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3-Day Danakil Depression and Erta Ale Tour

Accra, Ethiopia

3-Day Danakil Depression and Erta Ale Tour

4.9 / 5 · 35 reviews Offered by Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours 3-Day

Overview

Danakil Depression, a formation of the Great Rift Valley and sharing the Eritrean border to the East of the Tigrigna Highlands, was visible to the first astronauts who walked on the moon. It is listed as one of the hottest places on the earth with temperatures souring up to 45 ?C every day and soaring to 55 ?C during summer. The Danakil Depression is practically an unpopulated region lying as low as 116m below the sea level.

Plan snapshot

Quick Facts

Tour details

Duration

3-Day

Route

Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa

Via Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression), Danakil Depression

Country & park

Ethiopia

Style

Shared safari

Group size

1-12 travelers

Starts

Any day if available

Minimum age

15 years

Activities

game drives & nature hikes/walks

Accommodation

Budget camping Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included - Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included

Meals

All Meals Included

Pickup

Airport transfer included

Booking

Request quote

Currency

USD

Solo travelers

Can join this group tour

3-Day Danakil Depression and Erta Ale Tour
Accra visual context for this itinerary.

Rates

Rates Per Person

USD

Start datesSingle2+ people
Jan 1, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026 $550 USD $550 USD
Jan 1, 2027 - Dec 31, 2027 $605 USD $605 USD

Before booking

Important To Know

Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
Single travelers can join this group tour, but it requires a minimum of 2 people to run.
This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).
This tour accepts children who are 15 years and older.
Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. Flights may cost more, depending on travel dates. If so, your quote will reflect this.

Quote flow

Request Guidance

We advise requesting quotes from 3 operators ()
Requests are sent directly to the tour operator
If preferred, you can contact the tour operator directly
Request a Quote

Route

Tour route map
country Ethiopia
Start Addis Ababa (Day 1)
Day 1 Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)
Day 2-3 Danakil Depression (Highlight)
End Addis Ababa (Day 3)

Tour Features

Budget camping

This is a budget camping tour.

Shared tour

On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 12 people per vehicle.

Can start any day

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Cannot be customized

The contents of this tour cannot be changed.

Suitable for single travelers

Single travelers can join this group tour, but it requires a minimum of 2 people to run.

15
Minimum age of 15 years

The minimum age for this tour is 15 years.

Activities & Transportation

Activities: game drives & nature hikes/walks
Game drives: normal 4x4 vehicle
Getting around: normal 4x4 vehicle & air transfer
This operator can select your international flights, but you'll have to book them yourself
A transfer from and back to the airport is included

Accommodation & Meals

Budget camping Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included

Day 1

Budget camping Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included

All Meals Included

Budget camping Danakil Depression (Highlight) – All Meals Included

Day 2

Budget camping Danakil Depression (Highlight) – All Meals Included

Danakil Depression (Highlight) – All Meals Included

All Meals Included

Day 3

End of tour

No accommodation

(No accommodation)

All Meals Included

Day By Day

Tour step

Arrival

You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Addis Ababa-Semera

Day 1

Addis Ababa-Semera

Early in the morning, you will fly from Addis Ababa to Semera. You'll be picked up from Semera airport and start your day by driving to Erta Ale (which means smoky mountain in the Afar language). Erta Ale ranks as one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and a 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. It is 613 meters, with a lava lake, one of only five in the world, at the summit. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, 
After a short break, you'll trek up to Ertale at 8:00 pm. Camels will be transporting all the camping materials and some food (sleeping materials like light mattresses and mats and water) to the rim of the volcano, where you'll spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. You will spend the night on top of the mountain, at the rim of the Volcano. Accommodation: Dodom Camping. All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Destination: Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) Stay: Budget camping Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Erta Ale – Dallol

Day 2

Erta Ale – Dallol

An early sunrise at the northern one corresponds to the main pit crater and walking 5 minutes for the southern and central pits could either correspond to an ancient pit or a simple collapse structure. The main pit-crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three-storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. You'll descend from Erta Ale around 9:00 am Dodom. You'll leave back to Dodom after an early breakfast, if possible at 7:00 am.
You will reach the latest at 10:30 am at the camp, where you will be relaxing. As soon as possible, you'll drive to reach the mythical Lake Giulietti (or Lake Afdera) (optional may not be available during summertime), a saltwater lake located more than 100 meters below sea level, in one of the deepest depressions of the planet. Because the landscape is extraordinary. Accommodation: Hamedela Camping. All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Destination: Danakil Depression (Highlight) Stay: Budget camping Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Danakil - Semera –Addis Ababa

Day 3

Danakil - Semera –Addis Ababa

You'll have an early morning tour drive to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the localities are mining salt. Look at the activity of workers breaking salts from the ground, cutting them into rectangular pieces, and loading them on camels. You'll drive ahead to Dallol and visit the different landscapes formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assale + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meters below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up with camel caravans (No camel caravans in July, August, and early September), and walk with the Afar people. You'll drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Semera. You'll fly back to Addis Ababa. In the evening, you'll enjoy a farewell party dinner with a cultural dinner and a traditional special buffet and local drinks to experience Ethiopia’s cultural meals and drinks at Yod Abyssinia restaurants. All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Destination: Danakil Depression (Highlight) Stay: No accommodation (End of tour) Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Tour step

End of tour

Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport.

Included

Park fees (For non-residents)

All activities (Unless labeled as optional)

All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)

Camping equipment

A professional driver/guide

All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)

All flights during the tour

All Taxes/VAT

Roundtrip airport transfer

Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Drinking water (On all days)

Excluded

International flights (From/to home)

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour

Sleeping bag

Bath towels

Tips (Tipping guideline US$15.00 pp per day)

Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)

Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Getting There

This tour starts and ends in Addis Ababa
This operator can select your international flights, but you'll have to book them yourself
Fly to/from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD - Check price)
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours
Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours logo

Offered by

Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours

4.9 operator rating 35 reviews

Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours is one of the leading tour operators in Ethiopia, providing comprehensive services with variety of tours that highlight the country’s indigenous cultures, fascinating history, and natural wonders. Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours organizes custom tours for groups of any size and pre-set itineraries that individuals may join also. We are also specialized in organizing package and tailor made tours to Axum, Lalibela, Gondar Castles, Bahir Dar & Lake Tana, Tigray rock-hewn

Office In

Ethiopia

Size

5-10 employees (Founded in 2019)

Member Of

ETOA & Lalibela & Surrounding Guide association

Tour Types

Customizable private tours and fixed group tours

Destinations

Ethiopia

Traveler feedback

Reviews

4.90 average

Overall

5.0/5

Communication

5.0/5

Accuracy

5.0/5

Value

5.0/5

Safety clarity

5.0/5

Cultural value

5.0/5
Verified

Go the extra mile!

Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours was a wonderful tour operator during my time in Lalibela. The guide, Ermiyas, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. His love and passion for the town and especially the churches shines through. When some activities did not work out as planned, EET went out of their way to find alternative options for me. Great experience for a solo traveller!

Tamryn · South Africa

Verified

Professional, ambitious and energetic

Choosing a tour operator is a risky business. You pay thousands of dollars in advance and you will experience the service only afterwards. I can guarantee on my behalf, that doing business with Extraordinary Ethiopia tours and Mareg is absolutely a safe business from the first step of communication until the very end of the journey. After having followed an itinerary of 15 nights and 16 days in Ethiopia I am more than grateful to Maereg and his team, that I had a truly great, a sort of a once-in-a-lifetime tour. Everything worked perfectly. There wasn't any issue, that I felt sorry of. To be honest: I fell in love with Ethiopia. I had s solo safari to Bale mountains, Omo Valley tribes, Gondar and Lalibela. All the arrangements were better than expected: In Addis Abeba I was welcomed by the efficient "liaison officer" Habtu. In my safari journey driver BK was just brilliant, Toyota Landcruiser wonderful, accommodation exceeding all the expectations, meals great and Maereg kept on following all my moves daily. I felt that I was in safe hands all the time. Ethiopia is an amazing country. Ethiopians are incredibly kind and nice. I wish I could have stayed longer. But decided already to return. I can warmly recommend Maereg and his mates to any type of traveller. His team is professional, energetic and ambitious and do not leave even the slightest detail unchecked. They do want to introduce and show their country to you, and they do it with love!❤️

Playful times in Ethiopia.
Playful times in Ethiopia.

Eeva · Finland

Verified

Ethiopia trip was seamless, enriching, and unforgettable thanks to Maereg’s expert planning and care

My 10‑day journey through Ethiopia was nothing short of extraordinary, and I owe so much of that experience to my tour planner, Maerag. The itinerary he prepared was thoughtful, seamless, and incredibly rich I t was a perfect balance of history, culture, and unforgettable encounters. From the moment I arrived in Addis Ababa, everything was organized with care. Gondar was another highlight. Walking through the castles and learning about their connection to the Egyptian empress felt like stepping into a living story. My guide’s knowledge brought every stone and corridor to life. Celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Lalibela at Saint Mary’s Church was a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience. The atmosphere, the devotion, and the beauty of the rock‑hewn churches were unforgettable, and I’m grateful for how smoothly everything was arranged. The Omo Valley was where the trip became truly immersive. Meeting tribes who walk on stilts, seeing intricate body‑painting traditions, dancing with community members, and witnessing a bull‑jumping ceremony were moments I will carry with me forever. These experiences were only possible because of my guide’s deep connections and respect for the communities we visited. On my 2 last days, I explored the city, visiting the cultural centre, and learning at the Addis Ababa University Ethnographic Museum gave me a strong foundation for understanding Ethiopia’s depth and diversity. Throughout the entire trip, flying from city to city, navigating different regions, and engaging with so many cultures. I felt supported, informed, and inspired. My guide’s professionalism, warmth, and expertise elevated every moment. I wholeheartedly recommend Maereg and some of his team to anyone considering a tour of Ethiopia. If you’re planning a trip, you’ll be in excellent hands, and you’ll experience Ethiopia in a way that is authentic, meaningful, and truly unforgettable.

Photo by Karen St Clare
Photo by Karen St Clare
Photo by Karen St Clare
Photo by Karen St Clare

Karen St Clare · United Kingdom

Verified

Knowledgeable and professional tour guide and incredibly beautiful UNESCO site

Highly recommend this tour. Our guide, Maereg, and driver, Gashaw, were incredibly professional. The tour was very informative and Lalibela is incredibly beautiful. A must visit!

Rita J · United States

Practical answers

Tour FAQs

8 answers

Are rates charged per person?

Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.

Which currency is this tour priced in?

This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).

Can children join this tour?

This tour accepts children who are 15 years and older.

Can this tour start on my preferred date?

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Can the itinerary be customized?

The contents of this tour cannot be changed.

Where do travelers stay during this tour?

Budget camping Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included - Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression) – All Meals Included. Meals: All Meals Included

Where does this tour start and end?

This tour starts and ends in Addis Ababa

Are airport transfers included?

A transfer from and back to the airport is included

Operator policy

Terms and Conditions

Booking terms

Disclaimer

This tour is offered by Extraordinary Ethiopia Tours, not SafariBookings.

This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.

Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. If flights cost more, your quote will reflect this.

This group tour requires a minimum of 2 people to run.

The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.

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