Program-Ertale and the Dallol Depression

Information About the package
Tour Duration: 10 days
Group Size: 8 people
Destination(s): Ertale and the Dallol depression
Activities Sightseeing  and trekking
Season: October - February
Airfare Included: Yes,only domestic flight from Mekelle to Addis Ababa
Tour Customizable: Yes,only in accordance to a group’s inquiry so feel free to ask for any extra services.
Minimum Per Person Price: 1370 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1370 US Dollar (USD)
Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa 

• On arrival from international flight our representative will be waiting     in Addis Ababa Airport for the transfer to hotel Depending on arrival time sightseeing of the capital Addis
• Overnight Hotel

Day 2: Addis Ababa - Bilen (village of Afar people).

• Visit the near by village of Afar pastoralists. Bilen village is a village of the Afar nomadic pastoralists who are completely dependent on their cattle and camels. The village is very traditional with portable grass made houses the nomads use when they move with their cattle in search of grass and water. We spend the day visiting life of the village. We do this walking in the village looking the house style, visiting in to some houses, looking the Afar women milking animals, preparing their traditional food, and many other activities. More over, in the early evening the Afar boys and girls do their cultural song and dance on the field near to the village. Our camp site is near to the local village under acacia trees and this gives greater chance to see all the life of the localities.
• Over night camping.

Day 3: Bilen-Alo loped-Logia 

• Drive to Logia visiting on the way Aloloped where we can see a Mud volcano, a Geyser and many other water formations.Continue driving to Logia for over night.     
• Overnight Hotel in Logia

Day 4: Logia - Afdera (arrangement of permission paper and police to go for the trip with us).

• Afdera is one of the famous salt mines in the country. After cheek in to Hora Hor Hotel we walk to the salt mine to see local people do their daily business. Lake Afdera is about 100km square highly saline body of water fed by the abundant thermal springs. Afdera is 103 meters below sea level and registered as one of the five lowest place in the world.

Day 5: Afdera- Kursawad-Ertale

• Drive to Kursawad for lunch and for an arrangement of the camels to carry our materials for the trekking to Mount Erta Ale. This is done through the local cheif of the Afar nomadic tribe. After lunch having some rest, we start the drive in the early afternoon to El Dom (at the base of Erta Ale). El Dom is about 17 kms from Erta Ale and it takes about 3 hours trekking to reach to the rim of the volcano. Early dinner around 1730 or 1800 and trek up to Ertale. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and math and water) to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1 km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake.
• Over night under the stars at the rim of the volcano

Day 6: Ertale

• A whole day and night visit to the smoking lavv lake and the boiling lava lake.
• Over night under the stars at the rim of the volcano

Day 7: Return from Ertale to the base camp,

• Leave after an early breakfast, if possible at 06:30. You will reach late at 10:30am at the camp, time to relax, have lunch, then drive to Hamedela for the night.
• This is may be one of the worst roads in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 5 hours passing through challenging landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and occasional palm lined oasis. After you pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert land, we will reach Hamed Ela, better village with a total population about 500 people.
• Over night camping under the stars in Hamedela

Day 8: Hamedela-Dallol- Hamedela

• Hamed Ela is a spring boards for the visit of Dalol depression and the salt mine. It is located on the caravan track. After breakfast, drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look the activity of breaking the salt from the ground, cutting in to rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dalol and visit the different landscape formed by volcanic activity, back to Hamad Ela  
• Over night camping under the stars in Hamedela

Day 9: Hamad Ela - Barahale - Makale.

• The drive is to get out of the Danakil depression. You pass through a small town of Berhale where the camel caravans stop before they proceed to the northern highlands. En route you see many long camel caravans coming to the salt mine and others going out the Danakil with their salt loaded camels. Arrive Makale which was once the capital city of Ethiopia. It is now one of the big towns in the country. Depending on the time, we can visit the Museum in Makale, which was originally the palace of Emperor Yohanes of 18th century.
• Over night Hotel in Mekele

Day 10 Fly back to Addis.

• Evening traditional dinner with interesting traditional music & dances.
• Transfer to Airport

Our price includes the following services
•  All Airport transfers
•  extra vehicle to transport the stuff, for luggage, camping equipments, for the stuffs, for food and water
•  Expert multi-lingual tour leader and mechanical support
•  single occupancy accommodation (Single tent and single room)
•  Camping fees, camping equipment, preparation of campsite
•  dinner on the departure day; every other day breakfast, lunch and dinner with six litters of bottled mineral water
•  Payments to Armed guard escort (police and military), Cook and drivers
•  Entry fees to parks and other sites
•  Local guides and local fees/taxes
•  Satellite phone for use in case of emergency, GPS and medical kit.
•  Camel and camel men payments
• Hotel in Mekele
• Internal flight
Our price excludes the following services
•Refreshiments( Soft drinks and beers
•  Personal items
•  Passport and visa fees
•  Laundry
•  Telephone calls
•  Room service
•  Travel insurance
•  Personal and Accident insurance and medical expenses
•  Emergency evacuation/Hospitalization
•  Tips for drivers, cook and your guide
•  Hotel in Addis Ababa

IMPORTANT NOTES
*Reservations need to be done two months prior to your arrival.
Nevertheless take note there is a limit of visitors per day so I suggest you to book the trip as soon as possible to guarantee your spots.

Would you like to book this tour? Please contact us and ask availabilities.