Attractions in Eritrea

Tourists’ attractions in Eritrea have started attracting tourists from across the world. Travel to Eritrea has not been very easy previously. More recently, by the government’s efforts and Eritrea’s increasing popularity among the tourists for its natural beauty, cultural and archeological sites, more and more international airlines have started their flight services.

So, what are the major tourist attractions in Eritrea that the country is fast becoming a popular tourist destination? It is simply because Eritrea has too many diverse attractions, ranging from its unique fauna and flora, sea life, beautiful Archipelago formation, still functional remains of colonial era buildings, and above all, to its extremely rich archeological sites.

Asmara

Asmara is Africa’s one of the most beautiful and pleasant capitals. It is described as “A city above the clouds”. Asmara hosts most of the tourists’ attractions in Eritrea. The famous buildings such as Fiat Tagliero Building, Cinema Asmara (or the old Opera House), St. Mary’s Coptic Cathedral, Al Khulafa al Rashedin and many more are a beautiful blend of western, African, and Islamic style of construction.

Massawa

Massawa is the pearl of the Red Sea. Its beauty, geo-strategic location, and as base-camp for visiting Eritrea’s archeological sites, the Dahalak Archipelago, and nearby white sandy beaches make Massawa an important travel destination.

Ancient Port of Adulis

The ancient port and archeological sites of Adulis make Eritrea the most popular country for archeologists. Adulis is 59 kilometers south of the modern sea-port Massawa. The ancient port of Adulis, in the 3rd century A.D, was one of the busiest ports linking the Greek, Roman, Byzantium Empires of the north to Africa, Arabia, India and China in the east.

Zula and the Gulf of Zula

Zula is a small town near the archeological sites of Adulis. Adulis, the gulf of Zula, agricultural town of Foro, The Aligede River between two large Mountains, the mangroves on the coast are very popular tourist attractions in Zula.

Dahlak Archipelago

The Dahlak islands, nearly 200 in numbers, are the jewel of Eritrea. They rank at the top of all the archipelago in the world for their natural beauty, calm, transparent lagoons with blue water, wonderful sea life, numerous species of nesting sea birds, and safe waters for scuba diving. The

best thing about the islands is that they are in their natural form, not spoilt or modified by human activities.

The Danakil Depression

Part of the great East African Rift Valley, Danakil depression is one of the strangest and hottest places in the whole world. It is famous for its inhospitable climate, colorful land structures because of sulphur and sulphuric acid, vast lands with no sign of life ever, and the legendary Afar nomads of the region. If anywhere in the whole world, planet earth is most unearthly, it is the Danakil Depression.

Qohaito and its surrounding Archeological Sites

Qohaito, Adulis, Keskese, Toconod, and Matara are more famous of Eritrea’s more than 2,000 archeological sites. Among these Qohaito, Keskese is located in Debub region of Eritrea. Qohaito hosts the world’s famous rock paintings of Adi Alauti cave dating from fifth millennium BC.

Eritrea travel is not just about visiting these places. It is also about learning an African culture which is not entirely African. The culture has influences from as far and as back in history as Roman, Greek, Byzantium and Egyptian Empires of the ancient world. The Arab influence from across the Red Sea also enriches the Eritrean culture. The Afar nomads, the Saho people still have in their roots the culture of those ancient humans who colonized and populated the whole world.

Best of Eritrea Tourism - Adulis Travel

Are you planning to Travel Eritrea? Eritrea is one of the most unique countries in the world. The country is located in the horn of Africa. But, Eritrea is not just another African country. You will find a tinge of Arabian culture because of its broad shores facing the Middle East. It has blend of European culture because of its colonization by British and Italians. And it is African, simply because it is in Africa. Apart from the unique Eritrean culture, there too many attractions in Eritrea to resist the temptation to travel to Eritrea.

Eritrea has historically been one of the least traveled countries. But, now after its 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia is ready to welcome tourists seeking a refreshing break from modern and commercial way of life. Eritrea with its vast and beautiful beaches, a hospitable and diverse culture, and a scenic natural landscape, still unknown to many is sure to have that soothing effect on your soul. The Eritrean beaches on the Dahlak islands are clean, crystal clear, white and pristine

.

How to Get Eritrea Visa and Travel to Eritrea

Eritrean visa requirements vary depending on the country of your residence. If your country of residence has an Eritrean Embassy, you would need to apply for a visa to Eritrea through the embassy which might take months to complete the process. However, you can apply for an easy Eritrean visa on arrival if you have proof of residence in a country where there is no Eritrean embassy. You would need to submit a copy of your passport, one to three passport size photos of yourself, your full residence address, email address, your occupation and details of your company.

Eritrean national flag carrier airline provides a few flight services from some countries. The better alternative flight services for Eritrea travel are offered by EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, or Sudanese Tarco Air.

What to Pack before Eritrea Travel

Some basic things you might like to know before you travel to Eritrea are; Eritrean weather, culture, and Eritrean dress. Eritrea being on Equator has a moderate climate throughout the year. So, from a weather point of view, you don’t need to be worried about warm clothes. However, it would be better to have a thin leather jacket for visiting Eritrean highlands. Eritreans are overall liberal about their dressing. Eritrean people are very accommodating when it comes to facilitating foreigners and tourists. However, to avoid being over prominent in rural areas, it would be better to use more body covering dress. Wearing bikinis or open shoulder dress on Gurgusum beach and Dahlak is also fine.

If you are on some medicine, it is advisable to take those with you, along with your physician’s prescription.

Tourists’ Attractions in Eritrea

Asmara is Eritrea’s capital city. From 2017, the entire Asmara city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Asmara is a city of thousands of Art Deco, futurist, modernist, and rationalist buildings. Some of such buildings are Fiat Tagliero Building, Teatro d'Opera, Cinema Impero, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Dahlak islands with its calm and mysterious lagoons of turquoise water, Highlands between Asmara and Massawa, Massawa city, The Gulf of Zula are popular tourists’ attractions in Eritrea.

Hotels in Eritrea

Booking hotels in Eritrea is not a straightforward choice. If you want comfort and luxury, you must book in the only five-star hotel in Asmara. There are also some upper end hotels which offer reasonable if not the best of services. Electricity, water supplies, and some other issues are an area of concern for lower end hotels. So, in summer vacation months (June-August), book any upper end hotel in advance. You may also book upper end hotels after physically visiting and checking the facilities.

Some other things to consider before you Travel to Eritrea

There are no ATMs in Eritrea, so, you need to keep this in mind. Internet facilities are also rare, but there are some internet cafes in major cities of the country. The country is very safe for foreigners. You need special travel permits when traveling outside of the capital city Asmara.

Qohaito Archeological Site

Eritrea has the second highest density of ancient archeological sites in Africa after the Nile Valley. There are about 2000 identified archeological sites, and still many more remain to be discovered and excavated. Among these the archeological sites of Adulis, Qohaito, Keskese, Tekhonda’e (or Toconda), and Metera

Located in Debub region of southern Eritrea, Qohaito has an altitude of 2700m. The archeological site of Qohaito is about 2.5 kilometers wide and 15 kilometers long. Qohaito was a major city in ancient Africa. It is estimated that the city was founded around fifth millennium BC (5000 BC to 4001 BC) and kept developing until 6th century A.D. Qohaito is believed to have a large amount of archeological objects hidden in its ground. About 80 to 90% of the site still remains to be excavated. The presence of patches of cultivated lands between the buildings suggests that Qohaito was a garden city. Its altitude, pleasant weather and style of buildings suggest also that Qohaito was home to some rich merchants. At some point in history, it also served as a stop on the trade route between Adulis and Aksum.

Some major tourists’ and archeological attractions in and around Qohaito are;

Pre-Christian Temple of Mariam Wakino

The ruined pre-Christian temple of Mariam Wakino of Qohaito archeological site has some of its pillars intact. The building gives some insights into religious beliefs, architectural style, and people’s skillful use of available tools and materials for building such a strong and beautiful structure. The people there call this temple ‘abode of the prestigious one’. This is not the only temple in Qohaito, there are also many other ancient pillars and ruined temples throughout the site.

Rock art in the Adi Alauti cave

Rock art in the Adi Alauti cave is one of the most famous and most important ancient rock art in the world. The cave has nearly 100 paintings of cattle, antelopes and lions. The paint color used is mostly ochre, black and reddish-brown. The art shows early humans’ interests in aesthetics and their skills in drawing and painting. The evidence suggests that the paintings are from fifth millennium (5000) BC. In recent times these paintings have become a symbol of early human being's cultural development and learning.

Meqabir Ghibtsi

There is also a tomb entrance about 1 kilometer north of the Temple of Mariam. The tomb itself is underground with a small entry point above the ground. With its impressive size and majestic construction, the tomb is known as ‘Meqabir Ghibtsi’ or the Egyptian tomb. Built with large blocks of stones, the tomb is rectangular in shape. Two flower-shaped crosses are carved on the inside walls of the tomb.

Shapira Dam

Shapira Dam is almost one thousand years old. The dam is 67m long and 16m deep. It is still functional and fulfills the water requirements of Saho people of the region. One of the inner walls of the dam has inscription of 79 words in ancient Ge’ez language.

Mount Ambasoira - The Highest Peak in Eritrea

Mt. Ambasoira is Eritrea’s highest peak with the height of 3,018m. You can view it just after a short walk from Qohaito archeological site. This and other surrounding mountains with their stunning view enchant the visitors.

Matara or Metera Archeological Site

Matara is another very famous archeological site of Debub region Eritrea. Its excavated sites include Adulis-Axum tunnel, Hawulti obelisk or Matara’s (Metera) Monolith Stele, and ruins of a palace.

The Danakil Depression Eritrea

The Danakil depression is in many aspects the most unique of all of tourists’ attractions in Eritrea. Also called Dankalia, it is the hottest region in the world. Its weather, water scarcity, and soil composition make it one of the most inhospitable places on the planet.

But, wait a minute; this description although very true is, at the same time, very misleading about the Danakil Depression. It is not just a desert, or rugged mountains, but also host of many geographical wonders and mysteries. Still stranger is the fact that this region is considered the cradle of humanity i.e. where anatomically modern human beings evolved. Most probably, the depression was not as hostile in those early periods of humans’ evolution. The depression is the result of divergence of three tectonic plates which is a very rare geological phenomenon.

Apart from the geological weirdness, the Danakil depression Eritrea is also home to many fauna and flora. The wild life you might come across includes spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, Abyssinian hare, common warthog, squirrel, rock hyrax, gazelle, ostrich, Arabian and Kori bustards, Abyssinian Roller, and many more.

Let’s know a little more about the unique and mysterious places of Danakil Depression for which it is very famous worldwide.

Africa’s Great Rift Valley

The Danakil Depression of Eritrea is part of the Great East African Rift Valley. The rift valley is about 6,400 kilometers long and about 30-40 kilometers wide. It is only one of the two active rift valleys in the world, the other one being Baikal Rift Zone in Siberia, Russia which is 2000 kilometers long. The entire rift valley is full of too many geological wonders. So much so that at most places it doesn’t even look a part of our earth. On some places it has large volcanic craters, some of which are continuously active. Somewhere the land is yellowish with Sulphur and Sulphuric acid. You would also come to see white sand with black mountains and blue sky as background.

The Legendry Nomads - Afar People

It seems improbable that human beings can sustain their life over a long period of time in such an inhospitable environment of the Danakil Depression. But it is home to legendary nomads – the Afar people. They are considered the most resilient people on the earth. Most of the Afar people mine salt from dry salt lakes of the Danakil Depression and sell it to markets in nearby towns. Some also tend goats and sheep and always keep traveling in search of lands with some water, grass and bushes. They are very hospitable and consider it their pride to serve visitors to their areas.

The Danakil depression is in many aspects the most unique of all of tourists’ attractions in Eritrea. Also called Dankalia, it is the hottest region in the world. Its weather, water scarcity, and soil composition make it one of the most inhospitable places on the planet.

But, wait a minute; this description although very true is, at the same time, very misleading about the Danakil Depression. It is not just a desert, or rugged mountains, but also host of many geographical wonders and mysteries. Still stranger is the fact that this region is considered the cradle of humanity i.e. where anatomically modern human beings evolved. Most probably, the depression was not as hostile in those early periods of humans’ evolution. The depression is the result of divergence of three tectonic plates which is a very rare geological phenomenon.

Apart from the geological weirdness, the Danakil depression Eritrea is also home to many fauna and flora. The wild life you might come across includes spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, Abyssinian hare, common warthog, squirrel, rock hyrax, gazelle, ostrich, Arabian and Kori bustards, Abyssinian Roller, and many more.

Let’s know a little more about the unique and mysterious places of Danakil Depression for which it is very famous worldwide.

Africa’s Great Rift Valley

The Danakil Depression of Eritrea is part of the Great East African Rift Valley. The rift valley is about 6,400 kilometers long and about 30-40 kilometers wide. It is only one of the two active rift valleys in the world, the other one being Baikal Rift Zone in Siberia, Russia which is 2000 kilometers long. The entire rift valley is full of too many geological wonders. So much so that at most places it doesn’t even look a part of our earth. On some places it has large volcanic craters, some of which are continuously active. Somewhere the land is yellowish with Sulphur and Sulphuric acid. You would also come to see white sand with black mountains and blue sky as background.

The Legendry Nomads - Afar People

It seems improbable that human beings can sustain their life over a long period of time in such an inhospitable environment of the Danakil Depression. But it is home to legendary nomads – the Afar people. They are considered the most resilient people on the earth. Most of the Afar people mine salt from dry salt lakes of the Danakil Depression and sell it to markets in nearby towns. Some also tend goats and sheep and always keep traveling in search of lands with some water, grass and bushes. They are very hospitable and consider it their pride to serve visitors to their areas. https://www.adulistravel.com/

Zula Archeological

Eritrea travel would never be complete without visiting the archeological sites of Adulis and Zula. Zula is a small town on the western coast of Gulf of Zula. It lies on the right bank of the River Aligede, and 40 kilometers south of Massawa, a major city. Zula is an important base town for nearby archeological site of Adulis. Adulis was an emporium and port of Axum.

Zula apart from its archeological importance can also be very useful for tourists visiting the Gulf of Zula. The coast of Zula on both sides of the River Aligede is lined with mangroves. The town itself is very unique for its culture which is predominantly African. It has its roots in ancient culture of Adulis, influenced by Middle Eastern, and colonial and western influence of Italy, France and England.

Some of the major tourists’ attractions in Eritrea, located near the town of Zula, are;

Archeological Site of Adulis

Zula owes much of its importance and international fame to the archeological site of Adulis. The geographical location of Adulis on the trade route of Ancient Greek and Byzantine Empire made Adulis a busy seaport of Aksumite empires from 80 BC to AD 825. Most of the ivory, incense, gold, slaves, and exotic animals from the Axumite Empire traveled through the port of Adulis to Greek, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Egypt.

Adulis and Zula are important not only for their trading links with the rest of the ancient world but scientists also believe that this was the route that anatomically modern human beings used to colonize the rest of the world. Some stone and obsidian tools excavated from this region are over 125,000 years old which give us an insight into our grand-grand ancestor from Old Stone Age or Paleolithic Period.

The Gulf of Zula

The Gulf of Zula is full of charming Eritrean beaches. It is just 4-5 kilometers from the town of Zula. The gulf is famous not only for its pristine crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches but also for one of the world’s most beautiful Dahlak Archipelago which is a group of over 200 islands. The shallow and crystal clear water of the islands are scuba divers’ dreamscape. Here, in the sea, you would find almost all varieties of fish including jellyfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, pufferfish, clownfish, barracuda, manta rays, red snappers, coral fish, and over 200 kinds of corals. On the islands, you would also find a large number of rare and beautiful nesting sea birds.

The Aligede River

The Aligede River is on the south side of Zula. It flows between two large mountains Jebel Gedem and Mount Arbalu before making a delta and merging with the Gulf of Zula. Here, on the cost, it feeds mangroves and hundreds of beautifully colored fish and other sea life.

The Town of Foro

Foro is a small agricultural town where three rivers the Haddas, Aligede, and Camaile converge. The town is about 6 kilometers west of Zula. A visit to the town of Zula and Foro will help you better understand the rural life and culture of Eritrea and Africa. The people here, like anywhere else in Eritrea, are very cooperative and hospitable to tourists.

Traveling

You would need a special permit to travel outside Asmara. If you travel to Eritrea is managed by a tour operator, they will arrange the permit. You may travel either by road, rail or air from Asmara to Massawa, and then by road or yachts to Zula, or by yachts to the Gulf of Zula, or Dahlak islands.

Eritrea International Travel Information

Are you planning to travel Eritrea? Eritrea is one of the most unique countries of the world. The country is located in the horn of Africa. But, Eritrea is not just another African country. You will find a tinge of Arabian culture because of its broad shores facing Middle East. It has blend of European culture because of its colonization by British and Italians. And it is African, simply because it is in Africa. Apart from the unique Eritrean culture, there too many attractions in Eritrea to resist the temptation to travel to Eritrea.

Eritrea has historically been one of the least traveled countries. But, now after its 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia is ready to welcome tourists seeking a refreshing break from modern and commercial way of life. Eritrea with its vast and beautiful beaches, a hospitable and diverse culture, and a scenic natural landscape, still unknown to many is sure to have that soothing effect on your soul. The Eritrean beaches on the Dahlak islands are clean, crystal clear, white and pristine.

How to Get Eritrea Visa and Travel to Eritrea

Eritrean visa requirements vary depending on the country of your residence. If your country of residence has an Eritrean Embassy, you would need to apply for a visa to Eritrea through the embassy which might take months to complete the process. However, you can apply for an easy Eritrean visa on arrival if you have a proof of residence in a country where there is no Eritrean embassy. You would need to submit a copy of your passport, one to three passport size photos of yourself, your full residence address, email address, your occupation and details of your company.

Eritrean national flag carrier airline provides a few flight services from some countries. The better alternative flight services for Eritrea travel are offered by Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, or Sudanese Tarco Air.

What to Pack before Eritrea Travel

Some basic things you might like to know before you travel to Eritrea are; Eritrean weather, culture, and Eritrean dress. Eritrea being on Equator has a moderate climate throughout the year. So, from weather point of view, you don't need to be worried about warm clothes. However, it would be better to have a thin leather jacket for visiting Eritrean highlands. Eritreans are overall liberal about their dressing. Eritrean people are very accommodating when it comes to facilitating foreigners and tourists. However to avoid being over prominent in rural areas, it would be better to use more body covering dress. Wearing bikinis or open shoulder dress on Gergusum beach and Dahlak is also fine.

If you are on some medicine, it is advisable to take those with you, along with your physician's prescription.

Tourists' Attractions in Eritrea

Asmara is Eritrea's capital city. From 2017, the entire Asmara city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Asmara is city of thousands of Art Deco, futurist, modernist, and rationalist buildings. Some of such buildings are Fiat Tagliero Building, Teatro d'Opera, Cinema Impero, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Dahlak islands with its calm and mysterious lagoons of turquoise water, Highlands between Asmara and Massawa, Massawa city, The Gulf of Zula are popular tourists' attractions in Eritrea.

Hotels in Eritrea

Booking hotels in Eritrea is not a straightforward choice. If you want comfort and luxury, you must book in the only five-star hotel in Asmara. There are also some upper end hotels which offer reasonable if not the best of services. Electricity, water supplies and some other issues are an area of concern for lower end hotels. So, in summer vacation months (June-August), book any upper end hotel in advance. You may also book upper end hotels after physically visiting and checking the facilities.

For exploring more options about hotels in Eritrea, visit https://www.booking.com/

Some other things to consider before you Travel to Eritrea

There are no ATMs in Eritrea, so, you need to keep this in mind. Internet facilities are also rare, but there are some internet cafes in major cities of the country. The country is very safe for foreigners. You need special travel permits when travelling outside of the capital city Asmara.

Adulis Travel By Eritrea Tours offers unique and reliable custom travel services & tour packages in Eritrea. Our custom tour packages includes airport transfer,Discover Eritrea.

The Ancient Port of Adulis- Travel to Eritrea

If you are planning your travel to Eritrea, you must think of visiting the ancient port of Adulis.

Adulis is also known as Aduli, present in Eritrea, an ancient port and historical site. This city is located on the seashore of the Red Sea, and it has the best archaeological significance. It has become a point of attraction from archaeologists around the globe.

Location of Adulis

On the northern shore of the Red Sea, Adulis is present. Because of its geographical site, when the Aksum Kingdom was in rule, Adulis was renowned as the central port city. At that time, it was among the leading trade hubs around the world.

The History of Adulis

The ancient port city is known as the framework of the 1st century AD civilization of Adulo-Aksumite. On your travel to Eritrea, you will hear that this city has another name as 'Azuli.'

Some individuals may acknowledge you that the port of Eritrea is renowned as "Azuli," and this word has a meaning of "white sands," which narrates about the white Adulis sands. The other people will let you know that this name originated from the cruiser, "Azuli," it was the earliest to set boat from the port.

In the olden days, it was considered the best route for traders and sailors going to India for trading. Nowadays, a lot of authors called this place "Empty Kingdom," in its ancient great days, and it was a port city, full of business and trade actions.

It is uncertain what resulted in decreasing the importance of the port after the 7th century; Historians hesitate that it may be because of the Arabs' attacks. The possible cause is that the old dock may have blocked with slit by that period.

How to go to Adulis?

You can easily reach Adulis from Massawa city, having a distance of 65 km between both. Any individual can go to Massawa from the Eritrea capital, Asmara, by road. The Massawa town is almost 115 km away from Asmara. The tourists prefer going to this place by minibus, private car, or local buses that take you from Massawa.

Attractions of Adulis

The famous attraction of tourists on Eritrea travel is the Adulis ruins; it has been a leading place for excavation. The Adulis excavations uncovered a lot of artifacts that related the preceding of Adulis to Greece, Egypt, and Rome empires.

In ruins, the tourists will see several palaces, a large church, and a trio of temples, set up in 1868 when the Napier Expedition was there for excavation.

Some other old remains you will see are the massive pillars that recommend the presence of large buildings like temples and churches.

A lot of people come to see the Adulis ruins every year, and you can say that the old port of Eritrea shows a vital part in advancing the tourism of Eritrea.

Moreover, you can also go for visiting Qohaito city, which is present close to the Adulis city.

"The ancient port city of Adulis is the best site for every history lovers who are going to plan their travel to Eritrea!"


The ancient port city of Adulis is the best site for every history lovers who are going to plan their Travel To Eritrea and Best time to visit Eritrea .

More Article ! https://www.123articleonline.com/articles/1174230/the-ancient-port-of-adulis-travel-to-eritrea