4-Days Danakil Depression (to-from Semera)

Starting from or to Semera through Afdera, Ertale to Danakil Depression a trip that will give you the chance to experience the true nature of Ethiopia

Overview

We are delighted to give your dreamt tour and travel experience to places in Denakil Depression of Ethiopia so that you get what you deserved.

Day One

Addis Ababa – Semera (Flight ET110 : 07:10-08:30) – Afdera

Arriving Semera at 08:20am, you will be picked up at the airport and join the group. At 9:30am, you will start your drive to Hamedila with lunch stop at Afdera. Enroute, you will be seeing Afar village settlements and on approach to Afdera, you will also be able to see the massive salt-cultivation partitions at Afdera lake. At Afdera, you will be visiting the salt lakes where powder salt is extracted and transported to the central Ethiopian highlands for sale. End of the day, you will be camping overnight by Lake Afdera.

*246kms / 6 Hours Overall Day Drive

Day Two

Afdera – Hamedila

With early morning swim in the salt lake and breakfast, at 10:00am, you will be making arrangements for escorting police after which you will start your drive to Hamedila via local Afar villages which you will get to visit en route. Arrival at Hamed Ila late afternoon, you will be spending overnight in open-air beds.

*138kms / 6 Hours Overall Day Drive

Day Three

Hamedila – Dallol – Dodom – Erta Ale

Starting off at 5:00am, you will be proceeding into Dallol Salt Plains where you will be able to see the sunrise at the massive Lake As’Ale as well as the very attractive sulfur pools and springs that have different color formations due to the different chemical types being in contact and reaction with the atmospheric air. Further on, you will also be able to visit Dallol’s Ghost Town, the old abandoned Italian potash mine site that was in operation in the years around 1915 to 1919. Depending on availability, you will also be able to see locals preparing salt bars (Amole) by digging out and shaping salt rocks, after which they are loaded and transported on camel caravans for sale .

Returning back to Hamedila at noon for lunch break, you will be heading to Dodom, the base camp of Erta Ale peak. Arriving at the basecamp at about 6:00pm, you will be having a brief rest. At 7:00pm, you will be walking up to the peak (25 minutes walk) and down to the lava pit (20 minutes’ walk). Here, you will be able to see the lava flow in either the Northern Pit or Southern Pit, depending on which one has higher lava flow. At 10:00pm, you will be returning back to the base camp or optionally spend overnight on open-air mattress at the peak.

*153kms / 5 Hours Drive

Day Ten

Erta Ale – Afdera – Semera – Addis Ababa (Flight ET165 : 17:30 – 18:50)

For those interested, starting off at 5:30am, you will have a second-round visit of the lava flow at either the Northern or Southern pit of the crater. Returning back to Dodom and breakfast, mid-morning you will be proceeding to Semera via Afdera and Serdo Plains. Arriving Semera mid-afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport at 4:00pm for check-in for your flight to Addis Ababa. Arriving Addis Ababa at 6:50pm, you will be ending your four days tour of the Danakil Depression of North East Ethiopia.

*320kms / 7 Hours Drive

For the above mentioned tour, total payable rate is 33,200.-Birr.

The above-mentioned rate IS INCLUSIVE of the following services :

  • Transportation from Semera and back to Semera with an air-conditioned 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser / Nissan Patrol with fuel cost and accompanying guides included,
  • Payment for entrance fee to the Danakil Depression, including escorting Afar Police, Route Guide and Militia,
  • Three meals with bottled water on daily basis, from/to Semera,
  • Sleeping mattresses on all three nights,
  • All operational expenses related to the tour.
  • The below-mentioned details are not included in the quoted rate :
  • Ethiopian Airlines domestic round trip ticket to/from Semera airport,
  • Drinks of alcoholic nature throughout the tour,
  • All expenses not indicated in the ‘ÏNCLUDED’ section above.

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