Ethiopia Volcano Adventure: The Ultimate Budget Guide

To fulfill a decade-old dream, I returned to Ethiopia for its legendary Erta Ale volcano—and scored the cheapest deal online! Here’s my no-nonsense guide as a seasoned backpacker and travel pro. 🌋 Booking the Tour Company: ETT (handles 90% of volcano trips—not a "secret" operator). Cost: 40,000 ETB/person (~$336 at 16.5 ETB:USD) for a 3-day/2-night tour, including: Round-trip flights (Addis → Semera) All transfers, meals, and camping gear 📅 Itinerary Breakdown Day 1: 5:30 AM airport transfer → Fly to Semera → 8-hour drive to base village (overnight in basic lodging). Day 2: 5:30 AM salt lake sunrise ("East Africa’s Mirror") → Sulfur lakes → Sunset at Erta Ale (stand inches from lava!) → Camp behind the crater. Day 3: Volcano sunrise → Return via swim/thermal springs → Fly back to Addis (free airport pickup). Erta Ale ⚠️ Must-Know Tips 1️⃣ Sleeping: Open-air camping (no tents!). Wear long sleeves—their blankets have bedbugs. 2️⃣ Health: Pack anti-diarrheal + motion sickness meds (bumpy rides!). 3️⃣ Volcano Gear: Masks/bandanas (sulfur smoke is brutal). 4️⃣ Safety: A decade-old, foolproof route—even French pensioners handle it! 😅 Reality Check Pre-trip jitters: ETT’s Addis office feels sketchy (delayed replies, no-shows). On the ground: Flawless execution—professional drivers, attentive staff, and logistics that shame many tour operators. #EthiopiaVolcano #BudgetTravel #ErtaAle #AfricaAdventure