5-Day Expedition to Earth’s Hottest and Most Surreal Landscape
Afar Region, Northern Ethiopia
Individual or In Groups of 10+ People
Est 5 Days 4 Nights
Starting from:
$1817 - $3634
Itinerary Overview
The Danakil is considered the hottest inhabited place on Earth.

The Danakil Depression was formed by continental drift between the African and Asian tectonic plates. As the plates moved apart at a rate of 1 to 2 cm per year, a geological depression known as the Danakil Depression (or Afar Depression) was created, representing one of the most unusual landscapes on Earth.

It is home to salt lakes, lava lakes, volcanoes, and colorful acidic springs: a wonderfully alien environment.

The Danakil Depression is located at the triple junction between three tectonic plates.

The Afar Depression encompasses Djibouti, Eritrea, and the Afar region of Ethiopia. The northern part of this depression is the Danakil Depression, which lies more than 100 meters below sea level.

In addition to its fascinating geology, the Danakil holds the key to some of the most profound questions in biology. In 1974, researchers discovered the remains of "Lucy," a 3.2-million-year-old ancestor of modern humans (now on display at the National Museum in Addis Ababa), in the Danakil Depression. The acidic springs of the Dallol Crater have attracted scientists searching for extremophile microbes to understand the origins of life on Earth and the possibility of early life on Mars.
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Tour Plan
  • Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be greeted by our tour guides and transferred to your booked hotel. Most flights to Addis Ababa arrive in the morning, leaving the remaining hours of the day available for a city tour of Addis Ababa. Learn more here
If you arrive at night, the next day will be reserved for a full-day city tour of Addis Ababa.
  • Take an early flight to Semera Afar. Upon arrival, we will drive to the Erta Ale Base Camp. En route, we will stop for lunch in Afdera, known for its vicinity to the salt lake, where you can swim and float. Afterwards, we will take an unrushed drive to the Erta Ale Base Camp. We will spend the night near the Erta Ale volcano.
  • After breakfast, you'll leave the base camp in ErtaAle. You’ll reach Hamedela. From there, you'll travel to the salt marshes of Lake Asale to enjoy a breathtaking sunset and observe magnificent camel caravans transporting salt from Lake Asale. You'll spend the night in Hamedela.
  • On this day, you'll visit the colorful Dallol Mountain, observe camel caravans, explore the salt desert of Lake Asale, experience traditional salt production methods, see sulfuric acid pools, and have the opportunity to swim in the salt lake. Afterwards, we'll travel on new roads to Mekele to catch the return flight to Addis, and stay over night in Mekele city.
  • We travel to Mekele Airport according to our flight schedule and fly back to Addis Ababa.
Farewell Night
  • Upon arrival in the city, we'll have lunch (if we arrive early), rest a bit, and enjoy an early dinner in one of Ethiopia's best jazz or (reggae optional) lounges, or in one of the most beautiful dance and folklore houses with a traditional coffee ceremony. This concludes the five-day trip.
  • This trip can also be customized for one, two, or three days, with price adjustments, which may result in reduced payments.
Things to pack for the five-day Danakil Depression tour:
Torch Lights
Head lamps
Sandals
Sunscreen
Trekking shoes
Trekking pants
Trekking shorts and light clothes
What's Included:
Hotel and Lodge Fees
Cooking Team
Tents
Air fair for domestic flights
Pickup and drop-off services
Private transportation (fuel included)
Entrance fees to all listed sites
Professional English-speaking tour guide
Lunch, dinner, hot drinks and bottled water
Not Included
Alchoholic Drinks Not Listed On The Package
Tips and Gratitude
Customers Reviews

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FAQs
It is one of the hottest inhabited places on Earth, featuring salt lakes, lava lakes, volcanoes, and colorful acidic springs in a geological rift formed by three tectonic plates.
The ideal visiting season is during the cooler months from November to February.
Essentials include trekking shoes, light clothing, sunscreen, torch/headlamps, and sandals for salt lake swimming.
Signal connection is weak or nonexistent in most areas, so expect to be off-the-grid during your visit.
Pricing
5-Day Denakil Depression Tour
Number of People
Price per Person
Individual:
$3634
Group of 2:
$2725
Group of 3:
$2452
Group of 4 to 9:
$2206
Group of 10+:
$1817
(Discounted Prices From 25% up-to 50% For Groups) Book Now
Tour Infomation
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