13 Days Private Ethiopia Tour

13 Days Private Ethiopia Tour

Highlights of Ethiopia

Itinerary

Day 1: Drive through the desert and visit camel caravans in Afar region

Stop At: Dalol, Dallol, 135 Ethiopia
Drive early Morning from Mekele through a magnificent landscape down to the Afar Valley. We enter to Afar, dry and desert region with one of the earth’s active volcanoes. In Berhele, a small village in Afar, we meet our local tour guide and scouts who will accompany us on our tour to the Danakil & Erta Ale for the next four days. We continue driving in the desert. In the late afternoon, we reach the villages of the Afar people and meet camel caravans. They transport salt bars from the salt mining place called Dallol to nearby regions.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping

Day 2: Visit Danakil Depression & Lake Asale

Stop At: Dalol, Dallol, 135 Ethiopia
Today another highlight of the tour awaits us, the visit of the Danakil Depression. According to geologists, the Danakil is part of the Afar Triangle formed as a result of earth’s tectonic movement when Africa and Asia were moving apart million years ago. It is one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on earth. Parts of which are up to 116 m below sea level, which makes it one of the lowest place on earth. The temperature in the afternoon can be over 50 ° C.

There are many hot springs which are rich in sulfur, potassium carbon and salt. The mix of all these minerals makes the rocks colorful and the area very spectacular. Some people call the area as color factory and Mars on earth because of the different colors of rocks.

We continue our tour to Lake Asale also known as Lake Karum. Here we visit a century-old salt mine. We will see men and women making a salt bar traditionally. After visiting a salt cave, which is known as the “Salt New York” at the Afar, we go to our camp.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping

Day 3: Climb to Erta Ale – Active Volcano

Stop At: Erta Ale, Active volicano Afar, mekele, 6611 Ethiopia
After breakfast, we drive to Erta Ale and enjoy the desert. On the way, we stop in a small village to meet the head of a community, and we eat lunch on his property. Then we continue our tour to Dodom.

There the active volcano Erta Ale awaits us. Erta Ale rises 50 meters wide and 600 meters above sea level. It is one of the few volcanoes in the world with a permanent lava lake. In the language of Afar, Erta means “Smoking Mountain.” Its southernmost point is known as the “gateway to hell.” Although the last major volcanic eruption in the area was in 2005, the lava keeps flowing out in some year after.

At sunset, we start our ascent to the crater of the volcano. When we arrive, we will be rewarded with a breathtaking view. The lava eruptions are spectacular and incredibly colorful. After enjoying the lava dance, we go back to the camp (hike in total approx. 4 h).
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping

Day 4: Erta Ale in the morning the Drive back to Mekele

Stop At: Erta Ale, Active volicano Afar, mekele, 6611 Ethiopia
Today we get up early in the morning to enjoy an incredible view of boiling lava. Then we hike to Dodom. Afterwards, we drive to Mekele (280 km), the capital city of the province of Tigray. Today will be our last drive from Afar desert. We will have stops in between for a picnic lunch and visit the Afar villages and people.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.