ERITREA

Dates: January 12 – 16, 2025

The program is consistent with the expedition to Somalia+Somaliland+Djibouti from 3 to 11 January 2025
Expedition to Somalia+Somaliland+Djibouti

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights

Number of participants: 7 – 12

Cost per person:
– 1 890 USD subject to 11 – 12 participants,
– 2 190 USD subject to 10 participants,
– 2 350 USD subject to 9 participants,
– 2 690 USD subject to 7 – 8 participants.

Everything is included except for:
- international flight to Asmara roundtrip,
- international medical insurance,
- Eritrea visa (70 USD, price can be changed), we arrange and obtain upon arrival (or on your own in Eritrea embassy in advance).

Estimated cost of flight Moscow – Asmara – Moscow: USD 1000 – 1200. (Usually bought on your own, we consult you).
Estimated cost of flight Djibouti – Asmara: USD 450 – 500. (Usually bought on your own, we consult you).

Single supplement: USD 220 (provided throughout the entire itinerary)



TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to Eritrea

Day 1. January 12, 2025 (Sunday). ASMARA

Arrival in Asmara, capital of Eritrea and the country's largest city. Laying at an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level, Asmara has a year round pleasant climate.
Meet the guide and transfer to Asmara Palace hotel, the best hotel in Asmara, with swimming pool and many other facilities.
Evening in the center of Asmara. Dinner in Gibabo restaurant.
Overnight in Asmara.

* Recommended flight from Moscow:

• Flight with EgyptAir from Moscow to Asmara via Cairo (transfer 2 hours 10 minutes), departure from Moscow at 15:45 January 11 and arrival in Asmara at 02:25 January 12 , or
• Flight with FlyDubai from Moscow to Asmara via Dubai (transfer 4 hours 55 minutes), departure from Moscow at 07:15 on January 12 and arrival in Asmara at 22:15 on January 12, or
• any other flight arriving in Asmara at any time on January 12.

* Recommended flight from Djibouti:

• Flight from Djibouti to Asmara with Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish Airlines with a transfer 4h35min in Addis Ababa and 12h05min in Istanbul, departure from Djibouti at 19:25 January 11 and arrival in Asmara at 00:10 January 13, or
• Flight from Djibouti to Asmara with Ethiopian Airlines and Nas Air with a transfer 3h 15min in Addis Ababa and 5h 15min to Jeddah, departure from Djibouti at 19:25 January 11 and arrival in Asmara at 09:20 January 12, or
• any other flight departing Djibouti at any time on 11 January and arriving in Asmara at any time on January 12 or the night of January 12 to 13.

Accommodation: Asmara Palace hotel
Meals: dinner


Day 2. January 13, 2025 (Monday). ASMARA – MASSAWA – RASHAIDA COMMUNITY – MASSAWA

Early morning breakfast and short sightseeing in Asmara. Visit of the tank graveyard, remnants from the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia of 1961-1991.
Directly journey to Massawa. It will take us 3 hours driving by bus to cover these 115 km of mountainous road. 1 more hour will be taken for formalities.
Short city tour in the port city of Massawa. Massawa enjoys a combination of Turkish and Italian architects, an apparent indication of the Ottoman and Italian colonial history. There is, among others, an old Turkish Palace and a more than 1000 years mosque. Lunch in the restaurant in Massawa.
In the environs of Massawa (in the area of Gurgusum beach) we will meet the Rashaida Community. The Rashaidas are nomads. They travel along the costs of Massawa to the north until Sudan. The Rashaidas earn their living mainly by trade. These tribes are believed to have crossed to Eritrea from Yemen and Saudi Arabia some 4 centuries ago. They still maintain their Arab ancestry.
Back to Massawa, dinner and overnight in Dahlak hotel in Massawa.

Accommodation: Dahlak hotel
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner


Day 3. January 14, 2025 (Tuesday). MASSAWA – DAHLAK ARCHIPELAGO

After breakfast, at 9 am we start our sea voyage to Dahlak archipelago. Eritrea is endowed with 1200 kilometers of coast line. Moreover, there are 360 islands in its territorial waters. The Dahlak archipelago is a fascinating group of islands. The largest one is Dahlak Kebir, the area of which is the size of Singapore. The other islands are Dahret, Durgam, Dorghella, Dissie and others.
On the boat we will be provided with life jackets and snorkeling equipment. Lunch and dinner, as well as drinking water, will also be provided on the boat. Freshly caught fish will be offered as a BBQ.
The journey to the island takes about 1,5 hours by 2 motor boats. In the afternoon we have time for swimming and snorkeling nearby desert Madote island and then move to the nearby Dissie island for overnights.
Dinner and overnight in camping in big tents on the island. Tents and mattresses will be provided.

Accommodation: camping in tents on the island
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner


Day 4. January 15, 2025 (Wednesday). DAHLAK ARCHIPELAGO – MASSAWA – NEFASIT – ASMARA

After breakfast, about 9:30 am, by motor boats we start our journey back to Massawa. We will reach Massawa by 11:00 or so.
Driving back from Massawa to Asmara is an enjoyable ascending from zero sea level to a gradual climbing to Gahtelai, Dongolo Basso, Dongollo Alto , Ghindae and Nefasit up to 2400 meters above sea level, with spectacular landscapes that we will photograph en route. Nefasit is overshadowed by the famous Debre Bizen Monastery at an altitude of 2450 meters above.
Then finally the journey takes us to Asmara at 19:00 to 20:00.
Dinner and overnight in Asmara in Asmara Palace hotel.

Accommodation: Asmara Palace hotel
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 5. January 16, 2025 (Thursday). ASMARA – RETURN FLIGHT

After breakfast in the hotel, at 8:00 am our guide will take us around Asmara Bella – this is the name given by Italians to this beautiful city.
The modern Asmara was literally created by the Italians between the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The city's elegant streets and the adjoining promenade are comfortable for day or night walking. The city now accommodates more than 400 art deco buildings officially recognized by UNESCO. One would feel as if one is in Rome when touring Asmara.
We visit the art deco buildings of Asmara, such as Albergo Italia (1899), Bank of Eritrea (1905), Post Office (1915-1916), Villa Roma (1907), Cinema Roma (1920). In the morning we will have a coffee break at the bar Tirestele.
At 14:30 direct transfer to the airport to catch international flight back home.

* Recommended flight to Moscow:

• Flight with FlyDubai from Asmara to Moscow via Dubai (transfer 5 hours 40 minutes), departure from Asmara at 23:15 on January 16 and arrival in Moscow at 14:20 on January 17, or
• Emirates flight from Asmara to Moscow via Dubai (transfer 5 hours 25 minutes), departure from Asmara at 23:15 on January 16 and arrival in Moscow at 13:55 on January 17, or
• any other flight departing from Asmara not earlier than 18:00 on January 16.

Accommodation: no
Meals: breakfast