Eritrea holidays

---

• Overview
• Country info
• Holiday ideas

---

Destinations » Africa holidays » Eritrea holidays

"The infamous Danakil Depression is said to be the hottest place on earth: summer temperatures reach heights feared by even the whippet-thin Afar tribesmen." Michela Wrong

Taken from The Traveller's Handbook.

Eritrea holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a Eritrea holiday, personal to you.

---

Eritrea tailor-made holiday highlights

Asmara
Situated on a high plateau, the capital has a pleasant climate, which led the colonising Italians to choose it as their main base. A small collection of villages just over 200 years ago, today it is full of striking Italian architecture and bougainvillaea lines the streets. Carrara marble was used in building its mosque. It is a lavish town, with Italian trimmings.

Massawa
Coming here from the capital you descend 2,438 metres to sea level, passing breath-taking views of coastal desert. The Turko-Egyptian city has the largest deep water port in the Red Sea. Batsi island connects with the mainland via a series of dams. Sadly damaged during the struggle for independence from Ethiopia, the old town is being rebuilt in keeping with its original style. Some parts remain impressive.

Qohaito
An archaeological site whose beginnings are still being questioned. What is not in doubt is its impressiveness. Of the area excavated, around 20 per cent of the total area, digs have found the Temple of Mariam Wakiro, an early Christian church, temples, and tombs. The largest, most significant find, has been the Saphira Dam - 60 metres long and thought to be 1,000 years old.

Dahlak Archipelago
Over 350 islands lie off the coast of Eritrea. Underwater is where their real beauty lies, packed with fish and coral life. Wreck-diving is also possible. Island and Arabian ruins are found on the largest island, home to nine ethnic villages.

People & place

Eritrea facts

Capital: Asmara
Language: Arabic, Afar Tigrinya and other Cushitic languages.
People: Tigrinya, Tigre and Kunama, Afar and other indigenous groups.
Religion: Islam and Christianity.
Size (sq km): 121,144.
Population: 4,906,585.
Population density/sq km: 40.5

Etiquette

Dress modestly as a tourist, business people should wear suits. Smoking is unpopular with traditional and elderly Eritreans. Shoes must be taken off in churches and mosques.

Shopping

Eritrean Orthodox crucifixes in pewter or silver, incense burners, woodcarvings, leather items, spears, drums, carpets, and wicker goods.

Food & drink

Staple foods include kitcha, a thin bread made from wheat, and injera, a spongy pancake. Local specialities are often spicy. Massawa is renown for excellent seafood, particularly lobster and prawns. Italian cuisine dominates in restaurants in larger cities.Tea and espresso are drunk without milk, but a lot of sugar, coffee comes with ginger or black pepper and sugar. Exotic fruit juices available.

International Airports

Asmara (ASM) 6 km from the city.

Internal travel

Internal flights between Asmara and Assab. Reasonable roads between main towns. Usually two buses a day between large towns and one a day between smaller towns. There are no timetables and they will leave when full. The railway between Asmara and Massawa accommodates chartered trips for tourists. Car hire available through the Eritrean Tour Service in Asmara.

Red tape

Visas

(UK/US) Required.

Vaccinations

BCG, Diphtheria, Hep. A, Hep. B, Malaria, Meningitis ACWY, Polio, Rabies, Typhoid, Y. Fever2.

Driving requirements

International Driving Permit.

Reps in UK/US

UK: 96 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF, tel (020) 7713 0096, fax (020) 7713 0161. US: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20009, tel (202) 319 1991, fax (202) 319 1304, email embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org.

UK/US reps in Eritrea

UK: 66-68 Mariam Ghimbi Street, PO Box 5584, Asmara, tel (1) 120 145, fax (1) 120 104, email asmara.enquiries@fco.gov.uk. US: 179 Ala Street, PO Box 211, Asmara, tel (1) 120 004, fax (1) 127 584, email usembassyasmara@state.gov.

Currency

Nakfa (ERN) = 100 cents.

Finance

Credit cards accepted on a limited basis, traveller's cheques are generally accepted.

Business hours

0830-1300, 1430-2030 Monday-Saturday.

Safety & life expectancy

Safety information

Relatively safe with low levels of crime. Tensions remain following years of war with neighbouring Ethiopia. War has also left a low-level of infrastructure. Borders with Ethiopia and Sudan are closed. Landmines are prevalent on the Ethiopian border. A permit is needed to travel outside of the capital, Asmara. The latest advice should be sought before travelling.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy: M 57.88, F 61.28.

Useful websites for travel

www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/eritrea/ http://eritrea.usembassy.gov/ http://eritrea.embassyhomepage.com/

Local media

No privately owned news media. Eritrea Profile (weekly) is published in English, Hadas Eritrea (three times a week) is printed in English, Arabic and Tigrinya. One TV station, two radio stations, all state-controlled.

Tourist boards

n/a.

Eritrea tailor-made holiday ideas

Asmara
Situated on a high plateau, the capital has a pleasant climate, which led the colonising Italians to choose it as their main base. A small collection of villages just over 200 years ago, today it is full of striking Italian architecture and bougainvillaea lines the streets. Carrara marble was used in building its mosque. It is a lavish town, with Italian trimmings.

Massawa
Coming here from the capital you descend 2,438 metres to sea level, passing breath-taking views of coastal desert. The Turko-Egyptian city has the largest deep water port in the Red Sea. Batsi island connects with the mainland via a series of dams. Sadly damaged during the struggle for independence from Ethiopia, the old town is being rebuilt in keeping with its original style. Some parts remain impressive.

Qohaito
An archaeological site whose beginnings are still being questioned. What is not in doubt is its impressiveness. Of the area excavated, around 20 per cent of the total area, digs have found the Temple of Mariam Wakiro, an early Christian church, temples, and tombs. The largest, most significant find, has been the Saphira Dam - 60 metres long and thought to be 1,000 years old.

Dahlak Archipelago
Over 350 islands lie off the coast of Eritrea. Underwater is where their real beauty lies, packed with fish and coral life. Wreck-diving is also possible. Island and Arabian ruins are found on the largest island, home to nine ethnic villages.

Eritrea news