SOMALIA SOMALILAND

DAY 1: meet up in in Mogadishu and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Mogadishu

DAY 2: start the tour of Somalia’s capital, one of the most fascinating cities in all of Africa. Visit the Hamar Weyne district, the oldest district of the city, and its chaotic market, where fruits, meat and vegetables are sold and bartered. Move to the city’s great beach, the Mogadishu Lido, already at the time a favorite leisure spot for Italian settlers, and still a favorite destination for young Somalis to meet on the beach and bathe in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Dinner and evening in Mogadishu

Morning: move to Mogadishu airport for the flight to Kismayo, the largest city in southern Somalia. The regions surrounding Kismayo are known for Al Shaabab militia training camps and are off-limits to travelers, but today it is possible to visit the city in relative safety. Move a few kilometers north of Kismayo for a visit to the ancient village of Goobweyn, located on the edge of Kismayo National Park at the mouth of the Jubba River, whose muddy waters give rise to a lush, verdant coconut palm oasis where goats, flamingos and camels find shelter and sustenance

Afternoon: return to Kismayo, visit the mosque and check into the hotel

Evening: dinner and evening in Kismayo

Morning: wake up early and transfer to Kismayo beaches to watch the sunrise over the Indian Ocean. If flight time permits, visit the Kismayo fish market, where marine species of all kinds, from hammerhead sharks to turtles, are sold. Transfer to the airport and domestic flight to Mogadishu.

Afternoon: Arrival in Mogadishu and afternoon dedicated to the beaches south of the capital, close to the airport. Free time among the red dunes of Jazeera Beach, with the possibility of a boat excursion or relaxation with swimming in the Indian Ocean. Transfer to the city and checkin

Evening: dinner and evening in Mogadishu

Morning: early morning, the spectacle of Mogadishu’s fish market. In the beautiful and decadent setting of the old city district of Hamar Weyne, a stone’s throw from the medieval mosque and the Italian lighthouse, an excited whirlwind of fishermen juggle the harbor’s mazes carrying huge swordfish, sharks and other large pelagic species on their shoulders, creating one of Africa’s most fascinating markets. Visit the Secondo Lido beach enclosed by the ramparts of the Italian lighthouse, built in 1912 and still a symbol of the city

Afternoon: visits to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument and the sites of the Mogadishu Mile, retracing the events of the October 4, 1993 Battle of Mogadishu between U.S.-led UN forces and Somali militiamen, to the Bakaara market, where 2 U.S. Black Hawk helicopters were shot down (the famous event known as “Black Hawk Down”)

Evening: dinner and night in Mogadishu

Morning: move to Mogadishu airport for flight to Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland. An unrecognized independent state since 1991, which separated from Somalia following civil war, Somaliland occupies the northern part of the Horn of Africa, facing the Gulf of Aden. Unlike chaotic Somalia, Somaliland has stable and democratic institutions, and is open to travelers safely

Afternoon: Visit the Hargeisa camel market, the most important in East Africa. Livestock trade is the leading economic sector in Somaliland, and the market is the commercial heart of Hargeisa. Visit to the Saryan Museum, which collects historical, prehistoric to present day, and ethnographic records of Somaliland

Evening: dinner and evening in Hargeisa, with traditional Somaliland music and songs

Morning: move to Laas Geel, a cave complex known for its marvelous cave paintings dating back to 9000 B.C.. Discovered in 2003 by a French team and considered the most important prehistoric paintings in all of Africa: perfectly preserved depictions of ceremonial cows, often accompanied by adoring men, dogs and giraffes

Afternoon: move to Berbera, Somaliland’s main port on the Gulf of Aden, and free time taken to the beautiful Batalale beach, with its golden sand dunes sloping gently down to the Indian Ocean. Return to Berbera and tour of the city.

Evening: dinner and overnight in Berbera

Morning and afternoon: drive to Hargeisa along the scenic road that climbs Mount Sheikh to the pass at an altitude of 1497 m, where Somaliland’s usually arid landscapes are tinged with green. Continuation of the route to Hargeisa with some free time to explore the city

Evening: dinner and overnight in Hargeisa

Morning: check out in the morning and it’s time to go again. We bid farewell to our fellow travelers and hope to see you again on the next trip!