JOURNEY THROUGH ERITREA

Brief description
Basic Information
Program
How to join us
High-quality, royalty-free (RF) photos from the Thousand Voyages Archive, available for download

Brief description

Our Eritrea program grew out of our research trip in January 2026. It brings together the country’s most compelling places and experiences into a well-balanced itinerary.

We explore the capital, Asmara, in depth. Set at about 2,500 meters above sea level, it blends Italian colonial architecture with the rhythms of African daily life. Exceptionally clean and welcoming, the city is ideal for walking. Highlights include the Fiat Tagliero building; the Impero and Roma cinemas; the Asmara Opera House; the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph; and the Orthodox church Enda Mariam. We also visit the Italian cemetery from the colonial era, the metal market, and “Tank Park”—one of the city’s most remarkable sites. We’ll wander through traditional neighborhoods and local markets, along Harnet Avenue and beyond.

We have set aside two days for southern Eritrea—the town of Dekemhare, Adi Key, and the Debub region, known for ancient monuments such as Qohaito (Kohaito), monasteries, and churches. Nature here is especially striking, like a vast botanical garden filled with hundreds of species of cacti and succulents in their natural habitat. We visit the remote village of Safira, home to the Saho people, explore Qohaito—one of the region’s most impressive historical sites, at about 2,600 meters above sea level—and see the ancient Safira dam. We then hike about 20 minutes down a steep slope to reach the cave paintings in the Adi Alauti cave.

A highlight of our program is the festivals Meskel (Saints Constantine and Helena) and Timkat (Epiphany). The autumn edition includes Meskel—one of Eritrea’s most important religious holidays—held every year on September 27. The January edition includes Timkat (Epiphany), similar to our celebration of Jordan’s Day, observed every year on January 19. The celebrations and processions are comparable for both festivals; the key difference is that during Timkat there is a ritual casting of the cross into a small pool in central Asmara, while during Meskel a ceremonial bonfire (Demera) is lit. Everything else—the celebrations, processions, religious liturgies, and other rituals—is similar in scale and impact. In this sense, it doesn’t really matter which of the two dates (programs) you choose.

We have also set aside two days for the city of Massawa on the Red Sea coast. The road between Asmara and Massawa (about 120 km) is an attraction in itself: you descend through the mountains from 2,500 meters down to sea level, almost parallel to the old railway line between the two cities. One afternoon is dedicated to Green Island for time to relax on a tropical beach. The tour of Massawa includes: the old town of Massawa (on the UNESCO tentative list); the Massawa museum; the old port and waterfront area; the oldest mosque in Africa; and other interesting sights.

Finally, we return to Asmara for shopping and more walks before flying back to Bulgaria from the capital.

Basic Information

Travel period: autumn/winter;

Dates: 15–23 January 2027; 23 September – 1 October 2027; The dates cannot be changed.

Duration: 8 nights / 9 days;

Group: 8 people;

Price for the Eritrea program without flights: €1,860 per person (group of 8). If the group is smaller than 8 people, the price will increase slightly.

The price includes:

Guides: Company guide and local guide;

Transport: all transfers; travel by minibus or jeeps throughout the country;

Accommodation: six nights at Crystal Hotel in Asmara (one of the best hotels in the city), one night in a guesthouse in Adi Key (basic conditions), and one night in a hotel in Massawa (nice, but somewhat run-down), with breakfast included, in double rooms.

Visa: travel permit;

Entrance fees: All entrance fees for sights/attractions are included, except for those not mentioned in the program.

The price does not include: international flights (1); lunches and dinners; travel insurance; personal expenses.

(1) Flights and airline tickets with Turkish Airlines: The group will fly from Istanbul to Asmara and back. We can arrange your airfare from your home country to Asmara, or you can meet the group in Istanbul—whichever works best for you.

Note: Although the airfare includes checked baggage, we travel without it—i.e., with carry-on luggage only—due to frequent cases of lost baggage at Asmara Airport.

Note: Hotels in Eritrea are not luxurious, and there may be issues such as missing towels, low water pressure, missing light bulbs, and so on. They are relatively clean. We kindly ask people with high expectations regarding hotels not to sign up for this trip.

This program provides an overview of the trip’s key details. If you need a solution tailored to your specific circumstances, please contact us via email. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to the trip’s starting point, as well as airport/hotel transfers and any required documents. Our team will support you throughout the entire planning process. Feel free to reach out via email!

Program

Day 1 Flights to Asmara, Eritrea

Today we fly to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, arriving at 23:30. Transfer to the hotel and overnight stay.

Overnight: Crystal Hotel, Asmara.

Day 2 Asmara city tour (UNESCO site)

Today we have planned an in-depth tour of Asmara—one of the world’s best-preserved colonial cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Highlights include the Fiat Tagliero building—a masterpiece of Futurist architecture; the Impero Cinema—one of the most beautiful Art Deco cinemas in Africa; the Asmara Opera House and surrounding colonial-era buildings; the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph; and the Orthodox church Enda Mariam.

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Of course, we’ll also take a walk through traditional neighborhoods and local markets along the main Harnet Avenue, as well as other interesting places.

Overnight: Crystal Hotel, Asmara

Day 3: Dekemhare and Adi Key — The Southern Highlands

Today we head south. Our first stop is the town of Dekemhare—an important historical center. We then continue toward Adi Key, passing through picturesque landscapes, terraced farmland, and small villages. We arrive in Adi Key in the afternoon, followed by a walk around the area.

Overnight: Hotel or guesthouse in Adi Key.

Day 4: The Debub Region in Southern Eritrea; return to Asmara

The Debub region in southern Eritrea is a magical place, rich in ancient monuments such as Qohaito (Kohaito), monasteries, and churches. The landscape is especially striking—I would compare it to a vast botanical garden, filled with hundreds of species of cacti and succulents in their natural habitat.

The most remote part of the route is the village of Safira, set on a high plateau near Qohaito (the ancient ruins), not far from the modern town of Adi Key. The settlement is historically connected to the Saho people, particularly the Asaorta clan.

Next is Kohaito—one of the region’s most remarkable historical sites, set at about 2,600 meters above sea level. During the Aksumite period, Kohaito was an important ancient city.

The Safira dam was built of limestone and has a capacity of about 5,000 cubic meters. The wall was 67 meters long and 3 meters high.

In the Saro area, we’ll hike about 20 minutes down a steep slope to reach the cave paintings in the Adi Alauti cave. Various animals can be seen—mostly cattle—as well as agricultural tools.

Late in the afternoon, we return to Asmara.

Overnight: Crystal Hotel, Asmara.

Day 5: The Meskel Festival (Saints Constantine and Helena) or Timkat (Epiphany)

The autumn edition of the program includes the Meskel festival (the Day of Saints Constantine and Helena) — one of Eritrea’s most important religious holidays, held every year on September 27. We will watch the large-scale religious processions, enjoy traditional chanting and dancing, witness the lighting of the ceremonial fire (Demera), and take part in the public celebrations in Asmara’s central squares.

The January edition of the program includes Timkat (Epiphany), similar to our Jordan’s Day, observed every year on January 19. The religious celebrations and processions are similar for both holidays. The key difference is that during Timkat, there is a ritual casting of the cross into a small pool in central Asmara, while during Meskel a ceremonial fire (Demera) is lit. Everything else—the celebrations, processions, religious liturgies, and other rituals—is the same in scale and impact. In this sense, it doesn’t really matter which of the two dates (programs) you choose.

This day offers a rare opportunity to witness Eritrea’s deep spiritual traditions.

Overnight: Crystal Hotel, Asmara

Day 6: Massawa and Green Island (Red Sea Coast)

Today we travel to Massawa on the Red Sea coast. From the cool Asmara plateau (about 2,500 m above sea level), we descend to the warm shoreline. The road itself is an attraction, following the route of the old railway line between the two cities—an engineering marvel from the last century.

After arriving in Massawa and checking into the hotel, we head to Green Island (about 10 minutes by boat). The island has a magnificent tropical beach with clear water and fine white sand. The rest of the day is for relaxation and swimming. Snorkeling can be arranged upon request.

Overnight: Hotel in Massawa

Day 7: Tour of the old town of Massawa; return to Asmara

Today we tour old Massawa, known for its remarkable architecture with Ottoman, Egyptian, and Italian influences. We visit the Massawa Museum (considered by some to be better than the one in Asmara), the old port and waterfront area, the oldest mosque in Africa, and other interesting sights. We also see the memorial with the three tanks honoring the war with Ethiopia.

In the afternoon, we return to Asmara, stopping at several scenic spots for photos, including the old baobab tree—a symbol of the country.

Overnight: Crystal Hotel, Asmara

Day 8: Asmara city tour (Historical and military heritage)

Today we continue exploring Asmara. We will visit the Italian cemetery from the colonial era, the metal market, and military relics from the war with Ethiopia, including old tanks and equipment in the so-called “Tank Park”—one of the city’s most remarkable places. We will once again enjoy Asmara’s old colonial architecture.

Of course—we’ve left time for some last-minute shopping at the local market. Tonight’s accommodation is included in the price. We’ll transfer to the airport around 22:00.

Overnight: Crystal Hotel, Asmara

Day 9: Return flights to Istanbul

The flight is at 00:40.

How to join us

Please email us for more information about this trip or to sign up. We’ll respond promptly and keep you updated on all organizational details. If you’re a group of 5–8 people, we can discuss dates that work for you. You can also join the list for future trips—just send us your names. That’s it!