Day 1
You will be met in Mekele by your drivers and will proceed driving to Hamed Ila via Berehale, where you will pick up police scouts, road guides and permits for the Afar region.  From Berehale, proceed driving to Hamed Ila.  We will see the camel caravans along the way, carrying salt from the salt lake to Mekele for sale.  Overnight camping in Hamed Ila.

Day 2
From Hamed Ila, continue to Erta Ale via Kursuwad.  The Erta Ale volcano has been in a constant state of eruption for over 40 years.  As the sun goes down you will start the 3-hour hike up to the crater rim of the Erta Ale volcano.  The hike may be done by camel or on foot.  At the top you will descend into the caldera and proceed to the crater’s edge.  Here you will see the permanent lava lake inside the volcano (the only permanent lava lake in the world).  You will camp overnight on the rim of the volcano caldera.

Day 3
Today is an early morning start to witness the sun rise over the horizon.  You will have your last look at the volcano’s lake of lava before descending from the volcano.  After breakfast, proceed driving to Lake Afdera, another salt lake.  Here you will witness the more modern form of salt mining.  There is a nearby mineral spring where you can take a bath.  Overnight camping in Afdera.

Day 4
Today will be a full day driving back to Hamed Ila through the arid desert land of the Afar people.  Overnight camping at Hamed Ila.

Day 5
After breakfast, depart for Dallol, which at 116m below sea level is the lowest point on the African continent.  Admire the stunning landscape, the ground many shades of red, yellow and orange from the hot water, acids and minerals spurting up from the ground.  Continue to Lake Asale, which is the salt lake from which the Afar nomads extract salt.  You will witness (and even try) their laborious task of removing salt from the ground as hundreds of camels relax before the long trek back to Mekele.  After the visit, proceed back to Mekele, with your last views of this desert and the camel caravans dotting the horizon.

End of tour.