Expedition to Danakil Depression and Erta’ale Volcanoes
Code: PET 107- Expedition to Danakil Depression and Erta’ale Volcanoes – Northeast Ethiopia
Focus: Afar tribal village, Shield Volcanoes, Great Rift Valley, Lowest and hottest place in the world.
Duration: 8 days/ 7 nights
Transport: Surface/Air
Highlight: This trip takes you Awash National Park- famous for its wildlife and spectacular Awash River Falls, Dallol or Danakil Depression- One of the remotest, the lowest and unique land formation of the world in the great rift valley system, still this part of the earth is unstable and pulling each other to the opposite side and it is 116 meters below sea level, Erta Ale is one of the few volcanoes on the world that have an almost persistent lava lake. It is an isolated basaltic shield volcano, 50 km wide, rising more than 600 m from below sea level in the barren Danakil depression, the salt lakes of Afdera and Asale, and to the tribal villages of the nomadic Afar people. In this region, the climate varies from around 25 0 C (77 0 F) during the rainy season to 48 0 C (118 0 C) during the dry season (March- August). Amazingly, it is one of the hottest places year round any where on Earth. Only the Awash River flows into the depression, where it ends in a chain of lakes that increase in salinity.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa-O/N - Hotel.
Day 2: Drive to Awash- O/N - Hotel.
Day 3: Drive to Afdera- O/N - Camping
Day 4: Drive to Kosrwad and three hours walk to Erta’ale Volcanoes. O/N - Camping
Day 5: walk back to Kosrwad and drive to Ahmed Ela. O/N - camping.
Day 6: Excursion to Lake Asale-salt mining lake and to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) to visit saltpan, Salt rocks, sulfur spring. Drive back to Ahmed Ela and visit the Camel Caravan. O/N - Camping.
Day 7: Drive to Mekele through the town of Berhile. O/N - Camping
Day 8: Transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis, sightseeing tour and departure. O/N -Hotel.
Code: PET 107-1: Expedition to Danakil Depression & the rock Churches of Lalibela
Duration: 10 days/ 9 nights
Transport: Surface/Air
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa-O/N - Hotel.
Day 2: Drive to Awash- O/N - Hotel.
Day 3: Drive to Afdera- O/N - Camping
Day 4: Drive to Kosrwad and three hours walk to Erta’ale Volcanoes. O/N - Camping
Day 5: walk back to Kosrwad and drive to Ahmed Ela. O/N - camping.
Day 6: Excursion to Lake Asale-salt mining lake and to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) to visit saltpan, Salt rocks, sulfur spring and drive back to Ahmed Ela and visit the Camel Caravan. O/N - Camping.
Day 7: Drive to Mekele through the town of Berhile. O/N – Camping
Day 8: A scenic drive to Lalibela, visit Yemrhane Kirstos/ Neakuto Leab Cave Church. O/N Hotel
Day 9: Visit the Rock Churches of Lalibela (12th Century AD). O/N- Hotel
Day 10: Transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis, sightseeing tour and departure. O/N -Hotel.
Code: PET 107-2: Expedition to Danakil Depression & the rock Churches of Tigray
Duration: 11 days/ 10 nights
Transport: Surface/Air
Highlight: This trip takes you the Incredible rock churches of Tigray, Awash National Park- famous for its wildlife and spectacular Awash River Falls, Dallol or Danakil Depression- One of the remotest, the lowest and unique land formation of the world in the great rift valley system, still this part of the earth is unstable and pulling each other to the opposite side and it is 116 meters below sea level, Erta Ale is one of the few volcanoes on the world that have an almost persistent lava lake. It is an isolated basaltic shield volcano, 50 km wide, rising more than 600 m from below sea level in the barren Danakil depression, the salt lakes of Afdera and Asale, and to the tribal villages of the nomadic Afar people.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa-O/N - Hotel.
Day 2: Drive to Awash- O/N - Hotel.
Day 3: Drive to Afdera- O/N - Camping
Day 4: Drive to Kosrwad and three hours walk to Erta’ale Volcanoes. O/N - Camping
Day 5: walk back to Kosrwad and drive to Ahmed Ela. O/N - camping.
Day 6: Excursion to Lake Asale-salt mining lake and to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) to visit saltpan, Salt rocks, sulfur spring and drive back to Ahmed Ela and visit the Camel Caravan. O/N - Camping.
Day 7: Drive to Tigray region, visit Atsbi rock churches. O/n Camping
Day 8: Rock churches at Atsbi Wonbera. O/n camping
Day 9: Rock churches at Gheralta;. O/n Hotel
Day 10: Drive to Mekele, visit the Rock Churches of Dugum Silassie, Abreha Atsebeha and Wekro Kirkos. O/n Hotel.
Day 11: Transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis, sightseeing tour and departure. O/N -Hotel.
Code: PET 107-3: Expedition to Danakil Depression & Erta’ale Volcanoes
Duration: 7 days/ 6 nights
Transport: Surface/Air
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Addis Ababa-O/N - Hotel.
Day 2: Fly to Mekele and continue driving to Ahmed Ela. O/n Camping
Day 3: Excursion to Lake Asale-salt mining lake and to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) to visit saltpan, Salt rocks, sulfur spring and drive back to Ahmed Ela and visit the Camel Caravan. O/N - Camping.
Day 4: Drive to Kosrwad and three hours walk to Erta’ale Volcanoes. O/N - Camping
Day 5: walk back to Kosrwad and drive to Ahmed Ela. O/N - camping.
Day 6: Drive to Mekele through the town of Berhile. O/N - Camping
Day 7: Transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis, sightseeing tour and departure. O/N -Hotel.
Notes. The above expedition into Danakil Depression and Erta’ale Volcanoes itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for Adventure lover. It can be shortened or extended. All the date of itineraries includes arrival and departure dates. All trips are available year round, but prices may be adjusted around special holidays. Fitness: The tour does require a high level of fitness and participants should be in good general health. Should you have any physical limitations please contact us. Please note we will be traveling in high altitudes (above 2600m) and low altitudes (below 120 m) part of the tour.