Danakil

This morning we will fly to Semera. You will get picked up by your guide and driver. After compelling all our logistics here, we will keep driving to Ahmed Ela along unmarked sandy tracks, passing Afar settlements along the way. Ahmed Ela is the base for exploring the salt mines and seeing the salt workers and camel caravans. Overnight camp at Ahamd Ela.

This day, we will visit the salt workers and the merchant at around Lake Asale. Here, we will learn and observe how the locals doing the salt cutting, shaping and then loading to the endless Camel Caravans. Keep driving to Dallol and along the way enjoy views of the small hills and colorful hot spring in several places. These hot springs are composed of different minerals along with sulfurs and potash and create spectacular colors. Dallol is renowned as being the hottest inhabited place on earth; between 1960 and 1966 an average annual temperature of 34°C (94°F) was recorded. Drive back to our camp site in the late afternoon.

This morning, we will head to Dodom, continue to the tarmac and head out over the sands towards Erta Ale Volcano. After several hours we reach Kuswarad, an Afar village where we have lunch and pick up our local Afar guides. We then continue through the desert where we reach the basalt rock formed by old lava flows. A slow and bumpy drive brings us to the base of Erta Ale Volcano. After loading up the camels we will start our trek to the rim of the volcano at around sunset, to avoid walking during the heat of the day. The trek will take about 4 – 5 hours, with the latter part of the walk taking part in the dark. The gently climbing hike itself follows interesting lava formations. The path is not that steep, but it is important everyone has a torch and sticks together. We camp on the crater rim, a safe distance away from the lava and enjoy watching the Erta Ale, which is an active volcano and it has a spectacular sight.

This morning we leave camp and descend to the bottom of the mountain and then driving to Ahamd Ala. The driving is all off road, through the desert. In the late afternoon, we will arrive at Ahmed Ala, a small settlement where the salt caravans meet before their long walk to Mekele. In the afternoon and evening, we can watch the endless camel caravans coming and going: arriving empty they are met by the ones leaving packed full with precious salt blocks.

In the morning, we will watch thousands of camels leaving for the salt cutting area with forming a long line. Then, we drive to Semera where we will take our flight back to Addis Ababa. Farewell dinner in Addis then departure for your international flight.