semera – Lake Afdera – Erta Ale Volcano
After breakfast in Semera, begin the scenic desert drive towards Erta Ale, one of the world’s few continuously active volcanoes.
On the way, stop at Lake Afdera, a sparkling saltwater lake in the desert. Here, enjoy lunch at a local spot and take the chance to swim in the warm, mineral-rich waters — a refreshing and unique experience in the middle of the desert.
By late afternoon, continue to the base of Erta Ale Volcano. As the sun sets, start your trek (about 3 hours) up the volcanic slopes. Reaching the summit at nightfall, you’ll be rewarded with the mesmerizing sight of Erta Ale’s glowing lava lake — an unforgettable natural wonder under a star-filled sky. Spend time exploring and photographing this fiery spectacle before descending to base camp.
Overnight stay will be open-air camping at Erta Ale base camp, with mattresses and a simple setup provided.
- Main Destination:
- Danakil Depression (Highlight)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
From Erta Ale – Hamed Ela Salt Flats
From Erta Ale – Hamed Ela Salt Flats
Early risers may take an optional short hike back to the crater rim for a magical sunrise view over Erta Ale before returning to camp for breakfast.
After packing up, begin the desert journey towards Hamed Ela, a small outpost near the shimmering salt plains. Along the way, take in vast desert landscapes and the raw beauty of the Afar region.
By late afternoon, arrive at the salt flats around Lake Asale, where the horizon stretches endlessly in dazzling white. Enjoy a drive across the mirror-like surface and witness the dramatic sunset, a perfect opportunity for breathtaking photographs.
If conditions allow, observe the traditional Afar salt mining process and see camel caravans carrying heavy salt blocks across the desert.
Overnight stay will be camping at Hamed Ela, under a sky full of stars.
- Main Destination:
- Danakil Depression (Highlight)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
From Hamed Ela – Dallol & Lake Asale – Drive to Mekele – Flight to Addis Ababa
From Hamed Ela – Dallol & Lake Asale – Drive to Mekele – Flight to Addis Ababa
Begin the day early with a drive to Lake Asale for a spectacular sunrise over the salt flats — a peaceful and surreal moment as the desert glows in golden light.
Continue to Dallol, one of the hottest and most extraordinary places on Earth. Here, explore a kaleidoscope of colorful sulfur springs, acidic hot pools, and salt mounds that create landscapes unlike anywhere else on the planet. The vivid yellows, greens, and whites of Dallol make it a photographer’s dream.
After breakfast back at camp, pack up and begin the drive to Mekele, the largest city in the Tigray region. From Mekele, catch your evening domestic flight back to Addis Ababa, where your unforgettable Danakil Depression adventure comes to an end.
- Main Destination:
- Danakil Depression (Highlight)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
