Danakil Depression, Land of Natural Wonders

Duration: 5 nights and 6 days
Mode of transportation: Flight, Surface and Walking

This tour package shows the gradual process of the Great Rift Valley and the primitive habitats of human ancestors. It is also an open air museum of different earth activities on and underground. The geysers, hot springs, salt lakes, black pool, active lava lake, the dormant volcano, sulfuric landscapes the salt canyons, the sand dunes and not miss the local Afar people and their caravans.

• Day 01: Arrive at Addis Ababa

  Dreamland Ethiopia Tours welcomes you on your arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International airport and transfer. Depending on your arrival time start city tour of the capital founded by the wife of Emperor Menelik in the end of the 19th Century. The two famous museums the National museum which hosts Lucy, hominid fossil dating back to 3.2 million years old which belongs to the Australopithecus Afarensis family and the Ethnographic Museum where different cultural heritages are displayed. The market of Addis which is noted to be the largest open air market in East Africa holds together different retail and wholesale sectors. Overnight in Hotel.
  
  

• Day 2: Addis Ababa – Awash

  Drive from Addis Ababa to Awash Town, which is located in the central part of the rift valley system. On way drive through Debrezeit (Bishoftu) town famous for the 7 lakes crater lakes and Nazareth (Adama) the capital of Oromia Regional state. Awash is famous for its national park and awash river water fall. Awash National Park. Overnight in hotel.
  
  

• Day 3: Awash – Semera

  Drive from Awash National Park to Samara the capital city of the Afar regional state, on the way enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Ethiopian Rift Valley and visit Alalaobad hot spring. Alallobad is known for the scattered blue ponds filled by the hot springs and the wilderness of the area with different wild animals lives around. The Alalobad is also a grazing plain for the local Afar people. Drive back to Semera and Overnight in Hotel.
  
  

• Day 04: Semera – Afdera:

  After finalizing permission to visit Afar Region, Drive to Afdera, a small lake shore town. Lake Afdera Walks to Erta Alle.
  
  

• Day 05: Afdera – Ert Ale

  Morning start walking around Lake Afdera, and visit salt extraction field, Morning start driving on rough road to small village called Kusrawad, to get permission and militias for an access to Ert Ale. The name Erta Ale means ‘Smoking Mountain’ by the local Afar language, it is one of the oldest lava lake in the world, Erta-Ale range is located to the southeast of the summit and is bounded by curvilinear fault scarps on the southeast side. Fresh-looking basaltic lava flows from these fissures have poured into the caldera and locally overflowed its rim. The major recorded eruption was on 1907, and there were other continuous eruptions. To access the summit 3-4hours walk looked-for on to the lava field. Overnight camping at the rim of the mountain.
  
  

• Day 6: Erta Ale – Ahmedella

  Early Morning walk back to the base to meet the cars. After Breakfast start diving to Ahmedella on sandy road lunch stop at Dodom around the palm trees and continue driving. Late afternoon join the camel caravan on their way back from the salt mining field and take pictures. Overnight at Ahemedella, camping.
  
  

• Day 7: Ahmedella

  Morning drive to the Salt Lake Asale, and visit the salt miners and the merchant from the highland and continue to Dallol. The Dallol volcano, or rather the Dallol hydrothermal field is located in a remote part of the northern Danakil Depression in NE Ethiopia. It is the lowest known sub-aerial volcanic area in the world. Dallol is one of the world's most spectacular landscapes: a vast area of uplifted thick salt deposits affected by intense fumarolic activity, probably caused by an active volcanic system beneath several kilometers of evaporation salt deposits. Dallol is said to be the hottest place on the planet, with average annual temperatures well above 35°c. After enjoying the spectacular view and small hill which is colorful by hot spring in several places. Drive to the salt canyons and explore the caves and hills formed by salt crystals. After lunch visit the black pool and hot spring. Drive back to Ahmedella for an overnight stay, camping.
  
  

• Day 08: Ahmedella – Mekele

  After packing start driving to Mekelle on the way visit different land formations of the Danakil depression. Overnight at Mekele Hotel.
  
  

• Day 09: Mekelle - Addis Ababa/Flight/ then Departure:

  Fly from Mekele to Addis Ababa. The rest of the day sightseeing in Addis Ababa. Evening fare well dinner at a cultural restaurant, after transfer to the air port for flight back home.