3 Days Danakil Depression Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 days
Mobile ticket
The Danakil Depression is the northern part of the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression in Ethiopia, a geological depression that has resulted from the divergence of three tectonic plates in the Horn of Africa.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What To Expect
Danakil Day 1
Accommodations
Overnight camping at the volcano
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Erta Ale
We start our day by driving to Erta Ale (which means smoky mountain in Afar language). Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. It is 613 meters, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century. (may not be as active as before and activity at flank eruption slows down.) We start early 9:00 AM, drive to Dodom (at the base of Erta Ale). This is may be one of the roughest roads in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs passing through changing the landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm-lined oasis. After passing several small hamlets scattered here and there in this deserted land, you will arrive at Dodom camping site, located about 17km from Erta Ale. Dinner will be served around 17:00 o’clock. After a short break, trek up to Ertale at 20:00 hours. Camels will be transporting all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mat and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. You will spend the night on top of the mountain, at the rim of the Volcano.
Dallol Day 2
Accommodations
Overnight camping at Hamed ela
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Erta Ale
Early Morning sunrise at the northern one corresponds to the main pit crater and walk 5 minutes for the southern and central pits could either corresponds to an ancient pit, or to a simple collapse structure. The main pit-crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three-storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. Descend from Erta Ale around 9 am Dodom – Leave back to Dodom after an early breakfast, if possible at 07:00 o’clock. You will reach the latest at 10:30 o’clock at the camp, where you will be relaxing. As soon as possible, drive to reach the mythical Lake Giulietti (or Lake Afrera)(optional may not be available during summer time), a saltwater lake located more than100 meters below sea level, in one of the deepest depressions of the planet. Because of the picturesque landscape, it is interesting to visit the salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the water of the lake., continue to Erbiti and proceed Abaala/ Hamed ela
Sunrise at salt lake
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
Danakil Depression
Morning tour Drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look the activity of workers breaking salts from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans (No camel caravan on July, August, and early September) and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to semera and fly back to addis. End of Danakil tour
What‘s Included
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Permits
All enterance fees
Any alcholic drinks
Any personal Item like internet , fax, telephone
Pickup points
LEVA Afar Semera Resort
Main Road, Airport Highway House Number 17 Semera Ethiopia
Semera Airport
Semera Ethiopia
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Options
3 Days Danakil Depression Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
161 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
3-Day Danakil Tour (Afdera Lake, Erta Ale, Eskah Pool, Dallol)
G1536BOericb,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I did the 3 day Dankil Tour and truely loved it. The sight were amazing and came back with a tonne of amazing pictures. Unfortunately, Erta Ale wasn't active at the time of our tour (May 2026), as a landslide covered the lava, but the sight was still amazing and worth the detour. Our guide (Aman) was full of energy and help us better understand the area. As mentioned above, the tour was amazing, but I must warn that it is also fairly difficult. The heat of the Danakil is intense, so be ready for it. If you can freeze water bottle before the tour, that will come in handy during your second day.
Wonderful
R290YA,May 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amani is nice guy. And it was wonderful ❤️
3 days Danikil depression
trishalm2022,May 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I joined the 3-day Danakil Depression tour and had an amazing experience from start to finish. Our guide, Aman, was absolutely fantastic, knowledgeable, helpful, patient, and always making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying the trip. He went above and beyond throughout the tour and made the whole experience much more enjoyable. Our driver, Awet, was superb , he was very skilled, kind, and professional. The roads and conditions can be challenging, but we always felt safe with him driving. The chef, Hadgu, prepared so much delicious food during the trip. We were genuinely impressed by the quality and variety of meals, especially considering the remote location. The Danakil Depression itself was unforgettable breathtaking landscapes, unique experiences, and incredible scenery unlike anywhere else in the world. The whole team worked hard to make the tour comfortable, fun, and memorable. Overall, it was a superb trip and one of the highlights of my travels. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Danakil Depression.
Awesome
hanakoo485,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was really great, and I experienced so many things I had never done before. The tour itself was amazing, but our guide, Aman, made it even better. He was really kind and cared about us all the time :) Our cool driver, Abiti, was the best! He drove very well and was so kind and funny. I felt lucky to have him as our driver. The food during the tour was also great. Our cook, Awet, was very kind and made us delicious meals. I really appreciate all of them. Thanks to them, my family and I had an amazing experience! If you are considering joining this tour, I truly recommend it. Thank you so much again!
素晴らしい体験
W2457FZ ,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Aman was our guide for the Danakil tour. The journey was far harsher than I had imagined, but Aman was always there to hold my hand and support me whenever the path became dangerous or difficult. Even during the most physically challenging moments, he constantly encouraged me with kindness and showed such thoughtful care throughout the trip. Because of him, I felt safe and was able to continue and truly enjoy this incredible journey until the very end. This was not only a trip to see extraordinary landscapes, but also a journey where I experienced genuine human kindness and felt deeply moved. I am truly grateful for Aman’s kindness, responsibility, and compassion. I will never forget this experience. Thank you so much for everything. Abiti was an incredible driver throughout our Danakil tour. His driving skills were truly outstanding. Even on rough and difficult roads, he carefully chose the best possible route to reduce vibration and make the ride as comfortable as possible. I was amazed by how perfectly he handled the vehicle in such extreme conditions. He was always thoughtful and attentive — checking if we were too hot, making sure we could get in and out of the car safely, and constantly looking out for us in small but meaningful ways. I could genuinely feel his kindness and care throughout the journey. He also had a wonderful sense of humor and always tried to make us laugh and enjoy the experience even more. His positive energy brought so much joy to our trip. Thanks to Abiti, this adventure became even more special and unforgettable. Thank you so much for your kindness, professionalism, and care. Honestly, I had no expectations for the meals during the tour. Because of the harsh environment, I was prepared for food that I might not even be able to eat. But my expectations were completely proven wrong. Awet prepared truly delicious meals every day, and the soup was absolutely amazing‼️ I usually cannot eat very much, but it was so good that I even asked for seconds. Every morning, Awet started cooking incredibly early, while everyone else was still asleep. I was deeply touched by the hard work and care behind every meal. During such a challenging journey, those warm and delicious meals brought us comfort, happiness, and energy. Thank you so much, Awet, for your wonderful cooking and kindness.
Amazing Camping Trip in Ethiopia!
N5840VNjordank,May 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an absolute incredible trip. It’s a tough trip, the environment, the temperature, the driving is hard and extreme but with great effort comes great reward. They took care of everything. It’s like going on an incredible camping trip, where they take care of everything, but you’ll leave with incredible memories and pictures. My driver, Berihu, is incredible and talented. Much respect to him for safely driving all of the hours. Chef Awet kept us fed throughout the trip. Aman, our guide, always made sure we were safe and comfortable. The whole team made the trip special. A unforgettable camping trip. 5 stars!
An Unforgettable Experience in Danakil Depression
jorgeaE1344SC,May 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A unique place in the world. I absolutely loved the experience, the activities and our guide Aman. The driver Berihu was amazing and the chef Awet was the best. 100% recommended experience. I will never forget it.
Perfecto
diegoaK4943DT,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything great. We had a reaaally great time around here and the landscape are CRAZY beautiful. We enjoyed like kids. People also had treated us really well. Specially Aman, the guide, and the Driver, berihu. The food was also quite good so thanks Cheff!
Unforgettable
Q4267MVjoshuaw,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An unforgettable trip to Dallol, Danakil Depression, and Erta Ale. A huge thank you to Guide Aman for being knowledgeable, friendly, and making the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. Chef Angesom prepared amazing food throughout the trip, which was impressive especially in such extreme conditions. Special thanks as well to drivers Abiti and Mowael for their professionalism, safe driving, and support during the journey across the desert terrain. Everything was very well organized, and the experience was truly once in a lifetime. Highly recommended!
Great experience!
elstorc,Apr 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Asresahegn Molla Andarge (Asre) was a great guide. I will say I wasn’t fully prepared for this trip because I booked it last minute. The tour guide and driver helped provide everything I needed. We got very lucky with the weather as it was not too hot this time of year. Some highlights of this trip were the salt flats, the colorful danakil depression, and the hot water springs. For the volcano we could not see any lava but it was still nice to hike up at sunrise and sunset. My advice is to bring a hat and scarf to cover your face at times the depression smells like sulfur and the volcano does as well. Another piece of advice is to bring some snacks for the long car rides. The difference in terrain was like something out of a movie! I was paired up with other solo travelers and we had a great time. Would definitely book with ETT again.
From US$450.00
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Operated by Ethio Travel And Tours