Danakil Depression Tour 4 Days

Day 1  Semera – Afdera – Erta Ale
At 8:00 AM, our guide and driver will pick you up from Semera Airport and drive you to the Erta Ale Base Camp. Along the way, we will take a lunch break in the town of Afdera, known for its proximity to the Salt Lake where you can swim and float. Afterward, we will continue with a relaxed and leisurely drive to the ErtaAle base camp. Overnight camping will be near the ErtaAle volcano.

Day 2, Ertale – Dallol
Starting at 8:30 AM, you will depart from the base camp in ErtaAle. By 4:00 PM, you will arrive in Hamedela. From there, you will proceed to Lake Asale salt flats to enjoy a breathtaking sunset and observe splendid camel caravans transporting salt from lake Asale. Overnight camping will be in Hamedela.

Day 3, Dallol – Mekele
On this day, you will visit the colorful Dallol mountain, observe camel caravans, explore the Lake Asale salt flats, witness traditional salt excavating methods, see sulfuric acid ponds, and have the opportunity to swim in the Salt Lake. Finally, we will drive back to Mekele, arriving at 4:30 PM. Alternatively, we can drive to Semera. This concludes the tour.

Day 4, Mekele – Hawzen
We’ll start the day with an early breakfast in Mekele before embarking on a scenic drive to Hawzen via Wukro, covering approximately 70km in about an hour and a half. Our destination awaits in the Geralta mountains, just 9km south of Hawzen—the renowned mountain churches of Abuna Yemata Guh, Maryam Korkor, and Daniel Korkor.

Abuna Yemata Guh requires an adventurous spirit as we embark on an hour-long walk, followed by a steep ascent up the Gheralta massif. Foot and handholds carved into the sandstone by generations guide our climb along narrow ledges with sheer drops, offering a thrilling but challenging journey. The church itself is accessed by a narrow ledge with a dramatic 200-meter drop to the left. Its entrance, a small cave with a wooden door set into the rock, marks this ancient site.

Maryam Korkor stands out with its impressive architectural design. The vast interior boasts a soaring ceiling supported by twelve freestanding pillars, a testament to the ingenuity of its builders. Standing before it, one can’t help but marvel at the craftsmanship that carved such heights from the ground. In the late afternoon, we will either drive back to Mekele or continue on to Wukro or Axum.

Preparing for the Danakil Depression Visit is as fallows

• Torch Lights, Head lamps
• Trekking shoes
• Sandals
• Trekking pants
• Sunscreen
• Trekking shorts and light clothes

Price includes – Entrance fees, Security fees, world class cook, and cooking stuff, camping gear, Latest land cruisers, person/land cruiser, car fuel, driver, guide fees, non-limited amount of mineral water