Eritrea Independence Day Tour

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast at the hotel and begin your 120km journey to Massawa (about 3 hours) – a colourful port town mixed with Italian, Egyptian and Ottoman architecture built along Africa’s Red Sea coastline.
• Explore ruins from the early Arabic/Islamic settlers of the 8th century
• Lunch on arrival at the Azeb Restaurant.

Afternoon

• Cruise to Green Island, explore the coastline of this Island.
• Dinner at Dahlak Hotel Restaurant
• Explore the nightlife of Massawa and find some bars to mingle.
• Overnight in Massawa at a hotel reminiscent of the era of the Italians, the Grand Dahlak Hotel.

Morning

• After the morning meal, we’ll go on a walking tour to take in the unique mixture of Turkish and Italian architectural designs stopping at all sites of interest – Massawa was the capital of the Italian Colony of Eritrea until the seat of the colonial government was moved to Asmara in 1897.
• Begin making our way back to Asmara with lunch on the way.

Afternoon

• On arrival, we’ll check out one of the tank graveyards. Soviet tanks, aircraft, and cars. Most are leftovers from the war with Ethiopia.
• Visit the City Hall to see various photo displays commemorating the thirty-year bitter struggle and the post-independence progress. The City Hall was established by the Italians in 1890 and is one of the oldest institutions in Africa. There will also be various inventions on display by young people.
• Tonight, Harnett street should be busy with the carnival, so we will head there to check out the various pre-Independence Day celebrations, including modern and folklore dances.
• Festival continues into the night culminating in a massive fireworks show at midnight to celebrate independence.
• Overnight Star Hotel or Similar, in Asmara

Morning

• After breakfast, we will have a walking tour of the center of town. We will see the spectacular art deco of Asmara built by the Italians at the turn of the last century, such as the Post office built 1916, Albergo Italia built in 1899, the presidential palace built in 1907, and the Hotel Hamasien built in 1916.
• There will be various art exhibitions along the pedestrianized streets of the Main liberation avenue.

Afternoon

• After lunch, we join the celebrations at Asmara Stadium (NOTE: Not everyone has the opportunity to enter the stadium) – various displays by the Eritrean military marching band and the Eritrean Air force will fly over the stadium in a spectacular colour show! Many artists will show multiple dramas during the afternoon.
• The Eritrean President will address the public and deliver a speech on Independence Day. The show will come to an end in the early evening.
• Dinner Gibabo Restaurant.
• Overnight Star Hotel or Similar, in Asmara

• Breakfast
• Free to discover Asmara in your leisure time. Transfer to the airport for Departure.
• Tour concludes!!!