Upon arrival at Semera airport, you’ll be met and begin your drive to Ahmed Ella. The journey offers stunning landscapes of solidified lava, rock, and sand, occasionally punctuated by palm-lined oases. After passing several small hamlets, you’ll reach Ahmed Ella village, home to over 500 people, where you can observe the daily life of the local Afar community. Finally, proceed to the vast Salt Lake Asale. Here, you can enjoy a unique experience swimming in a natural pool while witnessing the breathtaking reflections of the salty ground at sunset.
Overnight camping at Ahmed Ella
Begin your morning with a drive to Ragad (Asebo), a significant site where local communities mine salt. Observe the fascinating process of breaking salt from the ground, cutting it into rectangular pieces, and loading it onto camels. Next, you’ll drive to Dallol, one of the lowest and hottest places in the world, lying 125 meters below sea level. Explore the otherworldly landscape formed by volcanic activity, including colorful salt formations and unique terrestrial features like bubbling oily lakes, offering a truly distinct experience.
After returning to Ahmed Ella for lunch, you’ll continue your journey to Erta Ale. This evening, prepare for an unforgettable experience as you witness the dramatic action of the boiling lava lake. Erta Ale is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and a 1 km square caldera at its summit. Standing at 613 meters, it contains the world’s only permanent lava lake, a rarity among the five such lakes globally, and is notable for being the longest-existing lava lake, present since the early 20th century. Erta Ale ranks as one of Ethiopia’s most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions.
Overnight camping at Erta Ale
After breakfast, depart Erta Ale and drive to Lake Afdera. This saline lake, located in the southern part of the Afar Depression, is a major source of salt extraction in Ethiopia. Witness the process where lake water is pumped to saltpans for solar evaporation. After lunch, you will continue your journey to Semera airport for your flight to Addis Ababa.
End of the tour.
