11 Days Cultural & Danakil Tour, Eritrea

Day 1 Asmara – Keren
68km north visit Debre Sina Monastery 4th Century. The pilgrimage centers on a Church above the village where a vision of Mary was said to have been seen by shepherd girls beneath a large boulder.
23km northwest visit Keren, visit Monday’s Camel & Live Stock Market.
Visit the Italian and Common Wealth War Cemeteries. Keren is well known for the fiercest battles that went on between the Common Wealth and the Italian forces in 1941. The fall of Keren in the hands of the Common Wealth advancing army signaled the end of an era of the Italian occupation in Eritrea. Visitors will also visit the famous Mariam Dearit Temple curved out from a Baobab tree. Keren is also well known for the Citrus Fruits like Guava, Orange, Papaya and Mango trees that it produces.
Overnight: Keren

Day 2 Keren
Optional Mountain claiming on the surrounding Mountains & visit Farms, outskirts of Keren.
Visit Tigre Nomadic-Pastoralist Ethnic group residing in Eritrea and Sudan, they are related to the Biher-Tegrinya of Eritrea and to the Beja people of Sudan.
Visit Bilen are agriculturalist Cushitic ethnic group. They were formerly known as the Bogo or North Agaw.
Return back to Asmara, ascending from 1390 to 2400 meters above sea level.
Overnight: Asmara

Day 3 Asmara – Kohaito – Adi Keyh
South visit Dekemhare, Segeneiti in to Kohaito visit Archaeological Site, An Ancient dam, Traces of Ancient Palace, Rock Paintings, Tombs & view of the Grand Canyon proceed in to Adi Keyh.
Overnight: Adi Keyh

Day 4 Adikeyh – Senafe – Metera – Segeneiti – Asmara
25km south visit Senafe, a border town with neighboring Ethiopia.
Visit Archaeological Site of an Ancient in Belew Kelew 2.5 meter Erect Stele, demonstrating the ancient civilization. Climb Metera Mountain visit majestic chains of the Ambassoira Mountains. Visit Baobab Tree that gives fruits every month in its twelve branches, adjacent to St. Mary Ancient Church. Return back to Asmara.
Overnight: Asmara

Day 5 Asmara – Massawa
113km northeast Bird watching on Filfil Solomuna Road, resting at Sabur or Medhanit.
Visit Mai Wu’uii (hot spring) found some 40 kilometers from Massawa.
Via desert plains in to the port City of Massawa.
Overnight: Massawa

Day 6 Massawa
City tour of Massawa visiting a combination of Turkish and Italian Architects, an apparent indication of the Ottoman and Italian Colonial History.
Visit Massawa Gurgusum Beach.
Overnight: Massawa

Day 7 Massawa – Dessie Island
Boat Excursion Two Hours on the Red Sea for Fishing, Diving, Swimming & visit different Islands.
Overnight Camping: Dessie Island

Day 8 Dessie Island – Massawa
Finalize Dessie Island and return back to Massawa.
Overnight: Massawa

Day 9 Massawa – Foro – Adulis – Zula – Massawa
70km Danakil Desert Plains visit Ancient Port Adulis, also visit Ancient Port Zula.
Visit Gellalo Village…
Overnight: Massawa

Day 10 Massawa – Ghindae – Asmara
Zero Sea Level to a gradual climbing via Gahtelai, Dongolo Basso, Dongollo Alto, Ghindae in to Nefasit. Trek 7 kilometers to visit Debre Bizen Monastery.
The Debre Bizen Monastery of the legendary Saint Abune Philipos is visited yearly only by male pilgrims on August 11th according to the Gregorian calendar or according to the Julian or Geez Calendar on the 5th August.
Overnight: Asmara

Day 11 Asmara City Tour

• The Peak of St Mary Cemetery where one can see the whole of Asmara.
• The Medeber, where artisans recycle old tires and tins. They make shoes, oven, carpentry, red pepper mill. It was built circa 1912. 
• The St Mary Church built circa 1900.
• The Grand Mosque built circa 1920s
• The Cathedral built circa 1920s
• The Post office built 1916 f) Albergo Italia built 1899.
• The Municipality established in 1890 H) Theatro Asmara built 1920s,
• Cinema Odeon, Cinema Roma built 1920s,
• Villa Roma built circa 1907 (now the residence of the Italian Embassy)

Overnight: Asmara