Extended Erta Ale Volcano Watch

Ethiopia

Ethiopia, the land of Origin.

Landscape

1999< $

Erta Ale (or Ertale or Irta'ale) is a continuously active basaltic shield volcano in the Afar Region of northeaster Ethiopia. It is situated in the Afar Depression, a badland desert area spanning the border with Eritrea. Erta Ale is the most active volcano in Ethiopia.

Erta Ale is 613 metres (2,011 ft) high, with one or sometimes two active lava lakes at the summit which occasionally overflow on the south side of the volcano. It is notable for holding the longest-existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century (1906). Volcanoes with lava lakes are very rare: there are only six in the world.

Erta Ale means "smoking mountain" in the local Afar language and its southernmost pit is known locally as "the gateway to Hell". In 2009, it was mapped by a team from the BBC using three-dimensional laser techniques, in order for the mapping team to maintain a distance and avoid the lakes' searingly hot temperatures.

TOUR GALLERY

TOUR MAP

INCLUDED AND NOT

DRINKS INCLUDED

YES

MEALS

YES

ENTRANCES

YES

SURFACE TRANSPORT

YES

PACKAGE DETAILS

DAY 1 - ADDIS ABABA

Arrival Addis meet & assist & transfer to Hotel Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

DAY 2 - AWASH

Drive to Awash. En route visit the Crater lakes of Debre-Zeit. Late in the evening have safari in the Awash national Park.

DAY 3 - SEMERA

Drive to Semera, the capital city for the Afar people. Overnight camping.

DAY 4 - AFDERA

Drive from Semera to Afdera. En route admire the volcanic rock and scenery of the desert. Up on arrival visit the salt extraction process on Lake Afdera. Overnight Camping.

DAY 5 - ERTA ALE

Drive from Afdera to Dodom. In the evening trek up to the mountains to visit the active volcano. Overnight Camping.

DAY 6 - ERTA ALE

Continue to visit the volcano. Overnight Camping.

DAY 7 - DALLOL

Trek back to Dodem and drive to Dallol, the lowest point on earth. Also visit to the lake Assale, another salt lake a border between Ethiopia and Djibouti. Overnight Camping.

DAY 8 - MEKELLE

Drive from Dallol to Mekelle. En route visit the camel caravan and the spectacular scenery of the road. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 9 - DESSE

Drive from Mekelle to Desse. En route visit the Island monastery of Hayq Stephen. Overnight Hotel.

DAY 10 - DESSE

Drive back to Addis Ababa. En route admire the mouth of Rift Valley system at Tarmaber and the lush- land of the Shoan Plateau. Overnight hotel.

DAY 11 - ADDIS ABABA

After breakfast, transfer to Addis Ababa International airport for final departure.

Eco Ethiopia Travel Agency have made me feel i am in the clouds of comfort.