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The red glow of the Erta Ale crater at night

Erta Ale Tours & Expeditions

Every sensible way to reach the crater rim — compared, priced and bookable in a couple of taps.

You cannot drive yourself to Erta Ale: every visit is organised by a licensed operator who supplies the 4x4s, the cook, the regional permits, local Afar guides and armed escorts. What you choose is where you start, how long you have and how much comfort you want.

Everything below is booked through GetYourGuide, which means clear inclusions, live availability, secure payment and free cancellation on many departures. Prices are indicative “from” prices per person in euros and change with season and group size — tap any card for the live price in your own currency. Before booking, check what is included (flights, park and scout fees, water, sleeping gear) and ask the operator about the volcano’s current activity.

Pick by where you start and how long you have

Classic 3 days from Mekele

The traditional route: down the escarpment to the salt plain, Dallol and the caravans, then across the lava to Erta Ale. The widest choice and the most experienced operators.

Trekkers with head torches resting on the dark lava rim of Erta Ale at night 3-day expedition from €396
🕒 3 days 📍 From Mekele ⭐ 5.0 (1)

Mekele: 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour & Volcano

A straightforward three-day circuit from Mekele, the traditional starting point for the Danakil. You drive down from the highlands to the salt plain, cross the lava fields to the volcano, walk up to the rim for the night and finish at Dallol before climbing back to Mekele.

  • Round trip from Mekele with 4x4 transport
  • Sunset, night and dawn at the Erta Ale caldera
  • Dallol hydrothermal field and the salt caravans
Check price & availability
Simple stone-and-thatch shelters at the Erta Ale base camp 3-day camping from €352
🕒 3 days 📍 From Mekele

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
Check price & availability

From Semera — shorter drives

The Afar regional capital is the nearest airport to the volcano. Two- and three-day trips reach Erta Ale via Lake Afrera, often on the first night.

A fountain of molten lava bursting through the crust of the Erta Ale lava lake 3-day expedition from €396
🕒 3 days, 2 nights 📍 From Semera / Addis Ababa ⭐ 4.5 (48)

2-Night 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour without Flights

The most-reviewed Erta Ale trip on GetYourGuide and the classic three-day loop: the volcano and its crater at night, Lake Afrera (also called Lake Giulietti), the salt flats and the colours of Dallol. Flights are not included, which keeps the price down if you are already in the north or want to book your own.

  • Night hike to the Erta Ale crater rim
  • Dallol’s sulphur springs and the Asale salt flats
  • A float in hypersaline Lake Afrera
Check price & availability

From Addis Ababa, by air, or as part of a longer trip

One booking from the capital, a fly-in day over the Danakil, or a week-long itinerary that adds Lalibela, the highlands or the Omo Valley.

Steam rising from the pit crater of Erta Ale seen from the caldera rim Fly-in day trip from €1406
🕒 10 hours 📍 From Addis Ababa

Day Trip Aircraft Tour to Danakil: Dallol & Erta Ale

The premium option for travellers with money but no time: a one-day group flight into the Danakil that lands near Dallol and takes in the volcanic landscape from above. You will not stand on the crater rim at night, but you will see the whole Danakil in a day.

  • Fly to the Danakil instead of driving
  • Land at Dallol with a professional guide
  • See the Erta Ale landscape from the air
Check price & availability
Live availability

Book now — real-time prices

Straight from GetYourGuide, updated continuously.

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The full list

Every Erta Ale tour we recommend

Fifteen expeditions we would be happy to book ourselves, from a two-day Semera express to a nine-day grand tour of Ethiopia.

A fountain of molten lava bursting through the crust of the Erta Ale lava lake 3-day expedition from €396
🕒 3 days, 2 nights 📍 From Semera / Addis Ababa ⭐ 4.5 (48)

2-Night 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour without Flights

The most-reviewed Erta Ale trip on GetYourGuide and the classic three-day loop: the volcano and its crater at night, Lake Afrera (also called Lake Giulietti), the salt flats and the colours of Dallol. Flights are not included, which keeps the price down if you are already in the north or want to book your own.

  • Night hike to the Erta Ale crater rim
  • Dallol’s sulphur springs and the Asale salt flats
  • A float in hypersaline Lake Afrera
Check price & availability
Trekkers with head torches resting on the dark lava rim of Erta Ale at night 3-day expedition from €396
🕒 3 days 📍 From Mekele ⭐ 5.0 (1)

Mekele: 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour & Volcano

A straightforward three-day circuit from Mekele, the traditional starting point for the Danakil. You drive down from the highlands to the salt plain, cross the lava fields to the volcano, walk up to the rim for the night and finish at Dallol before climbing back to Mekele.

  • Round trip from Mekele with 4x4 transport
  • Sunset, night and dawn at the Erta Ale caldera
  • Dallol hydrothermal field and the salt caravans
Check price & availability
Simple stone-and-thatch shelters at the Erta Ale base camp 3-day camping from €352
🕒 3 days 📍 From Mekele

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
Check price & availability
Steam rising from the pit crater of Erta Ale seen from the caldera rim Fly-in day trip from €1406
🕒 10 hours 📍 From Addis Ababa

Day Trip Aircraft Tour to Danakil: Dallol & Erta Ale

The premium option for travellers with money but no time: a one-day group flight into the Danakil that lands near Dallol and takes in the volcanic landscape from above. You will not stand on the crater rim at night, but you will see the whole Danakil in a day.

  • Fly to the Danakil instead of driving
  • Land at Dallol with a professional guide
  • See the Erta Ale landscape from the air
Check price & availability
Plan your expedition

Stand on the rim of Erta Ale

A night walk across the lava field, the glow of the crater at midnight and sunrise over the Danakil. Compare licensed tours with Afar escorts, camping and meals included, and book in a couple of taps.

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Good to know

Booking questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Erta Ale tour cost?

On GetYourGuide, three-day expeditions start from roughly €300–€460 per person, depending on the operator, the starting point and group size. Two-day express trips are similar in price; fly-in days and multi-day Ethiopia tours cost considerably more. Prices change — always check the live rate.

What is usually included?

Typically 4x4 transport with driver, a cook and meals, drinking water, camping mattresses, local guides, scouts and escorts, and regional permits. Flights to Mekele or Semera, drinks other than water, tips and personal travel insurance are usually extra. Read the inclusions carefully.

Mekele or Semera — where should I start?

Mekele has the most operators and the classic route via Dallol and the salt caravans. Semera is closer to Erta Ale and uses the southern road past Lake Afrera. Both work; choose based on flights and which sights matter most to you. See getting there.

Should I book in advance?

Yes, especially from December to February. Departures need a minimum number of travellers, and booking ahead lets the operator arrange permits and escorts. Many GetYourGuide listings offer free cancellation up to a set time before departure.

Are the tours suitable for children or older travellers?

The trek is moderate, but the heat, basic camps and long drives are tough. Fit teenagers and active older travellers do it regularly; it is not recommended for small children, pregnant travellers or anyone with heart or breathing problems. Ask the operator before booking.