Danakil Depression And Volcano

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3 Days From

~~$500~~

$476

Danakil Depression And Volcano

3 Days Starting and ending in Samara, Samara Airport, Semera, Ethiopia

Visiting: Dallol Depression ዳሎል መታሕት, Erta Ale, Afdera, Semera

Tour operator:

Armaye Ethiopia Tours

Tour code:

AET004

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

10 - 18

Physical rating:

Medium

Age range:

15-85

Special diets catered:

HalalVegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Private Available:

From: $500 $476 Travel Club discount: -$24

NB: Prices correct on 21-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Explore Danakil depression and Era Ale Volcano In 2 night 3 Days. Journey north and discover the alien landscapes of Dallol, the bubbling lava lakes of Erta Ale, and watch the sun go down over Lake Afrera. This remote area in Northern Ethiopia features extraordinary geological formations including its active volcanoes. In contrast to the cool, temperate Ethiopian highlands, the Danakil Depression is one of the lowest, driest, and hottest places on earth. Starting and ending in Addis Ababa, your tour includes three days in the world-famous Danakil Depression as well as a variety of cultural experiences along the way.

Highlights

Visit Dallol A volcanic crater with a variety of colors, including red, green, and yellow, from acidic hot springs and salt deposits
Lake Asale; A striking hypersaline lake that's one of the most visually striking lakes in the World
Salt pans Miles of salt pans where local people manually extract salt from the ground and transport it back to Mekele by camel caravan
Erta Ale The world's lowest-lying volcano and one of only six active lava lakes on Earth

Places You'll See

Dallol

Ertaale Volcano

Dallol

Ertaale Volcano

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Arrival To Semera Airport

Location: Semera Airport (Sultan Alimirah Hanfare Airport ), Dallol Depression ዳሎል መታሕት

Accommodation: Camp

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Meet the group at Semera town where the Danakil Depression tour is organized. On arrival at Semera, meet your guide who will brief you about general Ethiopian geology and about the whole program then begin your adventure to Danakil Depression. Enroot stop for lunch at Afdera town where the biggest Afdera lake is and salt mining take place. Then proceed your drive down to one of the lowest point in the world. Evening we will arrive at Ahmedela, a small settlement where the salt caravans meet before their long walk to other towns. You’ll stay overnight in open air Camping counting thousands of stars.
Overnight Open Air Camping 125mbsl.

Day 2 : Ahmedela - Dallol - Erta'ale

Location: Erta Ale

Accommodation: Camp

Accommodation Name: Ertale Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early morning before breakfast we drive to Dallol with Salt Domes and colourful geothermal pools. Dallol is like nowhere else; a bizarre landscape of colourful mineral deposits, sulphur pools and geysers, where we’ll have the morning to explore this seemingly alien terrain. We will also visit the bizarre landscape of the salt canyons before making our way towards Erta’ale, where en route we may get the chance to see the arduous work of salt being extracted by hand and loaded onto the camels. About1,200 km2 of the Danakil Depression is covered by salt. On the afternoon we will proceed our drive to Erta’ale. After relaxed light dinner, we will have about 30 Minutes walk to the Summit crater of Erta Ale volcano lake, visit Erta’ale volcano then back to the camp for overnight.
Overnight Open air camping.

Day 3 : Erta'ale - Semera

Location: Erta Ale, Afdera, Semera

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early morning, we hike back to the top of the crater to visit the volcanic activities for the second time before sun rise. After that, descend from the top of the crater down to camp site for breakfast. After breakfast start driving back to Semera with optional stop at Lake Afdera for a nice swim in the lake and nearby hotspring. Late afternoon you can fly back to Addis Ababa.

What's Included

Accommodation

Open Air Camping
Airport Transfers at Destination

In and out airport transfer from Semera
Fully Guided

Fully guided by professional Tour guides
Meals

2 breakfast, 3 Lunch, 2 Dinner
Transport

4Wd vehicles

What's Not Included

Additional Services

Tips and gratitude Flight fee from and to Semera Miscellaneous expenses – alcoholic drinks, souvenirs etc.

Services which are not mentioned in service Include
Insurance
International Travel

Optional Extras

Mode of Transport

4WD vehicles

Accommodation

Open Air Camping

Check out our Q&As

Are airport transfers included in this tour?

Yes in and out airport transfers are included in the cost.
Are all entrance fees included in the price?

Yes all entrance and admission's are included
Are flights included in this tour?

No flights from and to Semera town are not included
Do you require a visa for this holiday?

Yes you require visa for this tour
What currencies are required for this tour?

USD,EURO,POUND

How to get there

Most travelers fly into Semera, the gateway town to the Danakil Depression, and then take a 3–4 hour drive into the desert.
What to expect

Tours typically include visits to Dallol, Erta Ale volcano, Afrera and Asale salt lakes, and salt pans. Accommodation is basic, with thin mattresses on makeshift wooden bed frames or on the crater rim of a volcano.
When to go

The best time to visit is between November and February, when daytime temperatures are around 35°C.
Do I need a visa?

Yes, you do need a visa to travel to Ethiopia. Tourist visas (available for one or three months, single entry) are available upon arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. Tourist visas are available in the following link. Please note there are other websites that are not official and may charge extra fee for issuing tourist visas to Ethiopia. Electronic visas are available for tourists from most of European countries as well as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Japan, Korea, India, China and Russia. Applications can be made online at www.evisa.gov.et. Please note the following is required: Arrival information Personal details A passport size photo A copy of your scanned passport (passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you intend to travel to Ethiopia.) Non-refundable payment fee (MasterCard, Visa and American Express are accepted) It is also possible to obtain a business visa of up to three months validity upon arrival with the prior arrangements made by the sponsoring organisation in Ethiopia. The visa extension fees are currently $100 for a one month extension (first time), $150 for a fifteen days extension (second time) and $200 for a 10 days extension (third time). If the traveller’s visa expires before their departure, they will be required to obtain a visa extension at the Immigration Office in Addis Ababa. There is an overstay penalty fee of $5 a day from one to fifteen days and $10 a day after fifteen days. In such cases, the traveller may also be required to pay a penalty of up to 4,000 ETB ($300) before being allowed to leave Ethiopia.
What is the best time to travel?

If you want my opinion, the months that are most preferable to travel to Ethiopia would be September and October as this time of the year offers a particularly beautiful landscape since it follows the rainy season (June and August). During this period, the whole country is covered with a mantle of flowers of thousands of colors that bring a beauty to the already magical landscape. Let's just say it's the Ethiopian Spring. However, do not fear if you can not visit the country at this time, it just adds an extra beauty to the view but Ethiopia can be breath-taking at any time of the year.
What should I pack?

In Ethiopia, there are certain things that are difficult to find, especially if you are travelling through rural areas. Therefore, it is very important to be pack thoroughly. The first thing you should keep in mind when packing your suitcase is including a first-aid kit with the following items: Mosquito repellent and sprays High SPF sunscreen and sunglasses Antihistamine Antiseptic cream for insect bites Plasters Anti diarrhoea pills Saline solutions in case of severe dehydration Contact lens liquid Besides the first-aid kit mentioned above, it is advisable to include in your bag the following items: Light clothes for the daytime and a good sweater or pullover for the evening Sandals and a good pair of shoes (specially during the rainy season to deal with muddy pathways) A discrete wallet or money belt and a small bag to carry your camera and phone A rainy jacket and umbrella if travelling during the rainy season (June to September) A warm sleeping bag if you are thinking of sleeping in campsites A hat and sunglasses to avoid long sun exposure If you are thinking of donating your personal stuff we kindly advise to do it at your discretion and avoid uncomfortable situations on the street, especially with children. We recommend you to contact a local NGO in advance so they can relocate your things in a sustainable way.
How long has the tour company been trading?

We have been in the business for more than 10 years

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Brian Matthews Uk

Finding a reliable local tour operator

06-Sep-2019

Armaye Negalign is an enterprising young man from the Bale Mountains, with a good understanding about the history, culture and geography of his country. He is especially knowledgeable about birds and most importantly, he is reliable and honest. My wife and I are in our sixties and more used to making our own travel arrangements but coordination in Africa requires some local help. When I first contacted a number of tour operators about a three week trip to Ethiopia, Armaye was the only one who paid careful attention to what I said we wanted to do and reverted with considered suggestions. After a couple of more exchanges I concluded that I could safely leave it to him to plan the detailed itinerary. He sensibly proposed allowing some flexibility over the order of travel as we had chosen to go at the end of the rainy season. Our trust was well rewarded as he arranged a comprehensive trip accompanied by a superb driver, Kinfe, who not only took immense care of us but also had a great sense of humour. During three weeks, we covered both the northern and southern circuits and also ventured into the Danakil. We intend to return to explore more of this beguiling country and when we do we shall go back to Armaye. I would also be happy to speak to anyone setting up a visit to Ethiopia.

Philippe Jeanty USA

A superb trip, very professional

01-Jun-2019

We just finished a 4 days tour with Armaye and enjoyed it very much! He and his driver Kinfe are excellent. We did a loop to the north to see the Gelada monkeys and a longer part to the South to see the Bale mountains. Armaye is a great guy! Very knowledgeable fun helpful good wildlife spotter. We saw a lot of gelada, Ethiopian wolf (we saw 4!!! And in beautiful light for pictures), giant mole rats, birds... We also saw many village, not as tourist with no contact with locals but as tourists introduce but our guide. In particular I was impressed by the construction technique for the bamboo houses and we spend some happy times learning about they construction. We ate at plenty of fun little restaurants that if I had traveled on my own I wouldn't even have recognized as restaurant!! The only bad part was not his fault! This was low season and the good hotel was under renovation so we went to the only other hotel that was very much substandard. That is over price one has to pay to visit far corners of the world. Eventually the pleasure of the whole trip totally compensate for the hotel. Kinfe the driver was really excellent. A master at dodging potholes, a great wildlife spotter, a fun guy (he taught me how to shake hands and bump shoulders 😂 like an Ethiopian!), and always a helping hand. I really wished I could give them 7 out of 5 stars !! I highly recommend them!!

simpsons Uk

Armaye Ethiopia Tours - Above and beyond all expectations!

06-Sep-2020

Armaye was recommended by good friends when we were planning a trip to Ethiopia, and I would recommend his company to anyone interested in an independent tour of this very beautiful country. From first contact we found Armaye exceptionally professional, his knowledge and advice to be immensely helpful, and as soon as we met at the airport - with the wonderful Kinfe - our driver for the trip, we knew we were with friends. Seeing Ethiopia through their eyes, guiding us throughout with enthusiasm and humour, really made our visit so very special. Along the way we were introduced to local guides and leaders and enjoyed many adventures - taking time on Lake Tana visiting the monasteries, seeing hippos bathing! Walking in the Simien mountains with some truly amazing views and time spent watching Gelada monkeys. Castles in Gondar; the holy city of Axum and it’s magnificent stelae, taking part in the Mehelela procession by candlelight before dawn was so very well worth the early start, an experience that will remain in my memory forevermore. On to the rock churches in the Gheralta mountains and Lalibela, with an overnight stay camping near the Danakil depression. Just incredible, highlight after highlight, and throughout we were looked after like family by Armaye and Kinfe. Thank you both for everything you did for us, you remain affectionately in my heart and I do hope that one day we will be able to return and visit again with you.

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~~$500~~ $476