Overview

Once heralded as the happy haven for vacationers, Eritrea is a northeastern African country that is bordered by Djibouti, Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Red Sea. Unlike most other African countries, this land does not include permanent rivers or lakes, but it features several mountains that stretch up to 2,000 feet above sea level. The Dahlak Archipelago of the coast in the Red Sea has been officially proclaimed as the Eritrea National Park.

Activities & Attractions

Qohaito in Eritrea has been nominated to feature on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The ancient towns of Koloe and Qohaito, as well as the other ruins across Eritrea, stir up the ancient cultures and a past that has long been forgotten. When you take a trip to Eritrea, you can spend many days exploring the different ruin sites, tall pillars and dwelling foundations excavated out of the wreckage across the country.

If archeology and long-lost history is your passion, then Eritrea has a lot to offer you. Adulis, one of the main archaeological sites in Eritrea, was discovered by the French in 1840. It is believed that the ruins of Adulis had housed temples in the past. Excavators have even found the remnants of Byzantine-like churches in this region. Excavations have been in progress since 1906 and precious historic evidences have been found in the ruins, including ties to the Axumite kingdom.

Another attraction in Eritrea is the Matsawa Island, which houses a blend of Turkish, Egyptian, Italian and Moorish influence, with buildings made out of coral rocks.

Lodging

Famed to be Eritrea's first boutique hotel, Albergo Italia charges about $180 for a night's stay complete with all amenities.

You can even choose to explore Eritrea with a tour package, which is inclusive of the travel, lodging and meals expenses. The Eritrea Discovery Tour is a 12-day tour package with experienced guides and includes in its itinerary a tour of Asmara, Keren and the Red Sea by four-wheel driving for 1500 pounds. The Eritrea Luxury Week Tour offers eight days in Asmara and a comfortable stopover at Albergo Italia for 995 pounds.

Transportation

Busses and minibuses are the most preferred mode of transportation in Eritrea. The railway network has not been used widely for years and very few people in the country own vehicles. Many people use bicycles, but you can hire a car for getting around during your stay.

Long distance busses connect Asmara to a few other cities. Smaller towns have no proper public transportation, so hitchhiking may be the only available option. However, this is fairly unsafe and is not recommended, especially for isolated vacationers. The best travel option would be to rent vehicles. If you have an international driving license, you can rent a four-wheel drive to traverse the smaller pathway roads to visit a few villages. You can also find cars and drivers for hire in Asmara. As with most places in Africa, travel during the night time, particularly alone, should be avoided.