3 days 2 nights danakil depression tour

Included

🚙 Transportation & Logistics
• 4x4 Land Cruiser vehicles (with A/C, shared by 4 passengers) throughout the tour.
• Experienced local driver & guide familiar with Afar region routes and conditions.
• All fuel costs and road fees.
• Transfers from Mekele (or Semera) to Danakil and back.

🛂 Permits & Security
• All required local permits and Danakil entry fees.
• Police & military escort (as mandated for the area).
• Armed Afar scout for security at Erta Ale and Dallol sites.

🏕️ Accommodation
• 2 nights basic camping:
• Night 1: Hamed Ela camp (open-air under the stars).
• Night 2: Simple camp near Erta Ale crater.
• Mattresses and sleeping mats provided (basic comfort level).


🍲 Meals & Drinks
• Full board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) during the tour.
• Bottled drinking water provided throughout (minimum 3 liters/day per person).
• Simple snacks, coffee, and tea at camps when available.


🌋 Activities & Visits
• Guided visit to Dallol hydrothermal fields and colorful salt formations.
• Visit to Afar salt miners and camel caravans at Lake Asale.
• Trek to Erta Ale Volcano (night hike and sunrise view).
• Stopovers at Afar villages for cultural experience and photography.
• Sunset and sunrise experiences at key viewpoints.


👥 Staff & Support
• English-speaking professional guide.
• Local Afar support crew (cook, scouts, and camp assistants).
• Cooking equipment & camp setup.


💡 Other Inclusions
• All government taxes and service charges.
• Emergency communication equipment (car satellite phone).

Not included

🧳 Personal Items & Equipment
• Sleeping bag (required for Erta Ale and Hamed Ela nights – must bring your own).
• Personal toiletries (wet wipes, hand sanitizer, towel, etc.).
• Flashlight/headlamp and spare batteries.
• Personal first aid kit & medications.


🍽️ Food & Drinks Outside the Tour
• Meals and drinks in Mekele/Semera before departure or after return.
• Additional snacks or beverages beyond what’s provided by the tour.


💵 Optional or Personal Expenses
• Tips/gratuities for guides, drivers, cooks, and scouts (recommended but not mandatory).
• Souvenirs or local handicrafts.
• Camera/video fees (if charged at some sites).
• Laundry or other personal services.


🛂 Travel & Entry Requirements
• Ethiopian visa fees.
• International and domestic flights to/from Mekele or Semera.
• Travel insurance (mandatory but must be arranged by the participant).
• Vaccinations or health documentation, if required.


⚙️ Other Exclusions
• Emergency evacuation or medical expenses.
• Accommodation before or after the tour (in Mekele/Semera).
• Additional costs due to flight delays, road closures, or other unforeseen circumstances beyond operator control.

Things to consider

🌡️ Extreme Environment
• The Danakil Depression is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 45°C (113°F).
• Heat, salt air, and dehydration are constant challenges, drink plenty of water (3–5 liters/day) and use electrolyte supplements if possible.
• Light, breathable, and sun-protective clothing is essential.


🏕️ Basic Living Conditions
• Accommodation is very simple — expect sleeping under the stars on thin mattresses in Afar camps, limited sanitation, and no showers for most of the trip.
• Toilets are usually pit-style or open-air, especially in Hamed Ela and Erta Ale.
• Bring wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and a flashlight or headlamp.


🚙 Long Drives & Rough Terrain
• Roads are often unpaved, rocky, and bumpy. Travel involves long drives (5–8 hours/day) in 4x4 vehicles.
• Motion sickness is possible, consider bringing anti-nausea medication or travel bands.


🌋 Physical Demands
• The night hike to Erta Ale Volcano takes about 3–4 hours uphill, often in hot, windy, and dusty conditions.
• Good physical fitness and comfortable closed hiking shoes are required.
• Carry a scarf or buff to protect your face from volcanic dust and wind.


🛂 Permits, Security & Paperwork
• The Danakil area requires special travel permits, which are arranged by your tour operator in advance.
• An armed Afar scout accompanies all groups for safety, this is mandatory and normal procedure.
• Passport copies may be required for registration at multiple checkpoints.
• A valid Ethiopian tourist visa is required (obtainable online via eVisa or on arrival for eligible nationalities).


💊 Health & Safety
• Bring a basic first aid kit, personal medication, rehydration salts, and insect repellent.
• There are no medical facilities nearby , serious evacuation could take hours.
• Travel insurance that covers evacuation and high-heat destinations is strongly recommended.


📶 Connectivity & Power
• There is no mobile signal or internet in most parts of the Danakil.
• Bring extra power banks or solar chargers for cameras and phones.
• Electricity is extremely limited at camps.


🎒 Packing Essentials
• Light, breathable long-sleeve shirts & pants
• Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 50+)
• Closed trekking shoes + sandals
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Wet wipes, tissue, and hand sanitizer
• Power bank and spare batteries
• Snacks and energy bars
• Personal medications
• Copy of passport and visa

What to bring

🪪 Essential Documents
1. Valid Passport – Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.
2. Ethiopian Tourist Visa – Obtainable online (eVisa) or on arrival (for eligible nationalities).
3. Passport Photocopy – A copy will be needed for local checkpoints and security permits.
4. Travel Insurance Certificate – Must include medical evacuation and high-temperature coverage.
5. Vaccination Proof (if required) – Yellow fever certificate may be requested if arriving from an affected country.


🎒 Mandatory Personal Items
1. Minimum 2–3 Liters Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder – You’ll need to carry water during walks and hikes.
2. Sturdy Closed Hiking Shoes – Required for Erta Ale volcano trek and rough desert terrain.
3. Flashlight or Headlamp – For the night hike and camps with no electricity.
4. Scarf or Buff / Face Covering – To protect from volcanic dust and wind.
5. Sun Protection Gear – Hat, sunglasses, and high SPF sunscreen (SPF 50+).
6. Lightweight Long Clothing – Breathable, sun-protective shirts and pants (avoid shorts).
7. Personal Medications & Basic First Aid Kit – Including rehydration salts and any prescription drugs.
8. Power Bank or Extra Batteries – No charging points available in remote camps.
9. Reusable Bag for Trash – To comply with local environmental rules.
10. Small Backpack (Daypack) – To carry water, snacks, and essentials during hikes.


💰 Other Required or Recommended
• Cash in Ethiopian Birr (ETB) – There are no ATMs in the Danakil; bring enough for tips and personal expenses.
• Snacks/Energy Bars – Optional but useful for long drives and hikes.