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    Expedition to Danakil Depression

    Expedition to Danakil Depression

    by | May 13, 2020 | Danakil Depressions, Northern Ethiopia

    Expedition to Danakil Depression

    Tour Summary

    A geological depression caused by the continental drift of three tectonic plates, the Danakil Depression is one of Earth’s most unusual environments. Renowned as the ‘hottest place on the planet’ and home to salt lakes, lava lakes, volcanoes, and colorful acidic springs – it’s a wonderful, alien environment. Bubbling volcanoes light up the night sky, sulphurous mounds of yellow contort into other-worldly shapes, and mirages of camels cross lakes of salt. Lying 100m and more below sea level, the Danakil Depression is about the hottest and most inhospitable place on earth. In fact it’s so surreal that it doesn’t feel like part of earth at all. If you want genuine, raw adventure, few corners of the globe can match this overwhelming wilderness. But come prepared because with temperatures frequently saying hello to 50°C and appalling ‘roads’, visiting this region is more an expedition than a tour.

    Itinerary

    Day 1: Mekele to Danakil

    At Mekele, you’ll meet the rest of your tour group and pile into the Toyota Land cruisers that will take you into the Danakil in convoy. You’ll begin the drive into the Danakil at around 9AM. The roads leading out of Mekele are smooth and asphalted, and you drive further out of town there are some wonderful views of the Tigrayan landscape. As you drive further towards the Afar region, the roads get rougher until you reach the Danakil desert. Here, the roads are a maze of solidified lava, rock and sand with an occasional palm lined oasis.
    Drive towards the small hamlet of Hamed Ela via Berhale. The Danakil Depression is said to ‘begin’ here. En route, you’ll likely see long camel caravans going in and out of the Danakil as they are loaded with salt, the main export of this region.
    Note: The Journey into the Danakil Depression tour starts and ends in Mekele. The region is easily accessible via domestic flight from Addis Ababa, or along the historic circuit. Depending on your wider travel plans, we can make the necessary arrangements to get you to and from Mekele.
    Activities: Drive Mekele to Hamed Ela, see camel caravans and visit Lake Karum (time permitting)
    Accommodation: Camping at Hamed Ela
    Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Day 2: Danakil to Mekele

    After breakfast at Hamed Ela, you’ll drive to Ragad (Asebo) and watch the local Afar people mining the salt from the ground and loading on to the camel caravans.
    Drive to Dallol, one of the most stunning geological phenomena on the planet. The kaleidoscopic landscape of greens, reds, and yellows formed by acidic springs and salt mounds create an alien landscape.
    Visit Lake Karum, one of the two hyper-saline lakes of the Danakil Depression and one of the most visually striking lakes anywhere in the world. The sun set over Lake Karum is extraordinary.
    Begin the drive back to Mekele to line up with a return flight to Addis Ababa or continue your onwards journey with us.
    Activities: watch the salt miners, visit the Dallol cinder cone volcano, swim in Lake Afrera and the hot springs

    Request An Offer

      Price and Inclusions :

      $500 – Prices are per person based on 4 or more people travelling together or join a group. Prices guideline only, actual price will depend on final itinerary, accommodation choices, and time of year.

      Includes

      • All Entrance fees and licenses as per the program.
      • Accommodation and all meals throughout the tour.
      • Bottles of water for the trip.
      • Surface Transport expense with four wheel drive Land-cruiser including fuel expense and drivers allowance.
      • Local guide service for the afar region as per the program.
      • Cooking, camping equipment.
      • Scout and police service in Afar Region as per the program.
      Excludes:
      • Domestic flights and visa fees.
      •  Transport to and from Mekele.
      •  Any activities not mentioned as included.
      •  Other personal expenses, souvenirs, tips and gratuities, etc.

      Ert Ale Volcano Exploration

      Ert Ale Volcano Exploration

      by | May 13, 2020 | Danakil Depressions, Northern Ethiopia

      Ert Ale Volcano Exploration

      Tour Summary

      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.
      Salt Pans and Camel Caravans:
      The Danakil Desert contains miles of sprawling salt pans. Local Afar people manually extract the salt from the ground (working under the extreme Danakil sun) and transport the salt back to Mekele via camel caravans. Witnessing this process first-hand is a humbling experience.

      Itinerary

      Day 1: Mekele to Erta Ale

      At Mekele, you’ll meet the rest of your tour group and pile into the Toyota Landcruisers that will take you into the Danakil in convoy. You’ll begin the drive into the Danakil at around 9AM. The roads leading out of Mekele are smooth and asphalted, and you drive further out of town there are some wonderful views of the Tigrayan landscape. As you drive further towards the Afar region, the roads get rougher until you reach the Danakil desert. Here, the roads are a maze of solidified lava, rock and sand with an occasional palm lined oasis. You’ll stop for lunch at the roadside where your cooking team will do you proud, before continuing on to Aksoma, the base camp of the Erta Ale volcano. The drive from Mekele to Aksome is around 6 hours.
      At Aksoma, your cooking team will prepare dinner which will be served around 5PM. As the sun begins to dip behind the horizon, you begin the 3 hour hike up Erta Ale. Camels will transport mattresses, blankets and additional water up the volcano.
      The trek is a 3 hour walk along a gentle incline. You’ll reach the crater rim around 11PM, where the fiery lava lake awaits.
      You’ll spend the night camping on the volcano at a makeshift campsite. Your sleeping materials will be provided for you and transported up the volcano by camels. It’s rough and ready, but that’s all part of the fun!
      Note: The Journey into the Danakil Depression tour starts and ends in Mekele. The region is easily accessible via domestic flight from Addis Ababa, or along the historic circuit. Depending on your wider travel plans, we can make the necessary arrangements to get you to and from Mekele.
      Activities: Drive Mekele to Erta Ale, Hike up Erta Ale
      Accommodation: Camping on Erta Ale volcano
      Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Day 2: Erta Ale to Hamed Ela

      Wake up early to descend the volcano before the sun rises to high. Visit the lava lake one last time before beginning the 3 hour descent back to Aksoma. You’ll begin your descent around 6:30AM and will reach Aksoma by 9AM at the latest for breakfast.
      Today you’ll drive across the sweeping salt pans of the Danakil towards the small hamlet of Hamed Ela. If time permits, you’ll visit Lake Karum and the camel caravans. The sun set over Lake Karum is extraordinary.
      Return to Hamed Ela for overnight.
      Activities: Drive from Erta Ale to Hamed Ela across the desert, visit Lake Karum and camel caravans
      Accommodation: Camping on Hamed Ela
      Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Day 3: Hamed Ela to Mekele

      After breakfast at Hamed Ela, you’ll drive to Ragad (Asebo) and watch the local Afar people mining the salt from the ground and loading on to the camel caravans.
      Drive to Dallol, one of the most stunning geological phenomena on the planet. The kaleidoscopic landscape of greens, reds, and yellows formed by acidic springs and salt mounds create an alien landscape.
      In the afternoon, visit Lake Afrera, a hyper-saline lake in the Danakil fed by a system of surrounding hot springs. Take a dip in the lake where you’ll float due to the salt content. Was off the salt in the nearby hot springs.
      Begin the drive back to Mekele to line up with a return flight to Addis Ababa or continue your onwards journey with us.
      Activities: watch the salt miners, visit the Dallol cinder cone volcano, swim in Lake Afrera and the hot springs

      Request An Offer

        Price and Inclusions :

        $650 Prices are per person based on 4 or more people travelling together. Prices guideline only, actual price will depend on final itinerary, accommodation choices, and time of year. 
        Includes:

        • All Entrance fees and licenses as per the program.
        • Accommodation and all meals throughout the tour.
        • Bottles of water for the trip.
        • Surface Transport expense with four wheel drive Land-cruiser including fuel expense and drivers allowance.
        • Local guide service for the afar region as per the program.
        • Cooking, camping equipment.
        • Scout and police service in Afar Region as per the program.
        • Camel and camel tires in Afar Region as per the program.
        Excludes:
        • International flights and visa fees.
        • Transport to and from Mekele.
        • Any activities not mentioned as included.
        • Other personal expenses, souvenirs, tips and gratuities, etc.

        Community trekking and the Danakil Depression – 11 days

        Community trekking and the Danakil Depression – 11 days

        by | May 13, 2020 | Danakil Depressions, Northern Ethiopia, Trekking

        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.

        Request An Offer

          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.

          Experience the Extraordinary Geological Wonders – 11 Days

          Experience the Extraordinary Geological Wonders – 11 Days

          by | May 13, 2020 | Danakil Depressions

          Experience the Extraordinary Geological Wonders – 11 Days

          Trip Summary

          • Explore Addis Ababa, the historic and vibrant capital city.
          • Visit Awash National Park with hot springs, waterfalls and over 400 species of native bird.
          • Discover the eccentric, colorful towns of Dire Dawa and Semera.
          • Journey to another planet: the alien landscape of Danakil Depression.
          • Climb the bellowing Erta Ale volcano and marvel at the luminous, multi-colored Sulphur springs of the Dallol.
          • Finish your adventure by exploring the historical sites of Tigray.

          Itinerary

          Day 1 – Let the adventure begin!

          Fly to Addis Ababa where you will be welcomed at the airport by your friendly and experienced tour leader. You’ll be provided with transfers to your hotel, where you can freshen up before taking your first steps in the city. Your guide will show you the beautiful Italian architecture in the Piazza, and help you navigate busy markets in the adjacent streets. This city of excitement and contrasts is a fitting introduction to your Ethiopian adventure.
          In the evening, get to know your group over a delicious welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Your tour leader will dine with you and give you a briefing on your upcoming adventure.
          Accommodation: Abyssinia Renaissance Hotel OR Similar
          Meals Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

          Day 2 – Harar

          Catch a flight from Addis to Dire Dawa. Drive for around 1.5 hours from Dire Dawa to Harar. En route, visit the Dire Dawa Railway Station, Kafira spice market and the Awaday Khat market.
          Accommodation: Wonderland Hotel OR Similar
          Meals Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

          Day 3 – Harar

          The walled city of Harar is a common favorite among travelers. Hundreds of alleyways meander past colorful houses and the locals are famously friendly. It’s easy to get lost in the labyrinth but our Brilliant local guides can guide you through the city, recommend places to go, and talk you through the history of the town.
          Spend the evening feeding curious hyenas with the famous Hyena Man.
          Accommodation: Wonderland Hotel OR Similar
          Meals Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

          Day 4 – Awash National Park

          Drive from Harar to Awash National Park (approximately 6 hours). You’ll be taken to your lodge, adjacent to the dramatic Awash Falls. Along the southern flank of the park lies the dormant Fantale volcano, famous for a 4km long fissure which, in 1820, cascaded lava over the eastern side of the volcano and scarred it. You’ll see this, and evidence of 16th century settlements are still dotted on the volcano.

          Heading north, you’ll stop to take a relaxing dip in the hot springs which can reach 36⁰C. In the evening, you’ll be taken on a game drive to discover some of the park’s animal inhabitants. These include Soemmerring gazelles, Beisa oryx, and baboons. Lions and leopards have also been spotted here, so keep an eye out!
          Accommodation: Wonderland Hotel OR Similar
          Meals Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

          Day 5 – Awash National Park

          Spend the day exploring the incredible Awash National Park.
          Accommodation: Awash Falls Lodge OR Similar
          Meals Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

          Day 6: Semera

          In the morning, take a game drive through the Awash National Park. In the afternoon, drive to Semera, the capital city of the Afar region. This emerging city is striking, with modern apartment blocks and commercial buildings contrasting dramatically with the desert terrain. A short drive away lies Alal Obbad, where you can visit a number of colorful hot springs and geysers before returning to Semera for the afternoon. You’ll be staying at the Adga Hotel in Semera.
          Accommodation: Adga Hotel
          Meals Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

          Day 7 – Afdera

          Today starts with a drive to Afdera (approximately 2 hours). On the way you will visit some of the nomadic villages of the Afar region, recognizable by their traditional grass-built houses. After this you’ll be taken to the extraordinary landscape of Danakil Depression, the hottest place on earth. Visit Lake Afdera.

          The Danakil Depression is an absolute highlight of this tour. At 125 metres below sea level, it only gets 100-200ml of rainfall a year, and has the hottest average temperature of anywhere on the planet. It seems inhospitable but the Afar people live there. Stare into lava lakes, marvel at the stunning and alien hydrothermal fields and, throughout everything, try and convince yourself that you’re still on earth.
          Accommodation: Camping
          Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

          Day 8: Dodum

          In the morning you’ll drive from Afdera to Dodum, your gateway to the humbling Erta Ale volcano. This volcano remains active and is home to one of just six lava lakes in the world. The trek up Erta Ale begins in the evening, when the temperature is cooler. After a testing four hour trek up the volcano, you’ll marvel at your feat and the view, both inside the volcano to the lake. It’s known as a ‘window into Earth’s core’. The crater of Erta Ale is lit up by the glowing pool of lava. From just below the surface, luminous streaks of orange rock shoot around. You won’t want to tear yourself away from this truly life changing experience. You’ll spend the rest of the night here, sleeping at a basic camp a 20 minute walk away from the heat of the lake.
          Accommodation: Camping
          Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

          Day 9 – Dodum

          Enjoy the morning sunrise from atop Erta Ale and visit the north crater. Descend from Erta Ale at around 7AM to reach the base at Dodom for ~9AM. Have breakfast and relax at Dodom before heading on towards Hamed Ela.
          Accommodation: Camping
          Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

          Day 10: Dallol

          Drive from Hamed Ela to Dallol. En route, you’ll have the option to stop off at Lake Karum (also known as Lake Asale) a salt lake used to provide salt for the country.

          Dallol, one of the most isolated places on Earth, is home to the impressive Dallol Volcano. A stark contrast to Erta Ale, miniature geysers and hot springs freckle the hydrothermal fields of Dallol. The fantastic greens, reds, yellows, pinks, whites and blacks of the salt deposits are kaleidoscopic sights amidst the searing heat of this remote, alien landscape. Afterwards, drive to Gheralta.
          Accommodation: Gheralta Lodge
          Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

          Day 11 – Tigray

          Today is your last day on the tour which you can spend exploring the historical sites of Tigray. In the later afternoon, drive for 2 hours to Mekele to catch a flight back to Addis Ababa to connect with your international flight home.

          Request An Offer

            What’s Included?

            USD 3,291– Prices are per person based on 2 people travelling together. Prices guideline only, actual prices will depend on final itinerary, accommodation choices, and time of year. 
            Includes

            • Airport transfers and road transport around Addis Ababa and Harar by private minibus, including fuel, driver allowances and accommodation.
            • Road transport from day 4 until day 12 by standard 4WD with English speaking driver/ guide, including fuel, driver allowances and accommodation.
            • Support vehicle from day 7 until day 10.
            • Accommodation based on double/ twin room sharing.
            • Meal plan Breakfast and Dinner Full board (including mineral water) in Danakil.
            • Full camping equipment including tents, mattresses and sleeping bags for camping and trekking. Recommended to bring own sleeping bag.
            What’s Excluded?
            • Additional food and drinks
            • Personal expenses
            • Souvenirs