Our Dahlak Islands Tour is a private, fully guided journey through Asmara · Qohaito · Keren · Massawa · Dahlak Islands, led by our own local guides.
Dahlak Islands Tour — overview
This eight-day Dahlak Islands tour crosses Eritrea from the highlands to the Red Sea and ends with a night camping on Dissei and a last morning on the reefs of Madote, two of the outer islands of the Dahlak Archipelago. You start in Asmara, take in Qohaito’s Aksumite ruins and Keren’s Monday camel market, drop down the escarpment to Massawa, and sail out to sleep on a beach with no building on it.
Most operators sell the Dahlak Islands as a day trip from Massawa: out in the morning, back before dark, an hour or two of snorkelling in between. This itinerary gives you the night instead. You sleep on Dissei, one of the outer islands, in a tented camp pitched on the sand, and the archipelago is a completely different place once the boats have gone.
The week that leads up to it is the classic Eritrean circuit, and it earns its place. Asmara is the most complete modernist city in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Qohaito spreads along a clifftop that falls away into a gorge. Keren’s camel market trades on Mondays only, so the route is built around that day. Then the escarpment drops 2,300 metres to Massawa and the sea.
We are a licensed Eritrean operator based in Asmara, not an agency reselling from abroad. The invitation letter for your visa, every internal travel permit, the boat charter and the island camp are arranged by our own team before you land, which is the practical reason independent travel to the Dahlaks does not really work.
Dahlak Islands Tour highlights
- A night camped on Dissei and a last swim off Madote: igloo tents on the sand, fresh fish grilled by our cook, no hotel and no other group
- Keren’s camel market, which trades on Mondays only: the itinerary is timed around it
- UNESCO-listed Asmara, Africa’s most complete modernist city
- Qohaito’s Aksumite ruins on the edge of a highland gorge
- Reefs among the least-visited in the Red Sea, snorkelled straight off the beach
- Every permit, transfer and boat charter arranged before you arrive
Why book this Dahlak Islands Tour with Adulis Travel
Adulis Travel is an Eritrean-owned operator based in Asmara, so every Dahlak Islands Tour is led by local guides who know the region first-hand. We keep groups small, arrange the visas, travel permits and logistics, and stay with you from arrival to departure.
Dahlak Islands Tour itinerary, day by day
Arrival in Asmara
Our driver meets you at Asmara International Airport and brings you to the hotel. In the afternoon we walk the centre of the capital (Africa’s most complete modernist city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017) for a first sense of the boulevards, the pavement cafes and the unhurried pace of the place. At 2,325 metres the air is cool and clear even in summer.
Overnight: Bologna Hotel, Asmara · Meals: No meals
Asmara city tour
A full day in the city Italians called la piccola Roma. We visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Medeber recycling market where craftsmen beat old oil drums into new tools, and Cinema Impero on Harnet Avenue, one of the finest Art Deco cinemas standing anywhere in the world. On the edge of town we stop at the Tank Graveyard, a field of Soviet armour left from the thirty-year independence war. Evening free for the passeggiata.
Overnight: Bologna Hotel, Asmara · Meals: Breakfast
Qohaito and Adi Keyh
South onto the plateau to Qohaito, an Aksumite-era settlement spread along a clifftop above a gorge that drops away for hundreds of metres, with standing columns and rock art in the area. We continue to the small highland town of Adi Keyh before returning to Asmara in the evening.
Overnight: Bologna Hotel, Asmara · Meals: Breakfast
Asmara to Keren
Ninety-one kilometres north-west on an Italian-built mountain road that switches back through the highlands, with terraced fields and prickly pear on both sides. In Keren, Eritrea’s second city, we visit Halib Mentel village to meet Bilen families and hear how their year works. Photographs are welcome when you ask first; a small fee is usual and goes to the household.
Overnight: Sarina Hotel, Keren · Meals: Breakfast
Keren’s camel market, then back to Asmara
The Monday market first: livestock and camels changing hands in a dry riverbed, the most colourful trading day in the country and worth arriving early for. Then Mariam Dearit, a Marian shrine set inside the hollow trunk of an enormous baobab, where pilgrims have left offerings for generations. We drive back to Asmara in the afternoon.
Overnight: Bologna Hotel, Asmara · Meals: Breakfast
Down the escarpment to Massawa
The great escarpment road loses 2,300 metres in a couple of hours, dropping through cloud forest into thorn scrub and finally onto the coastal plain. Massawa, the Pearl of the Red Sea, is a port built in layers: Ottoman, Egyptian and Italian. We walk the old town on Massawa Island and visit Masjid al-Sahaba, which dates to 616 AD and is among the oldest mosques in Africa.
Overnight: Dahlak Hotel, Massawa · Meals: Breakfast
Sail to Dissei and camp on the beach
We leave the harbour in the morning for Dissei, out in the Dahlak Archipelago. The day is yours on empty sand and shallow reef: snorkelling straight off the beach, turtles and rays over the seagrass, and nobody else on the island. Camp is pitched before you arrive: igloo tents with mosquito nets and insulated floors, camp beds and sleeping bags, chairs, a portable toilet and a shower, and a cook with a full kitchen. Fish landed that day for lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Tented camp, Dissei Island · Meals: Full board
Madote Island, then Asmara and departure
We break camp after breakfast and sail north to Madote, a low coral sandbank ringed entirely by reef, and the best snorkelling stop of the trip for anyone who wants one more hour in the water. From there we cross back to Massawa and drive up the escarpment towards Asmara, stopping on the coastal plain to meet Rashaida families, nomadic herders of the Red Sea littoral, known for their silver work and their veils. Transfer to Asmara International Airport for your onward flight.
Overnight: - · Meals: Breakfast
Where you will stay
- Bologna Hotel, Asmara — A comfortable, central base in the capital, a short walk from Harnet Avenue and the Art Deco quarter.
- Sarina Hotel, Keren — The most reliable address in Keren, a few minutes from the market ground and the baobab shrine.
- Dahlak Hotel, Massawa — On the waterfront in Massawa, within walking distance of the old town and the harbour we sail from.
- Tented camp, Dissei Island — Igloo tents pitched on the sand with camp beds, a portable toilet and shower, and a cook working from a full beach kitchen.
What is included
- All transfers to/from airport & hotel
- 7 nights hotel accommodation
- Breakfast each day; full board on the island, with water and beer
- English-speaking guide
- Local taxes and entrance fees
- Travel permit fees
What is not included
- International flights and entry visa
- Lunch and dinner outside the Dahlak Islands
- Travel insurance
- Personal spending and optional tours
- Any services not listed above
Optional extensions
Upgrade your lodge
Step up to a premium tented camp or boutique lodge for the ultimate in comfort and seclusion.
Private photographic guide
A dedicated photography guide to help you capture the light, the wildlife and the architecture at their best.
Bush breakfast or sunset dinner
A private meal set up in a spectacular spot: sunrise on the plains, or sundown beside the sea.
Extra nights on the coast
Extend your journey with relaxed days on the Red Sea or Indian Ocean before flying home.
Scenic charter
Add a light-aircraft or boat charter for a memorable new perspective on the landscape.
Cultural add-on
A guided visit to a local community, market or craft workshop, arranged with care and respect.
Practical travel information for Eritrea
Essential Travel Information: Dahlak Islands Tour: 8 Days from Asmara with Island Camping
Planning a trip to Eritrea is exciting, but smart preparation makes all the difference. Below is everything experienced travellers wish they knew before flying to Eritrea, followed by answers to the questions we are asked most often.
Is Eritrea Safe to Visit?
Eritrea has a well-earned reputation as one of Africa's safest and calmest destinations. Asmara is famously walkable, clean and low-crime, day or night.
The real challenge for visitors is paperwork (visas and travel permits) rather than security. Everything on this tour is arranged and accompanied by a licensed local guide.
Travel Permits: Required Outside Asmara
This is the single most important practical point for visitors to Eritrea: any travel beyond 25 km from Asmara city centre requires a government-issued travel permit. This includes Keren, Massawa and every destination outside the capital.
Permits must be applied for in advance and specify the exact destinations, dates, vehicle and licensed guide.
When you book this tour with us, we arrange all travel permits on your behalf, one of the key advantages of using a licensed local operator instead of travelling independently.
Visa for Eritrea
Most nationalities can get a tourist visa on arrival in Asmara for around USD 70; some nationalities instead need to obtain one in advance from an Eritrean embassy or consulate.
Tourist visas are usually valid for 30 days.
We can issue a visa support / invitation letter for guests who have booked a tour. Ask us when you book.
Money & Currency: No ATMs in Eritrea
There are no ATMs in Eritrea. Zero. None.
You must bring all the cash you will need for your entire stay.
Bring EUR or USD, both accepted.
Critical rule for USD: Only clean, new banknotes printed after 2016 are accepted. No rips, no marks, no old series.
Best Time to Visit Eritrea
The optimal time to visit Eritrea is October to April.
Highlands (Asmara, Keren): spring-like temperatures of 18–25°C and green landscapes after the rains.
Coast (Massawa): hot year-round, but most comfortable October–February.
Avoid July–August, when the highlands receive heavy rain and the coast becomes extremely hot. Keren's Monday camel market runs year-round.
Flights to Asmara (the only international airport)
You will fly into Asmara International Airport (ASM). These airlines operate direct flights:
Flydubai, from Dubai (DXB)
Flynas, from Jeddah (JED)
EgyptAir, from Cairo (CAI)
Turkish Airlines, from Istanbul (IST)
Tarco Air, from Port Sudan (PZU)
⚠️ Baggage delay alert: Luggage delays are common. Always keep medication, a swimsuit, a change of clothes, and your camera in your carry-on bag.
Vaccinations & Health
Visit a travel clinic 4–6 weeks before departure. Recommended vaccinations often include:
Hepatitis A & B
Yellow fever (if traveling from an endemic country)
Malaria is present in some lowland and coastal areas. Ask your doctor about prophylactics if your itinerary includes the Red Sea coast or Dahlak region.
Bring any personal medication with you. Pharmacy supplies outside Asmara are limited.
Travel Insurance: Non-negotiable
You are responsible for your own travel insurance. We strongly recommend a policy that covers:
Emergency medical evacuation (remote areas have limited facilities)
Trip cancellation
Baggage delay
Check SafetyWing for digital-nomad-friendly plans.
What to Pack for Eritrea
Eritrea spans cool highlands and a hot Red Sea coast, so pack for both:
Highlands (Asmara, Keren): light layers. Evenings can be cool at 2,300 m. Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses are essential.
Coast (Massawa): lightweight, breathable clothing; modest dress near mosques and markets; swimwear for Green Island.
Health kit: personal medication, oral rehydration salts, basic first aid.
Documents: passport (valid 6+ months), visa, printed flight confirmations, and all your cash in USD/EUR.
Food & Drink in Eritrea
Eritrean cuisine is a highlight in itself.
Injera (sourdough teff flatbread) served with zigni (spiced beef stew) and tsebhi birsen (lentil stew) is the national staple.
Asmara's Italian heritage means excellent pasta and the famous macchiato coffee culture.
The traditional coffee ceremony (roasted, brewed and served in three rounds) is a must.
On the coast, Massawa is known for fresh grilled Red Sea seafood.
Language & Communication
English is widely spoken in hotels and by tour operators. The official working languages are:
Tigrinya
Arabic
English (plus some Italian in Asmara)
Your guide handles all local communication throughout the tour.
Connectivity, SIM Cards & Internet
Internet in Eritrea is slow and often unreliable, especially outside Asmara.
Mobile data and public Wi-Fi are very limited; do not rely on being constantly online.
Download offline maps, documents and entertainment before you arrive, and let family know you may be offline for stretches.
Tipping & Etiquette
Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. A discretionary tip for your guide and driver at the end of the tour is customary if you are happy with the service.
Dress modestly at religious sites and markets, and always ask before photographing people.
Electricity & Water
Electricity: 230V, European-style plugs (Type C & F). Power cuts happen. Bring a power bank.
Water: drink only bottled or boiled water.
How do I pay for the tour?
We require a 10% deposit to confirm your booking. Pay via bank transfer in USD or EURO. We will send you an invoice with all banking details. The remaining balance is paid in cash upon arrival in Asmara (USD or EUR preferred). You may also prepay 100% via bank transfer if you prefer.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
If Adulis Travel fails to deliver a service listed in the itinerary (excluding force majeure, weather delays, flight cancellations, road conditions, or government travel permit denial), we will refund the cost of that specific service. No refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or voluntary changes made by the traveller.
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions of Adulistravel.com form the basis of the agreement when you book a trip with Adulistravel.com. Therefore, we kindly ask you to carefully review the Adulistravel.com terms and conditions.
Dahlak Islands Tour — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions travellers ask us most before booking this tour.
Can I travel to Eritrea independently?
Yes, within Asmara. For Keren and Massawa you need travel permits, which require a licensed local operator. Most independent travellers find the cost worth it for the time and stress it saves.
Is this tour suitable for solo travellers?
Yes. Departures are confirmed with a minimum of one guest. A single-room supplement applies if you want your own room, or we can pair you with another solo traveller to reduce the cost. Just let us know.
Can we customise the itinerary?
Yes. This is our most popular fixed tour, but we also build bespoke itineraries: longer stays, different combinations, and add-ons to the Dahlak Islands, the Danakil Depression, or archaeological sites. Contact us with your interests.
What if the Keren permit is denied?
It happens only rarely. When it does, we immediately arrange an alternative day of equivalent quality, usually extended Asmara exploration, a drive to Filfil, or a scenic highland excursion. We contact you before departure if there is any risk for your dates.
Is the Monday Camel Market guaranteed?
We design the Keren day to fall on a Monday wherever possible. Confirm this with us when booking. The market runs throughout the week regardless, and camels are a common sight in Keren's streets every day.
Can vegetarians and vegans eat well in Eritrea?
Very well. Eritrean food is naturally plant-friendly: lentil stew, fava beans, salads and injera are all excellent. Tell us your requirements when booking and we brief your guide and restaurants in advance.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
Only if you are arriving from a country on the WHO yellow fever endemic list. It is not required for most European, North American or Asian travellers, but is still recommended as a general health measure. Always carry your yellow vaccination card.
Is Eritrea safe for LGBTQ+ travellers?
Same-sex relationships are illegal under Eritrean law, so LGBTQ+ travellers should exercise significant discretion and avoid public displays of affection. Please check your government's current travel advice before booking.
Can I extend the tour to include the Dahlak Islands or the Danakil Depression?
Yes, both are possible as add-ons or as part of a longer custom tour. Dahlak adds 1–2 days from Massawa; the Danakil needs 3–4 extra days. Contact us for details and pricing.
Useful resources
For background before you join the Dahlak Islands Tour, these external sources are worth a read:
Explore more of the Horn of Africa
Ready to join our Dahlak Islands Tour? Places on this private journey are strictly limited, so early booking is essential. Contact Adulis Travel to reserve your place or to tailor the itinerary around your dates.
