SOMALIA SOMALILAND
Highlights
The beaches and the Italian lighthouse in Mogadishu
The fish market in Mogadishu
Laas Geel, the “Sistine Chapel of the Neolithic”
The immense beaches of Somaliland
Where we will stay
Hotels
How we move around
Domestic flights, cars with local drivers
TYPE OF TRIP
On-the-road journey with domestic flights, private drivers, and security escort, through an unstable territory no longer accustomed to tourism. Hygiene standards in the country remain low, and a strong capacity for adaptation is required. For security reasons, individual freedom of movement is limited, and visits are conducted within a controlled framework.
For more information about our trips, please consult the FAQ section.
DAY 1: Departure from Italy with connecting flights to Mogadishu. Night on board.
DAY 2: Arrival at Mogadishu airport, meeting with the local guide, and transfer to the hotel. After lunch, introduction to the Somali capital, one of the most fascinating and misunderstood cities in Africa. Visit to the Hamar Weyne district, the oldest neighborhood in the city, and its bustling market, where fruit, meat, and vegetables are traded amid the constant rhythm of daily life. Continuation towards Lido Beach, once a favorite leisure destination for Italian colonists and still today a vibrant gathering place for young Somalis, who come here to meet, swim, and enjoy the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
Morning: Transfer to Mogadishu airport for the flight to Kismayo, the largest city in southern Somalia. The regions surrounding Kismayo have long been associated with instability and remain largely inaccessible to independent travelers. Today, however, it is possible to visit the city under controlled conditions. Continuation a few kilometers north of Kismayo towards the ancient village of Goobweyn, located at the edge of Kismayo National Park, where the Jubba River meets the Indian Ocean. Its silty waters nourish a lush oasis of coconut palms, home to goats, flamingos, and camels that find refuge among the wetlands and coastal vegetation.
Afternoon: Return to Kismayo, visit to the mosque, and hotel check-in.
Evening: Dinner and evening in Kismayo.
Morning: Early wake-up and transfer to the beaches of Kismayo to watch the sunrise over the Indian Ocean. If flight schedules permit, visit to the Kismayo fish market, where an extraordinary variety of marine species is traded, from hammerhead sharks to sea turtles. Transfer to the airport and domestic flight to Mogadishu.
Afternoon: Arrival in Mogadishu and afternoon dedicated to the beaches south of the capital, near the airport. Free time among the red dunes of Jazeera Beach, with the possibility of a boat excursion or a swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Transfer to the city and hotel check-in.
Evening: Dinner and evening in Mogadishu.
Morning: Early morning visit to the Mogadishu fish market. In the atmospheric yet weathered setting of the old Hamar Weyne district, just steps from the medieval mosque and the historic Italian lighthouse, fishermen move through the harbor carrying swordfish, sharks, and other large pelagic species on their shoulders, creating one of the most striking market scenes in Africa. Continuation to Secondo Lido Beach, overlooked by the remains of the Italian lighthouse, built in 1912 and still one of the city’s enduring landmarks.
Afternoon: Visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the sites along the Mogadishu Mile, retracing the events of the Battle of Mogadishu of October 4, 1993, between US-led UN forces and Somali militias. Continuation to Bakara Market, near the area where two US Black Hawk helicopters were shot down during the events later popularized as Black Hawk Down.
Evening: Dinner and night in Mogadishu
Morning: Transfer to Mogadishu airport for the flight to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. A self-declared independent state since 1991, Somaliland occupies the northwestern part of the Horn of Africa, along the Gulf of Aden. While still internationally unrecognized, it has developed relatively stable institutions and has become increasingly accessible to travelers in recent years.
Afternoon: Visit to the Hargeisa camel market, one of the largest livestock markets in the Horn of Africa and a central hub of Somaliland’s pastoral economy. Continuation to the Saryan Museum, home to collections spanning from prehistoric findings to contemporary ethnographic artifacts, offering insight into the history and cultural identity of Somaliland.
Evening: Dinner and overnight stay in Hargeisa, accompanied by traditional Somaliland music and performances.
Morning: Departure from Hargeisa towards the archaeological site of Laas Geel, one of the most significant rock art sites in the Horn of Africa. Hidden among granite formations, these cave shelters preserve remarkably vivid paintings dating from approximately 9,000 to 3,000 BCE, portraying pastoral life, ceremonial cattle, and human figures that offer insight into the region’s ancient cultures.
Afternoon: Continuation towards Berbera, Somaliland’s historic port city overlooking the Gulf of Aden. Walk through the old quarter, where Ottoman, British, and local architectural influences coexist, reflecting the city’s long maritime history and strategic role in regional trade networks. Time to relax at Batalaale Beach and enjoy the sunset over the Gulf of Aden.
Evening: Seafood dinner and overnight stay in Berbera.
Morning: Departure towards Hargeisa airport along the scenic mountain road crossing the Sheikh range, where the dry landscapes of Somaliland gradually give way to greener highland scenery. Final views over the Horn of Africa before continuing towards Hargeisa.
Afternoon: Transfer to Hargeisa airport and connecting flight to Italy. Arrival on Day 9… And until the next adventure!
