Eritrea
Tuesday 28th October to Saturday 8th November 2008
Eritrea has had a steam renaissance. Its 950mm narrow gauge railway was closed and the rails removed in the 1970s. However, the railway has been rebuilt and opened recently and six of the original Italian built narrow gauge steam locomotives restored including several Mallets. The line passes through spectacular scenery on its climb from the Red Sea to the capital, Asmara, reaching nearly 8,000 feet high! It has been dubbed as the Darjeeling of Africa but is significantly higher. We go in one of the best months for weather to visit this fascinating country of friendly people not yet influenced by mass tourism. This trip also offers an extension to visit Cairo, including the Pyramids, and Alexandria.
Tuesday 28th October
Fly to Eritrea
We depart London Heathrow at 14:00 changing in Cairo for Asmara.
Wednesday 29th October
Asmara Tour
Arriving at Asmara airport we transfer to our hotel for an early check in. Eritrea’s capital since 1897, Asmara is perched on the eastern edge of Eritrea’s highland plateau and was colonized by the Italians, becoming the jewel in its East African Empire. Today we enjoy a city tour of Asmara. This includes the Catholic Cathedral (thought to be the finest example of its style outside of Italy), the Neo-classical Governors Palace, the Romanesque opera house, the city park and the cemetery of tanks, full of scrap military metal. There will also be time to visit the city market.
We stay at the four star Intercontinental Hotel. (B L D)
Thursday 30th October
Massawa
We go by coach to the main port of Eritrea. Massawa is very important to Eritrea, as it is the largest natural deep-water port on the Red Sea. The island of Batse is the ancient Moorish centre and is worth a visit. The district of Taulud has a war memorial, cathedral, the Imperial Palace and the old railway station. All the Eritrean trains on this tour are chartered especially for us and after lunch we have are steam hauled from the harbour for a return trip to Monculu. We will be hauled by a Mallet locomotive on a mixed train and will stop for photos on the way. There is an option of a Massawa city tour instead of the train ride. Overnight accommodation is at the Red Sea Hotel situated on the Red Sea. (B L D)
Friday 31st October
Steam to Ghinda
Our train today will be hauled by a large Mallet locomotive for the long climb to come.
Today’s journey will take us from the sea at Massawa up into the mountains, through gorges and across high slender viaducts to Ghinda.
At Ghinda station two Breda 0-4-0 tank locomotives will be in steam for us and will work a short mixed train for our benefit. We travel by coach back to the Intercontinental Hotel in Asmara for five nights. (B L D)
Saturday 1st November
Steam on to Asmara
After breakfast we retrace our steps by road back down to Ghinda station. Here our train will have two Mallets to haul us over the steepest and most spectacular section of the line between Ghinda and Asmara. This is the final section to have been reopened on this once dilapidated line and it climbs steeply as it twists and turns, passing over bridges and through tunnels. We will enjoy several run pasts for photos on this spectacular line. (B L D)
Sunday 2nd November
Visit Keren
Today there is a visit away from the railway to the ancient city of Keren, a predominately Muslim town. Our journey passes through more spectacular scenery as we pass through the mountains. Keren has examples of Italian and Ethiopian architecture, which is overlooked by the Tigu, a 19th century Egyptian fortress. There are good views from the top of the fort, and at its foot are the ruins of the old Imperial Palace, destroyed in 1977. Alternatively we can spend a day exploring Asmara or to chill out in the hotel swimming pool. (B L D)
Monday 3rd November
Back on the Mountain
We start with a visit to the locomotive depot and workshops at Asmara. Construction of the railway started in 1888 by the Italians to link the capital with Massawa, on the coast. Totally destroyed during 30 years of war, it has now been fully restored with the last parts of the track finished in early 2003. The line has 29 stone bridges, two metal ones and 39 tunnels. One of the little Breda tank locomotives will be available for shunting and light duties. We will have lunch at a restaurant in Asmara followed by a run down the mountain behind a Mallet locomotive on our chartered train. We will travel as far as Arbaroba or maybe beyond where our Mallet tank runs around our train for the return. As we climb back up towards Asmara the afternoon sunlight should give us spectacular photo opportunities against a mountain backdrop. We hope to use our road coach to photograph the train as it grinds its way through the panoramic scenery. (B L D)
Tuesday 4th November
The Fiat Railcar
Today an ancient Fiat Littorina railcar will make the journey from Asmara to Nefesit. There will also be a steam train for those that prefer and to take us back to Asmara. Again there will be lots of opportunities to take pictures of the trains and the spectacular scenery. (B L D)
Wednesday 5th November
Fly to Cairo/London
We have an early morning departure for London via Cairo. (B L)
Cairo Extension
Wednesday 5th November
To Cairo
After arriving at Cairo Airport we transfer to the Cairo Sheraton Hotel, located on the Nile, and check-in for three nights stay. We take a local tram through the streets of Cairo to the railway station which also houses the Egyptian Railway Museum. After lunch in the city our private coach will take us to the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar for some shopping, before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B L D)
Thursday 6th November
The Pyramids
We have a private tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza and their steadfast and enigmatic guardian, the Sphinx. After lunch we tour the Egyptian Museum to see the golden treasures of Tutankhamun and other exhibits of ancient Egypt. We have dinner at our hotel. (B L D)
Friday 7th November
Alexandria
After breakfast we transfer to the main station for a mid morning express train to Alexandria, Egypt’s second largest city and its major seaport. It takes just over two hours with surprisingly comfortable trains. In Alexandria we will have lunch and sample its old trams on some of their many routes. Fares are less than 3p a trip! We return to Cairo and have dinner on the Nile with an Egyptian show including belly dancing. (B L D)
Saturday 8th November
Return to UK
We transfer to the airport for our return to Heathrow.
Fly to Eritrea
We depart London Heathrow at 14:00 changing in Cairo for Asmara.
Wednesday 29th October
Asmara Tour
Arriving at Asmara airport we transfer to our hotel for an early check in. Eritrea’s capital since 1897, Asmara is perched on the eastern edge of Eritrea’s highland plateau and was colonized by the Italians, becoming the jewel in its East African Empire. Today we enjoy a city tour of Asmara. This includes the Catholic Cathedral (thought to be the finest example of its style outside of Italy), the Neo-classical Governors Palace, the Romanesque opera house, the city park and the cemetery of tanks, full of scrap military metal. There will also be time to visit the city market.
We stay at the four star Intercontinental Hotel. (B L D)
Thursday 30th October
Massawa
We go by coach to the main port of Eritrea. Massawa is very important to Eritrea, as it is the largest natural deep-water port on the Red Sea. The island of Batse is the ancient Moorish centre and is worth a visit. The district of Taulud has a war memorial, cathedral, the Imperial Palace and the old railway station. All the Eritrean trains on this tour are chartered especially for us and after lunch we have are steam hauled from the harbour for a return trip to Monculu. We will be hauled by a Mallet locomotive on a mixed train and will stop for photos on the way. There is an option of a Massawa city tour instead of the train ride. Overnight accommodation is at the Red Sea Hotel situated on the Red Sea. (B L D)
Friday 31st October
Steam to Ghinda
Our train today will be hauled by a large Mallet locomotive for the long climb to come.
Today’s journey will take us from the sea at Massawa up into the mountains, through gorges and across high slender viaducts to Ghinda.
At Ghinda station two Breda 0-4-0 tank locomotives will be in steam for us and will work a short mixed train for our benefit. We travel by coach back to the Intercontinental Hotel in Asmara for five nights. (B L D)
Saturday 1st November
Steam on to Asmara
After breakfast we retrace our steps by road back down to Ghinda station. Here our train will have two Mallets to haul us over the steepest and most spectacular section of the line between Ghinda and Asmara. This is the final section to have been reopened on this once dilapidated line and it climbs steeply as it twists and turns, passing over bridges and through tunnels. We will enjoy several run pasts for photos on this spectacular line. (B L D)
Sunday 2nd November
Visit Keren
Today there is a visit away from the railway to the ancient city of Keren, a predominately Muslim town. Our journey passes through more spectacular scenery as we pass through the mountains. Keren has examples of Italian and Ethiopian architecture, which is overlooked by the Tigu, a 19th century Egyptian fortress. There are good views from the top of the fort, and at its foot are the ruins of the old Imperial Palace, destroyed in 1977. Alternatively we can spend a day exploring Asmara or to chill out in the hotel swimming pool. (B L D)
Monday 3rd November
Back on the Mountain
We start with a visit to the locomotive depot and workshops at Asmara. Construction of the railway started in 1888 by the Italians to link the capital with Massawa, on the coast. Totally destroyed during 30 years of war, it has now been fully restored with the last parts of the track finished in early 2003. The line has 29 stone bridges, two metal ones and 39 tunnels. One of the little Breda tank locomotives will be available for shunting and light duties. We will have lunch at a restaurant in Asmara followed by a run down the mountain behind a Mallet locomotive on our chartered train. We will travel as far as Arbaroba or maybe beyond where our Mallet tank runs around our train for the return. As we climb back up towards Asmara the afternoon sunlight should give us spectacular photo opportunities against a mountain backdrop. We hope to use our road coach to photograph the train as it grinds its way through the panoramic scenery. (B L D)
Tuesday 4th November
The Fiat Railcar
Today an ancient Fiat Littorina railcar will make the journey from Asmara to Nefesit. There will also be a steam train for those that prefer and to take us back to Asmara. Again there will be lots of opportunities to take pictures of the trains and the spectacular scenery. (B L D)
Wednesday 5th November
Fly to Cairo/London
We have an early morning departure for London via Cairo. (B L)
Cairo Extension
Wednesday 5th November
To Cairo
After arriving at Cairo Airport we transfer to the Cairo Sheraton Hotel, located on the Nile, and check-in for three nights stay. We take a local tram through the streets of Cairo to the railway station which also houses the Egyptian Railway Museum. After lunch in the city our private coach will take us to the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar for some shopping, before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B L D)
Thursday 6th November
The Pyramids
We have a private tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza and their steadfast and enigmatic guardian, the Sphinx. After lunch we tour the Egyptian Museum to see the golden treasures of Tutankhamun and other exhibits of ancient Egypt. We have dinner at our hotel. (B L D)
Friday 7th November
Alexandria
After breakfast we transfer to the main station for a mid morning express train to Alexandria, Egypt’s second largest city and its major seaport. It takes just over two hours with surprisingly comfortable trains. In Alexandria we will have lunch and sample its old trams on some of their many routes. Fares are less than 3p a trip! We return to Cairo and have dinner on the Nile with an Egyptian show including belly dancing. (B L D)
Saturday 8th November
Return to UK
We transfer to the airport for our return to Heathrow.
 |
 |
Price
| Price per person | £1995 |
| Single supplement | £210 |
Price includes:
- Flights London to Asmara and return
- 7 nights’ hotel accommodation
- Full board throughout
- All train travel, transfers and tourist visits detailed in the itinerary
- The services of a tour manager
Price - Cairo Extension
| Price per person | £299 |
| Single supplement | £59 |
Price includes:
- 3 nights hotel accommodation and breakfast
- 3 dinners
- 3 lunches
- All visits, tours and transfers mentioned in the itinerary
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner