3-Day Danakil Depression Tour: Erta Ale Lava Lake & Salt Mines

Travel through shifting tectonic plates and sleep where earth’s crust splits open

A 3-day tour from Mek'ele into the Danakil Depression, Ethiopia's most remote geological zone, with a driver and English-speaking guide. Day one ends at Erta Ale's rim watching the world's only permanent lava lake glow through the night. Day two descends to Dallol, 116 meters below sea level, and Lake Assal. Day three follows salt miners and camel caravans across the flats before returning to Mek'ele.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Drive and trek to Erta Ale volcano

• Drive to Dodom base camp
• Dinner at Dodom campsite
• Trek to Erta Ale rim
• Overnight camping at volcano rim

Day 2: Visit Dallol and Lake Giulietti

• Sunrise at northern pit crater
• Descend from Erta Ale to Dodom
• Drive to Lake Giulietti salt flats
• Visit Erbiti and Abaala/Hamed Ela
• Overnight camping at Hamed Ela

Day 3: Salt mining and return to Mekele

• Drive to Ragad salt mining site
• Visit Dallol volcanic landscape
• Visit Lake Assal and camel caravans
• Walk with Afar people
• Drive back to Hamed Ela
• Return to Mekele

The experience

The journey starts at 9 AM from Mek'ele with an 80-kilometer drive to Dodom, the base camp below Erta Ale. The road is rough (solidified lava, rock and sand), and takes roughly six hours, passing through scattered hamlets and occasional palm-lined oases in otherwise empty terrain. Camels carry your sleeping materials and water to the volcano's rim while you trek up at 8 PM. You spend the night at the summit watching the lava lake's glow, one of only five permanent lava lakes on Earth and the longest-existing one, present since the early twentieth century.

Day two starts before sunrise at the crater rim, then descends around 9 AM. After breakfast at Dodom, you drive to Lake Giulietti (also called Lake Afrera), a saltwater lake more than 100 meters below sea level, set in one of the planet's deepest depressions. The landscape shifts as you continue toward Hmed Ela, where you camp overnight.

The final morning takes you to Ragad, where Afar workers break salt from the ground, cut it into rectangular blocks and load it onto camels. You then drive to Dallol, 116 meters below sea level and one of the lowest places in the world, to see the colorful salt formations created by volcanic activity. You walk with Afar people across the salt flats, follow camel caravans (absent July through early September), and visit Lake Assal before the drive back to Mek'ele ends the tour.

What’s included

• Driver and English-speaking guide.
• all fees and taxes.
• bottled water.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the road sections.
• breakfast each morning.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 75 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Guide to Addis

Is this one for you?Pickup is included from Mek'ele, so you don't need a car or local transport to reach the Danakil. The tour handles the entire 80-kilometer drive to Dodom and back. The fixed three-day schedule fits the volcano night, the descent to Dallol, and the salt flats into one continuous push from the city, which matters if you have limited time in Ethiopia.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years). Children under 13 can't be included in the booking.

What is Erta Ale and why does the tour spend a night there?

Erta Ale is a shield volcano with a permanent lava lake at its 613-meter summit: one of only five in the world and the longest-existing one. The tour climbs to the rim at night so you can watch the lava glow through the darkness from the volcano's edge.

How rough is the road to Dodom, and what should I expect on the drive?

The 80-kilometer road is among the roughest in the world and takes roughly six hours. You pass through landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm-lined oases, with small hamlets scattered across otherwise empty terrain.

What happens at Dallol and why is it significant?

Dallol sits 116 meters below sea level, making it one of the lowest places on Earth. The site shows colorful salt formations created by volcanic activity, and you walk the salt flats and see Lake Assal while observing Afar miners and camel caravans at work.

What do I need to bring or know before booking this tour?

The tour requires a high level of physical fitness due to the rough terrain, altitude changes and early starts. Children are welcome from age 13. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health. Camels carry sleeping materials and water to Erta Ale's rim, so you trek with a light pack.

Does the tour include meals and water?

Breakfast is included each day. Bottled water is provided throughout. Dinner is served around 5 PM on day one at Dodom camp.