4 Days Mekelle to Erta ale Holiday Package

After having a breakfast you will drive to Hamed Ela (180 Km from Mekelle) via Berehaile. On arrival at Berehaile, you will pick up mandatory police, scouts, road guides, and permits for the Afar region. On your way you will notice striking changes in scenery as you drop from 2,220 elevation to below sea level, the Dankile depression begins here. It is one of the most inhospitable regions of the world, but is nonetheless spectacular, full of eye-catching colors, as in the sulphur springs. The desert has several points lying more than 100 meters (328 ft) below sea level. En route you will see many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels.Overnight stay camping at Hamed Ela.

Early in the morning after having a breakfast you will have a day trip to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the salts are mined. Observe the breaking of the salt from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces and loading on camels. Then you drive ahead to Dallol(116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol includes the Sulfur lake , Salt mountain, colourfull hot spring water, and Camel Caravan. Later back to Hamed Ela for lunch. After lunch & brief break you will drive to Abala (150Km asphalt road 3hrs). Abala is small settlement & with moderate temperature, and basic accmmodation with shower. Upon arrival check in local hotel. Rest, relax, and dinner. Overnight stay local hotel Hamed Ela.

After having an early breakfast (possible at 06:30) you will drive to Erta ale, (195Km from Abala). Up on arrival at Dodom take rest, relax & fill your energy for trek to Erta ale (17Km from Dodom) that takes approximately 3 hrs trekking. Early dinner around 17:00 then as the sun sets, you leave behind the cars, use Camel to transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses, mat and water) to the rim of the volcano,where you spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boilinglava. Erta ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shieldvolcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at itssummit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake.Overnight at the rim of the Volcano.

Early the next morning, you will descend from Mount Erta ale, returning to the base camp Dodom for a well-earned breakfast. After having a breakfast & brief break you will drive to Mekele (240 Km from Erta ale) via the small towns of Habala and Erepti.