Eritrea holiday
| country: | Eritrea |
| departures: | 2010: 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct 2011: 9 Apr, 16 Apr |
| price: | From £1405 - £1450 (9 days) including flights from the UK, from £695 - £735 excluding flights. Single room supplement from £65 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
A fascinating insight into one of Africa's newest and least-visited nations.
From the Art Deco architecture of Asmara to the bustling market of Keren; the ancient ruins of the once dominant Axumite civilisation to the faded charms of the Arabic port of Massawa, Eritrea has emerged from its troubled recent past to provide a truly different and rewarding destination in a hidden corner of Africa.
Cultural Contrasts of Asmara
We begin our journey in Eritrea's striking and friendly capital. Set on a high fertile plateau with an almost perfect climate, Asmara, although undeniably African, has also retained its' distinctly Italian feel, a very tangible legacy of its colonial days. It remained largely intact following the more recent struggles that have troubled the area and there is plenty of time here during our tour to explore the amazing Art Deco and Italian architecture, vibrant market, cathedral and mosques, as well as to relax with a cappuccino at one of the many cafes that dot the wide boulevards.
Keren and Debre Sina
Our first excursion is north through the highlands past steep terraces of coffee and orange groves to Keren, set on a plateau surrounded by dusty ochre mountains. One of Eritrea's most attractive towns, Keren is also the heart of Eritrea's agricultural community. We visit the lively Monday market, British and Italian War cemeteries and shrine of St. Mariam Dearit, unusually set into a baobab tree! We return to Asmara via the 6th century Debre Sina Monastery.
Nefasit steam train & Massawa
Turning south we discover the ruins of Qohaito, thought to date back 2000 years to the mysterious Axumite civilisation that once dominated the region. Next we take a dramatic drive down from the highlands to spend time on the coast at the Arabic port of Massawa. We stroll among the many white Turkish, Egyptian and Italian buildings and through the maze of narrow alleyways to soak up the atmoshphere and maybe sample some the mouth-watering seafood available. On our return to Asmara there's the opportunity to take a unique journey on Eritrea's famous Italian-era steam train through the mountains between Asmara and Nefasit, covering over 20 tunnels and 65 bridges!
From the Art Deco architecture of Asmara to the bustling market of Keren; the ancient ruins of the once dominant Axumite civilisation to the faded charms of the Arabic port of Massawa, Eritrea has emerged from its troubled recent past to provide a truly different and rewarding destination in a hidden corner of Africa.
Cultural Contrasts of Asmara
We begin our journey in Eritrea's striking and friendly capital. Set on a high fertile plateau with an almost perfect climate, Asmara, although undeniably African, has also retained its' distinctly Italian feel, a very tangible legacy of its colonial days. It remained largely intact following the more recent struggles that have troubled the area and there is plenty of time here during our tour to explore the amazing Art Deco and Italian architecture, vibrant market, cathedral and mosques, as well as to relax with a cappuccino at one of the many cafes that dot the wide boulevards.
Keren and Debre Sina
Our first excursion is north through the highlands past steep terraces of coffee and orange groves to Keren, set on a plateau surrounded by dusty ochre mountains. One of Eritrea's most attractive towns, Keren is also the heart of Eritrea's agricultural community. We visit the lively Monday market, British and Italian War cemeteries and shrine of St. Mariam Dearit, unusually set into a baobab tree! We return to Asmara via the 6th century Debre Sina Monastery.
Nefasit steam train & Massawa
Turning south we discover the ruins of Qohaito, thought to date back 2000 years to the mysterious Axumite civilisation that once dominated the region. Next we take a dramatic drive down from the highlands to spend time on the coast at the Arabic port of Massawa. We stroll among the many white Turkish, Egyptian and Italian buildings and through the maze of narrow alleyways to soak up the atmoshphere and maybe sample some the mouth-watering seafood available. On our return to Asmara there's the opportunity to take a unique journey on Eritrea's famous Italian-era steam train through the mountains between Asmara and Nefasit, covering over 20 tunnels and 65 bridges!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Asmara |
| Day 2: | Arrive Asmara; orientation tour; drive Keren. |
| Day 3: | In Keren; visit camel market, local shrine and WWII cemetries. |
| Day 4: | Drive Asmara via Debre Sina Monastery. |
| Day 5: | Drive to Adi Keyh; visit Qohaito. |
| Day 6: | Drive Massawa; afternoon tour. |
| Day 7: | In Massawa; optional excursion to Gurgussum Beach. |
| Day 8: | Drive Asmara; optional steam train ride. |
| Day 9: | Fly London |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Eritrea is emerging from its troubled recent past and we are pleased to be one of the first operators to reintroduce tourism into one of Africa's newest nations. We use a local guide throughout in addition to our tour leader and support local communities, even visiting remote settlements of the Dahlak Archipelago.
We also visit Elaberet Estate Farm to discover how modern farming techniques are now being used in conjunction with more traditional methods of irrigation and crop production and are able to support the people who work here and the development of farming in this area. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |