3 Days Danakil Depression Tour
Overview
Available languages
72 hours
Mobile ticket
The Danakil Depression 3-day tour is unique because it offers an unparalleled adventure through one of the world's most extreme environments. You'll explore the vibrant Dallol hydrothermal fields, hike up the active Erta Ale volcano, and witness the mesmerizing salt flats of Lake Asale. All with informative and entertaining tour staff.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
All necessary permits and entrance fees.
Experienced local guides
Air-conditioned vehicle
Excellent camping gears, mattress and, bedsheets.
Domestic Flights
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Semera Airport
Semera Ethiopia
Ardi Hotel
Semera Ethiopia
What To Expect
Semera - Erta ale
Accommodations
Overnight camping in open air Erta Ale, a billion-star
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Semera
At 8:00 AM, our guide and driver will pick you up from Semera Airport and take you for a short coffee and juice break in town. Semera serves as the capital of the Afar Regional State. Shortly after the coffee break, you will embark on a leisurely drive to Afdera.
Afdera serves as a prominent hub for salt production and distribution, situated at an impressive depth of -102 meters below sea level, making it one of the lowest points in the Danakil Depression. After enjoying lunch in this town, we will glimpse the nearby salt lake before indulging in a swim and float in its saline waters. Following this refreshing experience, we will proceed to visit the renowned Erta Ale volcano.
From Lake Afdera we will continue with a relaxed and leisurely drive to Erta Ale Volcano. You will arrive at the base camp around 6:00 p.m. From there, you will embark on a 30-minute hike to the rim of the Erta Ale volcano. After ample time exploring Erta Ale, one of the few active lava lakes in the world, we will set up camp near the rim to capture stunning sunrise photos. Overnight camping will be on the rim of the Erta Ale volcano.
Erta Ale - Ahmed Ela
Accommodations
Open air camping in Ahamedela village.
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
You will depart from base camp at 8am and y 4:00 PM you will arrive in Hamedela, a small town founded by salt miners. and once we unload the camping gear and our cook in this village we will continue to Lake Karum Salt flats.
You will experience a stunning sunset at Lake Asale, where the serene waters and unique salt flats create a breathtaking and unforgettable view. Witness the magnificent scene of camel caravans transporting salt to Ahmedela town, where they will spend the night before continuing to Mekele. At Lake Asale, our tour will host a small party, and shortly before sunset, we will drive back to Ahmedela for dinner and camping.
Dallol - Mekele
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
In early morning we will drive to visit Dallol for sunrise. Dallol is one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth, situated 130 meters below sea level. It is renowned for its otherworldly landscapes shaped by volcanic activity and vibrant mineral deposits.
The salt canyons west of Mount Dallol are characterized by bizarre towers and pinnacles, creating a unique and surreal landscape.
The Danakil Depression is full of volcanic activities in various forms and colors. Bubbling springs of hypersaline water dot the landscape near Dallol, with their striking black color likely due to dissolved potassium salts.
This saline pond is characterized by its turquoise color, a result of the minerals dissolved in the water. The pond's high temperature and salinity create a challenging environment for life, yet it supports extremophiles adapted to such harsh conditions.
Assa Ale is a vast salt flat situated 130 meters below sea level. Here, you'll witness timeless camel caravans crossing the desert to transport salt bricks made from Lake Asale. You will explore the Lake Asale salt flats and observe traditional salt excavation methods, offering a firsthand glimpse into the enduring practices of the local communities in this remarkable landscape.
Mek'ele
Finally we will drive back to Semera arriving in Semera Airport by 4pm. this concludes the tour. Alternatively we can take you to Mekele if you have plan to visit Tigray Mountain Churches, Axum and Lalibela.
Options
3 Days Danakil Depression Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
17 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing place and wonderful experience
mariasolp817,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My trip to Danakil Depression was fantastic. I visited the Danakil Depression depression, witness the falling rock into the crater, visited Salt Flats and the colorful salt formations of Dallol. The tour I booked was amazing. I'm a solo traveler, but I really enjoyed it, as you meet many solo travelers at the airport. We have a guide who helps us set up our tents and pack our gear. We also have a chef cook who prepares delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our guide is very friendly and makes sure we see beautiful places and that we have water and a mask with us. I arrive at Semera Airport and ended at Mekele Airport. On the way to the Danakil Depression, we saw beautiful places and met local nomads afar people. We slept outdoors in an open area under the dazzling sky. During the day, it's extremely hot, 42°C (108°F). But during the day, we only stay in the jeep most of the time, only getting out when we see beautiful spots to take quick photos. We also hike up the hills or to the volcano at sunset or before sunrise. In the evenings, the weather is so calm and not too warm that you can sleep well. Plus, there are no flies or mosquitoes, since there's no freshwater in the area, at the end of my trip Ayzak the owner of the tour company took me to the Local restaurant for dinner, thanks for the wonderful experience Ayzak
Unbelievably beautiful landscapes
Antonio C,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00This was my highlight in Ethiopia. The variety of natural landscapes in the Danakil depression and surroundings is just out of this world. Really must experience. The guides and drives were experience. Some language barrier but I was very well taken care of. Food was tasty and locally prepared. Sleeping is on the ground under the starts, as there is nothing else in the area. No showers to be expected, but I loved the dip and swim in the salt lakes. Cool experience. And the guides will offer fresh water afterwards. Currently it is not possible to see the lava at Erta Ale due to the collapse of a crater wall… maybe within some months or years… not a cheap tour, but overall, absolutely recommended !
Unique experience
Bruno S,
Jun 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful experience. Thanks to Isaac everything was perfect and the location is fantastic. Night camping on the volcano and night under the stars. The volcano with its active chimneys puffing smoke and letting the lava see inside. The night walk. Spectacle of nature
I say-You Leave as Someone Else
teamira,
May 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I love the colors, they are otherworldly. The salt flats, acid pools, and fiery lava seem like they belong to another planet. thanks to the tour provider, Great Ethiopian tours & travel, very professionals in deed and what i love most is the way they give attention to details, preparation, knowledge about the place and friendly vibe with the locals. i felt There are places that impress you, and then there are places that change you. Danakil meets u with both! I absolutely love it, and so do my friends! Definitely a place worth trying out.
Unforgettable experience
jdomansky,
Mar 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Forget your phone, forget a bed and move to prehistoric eras around craters of Erta Ale. Well organized, great guides, food and unforgettable experience. Thank you for that!
Danakil tour
jrostek,
Feb 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Highly recommend this tour, super guided, all perfect organised, great food, transport and unforgettable memories 👍🏻
Highly recommended
323wataruh,
Dec 25, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour. This tour contains every thing you have to see in Danakil. We were super lucky to see massive flow of lava and our tour guide was helpful enough to show those as close as possible, of course considering our safety as the highest priority.
Once in a lifetime experience!
huberflock,
Dec 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had had great time at the tour, Ert Ale, Dalol and all of Afar. You should definitely check it out. The tour organization and guides were awesome, we had aircon jeeps.
Otherworldly scenery
clarkc993,
Dec 20, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing experience! An absolutely must do tour during a trip to Ethiopia, I have not seen natural phenomena like this anywhere else in the world. The amount of lava flowing in the caldera was impressive, and our guide Aki was careful in ensuring our safety while at the same time finding a path that would let us get as close as possible to the lava for both the experience as well as photos. Camping under the stars by the volcano was a novel experience, allowing us to experience one of the most dramatic sunrises I have ever seen. The alien landscape and colorful pools at Dallol are also incredible, and have to be seen! The tour was very well organized, the drivers were safe, the food was delicious, and the guides were knowledgeable. I also appreciate Isaac's communication regarding the tour, as well as his kindness in meeting us the day before in Addis to both introduce himself and the local food and drinks (honey wine was certainly a new taste!) Not related to this specific tour, but Isaac was able to customize a one day extension to visit the mountain churches of Tigray (fun climbing and trekking for panoramic views)
A GREAT TRIP TO DANAKIL DEPRESSION
APARTHA,
Dec 17, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Danakil Depression trip was a memorable experience for us. Great view of the volcano, Lake Asale is a unique natural salt lake and Dallol is a great experience. The trip was memorable due to impeccable arrangement made by Isaac of Great Ethiopian Tours. He always communicated well so the expectation was aligned during the planning stage. The guide Bahiran, driver Kibatu and the cook Seloman made a great team to support us. They were very eager to cater all needs. The guide is knowledgeable and remained engaged. Seloman cooks extremely tasty food. Kibatu picked us up from Semera airport and brought us to Lake Afdera, where we met our guide. He conducted himself like an independent guide during this trip. He is extremely good and careful driver. Given the limited infrastructure support available in Afar region, timely information from the guide is always helpful to manage expectation. We were always at the spot at right time, be at Erta Ale, Lake Asale or Dallol. We highly recommend Isaac and Great Ethiopian Tours for Danakil Depression Tour as he has a very dedicated and knowledgeable team on the ground.
From US$450.00
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Operated by Great Ethiopian Tours