Ethiopia Afar Region / Danakil 1 tour

Erta Ale Volcano

Active shield volcano with one of only five persistent lava lakes on Earth — 613 m summit over salt desert.

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Country

Ethiopia

Region

Afar Region / Danakil

Best time

November–February (avoid April–October extreme heat)

About Erta Ale Volcano

Erta Ale ('smoking mountain' in Afar) is a 613-metre basaltic shield volcano in the Afar Triangle. Its summit crater has held an active lava lake almost continuously since 1906 — one of only five such lakes on the planet. Access requires an armed escort, a 4×4 convoy across the Danakil salt plains, and a 3-hour night hike to camp on the crater rim. A truly other-worldly experience.

Highlights

  • Persistent lava lake (one of 5 on Earth)
  • Summit crater camp at 613 m
  • Night hike across basalt
  • Armed escort required
  • Salt-desert Afar villages en route

Best time to visit

November–February (avoid April–October extreme heat)

Itineraries

Tours that visit Erta Ale Volcano

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