Eritrea

Tuesday 12th to Wednesday 20th November 2013
Cairo Extension - Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd November 2013

Eritrea is a country in East Africa, bordering the Red Sea, with a varied and contrasting landscape. The Eritrean Railway has recently enjoyed a steam renaissance. Most of the 950mm narrow gauge railway was closed and the rails removed in the 1970’s but much of it has been rebuilt and recently reopened. Six of the original Italian built narrow gauge steam locomotives have been restored, including some Mallet-type articulated locomotives. The line passes through spectacular scenery as it climbs from the Red Sea to the capital, Asmara, at over 7,500 feet above sea level. It has been dubbed the Darjeeling of Africa, but it climbs significantly higher than the Indian line. All of the Eritrean trains on this tour are chartered especially for us. We travel during a month when the weather is comfortable and through a country that is extremely friendly, not yet influenced by mass tourism. This tour also offers an extension to visit Cairo, including the Pyramids, and Alexandria.

Tuesday 12th November
Flight to Eritrea
We leave London Heathrow at 14:00 for Cairo from where we take a flight to Asmara in Eritrea. We transfer direct to the Asmara Palace Hotel for a late check in.

Wednesday 13th November
Asmara Tour Asmara is perched on the eastern edge of the country’s highland plateau and has been Eritrea’s capital since 1897. The country was colonised by the Italians, and was once the jewel in Italy’s East African Empire. Our city tour of Asmara includes the Catholic Cathedral, thought to be the finest example of its style outside of Italy; the neo-classical Governor’s 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’s bustling market. (B L D)

Thursday 14th November
Ancient Massawa
The Eritrean Railway was built to link the capital city with Massawa on the Red Sea Coast. Construction of the 950mm (3 ft 13⁄8 in) narrow gauge railway by the Italians commenced in 1888. The railway suffered damage during World War II and was almost totally destroyed afterwards during 30 years of civil unrest. The line between Asmara and Massawa has now been fully restored, with the last section of track finished in early 2003. The line has 29 stone bridges, two metal ones and 39 tunnels. Today, we travel by train from Asmara, on the edge of the Eritrean Highlands, down to Ghinda. Our ‘mixed’ train of passenger and freight vehicles will be hauled by a Mallet type steam locomotive. There will be opportunities to stop for photography along the way. We then travel by road coach from Ghinda to the coast at Massawa. Massawa is vitally important to Eritrea as it is the largest natural deep water port on the Red Sea. The city is located on two islands as well as the mainland. The island of Batse is an ancient Moorish centre and well worth a visit. The district of Taulud has a war memorial, cathedral, the Imperial Palace, and the old railway station. We have overnight accommodation at the recently refurbished Grand Dahlak Hotel in Massawa. (B L D)

Friday 15th November
Steam to Ghinda
Our train today will be hauled by a large Mallet type steam locomotive for the long climb from sea level at Massawa, through gorges and across high slender viaducts, high up into the mountains to Ghinda. At Ghinda Station a Breda built 0-4-0T tank locomotive will be in steam for us and will work a short mixed train for our benefit. Our train locomotive will also make some photographic ‘run pasts’. We travel by road coach back to the Asmara where we stay at the Palace Hotel for five nights. (B L D)

Saturday 16th November
Steam to Asmara
After breakfast, we travel by road coach to Ghinda Station. Today, our train will be hauled by two Mallet type steam locomotives for the journey over the steepest and most spectacular section of the route between Ghinda and Asmara. This is the final section of the line to have been reopened on this once dilapidated railway. It climbs steeply as it twists and turns, passing over bridges and through tunnels. There will be opportunities for several photographic ‘run pasts’ on this impressive line. (B L D)

Sunday 17th November
Visit Keren
Today, we visit the ancient, and predominately Muslim, city of Keren, the second largest city in Eritrea. The journey there takes us through some magnificent scenery as we pass through the mountains. Keren is overlooked by the Tigu, a 19th Century Egyptian fortress, from where there are good views of the city and surroundings. The city has some excellent examples of Italian and Ethiopian architecture. The ruins of the old Imperial Palace, destroyed in 1977, are located at the base of the Tigu. As an alternative to this outing, it is possible to spend the day exploring Asmara or relaxing by the hotel swimming pool. (B L D)

Monday 18th November
Steam in the Mountains
We begin the day with a visit to the locomotive depot and workshops at Asmara. One of the little Breda-built steam tank locomotives should be available for shunting and light duties. We shall have lunch at a restaurant in Asmara and then join our chartered train which will be hauled by a Mallet type steam locomotive. We shall travel as far as Arbaroba, maybe further, after which the Mallet locomotive runs round our train for the return journey. As our train climbs back up towards Asmara, the afternoon sunlight should give us spectacular photographic opportunities against a mountain backdrop. We hope to use our road coach to follow the train, and this will allow us to photograph the moving train as it grinds its way through the panoramic scenery. (B L D)

Tuesday 19th November
The Fiat Railcar
The Eritrean Railway is one of the few railway systems still in existence (excluding tourist railways) that uses vintage equipment like the 1930’s Italian Fiat-built ‘Littorina’ railcars. Today, we have the opportunity to travel by ‘Littorina’ from Asmara to Nefesit. There will also be a steam train available for those who prefer to make the journey by this means. We return to Asmara by the steam train. There will be plenty of opportunities for photography of the trains and the spectacular scenery during these journeys. (B L D)

Wednesday 20th November
Flight to Cairo/London
We have an early morning departure for London via Cairo. (B L)

Cairo Extension

Wednesday 20th November
Exploring Cairo
From Cairo Airport we transfer to the Cairo Sheraton Hotel, located on the River Nile, where we stay for three nights. 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. We return to our hotel for dinner. (B L D)

Thursday 21st November
The Pyramids
We have arranged 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 amazing exhibits of ancient Egypt. We have dinner at our hotel. (B L D)

Friday 22nd November
Alexandria
After breakfast, we transfer to Cairo’s main railway station for a mid-morning express train to Alexandria, Egypt’s second largest city and its major seaport. The journey takes just over two hours, in surprisingly comfortable trains. We shall have lunch in Alexandria and then take a journey on the city’s old trams, where the fares are less than 3p a trip! We return to Cairo for a cruise on the River Nile with dinner and an Egyptian show which includes belly dancing. (B L D)

Saturday 23rd November
Return to UK
We transfer to Cairo airport for our return flight to London Heathrow.

Train Timings

Available on the tour

Price

Price per person: £2795 – Cairo Extension £510 extra
Single supplement: £250 – Cairo Extension £95 extra

Price includes

• Flights London to Asmara and return
• 8 nights hotel accommodation
• Full board throughout
• All train travel, transfers and tourist visits detailed in the itinerary
• The services of a tour manager

Cairo Extension:
• 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