Duration2 days Transport typeFlight and Land DestinationsMekele, Hamdela, DanakilDesert, Hamed Ela, Dodome, Erta Ale

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and most geologically active places on Earth

  • Witness the vivid sulfur springs of Dallol, with otherworldly landscapes shaped by volcanic activity

  • Visit Lake Assal, one of the lowest points on Earth at 116 meters below sea level

  • Observe traditional Afar salt miners at Ragad (Asebo), carving and transporting salt blocks by camel caravan

  • Experience the sunset over the salt flats and desert landscapes from Hamed Ela

  • Walk alongside camel caravans, a timeless desert tradition

  • Engage with the unique culture of the Afar people

Itinerary

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Day 1: Mekele – Hamed Ela via Berhale (Drive Time: 3–4 hours)

Depart from Mekele in the morning and head towards the dramatic landscapes of the Danakil Depression, descending into one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth.

  • En route, pass through the small Afar town of Berhale, where camel caravans rest before continuing to the highlands.

  • Witness long lines of camels either heading to the salt mines or returning with salt blocks loaded on their backs.

  • Continue to Hamed Ela, a remote desert settlement with a population of around 500 people.

  • Enjoy a sunset at Dallol, with surreal views of salt plains and fiery-hued mineral formations.

Overnight Camping at Hamed Ela.

Day 2: Hamed Ela – Dallol – Ragad (Asebo) – Return to Mekele

  • Begin your day early and drive to Ragad (Asebo), the traditional salt mining site.

    • Observe local Afar miners as they extract salt from the ground, cut it into slabs, and load it onto camels—an age-old practice still thriving today.

    • Continue to Dallol, located 116 meters below sea level, making it one of the lowest and hottest inhabited places on Earth.

    • Explore multicolored sulfur springs, acidic pools, and crystalline salt formations shaped by volcanic and geothermal forces.

    • Visit Lake Assal, a hypersaline lake shimmering in the desert sun.

    • Walk alongside camel caravans and interact with the resilient Afar people who thrive in this harsh environment.

    • After your desert adventure, drive back to Mekele, arriving in the late afternoon.

Includes

Fees

Excludes

Flights

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