TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO SOMALIA, SOMALILAND, DJIBOUTI,


Day 1. January 3, 2026 (Saturday). ARRIVAL AND ACQUAINTANCE WITH MOGADISHU (SOMALIA)

Arrive in Mogadishu, meet our guide and transfer to the hotel for rest and lunch break. If we arrive with Qatar Airways flight at 1 pm, then we will start our tour directly from the airport.
Today we start getting acquaintance with amazing Mogadishu city, ruined but charming. We visit the sea shore nearby the Fish market to see the local life and fishermen of all ages with the beautiful ocean waves. We take a walk to Arba Rancoon Mosque, Berta Salaanta, the unknown Soldiers monument and the Parliament area. If the actual security situation allows us, we also take the drive (escorted with the armed security) to the Cathedral and out of Mogadishu to see the dunes along the beach on the Indian Ocean. Dinner at the roof floor of our hotel with very fresh sea food.

* Recommended flight:
- or any other flight with arrival in Mogadishu no later than at 13:00 on January 3.

Accommodation included: Shamo hotel or another safe hotel of similar level in Mogadishu
Meals included: lunch, dinner


Day 2. January 4, 2026 (Sunday). MOGADISHU

Morning after breakfast, escorted with the armed security we visit the atmospheric fish market where fishermen bring and sell huge sword fish, sharks and other marine giants. Take a walk to the port, to the old lighthouse to observe the local life of fishermen and their amazing catch.
Visit the local school and get acquaintance with the Somalia teachers and students. Drive to Hamarweyn Market and Hamarweyn area – the old part of the city with picturesque buildings in the style of Arab and Moorish architecture and carved stone walls and cool patios. Here we can see all the Mogadishu city from one of the roofs. We visit kat market, the harbor, the beaches, including Gezira beach or Liido beach where we can swim, and Banadir the crumbling Italian colonial waterfront, from where we can take iconic pictures of Mogadishu. Lunch break at the Liido beach with the beautiful view, or in the hotel.
Dinner at the roof of our hotel with very fresh sea food.

Accommodation included: Shamo hotel or another safe hotel of similar level in Mogadishu
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 3. January 5, 2026 (Monday). MOGADISHU – HARGEISA (SOMALILAND)

Early morning transfer to the airport for your direct flight to Hargeisa at 9:00 with African Express (the schedule may change!) or another later flight with another airlines.
Afternoon arrival in Hargeisa – the capital of the unrecognized state, once being the part of Somalia and still legally considered the part of it. However, Somaliland, English speaking part of Somalia, has its own visas which we obtain upon arrival in the airport.
Sightseeing in Hargeisa in the afternoon: the smashing money market with pounds of the cash to be sold, as well as the main market known as Suuq Wayn. Walk around the streets of Hargesa.
Dinner in traditional restaurant with camel meat and overnight in Damal Hotel Hargeisa.

Accommodation included: Damal Hotel Hargeisa
Meals included: breakfast, dinner


Day 4. January 6, 2026 (Tuesday). HARGEISA – LAAS GEEL – CAMEL FARM – HARGEISA

In the morning after breakfast, we'll head to the bustling Hargeisa cattle market. Somaliland and Somalia are home to almost half (!) of the world's 14 million camel population. Then we'll drive (50 km) to Laas Gaal, home to amazing caves with rock paintings. This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to 9000-3000 BC! It's undoubtedly considered the most significant Neolithic site in all of Africa. Laas Gaal, consisting of 20 caves, one of which is 10 meters long, is incredibly impressive. The colors of the petroglyphs are very vibrant and bright.
Driving to the west, where on the greener areas we meet the traditional Somalia camel herders. Here on the local farm we can see camels, sheep, hear about nomadic practices, milk a camel and taste fresh camel milk.
Driving back to Hargeisa. Dinner and overnight in Damal Hotel Hargeisa.

Accommodation included: Damal Hotel Hargeisa
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 5. January 7, 2026 (Wednesday). HARGEISA – DJIBOUTI CITY (DJIBOUTI)

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for an Ethiopian Airlines flight at 12:25 PM via Addis Ababa. Around 6:30 PM, arrive in Djibouti City, the capital of Djibouti, the former French part of the Somali Peninsula. Meet your guide. Transfer and check-in at the hotel. In the evening, visit the historic city center. Dinner and overnight at the 4-star Atlantic Hotel in central Djibouti.

Accommodation included: Atlantic Hotel 4* or similar hotel in Djibouti city
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 6. January 8, 2026 (Thursday). WHALE SHARK TRIP

Morning after breakfast, picked up at 7:45 from hotel and then drive to Arta Plage. We drive through a scenic wadi to use local boats and boat drivers at Arta Plage. We search for whale sharks, and hopefully swim and snorkel with whale sharks. The chances to find whale sharks in warm waters of Indian ocean in January are really high however not 100% guaranteed and very much dependent on the weather.
After looking for whale sharks we will stop at an isolated beach to snorkel on pristine coral reefs and have lunch on the beach. Lunch break.
Scuba diving can be planned as an option at extra cost.
Drive back to Djibouti city in the afternoon, dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Accommodation included: Atlantic Hotel 4* or similar hotel in Djibouti city
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 7. January 9, 2026 (Friday). SOUTH CIRCUIT AND LAKE ABBEH

After breakfast in the hotel, we drive to the south. The South Circuit of the Republic of Djibouti goes through the Grand & Petit Bara, which is the most desert area of the country. Then visit shortly Afar and Somali people village of Dikhil. Drive to Afar village of As Ela and have a traditional lunch in the local house. Afterwards drive to Lake Abbeh.
Lake Abbeh is the largest one in the chain of six salt reservoirs located on the border of Djibouti and Ethiopia. This amazing lake is located in a basin called the Afar Point. A unique place where the giant Arabian, Somali and Nubian plates slowly move away from each other, which creates a fantastic landscape. Boiling water of thermal springs with a high content of calcium carbonate for centuries created peculiar limestone pipe columns (called here "chimneys" or "fumaroles"). Some of these columns, surrounded by swirling steam, reach a height of 50 meters, reinforcing the mystery of the landscape. Interestingly, the name Abbe means "rotten", since the smell of hydrogen sulfide emanates from the lake. On the shore of Lake Abbe, parts of the film "Planet of the Apes" was shot.
Explore the area until the sunset. After dinner, real nomad folkloric dance can be arranged. Overnight at Lake Abbeh tourist camp with all amenities and the beautiful view on the lake Abbeh chimneys.

Accommodation included: Lake Abbeh tourist camp
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 8. January 10, 2026 (Saturday). LAKE ABBEH AND LAKE ASSAL

Wake-up call for the sunrise is early in the morning. We drive to the chimney's area for sunrise and visit hot springs.
After visiting and exploring Lake Abbeh, back to tourist camp for breakfast and visit Afar traditional village nearby. En route we stop in Kouta Bouya to visit the village, after lunch at La Palmeraie, we drive to another lake – Lake Assal to visit the lowest point in Africa. En route, you stop for visiting scenic views of Canyon and faults – part of the Danakil depression. The Lake Assal or Bahr al Assal in Arabic, the sea of honey (153 m below sea level) is located 107 km west of Djibouti city. After visiting Lake Assal and surroundings, drive to Djibouti city for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation included: Atlantic Hotel 4* or similar hotel in Djibouti city
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 9. January 11, 2026 (Sunday). DJIBOUTI CITY – RETURN FLIGHT

After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the airport to catch international flight back home.

* Recommended flight to Moscow:
- any other flight with departure from Djibouti any time on January 11.

* Or for those who continue traveling to Eritrea:
- any other flight with departure from Djibouti any time on January 11 and arrival in Asmara any time on January 12.

Accommodation included: no
Meals included: breakfast


*The schedule of visits and excursions may be changed due to local conditions (e.g., safety, road conditions, market days, etc.). If some visits and/or excursions are not possible due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible.

** Expedition participants must be motivated to respect the local culture, be aware of the purpose of the trip and possible program changes depending on weather, safety, and any other factors, and be able to adapt to a new environment and culture.