tourhq

Explore the world with tourHQ

tourhq
5-Day History And Shore Excursion At Asmara & Massawa
  • Tour Category

    Group Tour

  • Tour Types

    Sun and Sand, Architecture, History

  • Duration

    5 Days

  • Activity Level

    Easy

  • Language

    English

Description

Sign up for this tour and visit a port city on Africa's Red Sea coast to witness Italian, Egyptian and Ottoman architecture styles at Massawa Island. See notable buildings such as the crumbling, war-damaged Imperial Palace and St. Mariam Cathedral. Swim at Gurgusum beach, one of the world's finest beaches, and enjoy a boat trip to Green Island.

Highlights
  • Witness war-damaged properties like Imperial Palace
  • Pay your respect at the St. Mariam Cathedral
  • Ride a boat to the beautiful Green Island
  • Marvel at Ottoman and Egyptian architecture at Massawa island
  • Day 1: Asmara expand_more
    • Meet your tour guide upon your arrival at the Asmara International Airport, and after processing custom formalities, you will be transferred to your hotel. 
    • Start with the discovery of Asmara. A guided tour will lead you to the most interesting and unusual place, Asmara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Overnight in Asmara.

  • Day 2: Asmara city tour expand_more
    • Explore Asmara city with your tour guide. The city’s elegant streets and the adjoining promenade are comfortable for day or night walks. The city now accommodates more than 400 art Deco buildings officially recognized by UNESCO. One of the attractive features of Asmara, particularly the country in general, is that it is the safest place to enjoy. One would feel as if one is in Rome when touring Asmara. Many Italians used to call it “Asmara Bella”, meaning “Asmara the beautiful”. 
    • Visit the Catholic and Coptic cathedrals, the mosque, the market, the Caravanserraglio, the Italian cemetery, the National Museum, Cinema Odeon, Cinema Roma built in the 1920s and the tank graveyard, remnants from the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia in 1961 to 1991.     

    Overnight in Asmara.

  • Day 3: Asmara - Massawa expand_more
    • Drive to Massawa through the green belt would take the path primarily towards the Keren road. 
    • Then turn towards the east, and the journey would gradually descend through the much-admired Filfil- Solomon road, usually called the Green belt. The Italians initially built the road as a weather road, and it was turned into a fine tarmac by the Government of Eritrea. Visitors may feel like they are driving above the clouds as they can watch the clouds down the hill. Bird watching is glamorous in Filfil Solomon, and visitors can have a coffee break at Sabur or Medhanit.
    • Drive towards the east, and the descending will continue. Visitors could have a stop-over at the Mai Wu’uii (the famous hot spring) found 40 kilometres from Massawa. 
    • Continue the journey and witness the desert plains before reaching the port city of Massawa. 

    Overnight at Massawa.

  • Day 4: Massawa City Tour expand_more
    • Go sightseeing in the city with your tour guide. Massawa enjoys a combination of Turkish and Italian Architects, an apparent indication of the Ottoman and Italian colonial history. There is, among others, an old Turkish Palace and the Modern Port built by the Titians at the turn of the 20th Century, and more than one thousand years mosque is still standing to this day.
    • Visit another great attraction, the famous Gurgusum beach, one of the finest beaches in the world. It is clean and safe, and there are no sharks at all. Thus visitors can enjoy swimming at Massawa. The waters are relatively cool from October to March. However, from April to September, it will be hot and humid. Visitors can adjust their timetables accordingly. 

     Overnight in Massawa.

  • Day 5: Massawa – Asmara - Departure expand_more
    • Start early in the morning with a 10 minutes boat trip to Green Island, the most accessible island from Massawa, consisting of the beach and mangrove swamp.
    • Drive uphill while enjoying the magnificent scenery and lush vegetation to Asmara. If time allows, there will be stops on the way at interesting sites and encounters with the locals.
    • Transfer to airport for departure.
What's Included
  • All transfers to/from the airport & hotel

  • Accommodation for 4 nights - including breakfast

  • English-speaking Asmara (Eritrean) tour guide

  • Travel permit fees

What's Excluded
  • Air ticket fare and entry visa

  • Lunch, dinner and alcoholic drinks

  • Insurance

  • Personal spending and any optional tours

Know before you go
  • When tourists travel outside of Asmara, they must obtain a Travel Permit. Adulis travel agent handles the issuing of such travel permits.

  • Adulis Travel can also arrange a visa on arrival for tourists with no Eritrean Embassy in their respective countries if they are travelling and would be short of time to approach the respective Eritrean Embassy. We can also arrange a visa on arrival.

  • Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, is the largest city is, lying at an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level. The city has a pleasant year-round climate of 18-25 Celsius. Even during the summertime, Asmara has an enjoyable climate. The Italians created the modern city of Asmara between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th Century. The city maintains its cleanliness, which many visitors commend. 

  • Massawa is a port city in Eritrea, on Africa's Red Sea coast. In the old town on Massawa Island, a mix of Italian, Egyptian and Ottoman architecture reflects the city's colourful history. Notable buildings near Taulud Island include the crumbling, war-damaged Imperial Palace and St. Mariam Cathedral. Near the cathedral, three tanks form a monument commemorating those who died in Eritrea's civil wars.

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price Details
Standard
1 To 4 USD 1345 Per Person

This is a group tour

Starting From

Fromss

see details
USD 1345 / person