Eritrea, in the Horn of Africa, is a very special African country. Firstly, it is a very closed society, which makes it one of the safest places in the world to visit. The country's capital is a real gem for any traveller with a taste for architecture (and Italy), as the centre of Asmara, built by Italians since the 1920s, is a place where time seems to have stood still. The beautifully decaying buildings still bear Italian names and the food culture is heavily influenced by Italy.

Eritrea is a country of great natural diversity and beauty – the journey from Asmara, at 2,300 metres above sea level, to Massawa on the Red Sea is a journey through 'three seasons'.

Join us to experience this undiscovered gem of the Red Sea with a knowledgeable and trustworthy guide – before others realise it's easy to reach!

Day 1

Arrival in Asmara. You will be met at the airport, followed by transfer to the 2-3 star Cristal or Sunshine Hotel in central Asmara. OR to the 4-star Asmara Palace Hotel.

Meals: no meals, excluding meals included in the price of flights.

Day 2

Welcome to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, home to around a million people, located in the heart of the country at an altitude of around 2300 metres above sea level. You will be picked up from your hotel at 9.30 am and your city tour will begin.
Asmara is very different from any other African city because of its unique architecture. After the Italian colonial era, the city is still called "Little Rome" or Piccolo Roma for the reason that the Italians built the city to their taste from the 1920s onwards and since those days the city has rather just become more beautiful, with everything beautifully decaying: old cinemas, petrol stations, pharmacies and so on. The city centre is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Italian influence is still evident in the names of the buildings and the cuisine. Some people still speak Italian. Eritrea is a closed country, so crime is non-existent.

Places to visit on the city tour include the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Coptic Church of the Virgin Mary, the Al Khulafa al Rashedin Mosque, the Medeber caravanserai, the Fiat Tagliero building, the Asmara Theatre, the post office and several market areas.

In the afternoon at 16:00, the journey continues towards the port city of Massawa on the Red Sea. The journey from 2300 metres down to sea level is a spectacular drive, travelling through "the three seasons", with a radical change in nature and fantastic scenery. On the way, stop at the railway line linking Asmara to Massawa. The railway was built by the Italians between 1887 and 1932.

Accommodation at the 2-3 star Grand Dahlak Hotel in Massawa.

Meals: breakfast

Day 3

After breakfast at 7.30 am, pick up from the hotel and head for the Massawa city tour. Known as the "Pearl of the Red Sea", Massawa has a population of just over 50,000 and has been one of the most important ports in the region for centuries. We will explore the Turkish-style architecture, then take a motorboat to the island known as "Green Island" in the Red Sea for a swim. At 11 am we head back to the mainland and on to the hotel for a shower. Afterwards, check-out from the hotel and have lunch (not included). We will be back in Asmara at around 4 pm.

Accommodation in a 2-3 star Cristal or Sunshine hotel in the centre of Asmara. OR the 4-star Asmara Palace Hotel.

Meals: no meals

Day 4

After breakfast at 8 am, you will be picked up from your hotel and the journey continues to Keren, the country's second largest city, about 2.5 hours' drive northwest of Asmara. Keren is located at 1390 metres above sea level and the air is pleasantly "cool". Before arriving in the town, a short visit to the village of Halibmentel, inhabited by the Bilen tribe, is made.

In Keren, we'll explore at least the Catholic Mariam Dearit chapel, built inside a baobab tree, as well as the city's architecture, various market areas (the camel market is only on Mondays) and Italian and British World War II cemeteries.

We are back in Asmara around 4 pm. In the evening, the transfer back to the airport and the journey home begins.

Meals: breakfast