Community trekking and the Danakil Depression – 11 days
Tour Summary
A true adventure across the northernmost reaches of Ethiopia. Experience community trekking on the plateaus of Tigray, where horizons stretch for miles, and distant mountain peaks morph into hazy silhouettes lit by the evening sun, and pockets of light and shadow dance on the undulating surface of the Tigrayan valleys below. Discover the alien environment of the Danakil Depression, home to lava lakes, acid springs, and sprawling salt lakes. With stunning scenery matched only by the charm and warmth of local Ethiopian hospitality, this trip is a sensory experience that’s as emotionally arresting as it is visually striking.
Itinerary
Erta Ale:
Visit the incredible Erta Ale volcano, and spend the night sleeping under the stars by the crater rim. The volcano contains an active lava lake where the thin charcoal crust is pierced by glowing red fissures of searing liquid lava below. The lava spits and splatters, and the lack of guard rails at the crater rim means you can peer directly into the fiery belly, known locally as the ‘gateway to hell’.
Lake Karum:
Drive by Lake Karum, one of the two hyper-saline lakes in the Danakil Depression. Lake Karum is one of the most visually striking lakes on Earth.
Lake Afrera:
Take a dip in Lake Afrera, the second hyper-saline lake in the region. The lake is kept liquid by a system of surrounding hot springs. The extreme salt content means you’ll float effortlessly like the Dead Sea, and you can wash off the salt in one of the nearby hot springs.
Dallol:
Discover Dallol, a cinder cone volcano in the Danakil Depression. Dallol is a canvas of bright green, reds, and yellows distributed across hundreds of hot acidic springs and mounds of salt deposits. It’s one of the most remarkable geological phenomena in the world.
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Price and Inclusions :
USD 1,546 – Prices are per person based on 4 or more people travelling together. Prices guideline only, actual prices will depend on final itinerary, accommodation choices, and time of year.
Includes:
- All ground transport via private minibus or 4WD.
- All accommodation as indicated in the itinerary.
- Meal plan bed and breakfast. All meals included on treks and in the Danakil Depression.
- Fees for entrances, local guides and compulsory scouts for activities mentioned in the itinerary, unless listed as excluded.
- All government taxes for the services included in the tour price.
- Cooking and camping equipment in the Danakil Depression.
- Scout and police escort in the Afar region.
- Camel and camel tires in the Afar region.
Excludes:
- Entrance fee for Gheralta churches (150 Birr per person per church). Entrance fee for church visit on community trek.
- Any meals not mentioned as included.
- International flights and visa fees.
- Other personal expenses, souvenirs, tips and gratuities, etc.
- Any activities not mentioned as included.