Best if enjoyed with friends like Tesfah and Aki - 2. Time in Danakil Depression. Shout-out: Thanks to Tesfah for perfect driving and organizing of the tour, the guides and the whole schedule, to Aki for being the best Guide, to Metshet for the amazing photos, to Mohammed to show us a safe way at Erta Ale and a safe place for the new Geocache box (may it last), to our guards and local police, to the scouts that carried us up to Mariam and Daniel Korkor, to our archeology expert in Axum that gave us astonishing insights into a much bigger history than expected, and local insights on the way. While the first time I followed my friends who are expert travellers and very experienced I used my learnings to take my parents onto my second trip. One of my learnings is that all depends on the driver's, guides and cooks you have. So I directly contacted Tesfah and arranged everything with him. We extended the tour by two days and he drove us through Danakil with the Convoy and then we continued two more days to the Tigray Rock Churches (Abuna Yemata for our fellow travel mate, and Mariam Korkor, Daniel Korkor and Abreha-and-Atsbeha for all of us) and to Axum. He knows the Regions by heart, the name of every village, the guards, the best local food places, the best hotels, the best local guides, how to cool down water without fridge, he is an excellent driver and he is very nice, funny, knowledgeable, with good taste of music and heartwarming and caring. I also requested to have Aklilu as Guide as it was the best experience on our first Tour. He knows about everything that there is to know, and manages to get it to you not in a boring lecture, but in a interesting and practical manner with a joke here and there. He also organizes a lot of the background hassle like the permissions from local police without you even to notice. And he can translate and manage even the weirdest requests that come up with stuff like geocaching. (Not-muggles will know) ;) I recommend everybody, before you book the tour, browse the reviews and request for the well acknowledged staff. There is of course more than one good driver, chef and guide so you still got a chance even while I go a third time with my guys (which I will, no matter the cost).

Ethio & Travel Tour: Danakil Depression - The 3-day tour at Danakil Depression was the most remarkable. From reservation, to the entire tour. Tesfaye was the most knowledgeable, professional and patient tour guide I've ever experienced. He made the experience such a bliss, and undoubtedly the best there is out there. I'll recommend him to anyone, importantly the entire ETT team.

THE BEST TOUR COMPANY in ETHIOPIA - Best experience in Ethiopia. This company knows what they do. They took excellent care of all our needs and made the experience unforgetable, besides the hot weather ( somenthing that we are not used to) they did their best. Always great food, enough water has been provided, security and safety have been greatly taken care of. Do not miss it !! I can put my hands on fire for them!

For those who like adventures! - The tour delivers what it promises, the guides are attentive and the food served is tasty and plentiful. The landscapes are unmissable But don't expect comfort, it's an activity for those who like adventure.

Amazing trip with amazing people - Thanks to Metshet Melika, our driver. Thanks to Aklilu Esayas, our guide. Thanks to Tsegae, our cook. I really recommand those three guys for the 3 amazing days ! They are really fun, cute and take attention for everything we needed. The trip is very beautiful, it was more than I expected. We showed beautiful landscapes, a lot of animals, local people, Danakil desert, Danakil depression, Volcano.. I really liked to live this experience and to stay where afars people live and to meet them. You have to do this trip ! Thanks again

Amazing experience! - Thank you for this 3 days, it was an incredible experience. The landscape is beautiful, the team we had is excellent. This trip was especially great thanks to Aklilu our guide, Metshet our driver and Tsegae our cook. They were the nicest and the funniest to travel with! I really recommend this company to travel in Danakil Depression

Highly recomended! - I absolutely loved my trip to Danakil Depression! We used ETT travel agency. It was well organized, and our guide Abu made the experience even more enjoyable with his knowledge of the terrain and local expertise. This part of Ethipia has stunning landscapes and unique geological formations, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. One of the most unique expriences in my life.

Amazing experience, wish more people can see the beauty - I honestly cannot thank ETT & Getachew/Aron enough for the amazing hospitality during my time in Ethiopia. We turned friends after the trips and they gave me and my friend so many great local recommendations in the city as well. Danakil Depression was one of the more exotic travels for my experience, we had the opportunity to see how the afar people live, climbed the volcanos, try out local cuisines, and enjoying the beautiful landscape of the northern region of Ethiopia. The tour guides provided us with all the necessities and kept us hydrated at one of the world’s “most uninhabitable” regions. The overall experience was safe and we all felt well taken care of! Thank you again ETT!

Awesome tour to see the depresssion! Super hot! - The tour operators were very professional and made sure our every concern was addressed. The itenerary goes in the correct order as provided on the site and our guides were very knowledgeble of the area. The sleeping conditions are harsh , you are sleeping in open air in the night when its pretty hot. The food cooked was amazing! Get ready for alot of off roading! Tour company brings alot of water for you. Just a note alot of the afar prople are modernizing and don't mine salt during the day nor have the camel caravans as much that you see on the third day. I mentioned this to the operator and they gave us a city tour for free as compensation. Great customer service

2 BIG reasons to beware Ethio Travel and Tours - Beware! Beware this operator. I booked this trip for 14-16 of June, operator told me there is a group. I bought airline tickets from Addis to Semera. When I arrived in the morning, when the tour was supposed to start at 9 am, ETT representative told me that the rest of the group missed their flight. When next day we met with the group it turned out it was just a lie. No one missed anything, their tour was supposed to start on the 15th. For the first day they put me in a hotel, saying that we will do all the 3 day tour in 2 days. Of course, you can not defy laws of physics, so I only agreed to stay if they refund me 1/3 of the cost. They agreed, but never did, although asked to provide my account several times. They had it anyways, as I made a transfer. On the 15th when all part of the group gathered at the hotel lobby at 9:00 as told, no one knew what was happening, no one was picking phone calls , no one showed up until 11:30. No one showed up later as well. We decided to walk to their office which was not far. Only then a couple of cars were arranged for the trip. We hit the road after noon. The rest of the group, as it was arriving from the north, were waiting in some village for more than 4 hours. When we finally reached the first point - the volcano - it was dark already, although you are supposed to see volcanos in the sunset and in the dark. It was only in the dark. During the dinner it turned out that the guide wasn't told, that next day I can't continue the trip to Danakil, as I have to catch up my flight to Addis. I realised that it is not 1/3 of the cost I should be refunded, but much more. I didn't make to danakil depression, the tour I booked and came for. In the morning after visiting volcano at 9 am I had to go back to Semera while the rest of the group continued to danakil. Talking to the owner of the company is useless. He promises to make a transfer, but never does, he told me he will meet at the airport upon my return to Addis, but never shows up, promising to come in 10 minutes, but after one hour telling he is sending a driver who will take me to their office to negotiate. His name is bisrat. I also heard from insiders, that he in the same manner treats his drivers, guides, as well as customers. He created some stories, that I paid to other operator and blah blah. I have all the communication on WhatsApp with ETT, I will send it to the tourist office in Semera and to the tourist ministry of Ethiopia. Beware this operator for two reasons: respect the drivers and guides who are freelancing for him, or if you want to care only about yourself. Ordinary people in Ethiopia are extremely friendly, scammers like this guy will ruin your experience with Ethiopia and it's people.