6-Day Erta Ale Volcano & Danakil Depression Trek

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Welcome to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, sitting high in the hills at over 2,300 meters. Your guide will meet you and help you settle in. Today is a relaxed day to rest after your flight and get ready for the days ahead. You can visit the National Museum, where the famous fossil called Lucy is kept, or the Holy Trinity Cathedral, an important site in Ethiopian history. Or simply rest at your hotel and enjoy the mild highland climate. Your guide will explain what to expect on this trip and help you check your packing list, since the desert days ahead will be very different from Addis Ababa's cool air.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Capital Hotel & Spa

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly to Mekele & Drive into the Danakil

Take a morning flight to Mekele, a city in the north of Ethiopia. From there, drive into the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth. The road passes small villages and wide, open desert. In the afternoon you will reach the village of Hamedela, close to the edge of the depression. Sleep outdoors under the stars on a simple mattress, as most travelers do in this remote area.

Main Destination:

Danakil Depression (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Dallol Sulfur Springs & Salt Flats

Today you will see two of the most unusual sights in Ethiopia. First, visit Dallol, a strange and colorful landscape of sulfur springs, salt towers, and small acid pools in yellow, green, and orange colors. Then drive to the great salt flats of Lake Karum, where local workers still cut and shape salt blocks by hand, the same way people have done here for hundreds of years. Watch camel and camel-cart caravans load salt for the long trip to the highlands. Overnight camping again near Hamedela.

Main Destination:

Danakil Depression (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Erta Ale Night Trek to the Lava Lake

Drive to the base of Erta Ale, an active volcano known as the "gateway to hell" by local people. In the late afternoon, start walking up the volcano with your guide and local escort. The hike takes a few hours and is done mostly at night, when it is cooler. At the top, you can look down into the crater and see the glowing lava lake below, one of only a few in the world. Sleep in a simple shelter near the summit, close to the crater.

Main Destination:

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Descend & Fly Back to Addis for Farewell Dinner

In the early morning, take one last look at the glowing lava lake before walking back down the volcano to your vehicle. Drive back across the desert to Mekele and take a flight to Addis Ababa in the evening. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by Origin Abyssinia at a local restaurant in the capital. This is a chance to relax in comfort after several days in the desert, enjoy traditional Ethiopian food and coffee, and share stories from the trip with your guide before your journey comes to an end.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Capital Hotel & Spa

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Free Time in Addis Ababa & Departure

Enjoy a free morning in Addis Ababa after your adventure in the Danakil Depression. Depending on your flight time, you may have time for last-minute shopping at a local market, a coffee ceremony, or a short visit to the Ethnological Museum to learn more about Ethiopia's many cultures. Your guide will take you to Bole International Airport in good time for your departure flight, marking the end of your journey into one of the most extreme and unforgettable landscapes on Earth.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.