There is no road to the top of Erta Ale. Every visitor walks the last stretch, and almost everyone does it at night: temperatures on the lava plain can be unbearable in daylight, so groups eat dinner at the Dodom base camp, wait for the air to cool and set off by head torch, usually between about 7 and 9 pm.
The trail climbs gently for roughly 10 km across old lava flows and takes most groups about three hours, with short rests. It is not technical, but the ground is uneven and sharp, and the heat and darkness make it harder than the numbers suggest. Camels carry mattresses, water and food up to simple stone shelters on the rim, where you sleep for a few hours after visiting the crater.
Top things to do at The Night Trek to the Crater Rim
Walk under the stars
Far from any town, the Danakil sky is extraordinary. On moonless nights the Milky Way stretches overhead as you walk — switch off your torch at a rest stop and look up.
Watch the glow grow
For much of the climb you can see the red glow of the crater reflected on the gas plume ahead of you — the best motivation there is for the final hour.
Sleep on the rim
After the crater visit you sleep on a thin mattress in a roofless stone shelter or out in the open on the caldera rim. It is basic, warm, and unforgettable.
Descend at dawn
Groups usually leave the rim soon after sunrise to get down before the heat returns. The walk down, in daylight, shows you the lava landscape you crossed in the dark.
How to get to The Night Trek to the Crater Rim
- The trek starts at the Dodom base camp, the last point reachable by 4x4, reached on the second day of most tours from Mekele or on the first day from Semera.
- Afar scouts, a guide and armed escorts walk with the group; camels are loaded at base camp.
- If you cannot walk, ask operators in advance whether a camel ride is possible for part of the way — it is sometimes arranged, but not guaranteed.
Insider tips
- Carry at least 2–3 litres of water in your own daypack, even though camels carry more.
- Wear closed hiking shoes with solid soles — lava is sharp enough to cut sandals and trainers.
- Bring a head torch with fresh batteries, plus a spare.
- Walk at the group’s pace and stay with your scout. Do not wander off on the lava in the dark.
- Keep a light layer for the rim: it is warm, but can feel cool and windy in the early hours after a sweaty climb.
Best tours that include The Night Trek to the Crater Rim
These licensed expeditions are the practical way to reach The Night Trek to the Crater Rim — transport, permits, Afar escorts and meals are all arranged for you:
3-day camping from €308 3 Days Desert Adventure: Discover Danakil’s Hidden Wonders
The best-rated budget option on the list: three days from Semera with a night camping at the volcano, the salt flats and Dallol’s sulphur springs. Group sizes and vehicles vary, so read the latest reviews before booking.
- Camping beneath the stars at Erta Ale
- Salt flats and sulphur springs
- Strong reviews at a lower price
2-day express from €370 From Semera: 2-Day The Desert at the End of the Earth
If you only have two days, this is the one: a short, intense trip from Semera into the heart of the Danakil. Expect long drives and little sleep — and a night you will not forget.
- The shortest realistic way to reach the volcano
- Dramatic volcanic landscapes
- Perfect five-star reviews so far
3-day camping from €352 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour with Camping
A budget-friendly camping expedition from Mekele that covers the three essentials — Erta Ale, the salt flats and Lake Afrera — with sleeping mats, meals and drinking water provided. Expect basic but well-organised camps and a proper sense of how remote this place is.
- Erta Ale volcano with a night under the stars
- Lake Afrera and the salt flats
- Camping gear, meals and water included
