Volcano · Afar Region · Danakil
Erta Ale
The volcano at the edge of the desert.
- Best Time
- Nov – Jan
- Suggested Stay
- 1 – 2 nights
- Altitude
- 613 m
- Region
- Afar Region · Danakil
Why We Go
You don’t drive up to Erta Ale. You walk toward it, in the dark, across exposed volcanic ground.
Erta Ale, "smoking mountain" in Afar, is a 613-metre basaltic shield volcano with a summit caldera about 1.6 by 0.7 km. The approach is part of the experience, and so are the darkness, the heat and the silence. And the volcano itself changes.
For more than a century Erta Ale was famous for its lava lake, present since at least 1906 and one of the longest-lived in the world. In January 2017 a large eruption sent lava flows kilometres down the flank and the lake drained. Since then, activity has been confined to the caldera: small glowing vents called hornitos, occasional fresh lava flows and degassing.
In July 2025 magma moved south from Erta Ale and, in November 2025, the neighbouring Hayli Gubbi volcano, about 15 km to the south-east, erupted for the first time in thousands of years, covering Erta Ale’s caldera in ash. What you see on any given night depends on what the volcano is doing.
Erta Ale is not a viewpoint beside a car park. The official tourism source describes an approach of about 10 km across exposed terrain, largely without shade, and advises avoiding the hottest daytime conditions. We time the walk around the cooler hours.
Highlights
- A walk of roughly 10 km across basalt, with camels carrying the camp gear
- The caldera and crater area under the night sky
- A simple camp near the rim, with an early-morning observation window
- Geological interpretation from your guide
There is no lava lake at present
Erta Ale is a natural system. Its activity changes, and a lava lake or particular display is never guaranteed. Before you book, we tell you honestly what is currently being seen, and on the day your guide decides how close it is safe to go.
Questions travellers ask
- How difficult is the Erta Ale walk?
- It is a long walk, usually around three hours, on uneven volcanic ground, done in the evening or at night to avoid the heat. It is not technical, but you need reasonable fitness, sturdy shoes and a headlamp.
- What will I see?
- The vast caldera, fresh basalt flows and, depending on current activity, glowing vents and degassing, often best seen after dark and again at dawn. We share recent reports before you travel.
- What happens if volcanic conditions change?
- Your guide decides on the day how close it is safe to go, and we adjust the plan. On some nights the volcano is quiet; occasionally access is closed.
Expeditions Including Erta Ale
Routes that pass through here
Plan This Destination
Build Erta Ale into your journey
Tell us what you are curious about, what you want to photograph and how slowly or quickly you want to travel. We build the journey around you and confirm current conditions for your dates.
Speak With a Designer
Your Ethiopia should not feel like someone else’s itinerary
Ask about road conditions, the season or what a day here is really like. You will get a straight answer from the team that runs the route.
Or call us directly on +251 956 61 6969