4-Day Danakil Depression Camping Tour

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

Erta Ale Volcano Expedition

Kick off your extreme desert adventure by boarding a rugged 4x4 convoy and descending rapidly from the highlands into the searing, below-sea-level plains of the Danakil Depression. Navigate unpaved desert tracks and jagged black lava fields to reach the volcanic base camp, where you will fuel up with a camp-cooked dinner. As the sun sets and temperatures cool, embark on a guided trek across craggy lava rock to the summit, spending the night camped directly on the crater rim under the stars to witness the hypnotic, glowing spectacle of the world's longest-lasting boiling lava lake.

Main Destination:

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)

Activities:

• Game drive (normal 4x4 vehicle)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Volcano Sunrise & Mirror Sunset on the Salt Flats

Wake up to a breathtaking sunrise over the volcanic caldera, take a final look at the craters, and trek back down the mountain to meet your 4x4 drivers for a hearty breakfast. Traverse the desert landscape through remote Afar settlements like Hamad Ela, stopping to witness traditional camel caravans hauling blocks of salt. Continue onto the blindingly white expanses of Lake Assal to watch the sunset cast stunning mirror reflections across the shallow water, ending the day with a desert camp under the stars.

Main Destination:

Danakil Depression (Highlight)

Activities:

• Game drive (normal 4x4 vehicle)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Exploring the Alien Landscapes of Dallol

Start your morning early with a drive to Ragad (Asebo) to watch local Afar workers manually quarrying heavy blocks of salt straight from the crust and loading them onto traditional camel caravans. Continue your journey into the surreal, multi-colored hydrothermal wonderland of Dallol, exploring vibrant neon-yellow sulfur springs, mineral pillars, and bubbling acidic green ponds that resemble an alien planet. After taking in these final otherworldly sights, embark on the rugged 4x4 drive back up out of the depression and return to your starting city of Mekelle or Semera to conclude your expedition.

Main Destination:

Danakil Depression (Highlight)

Activities:

• Game drive (normal 4x4 vehicle)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Journey Back to the Highlands & Expedition Finale

Wrap up your extraordinary desert expedition with an early morning breakfast at camp before boarding your 4x4 convoy for the final stretch. Leave the blazing plains of the Danakil Depression behind as you drive back across the dusty desert floor, gradually ascending the dramatic mountain escarpments. Watch the scenery transform from arid salt flats and black lava rock back into cool green highlands before arriving back in Mekelle or Semera by late afternoon to conclude your journey.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

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