Erta Ale
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Gari K
77 contributions
Jan 2020
I focus on Erta Ale itself, not on tour organizers, whom I reviewed in a dedicated rubric for organizers.
On the night and morning we went to Erta Ale, it was a smoky black hole and nothing more. Of course, this is a risk we run with nature, as it cannot be made to perform for tourists. However, it was quite disappointing, given all the effort and money invested in the tour.
There are a few things that future tourists to this place may wish to know before they decide whether to go. First is, of course, that Erta Ale has changed in the past two years, and is no longer a dependable spectacle of simmering lava, but a deep crater where you might glimpse some fire if it is not too smoky. We could not because it was steaming like a chimney.
The next thing is a huge problem for me, and I find it odd how few tourists mention it here. It is the fact that tourism has made a garbage dump out of this, once intact, place. It is good that the first encounter everyone has with it is at night, because once you've slept close to the volcano and begin descending, you realize that you cannot even get lost - just follow the trash trail! The place is so full of trash that whatever stone I peeked under had a resident plastic bottle or a wet wipe. This also meant that in the morning we realized we were sleeping surrounded by a spacious African toilet - wet wipes and other human traces are everywhere.
Most tourists pretend not to see it because they themselves wish not to be inconvenienced, and usually leave their trash on the volcano. The guides helplessly agree to this, saying that the locals will clean it - they will not, and they do not. This is why the whole place is scandalously dirty.
If the tour companies wish to continue running tours before this place becomes even worse, it is essential that they organize a clean up, and a construction of stone toilets, one in the lower camp and another one on top of the volcano, where some Afar houses already exist.
On the night and morning we went to Erta Ale, it was a smoky black hole and nothing more. Of course, this is a risk we run with nature, as it cannot be made to perform for tourists. However, it was quite disappointing, given all the effort and money invested in the tour.
There are a few things that future tourists to this place may wish to know before they decide whether to go. First is, of course, that Erta Ale has changed in the past two years, and is no longer a dependable spectacle of simmering lava, but a deep crater where you might glimpse some fire if it is not too smoky. We could not because it was steaming like a chimney.
The next thing is a huge problem for me, and I find it odd how few tourists mention it here. It is the fact that tourism has made a garbage dump out of this, once intact, place. It is good that the first encounter everyone has with it is at night, because once you've slept close to the volcano and begin descending, you realize that you cannot even get lost - just follow the trash trail! The place is so full of trash that whatever stone I peeked under had a resident plastic bottle or a wet wipe. This also meant that in the morning we realized we were sleeping surrounded by a spacious African toilet - wet wipes and other human traces are everywhere.
Most tourists pretend not to see it because they themselves wish not to be inconvenienced, and usually leave their trash on the volcano. The guides helplessly agree to this, saying that the locals will clean it - they will not, and they do not. This is why the whole place is scandalously dirty.
If the tour companies wish to continue running tours before this place becomes even worse, it is essential that they organize a clean up, and a construction of stone toilets, one in the lower camp and another one on top of the volcano, where some Afar houses already exist.
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fairr
Belgium56 contributions
Oct 2022
Thanks to the construction of new road networks, access to the Danakil is much easier than ever before. There is no direct connection from Addis Ababa to Ertale (volcano). However, Addis Ababa airport, fly to Semera, then take the drive to (volcano). Alternative surface transport from Addis to Semera via Awash National Park. One of the favourite trip during my stay in Ethiopia.
Written November 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meredith M
Dublin, Ireland5 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
After an eruption in January 2017, the volcano has resettled into a new pattern. As of February 21, 2017, the lava lake with all those amazing photos on the internet is all smoke and no fire, as the level of the lava has gone way down and the constant toxic smoke prevents you from getting too close.
A new lake has opened up an additional 1.5-hr hike from the first one, but you can only see it in the distance from across a canyon - bring binoculars. The guides will tell you it's a "new path" which in fact means not a path at all, but hiking over precarious raw volcanic crust. In the dark. One of our group fell through to his waist, and it's a miracle no one was badly injured though we all got various cuts and scrapes. It's still kind of cool, especially if you've never seen a volcano in person before, but if you're hoping to get up close and personal with a lava pool like previous reviewers did you will be disappointed.
A new lake has opened up an additional 1.5-hr hike from the first one, but you can only see it in the distance from across a canyon - bring binoculars. The guides will tell you it's a "new path" which in fact means not a path at all, but hiking over precarious raw volcanic crust. In the dark. One of our group fell through to his waist, and it's a miracle no one was badly injured though we all got various cuts and scrapes. It's still kind of cool, especially if you've never seen a volcano in person before, but if you're hoping to get up close and personal with a lava pool like previous reviewers did you will be disappointed.
Written February 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anitamoorthy
Boston, MA6 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
I travelled with my two children (13 year old son and 9 year old daughter) to Erte Ale/Danakil depression and the Gherelta region of Ethiopia in December 2017. I wanted to share my experiences as I did not find many reviews on what to expect or what to do for those tours if you are traveling with children.
Gheralta: We started our trip with a 4 day stay at the Gheralta lodge, which is about 2 hours from Mekele. We flew into Addis and immediately took a flight to Mekele and then had a 2 hour drive to the Gheralta lodge. The lodge is beautiful with very friendly staff, clean rooms and good food. It was windy and cold at night (8 degrees) and sunny but windy during the days. So definitely recommend getting some warm clothes.
The staff at Gheralta were very friendly and helpful in organising vehicle, guide etc so we could do day trips. The food was mainly italian - pasta, lasagna, ravioli etc. It is not Italian standard by any means but it is not bad.
We hiked to different rock hewn churches - Maryam Korkor and Abuna Yamata the next day. Maryam Korkor is 1.5 hour each way. My kids did not find it difficult to do. The views are breath taking and I highly recommend this if your kids like adventure, hiking etc. Seeing how the children climbed Maryam Korkor, the guide thought they would be able to do Abuna Yamata. Abuna Yamata is the most famous of the rock hewn churches and it is a difficult climb. There is a section of vertical climbing where you need ropes. There are typically many guides to assist and the there are holes in the rocks for your fingers and feet to hold. My son was fine climbing it but my daughter was uncomfortable. It is not hard but you are high up and you have to do this climb bare feet after a certain point. My daughter and I went past the rope climbing section but she did not want to go further. I think this is good only for children who are bold and not afraid of heights. My son and my husband went all the way but they said it was scary for the last part where you have to cross a small crevice and also walk on a ledge that isn't very wide to reach the church.
After the 4 days we met up with a tour group, organised by Ethiopian Travel and Tours (ETT). There were nearly 30 people in the group in 5 4x4 vehicles. Since you are with children, I would advice you to make the volcano the first night and then go to Dollol/Danakil as the volcano trip is hard and it is better to do that after a good nights sleep right at the start. ETT does it the other way around as well so be specific in the itinerary.
Erte Ale: We started in the morning around 9.30am from the ETT office in Mekele. We reached base camp at around 4.00pm. The first 3 hours are on well paved roads. The last 2.5 hours are on sand and the last 1.5 hours of that are on lava rocks. The last 1.5 hours are the toughest of the trip. In between, we stopped in a small village for lunch. Toilets are generally unclean at these stops so better to go out. Food will either be pasta with vegetables or fried rice with vegetables. Food was generally good and even kids ate it. Once you reach base camp,
Once we got to base camp, they asked you to pack your backpacks for the 3.5 hour trek and over night stay at the volcano. It is windy at the top but not very cold. We took a fleece top and had wind breakers and that was sufficient. Other than that, we had head lamps (you hike in the dark) and we also took an extra charger for iphone. I also took extra pair of socks and that came in handy as socks get worn out from the hikes. The one thing I did not take that would have been good to take are masks. The wind changes direction at the volcano and the sulphur smoke is quite pungent. Having a mask for yourself and the children will be helpful. The trek itself was great - gradual climb for the most part. Even though it was dark plenty of people had headlights so it was not bad and they stopped 2-3 times to rest and hydrate. Sitting under the blanket of stars and hearing nothing but a few shuffles from the other hikers was an amazing experience. My daughter and I managed to stay in the middle of the pack for the whole journey and she was fine except for the last half hour. If I had to do it again, I would order a camel and let her be on it for part of the way on the upward and downward trek. For sleeping they had thin mattresses laid out on the ground. There was an area to the side of the volcano where they had small segments created out of stones for each group. They woke people up at 4.30 for those that wanted to see the volcano again. In the night there was too much wind and we did not see much of the lava flow. So, I got up at 4.30 and the views were spectacular. Sea of fire bubbling, dancing and crashing against the sides. Unfortunately my kids were too tired and did not get up. We started back down around 6am. The first two hours were fine as it was cool but the last hour was tiring as the sun had come up and it was hot (27 degrees by this point). Again the last 45 minutes were hard for my daughter and in retrospect if I would put her on the camel for the last hour. Once we got back to base camp there was delicious breakfast (scrambled eggs, pancakes and fruits). We ate and then we were on our way back.
The itinerary had called for us to stay in a guest house in Abala (about 45 mins from Mekele) which is very basic. Communal room with 8 people in a room. We decided to go back to Mekele and stayed the night at Planet hotel. This was a good idea. We were able to have hot showers, sleep in comfortable beds and best of all the hotel had a 2 hour laundry service. We had a nice dinner in town and were well rested for the next day. We met up with our group the next day at the lunch location and then drove on to Danakil/Dollol to see the salt flats and sulphur ponds.
You could do the Danakil/Dollol as a day trip if you leave very early (5 or 6am) but we decided to stay the night there. If your children like camping, they will enjoy this. You get to sleep outside on cots with a mattress. The weather is not too hot or cold and we were able to sleep with a light sleeping bag. ETT provided the sleeping bags and mattress with sheets which were clean and did not smell.
For the Dollol/Danakil part, make sure you have light clothing, hat with flaps for ear/neck cover and plenty of sunscreen. It is generally hot all day and into the night. When we were there it was 37 degrees during the day. The air condition in the car did not seem effective but it was manageable. Take flip flops for this part as you will walk in a salt lake and you will need it in the camp. It is much nicer than wearing shoes and socks! Have toilet paper, wet wipes and toiletaries for the night. There were no mosquitos so we did not use repellent at all.
Overall, this trip was memorable for us and the children and I would recommend doing it. I would caution people with children less than 9 years as the volcano part can be tiring.
Gheralta: We started our trip with a 4 day stay at the Gheralta lodge, which is about 2 hours from Mekele. We flew into Addis and immediately took a flight to Mekele and then had a 2 hour drive to the Gheralta lodge. The lodge is beautiful with very friendly staff, clean rooms and good food. It was windy and cold at night (8 degrees) and sunny but windy during the days. So definitely recommend getting some warm clothes.
The staff at Gheralta were very friendly and helpful in organising vehicle, guide etc so we could do day trips. The food was mainly italian - pasta, lasagna, ravioli etc. It is not Italian standard by any means but it is not bad.
We hiked to different rock hewn churches - Maryam Korkor and Abuna Yamata the next day. Maryam Korkor is 1.5 hour each way. My kids did not find it difficult to do. The views are breath taking and I highly recommend this if your kids like adventure, hiking etc. Seeing how the children climbed Maryam Korkor, the guide thought they would be able to do Abuna Yamata. Abuna Yamata is the most famous of the rock hewn churches and it is a difficult climb. There is a section of vertical climbing where you need ropes. There are typically many guides to assist and the there are holes in the rocks for your fingers and feet to hold. My son was fine climbing it but my daughter was uncomfortable. It is not hard but you are high up and you have to do this climb bare feet after a certain point. My daughter and I went past the rope climbing section but she did not want to go further. I think this is good only for children who are bold and not afraid of heights. My son and my husband went all the way but they said it was scary for the last part where you have to cross a small crevice and also walk on a ledge that isn't very wide to reach the church.
After the 4 days we met up with a tour group, organised by Ethiopian Travel and Tours (ETT). There were nearly 30 people in the group in 5 4x4 vehicles. Since you are with children, I would advice you to make the volcano the first night and then go to Dollol/Danakil as the volcano trip is hard and it is better to do that after a good nights sleep right at the start. ETT does it the other way around as well so be specific in the itinerary.
Erte Ale: We started in the morning around 9.30am from the ETT office in Mekele. We reached base camp at around 4.00pm. The first 3 hours are on well paved roads. The last 2.5 hours are on sand and the last 1.5 hours of that are on lava rocks. The last 1.5 hours are the toughest of the trip. In between, we stopped in a small village for lunch. Toilets are generally unclean at these stops so better to go out. Food will either be pasta with vegetables or fried rice with vegetables. Food was generally good and even kids ate it. Once you reach base camp,
Once we got to base camp, they asked you to pack your backpacks for the 3.5 hour trek and over night stay at the volcano. It is windy at the top but not very cold. We took a fleece top and had wind breakers and that was sufficient. Other than that, we had head lamps (you hike in the dark) and we also took an extra charger for iphone. I also took extra pair of socks and that came in handy as socks get worn out from the hikes. The one thing I did not take that would have been good to take are masks. The wind changes direction at the volcano and the sulphur smoke is quite pungent. Having a mask for yourself and the children will be helpful. The trek itself was great - gradual climb for the most part. Even though it was dark plenty of people had headlights so it was not bad and they stopped 2-3 times to rest and hydrate. Sitting under the blanket of stars and hearing nothing but a few shuffles from the other hikers was an amazing experience. My daughter and I managed to stay in the middle of the pack for the whole journey and she was fine except for the last half hour. If I had to do it again, I would order a camel and let her be on it for part of the way on the upward and downward trek. For sleeping they had thin mattresses laid out on the ground. There was an area to the side of the volcano where they had small segments created out of stones for each group. They woke people up at 4.30 for those that wanted to see the volcano again. In the night there was too much wind and we did not see much of the lava flow. So, I got up at 4.30 and the views were spectacular. Sea of fire bubbling, dancing and crashing against the sides. Unfortunately my kids were too tired and did not get up. We started back down around 6am. The first two hours were fine as it was cool but the last hour was tiring as the sun had come up and it was hot (27 degrees by this point). Again the last 45 minutes were hard for my daughter and in retrospect if I would put her on the camel for the last hour. Once we got back to base camp there was delicious breakfast (scrambled eggs, pancakes and fruits). We ate and then we were on our way back.
The itinerary had called for us to stay in a guest house in Abala (about 45 mins from Mekele) which is very basic. Communal room with 8 people in a room. We decided to go back to Mekele and stayed the night at Planet hotel. This was a good idea. We were able to have hot showers, sleep in comfortable beds and best of all the hotel had a 2 hour laundry service. We had a nice dinner in town and were well rested for the next day. We met up with our group the next day at the lunch location and then drove on to Danakil/Dollol to see the salt flats and sulphur ponds.
You could do the Danakil/Dollol as a day trip if you leave very early (5 or 6am) but we decided to stay the night there. If your children like camping, they will enjoy this. You get to sleep outside on cots with a mattress. The weather is not too hot or cold and we were able to sleep with a light sleeping bag. ETT provided the sleeping bags and mattress with sheets which were clean and did not smell.
For the Dollol/Danakil part, make sure you have light clothing, hat with flaps for ear/neck cover and plenty of sunscreen. It is generally hot all day and into the night. When we were there it was 37 degrees during the day. The air condition in the car did not seem effective but it was manageable. Take flip flops for this part as you will walk in a salt lake and you will need it in the camp. It is much nicer than wearing shoes and socks! Have toilet paper, wet wipes and toiletaries for the night. There were no mosquitos so we did not use repellent at all.
Overall, this trip was memorable for us and the children and I would recommend doing it. I would caution people with children less than 9 years as the volcano part can be tiring.
Written January 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jafr22
cornwall, UK16 contributions
May 2011
This live volcano, with its active magma lake, is in the desolate Danakil Depression & if you've seen it on Discovery Channel or similar, you might think it's impossibly hard to access. Not so. You need a very good driver/guide & support vehicle, and we obtained these in Addis Ababa through Tony Hickey of Ethiopian Quadrants (google them). You will be driven to an Afar village where camel hire is negotiated - this is to carry water, bedding and some food up the volcano for an overnight stay. The walk from the base of the volcano to the summit is about 14 km, but the gradient is gentle and the guides will walk you there at night (bring your own head torches ), when the temperature is bearable. You walk down in the dawn. I am middle-aged and female, so you don't have to be an athlete to do this - any reasonably fit person can manage it.
The local Afar are charming, kindly and protective, and very used to guiding those weaker then themselves at a steady & sensible pace. They will look after you.
And as for the volcano - well!!!! You stand on the crater's edge and look down at the live, seething, scarlet creature that is the magma, belching out the occasional plume of sulphur dioxide (run away from the cloud when it does this!), with the new-made rock crunching beneath your feet, and you feel as though you were watching wither the beginning or the end of the world....it's a marvellous thing.
The cost of 2 jeeps plus camels plus guides will come to some $300+ a day, but divide that between 4 or 5 people on a trip to Addis Ababa and it is more than worthwhile for the experience of a lifetime. Our driver Fuad from Ethiopian Quadrants was a gem, our back-up driver Brooke walked the mountain with us for the hell of it, and the cook Dabash filled our weakened forms with the best breakfast I've ever eaten in my life when we staggered down to the flat (scrambled eggs with chilli, tomato and foole mesdames). I will remember the stark and terrible beauty of Erta Ale when I am 85.
The local Afar are charming, kindly and protective, and very used to guiding those weaker then themselves at a steady & sensible pace. They will look after you.
And as for the volcano - well!!!! You stand on the crater's edge and look down at the live, seething, scarlet creature that is the magma, belching out the occasional plume of sulphur dioxide (run away from the cloud when it does this!), with the new-made rock crunching beneath your feet, and you feel as though you were watching wither the beginning or the end of the world....it's a marvellous thing.
The cost of 2 jeeps plus camels plus guides will come to some $300+ a day, but divide that between 4 or 5 people on a trip to Addis Ababa and it is more than worthwhile for the experience of a lifetime. Our driver Fuad from Ethiopian Quadrants was a gem, our back-up driver Brooke walked the mountain with us for the hell of it, and the cook Dabash filled our weakened forms with the best breakfast I've ever eaten in my life when we staggered down to the flat (scrambled eggs with chilli, tomato and foole mesdames). I will remember the stark and terrible beauty of Erta Ale when I am 85.
Written June 1, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean-Paul-CPT
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa52 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
If you like adventure, and you're prepared to face some seriously hot weather and a hike, then this is an unmissable experience. Best of all, you can do it in two days from Addis Ababa (e.g. a stop-over - use a travel agent so that you can get the discounted 'hotel' flight rate when combining it with your international Ethiopian Airlines ticket.
I have seen some serious adventurous stuff, including volcanos in Italy, Bali and Reunion island, but this is really really special. It probably matches standing right next to lava flowing on Hawai'i. Very highly recommended but make sure that you can deal with the heat (it was 48C outside during day time in March) and the 10km hike (evening). Bring 2 torches and hiking boots.
I went with ETT and they gave me superb service so I can recommend them strongly.
I have seen some serious adventurous stuff, including volcanos in Italy, Bali and Reunion island, but this is really really special. It probably matches standing right next to lava flowing on Hawai'i. Very highly recommended but make sure that you can deal with the heat (it was 48C outside during day time in March) and the 10km hike (evening). Bring 2 torches and hiking boots.
I went with ETT and they gave me superb service so I can recommend them strongly.
Written April 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sinead F
19 contributions
Jun 2015
We went on a 4-day trip organised by Ethio Travel and Tours (fantastic company), and as it was low season there were only eight visitors in the group. Erta Ale is without a doubt the most incredible thing I've ever seen. The trip gets off literally to quite a bumpy start with a journey along the worst road in the world (not actually a 'road' - more cross-country on rough basalt rock, luckily in a 4WD), we reached a small village where we relaxed until it cooled down a bit (to like 40degrees), and then made the journey upward toward the volcano crater. It took 3 or 4 hours (around 10km) and it is absolutely ROASTING. The only advice I can give is to drink plenty of water (provided by the tour company), wear the lightest clothes you can, and keep lathering on suncream.
When you're around 2km from the crater and it's a bit dark you can see a light red glow from the lava lake. When it gets dark, you should take the time to admire the stars because at the crater the light from the lake and the moon will literally outshine them and you won't be able to see them.
The lake itself is hard to describe but it's 1800 degrees celsius of hot molten rock and every few minutes a different part of it lights up and starts sparking. It's an absolutely incredible sight and something to experience with all five senses - the heat coming from it is insane and prevents you getting too close, the slight burning smell, the feel of the splinters of cooled lava (spindle-like bits stuck in the rock) and I didn't taste any rock but I'm sure it would be unique. We camped around a ten minute walk from the crater, revisited it again in the morning at 4AM and started the journey back at 5AM before the sun got too hot.
Definitely worth visiting, the trip of a lifetime!
When you're around 2km from the crater and it's a bit dark you can see a light red glow from the lava lake. When it gets dark, you should take the time to admire the stars because at the crater the light from the lake and the moon will literally outshine them and you won't be able to see them.
The lake itself is hard to describe but it's 1800 degrees celsius of hot molten rock and every few minutes a different part of it lights up and starts sparking. It's an absolutely incredible sight and something to experience with all five senses - the heat coming from it is insane and prevents you getting too close, the slight burning smell, the feel of the splinters of cooled lava (spindle-like bits stuck in the rock) and I didn't taste any rock but I'm sure it would be unique. We camped around a ten minute walk from the crater, revisited it again in the morning at 4AM and started the journey back at 5AM before the sun got too hot.
Definitely worth visiting, the trip of a lifetime!
Written June 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HarpreetsWanderlust
Nairobi, Kenya436 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Hiking up an active volcano is easier than it sounds! We chose ETT Travel and Tours to arrange our entire trip out in Ethiopia, and we would not hesitate to recommend their services. Our agent Ms. Zewditu is extremely responsive to whatsapp calls and messages, speaks great English and understood our requirements and went over and above to ensure that we got what we paid for. ETT runs daily tours out to the Afar but these are in shared cars, fitting 5 people into Toyota Land Cruisers. We however, chose to pay extra and had our own car for the entire journey which is something I would highly recommend to have a more enjoyable journey, because it is very long and it is incredibly hot! The roads are fabulous though so this makes it easier to bear the long journey.
Our tour was a 2 night 3 day itinerary of the Afar region and we started out with the Danakil Depression on day 1 and drove from the Danakil Depression to Erta Ale (8 hours by road) on day 2.
In hindsight, I would recommend doing the trek up Erta Ale first and then the Danakil Depression after, mainly because the trek is quite tough and depending on where you are coming from, you will most likely have had a good nights sleep the night before and so be well rested.
As is common with itineraries in the Afar region, the Erta Ale portion will also be a group tour. The road leading to base camp is first very sandy, and then incredibly bumpy as you will be driving over uneven lava. However, this is all part of the adventure and is very exciting especially when you can see the volcano in the distance!
At base camp, you will leave all but necessary belongings in your car. You will spend the night up on Erta Ale itself, sleeping in a sleeping bag on mattresses (provided by ETT) that will be carried up by camels. You are divided into groups of between 10-20 people with a guide and the trek up to the rim of the active volcano starts at 8 pm after dinner, because this is when it is coolest (weather wise) to do so. The pace is actually set by the fastest trekker in the group whose sole mission will usually be to be the first up. So if you are a slow walker, then take note of this.
The climb up isn't easy as you are trekking uphill over an uneven lava field guided by the light of your torch. We had Yonas as our guide, and I have mixed feelings about his guiding. We started out as a group with everyone pretty much staying in formation until the last kilometre to the top, where the slower climbers were pretty much left to straggle up to the top. The climb from base camp to the rim of the volcano takes about 2 hours 45 minutes and in hindsight, I wish I had carried energy bars or rehydration salts because these would have come in very useful! The last 45 minutes was the hardest and I will say that I was extremely grateful for the military that was stealthily making the climb alongside us. You start to see the red glow of the lava lake about halfway up the volcano and this does spur you on somewhat.
I had imagined that we would see the lava lake immediately upon reaching the top, however once at the top you need to descend down into the actual rim which is very steep and quite uneven so ensure that you do try and keep up with the group because the guide will more often than not have already gone on in front and in the rim, there isn't anyone looking out for the slower paced walkers like on the actual trek. The smoke coming out of the lava lake is thick and toxic, and smells of sulphur. It will also change direction with the wind, so watch out for this! Sadly when we went, the smoke was too thick and we didn't get to see the actual lake despite waiting for the wind to change direction for over 2 hours in the rim. However, just being in the rim is an exhilarating experience in itself.
When your guide decides that it is time to leave the rim, you will make your way back up to the edge of the crater where there are small pods, some enclosed and some in the open, where you set up your sleeping bag for a couple of hours of sleep. The pods are taken on a first come, first served basis and sleep up to 6 people so you will likely share this with others. Depending on what you decide as a group, you may go back into the rim at 4 am to see sunrise before descending back down to base camp, where you get breakfast before departing for your next destination.
Tips for Erta Ale:
1. I would recommend: carrying energy bars or snacks to fuel you on the way up, and also for the trek back down, because you will eat at 8 pm and use up that energy to climb up, depleting you. Some groups get juice and cookies at the top before they climb back down in the morning however we didn't, and so the climb back down was pretty torturous!
2. Take a good pair of hiking shoes, a hiking stick and a head lamp. These are all very necessary to ensure you have a good experience on the hike. Also useful is a mask or scarf to block out the gas at the top and help you breathe. It gets really cold at the top so layer up.
3. Take a camel back down if you don't enjoy hiking very much - one way up is good. You would probably also enjoy the scenery more - a regret that I have - I was so focused on getting back down and keeping up with the group whilst hobbling along with a twisted ankle that all I remember is focusing on the ground in front of me and trying to make it back down in one piece.
4. Again, this itinerary is incredibly rustic but exactly what you can expect for a hike up an active volcano. For some added luxury, opt to travel private in your own car (at an added cost) and ask for Ibrham. He is an amazing driver and his Land Cruiser has ac (very necessary for the heat) as well as a cooler box with ice AND he gives you water to shower with once you are back from your hike up Erta Ale!
Our tour was a 2 night 3 day itinerary of the Afar region and we started out with the Danakil Depression on day 1 and drove from the Danakil Depression to Erta Ale (8 hours by road) on day 2.
In hindsight, I would recommend doing the trek up Erta Ale first and then the Danakil Depression after, mainly because the trek is quite tough and depending on where you are coming from, you will most likely have had a good nights sleep the night before and so be well rested.
As is common with itineraries in the Afar region, the Erta Ale portion will also be a group tour. The road leading to base camp is first very sandy, and then incredibly bumpy as you will be driving over uneven lava. However, this is all part of the adventure and is very exciting especially when you can see the volcano in the distance!
At base camp, you will leave all but necessary belongings in your car. You will spend the night up on Erta Ale itself, sleeping in a sleeping bag on mattresses (provided by ETT) that will be carried up by camels. You are divided into groups of between 10-20 people with a guide and the trek up to the rim of the active volcano starts at 8 pm after dinner, because this is when it is coolest (weather wise) to do so. The pace is actually set by the fastest trekker in the group whose sole mission will usually be to be the first up. So if you are a slow walker, then take note of this.
The climb up isn't easy as you are trekking uphill over an uneven lava field guided by the light of your torch. We had Yonas as our guide, and I have mixed feelings about his guiding. We started out as a group with everyone pretty much staying in formation until the last kilometre to the top, where the slower climbers were pretty much left to straggle up to the top. The climb from base camp to the rim of the volcano takes about 2 hours 45 minutes and in hindsight, I wish I had carried energy bars or rehydration salts because these would have come in very useful! The last 45 minutes was the hardest and I will say that I was extremely grateful for the military that was stealthily making the climb alongside us. You start to see the red glow of the lava lake about halfway up the volcano and this does spur you on somewhat.
I had imagined that we would see the lava lake immediately upon reaching the top, however once at the top you need to descend down into the actual rim which is very steep and quite uneven so ensure that you do try and keep up with the group because the guide will more often than not have already gone on in front and in the rim, there isn't anyone looking out for the slower paced walkers like on the actual trek. The smoke coming out of the lava lake is thick and toxic, and smells of sulphur. It will also change direction with the wind, so watch out for this! Sadly when we went, the smoke was too thick and we didn't get to see the actual lake despite waiting for the wind to change direction for over 2 hours in the rim. However, just being in the rim is an exhilarating experience in itself.
When your guide decides that it is time to leave the rim, you will make your way back up to the edge of the crater where there are small pods, some enclosed and some in the open, where you set up your sleeping bag for a couple of hours of sleep. The pods are taken on a first come, first served basis and sleep up to 6 people so you will likely share this with others. Depending on what you decide as a group, you may go back into the rim at 4 am to see sunrise before descending back down to base camp, where you get breakfast before departing for your next destination.
Tips for Erta Ale:
1. I would recommend: carrying energy bars or snacks to fuel you on the way up, and also for the trek back down, because you will eat at 8 pm and use up that energy to climb up, depleting you. Some groups get juice and cookies at the top before they climb back down in the morning however we didn't, and so the climb back down was pretty torturous!
2. Take a good pair of hiking shoes, a hiking stick and a head lamp. These are all very necessary to ensure you have a good experience on the hike. Also useful is a mask or scarf to block out the gas at the top and help you breathe. It gets really cold at the top so layer up.
3. Take a camel back down if you don't enjoy hiking very much - one way up is good. You would probably also enjoy the scenery more - a regret that I have - I was so focused on getting back down and keeping up with the group whilst hobbling along with a twisted ankle that all I remember is focusing on the ground in front of me and trying to make it back down in one piece.
4. Again, this itinerary is incredibly rustic but exactly what you can expect for a hike up an active volcano. For some added luxury, opt to travel private in your own car (at an added cost) and ask for Ibrham. He is an amazing driver and his Land Cruiser has ac (very necessary for the heat) as well as a cooler box with ice AND he gives you water to shower with once you are back from your hike up Erta Ale!
Written July 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mpq_domanski
Krakow, Poland93 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
It was one of highlights of our January 2013 trip to Ethiopia organised with professional assistance of Alex Alebachew as touroperator (btw highly recommended). As described in previous opinion the place is not very hard to access - apart from the need of getting to Ethiopia and travelling in 4x4 for some time :). What is needed: good shoes as you will walk on congealed lava and rocks, headtorch as you will walk at night, sleeping bag for overnight close to the volcano, jacket was also necessary. We were a group of five normally fit people over 50 and it took us three hours to walk from the lower camp to upper camp (approximately 500 meters up) and then 15 minutes to get to the rim. Do not expect showers, luxury accommodation do expect amazing views and if you are as lucky as we were with our cook - good dinner. On the day of our trip the sky was mercifully covered with clouds so we could also see the volcano in daylight without the fear of sunstroke. Actually it was a bit breezy which is not a typical situation. The view both at night and day is mesmerizing - you can observe changing patterns, lava eruptions, changing colours for hours no photo or film can express fully the impression. As to safety we felt safe alhough you have to get used to people accompanying you with their guns as well as to army garrizon close to your camp.
Written February 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucas
Madrid, Spain52 contributions
Jun 2019
This is the highlight of my trip to danakil Ertaale. Ertaale is really wonderful place that everyone can enjoy how wonderful a nature is. It has 6 hours Trecking from the base camp which is 3 hours Trecking up and 3 hours Trecking down. It needs a great choice of companies that provide great service in safety way. It can happen stress and anxiety on the time of traveling this wonderful place. One of the main contributors of anxiety and stress during travel is low blood sugar. When you become dehydrated and hungry, you start to experience mood swings. This applies to both adults and children. So, before you head off on your journey make sure that you have enough snacks and water to keep your body replenished. This also gives you an opportunity to pack healthier snacks so you aren’t relying upon expensive junk food throughout the trip. And I recommend to contact Ethio danakil tours for great service and excellent organization.
Written June 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it safe to go and is lava viewable now?
Written October 19, 2022
Is it safe to go and is lava viewable now?
Written October 19, 2022
hello.I am planning to visit Erta Ale on August. Please if somebody had gone before to this trip this period of the year i would like to tell me the difficulties.
Some travel agencies dont run this tour.
Written January 28, 2020
dont go, there ist nothing except waste and dirt. An the lava lake does not exist any more, so that you can see nothing,
Written February 25, 2020
My Ethiopian travel agent tells me the lava lake disappeared two years ago. Really?? Or is he just trying to put me off because of the security risks?
Written November 27, 2019
he is correct - it is a lava crust now with a few small pools of orange
Written November 27, 2019
I was wondering if anyone could give me a good indication of which level on a treadmill or elliptical would be good to prepare myself for the ascent. Is the hike fairly gradual? There seems to be mixed reviews. Thanks so much!
Written June 8, 2019
Some tourists hired camels 🐪 for the ascent in Nov17
Written August 12, 2019
I want to visit in May. Can I see Magma? I heard that We can't see magma anymore since 2017. Also I can't see picture of Magma in Erta Ale. It is no meaning Erta Ale without Magma. I am waiting for kind inform from any agency or goverment. Thank you.
Written April 8, 2019
Pensez-vous que le lac de laves sera visible à nouveau et quand?
Written December 3, 2018
Hello,
Does anyone know the price to ride a camel up and down for Erta Ale?
Written October 27, 2018
Hi, during the excursion it’s possible to get onto dromedary ?
Written October 11, 2018
Buongiorno Francesca
normalmente l'escursione prevede il trekking a piedi circa 4-5 h. volendo si possono affittare i dromedari a usd 20 ...fatelo se non avete una grande resistenza fisica o se viaggiate con bamb
Written October 12, 2018
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