Upon arrival at Asmara International Airport, you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel.

After brief rest, visit modernist Asmara, inscribed in the UNESCO Heritage list and the city called as “Piccola Roma” (Little Rome) and architectural wonders portrayed in many of its buildings such as the Roman Catholic cathedral, St Mary Orthodox church, Al Khulafa al Rashedin, Market [vegetable, spices, souvenir, Medeber (recycling depot)], National Museum, Fiat Tagliero building, Tank graveyard etc.

In the afternoon, travel via the major Asmara -Massawa highway through the town of Ghindae., with enthralling dramatic snaking bends, vistas, cool air and sometimes a veil of mist over the horizon.

Gurgsum beach swimming, rest and recreation. Gurgusum beach is among the accessibly best place in Eritrea for seekers of 3S (Sea, Sun and Sandy).

After breakfast, explore the port city of Massawa, “City of islands” and the ‘Pearl of the Red Sea’, a city which for centuries has been one of the region’s most important ports. Some of the things to see in Massawa include the Tiwalet causeway, Shaafi Mosque – one of the oldest mosques in Africa founded in 11^th C, Imperial palace, the Tank monument– three tanks that were instrumental in the liberation of Massawa the remarkable Fenkel Operation, etc.

Drive from Massawa through the arresting Danakil Desert and visit the traditional villages of the Afar ethnic group, the sole inhabitants of one of the most inhospitable regions on Earth, where you have a chance to experience colorful culture and local hospitality. 

Drive to the village of Bada and the volcanic lake , accompanied by thrilling camel trekking the Eritrean gateway to the Danakil Depression, set some 50 meters below sea level. It is a fertile area endowed with refreshing water amidst the somehow inhospitable desert with harsh climate.

After breakfast, drive from the village of Bada along the arresting Danakil Desert to the port city of, as time allows with stops along interesting sites on the way.

Drive further from Massawa while enjoying scenic landscapes all the way to Asmara. Free to discover Asmara in your leisure time. In the evening, transfer to airport for departure.

Boat trip back to Massawa.

In the morning, visit ancient port of Adulis that was once a renowned gateway to ancient civilization, a major trade route, once numbering among the greatest ports of the ancient world that has links to the Roman, Egyptian and Greek World Empires.

Visit Gulf of Zula – a deep cleft in Eritrea’s coastline which is the birthplace of the Great Rift Valley on the African continent.

Drive back to Massawa.

In the morning, visit the port city of Massawa – City of islands and the “Pearl of the Red Sea”, a city which for centuries has been one of the region’s most important ports.

With its exquisite Turkish-style architecture and shopping arcades, beautiful mosques and delicious sea food, Massawa is the perfect destination to cater for all tastes. In addition to the city’s attractions, pristine beaches and enjoyable swimming are available just a short distance from the city center.

Visit the colorful Rashaida tribes the last Semetic people to arrive in Eritrea.

The magnificent Rashaida women are known for their black and red geometrically patterned dresses, their long and heavy veil – burga – elaborately embroiled with silver threads, beads and sometimes seed peals.

Late in the afternoon, drive back from Massawa enjoying the spectacular scenery of peaks and valleys all the way to Asmara.

The town of Mendefera derived this name from the local language Tigrinya meaning “nobody dared“, after the resilience shown by the locals when they defended themselves on the hill against the Italian advance. The town is dominated by two hills on either side of the main road.

Among the things to see in Mendefera include the market, the ancient Mosque and the old Saint George Church (San Giorgio Church).

Travel further to Adi Quala, a pleasant market town 32 km from Mendefera and 88 km from Asmara. It is covered with vegetation and a slew of agricultural plains, small stores, cafes and scenic panoramas.

One place of interest not to be missed during visits to the town is the extraordinary Italian Mausoleum, boasting fascist motifs, ringed by stone lions and iron chains. It was built during Mussolini’s fascist era, during the 1930’s when Eritrea was an Italian colony, a memorial to 8000 Italian troops who died while trying and failing to invade Ethiopia in March 1890.

Drive from Asmara, via Dekemhare to Adiekyh,

Thrilling trekking to Qohaito (Kohaito), some 15 km off-road from Adikeyh. Visit this famous historical site that features a superb array of archaeological sites that recount volumes of history.

Some of the wonders to see in Qohaito include: Safira Dam, Rock-paintings, Monolith stelae, the foundation of ancient palaces, etc.

Travel from Adikeyh to Senafe.

Exciting trekking to Metera (Matara/ Belew Kelew), equivalent to an important ancient town named Koleo from 2nd century AD, situated 20km south of Qohaito, house some of Eritrea’s most important historical sites.

Some of the things to be seen in Metera are a 2.5m tall enigmatic stele known for its pagan, pre-Christian symbol of the sun over the crescent moon – a south Arabian divinity, engraved on the top of the eastern face and it faces eastward, which is unique in Eritrea; a royal palace, a tomb chamber, etc.

Drive uphill while enjoying the magnificent scenery and lush vegetation all the way to Asmara.

En route visit the town of Segeneiti- a lush fertile area. Visit the huge Sycamore tree locally known as Daaro revered by the locals –for its beauty, for its generous shade, for its fruitful home for beehives and for providing important social purpose– as it form a place where the community can assemble for discussions and debates. The tree has been immortalized on the five-nakfa note.

Note

1. The scheduled train excursion is every Sundays, mostly undertaken when enough passengers, 10 persons, are available. In case of unavailability, the trips to Keren will start in the morning, instead of afternoons that day.

2. Keren Market is every Mondays.