Experience the singular allure of Eritrea on a 6-day expedition combining UNESCO World Heritage architecture, mountain market towns, and Red Sea maritime history.
Stroll Asmara’s immaculate boulevards admiring 1930s Italian modernist and Futurist buildings, visit the weekly camel market in Keren, and plunge down the dramatic Great Escarpment to the ancient Ottoman-era coral port of Massawa and the pristine coral reefs of Green Island.
Fly from Addis Ababa to Asmara, Eritrea’s capital situated at 2,325m altitude. Meet your licensed local guide and transfer to your hotel.
Embark on an architectural walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage city, visiting the iconic Fiat Tagliero service station, the Art Deco Cinema Impero, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral along Harnet Avenue.
Drive north across the scenic highlands to Keren, Eritrea’s second-largest city. Visit the famous Monday camel market where traders from diverse ethnic groups gather.
Explore the shrine of St. Maryam Dearit inside an ancient hollow Baobab tree and visit the Commonwealth and Italian War Cemeteries from WWII.
Return to Asmara for lunch, then begin the breathtaking descent toward Massawa. Watch the landscape transform from cool alpine peaks to arid coastal plains within a 3-hour drive.
Arrive in Massawa, check into your hotel by the harbor, and enjoy an evening stroll through the coral-stone streets of the old town.
Take a short boat ride across the harbor to Green Island for swimming, relaxing on white sand beaches, and snorkeling in pristine Red Sea coral reefs.
In the afternoon, tour the historic Ottoman and Egyptian quarters of Massawa, the 15th-century Sheikh Hanafi Mosque, and the Imperial Palace ruins.
Drive back up the mountain highway, stopping in Nefasit to view the 14th-century monastery of Debre Bizen perched dramatically atop a granite pinnacle.
Arrive in Asmara for an afternoon of leisure, visiting antique shops and sampling artisanal gelato and macchiatos at historic cafés.
Enjoy morning free time in Asmara’s tranquil city center before your transfer to Asmara International Airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa.
Smart casual modest clothing for Asmara and monasteries, swimwear and sandals for Massawa/Green Island, comfortable walking shoes.
