Garowe to Galkayo and the Red Desert of Puntland Somalia

SOMALIA'S RED DESERT TOUR - GALKAYO AND GAROWE IN PUNTLAND

The coastal area in this part of Somalia is stuffed with pirates, Al Shabab, and Al Qaeda. We will stick to syncing with the security situation at the time. The 2 core towns are at times fine, but the road may not be depending on armed or terrorist forces presence and local conditions. Thus this tour may NOT be ok or may need to be customized to minimize kidnapping risk. Depending on your nationality, you may or may not be a target. In many circumstances we have taken Somalis on this tour. 

The trip stays at the area's best midrange hotels and includes fantastic SUV's and guiding and security. Hotels in this part of Somalia are not very aligned to western standards but are adequate. Security and Sync is more important. We do not include food in the tour for flexibility and control for the client's budget, but can arrange all of the food if they'd like to get an accurate synopsis and cuisine-cross-section of Somaliland as well.

For certain people and organizations we can do this trip for $450 to $850. Most individuals and companies do NOT qualify for this and need to go with certain standards, still contingent on security conditions. Local Somalis and certain groups have a budget option for everything in the area.

If you need something done or delivered or installed, for example for a pilot tech project in Somalia, we can usually do a great job on these sorts of things without your presence there.

WORKING ITINERARY

Day 1: Garowe Town 

Pickup from a hotel of choice or the international airport in Garowe, and we head around the cultural markets and historical monuments of the capital of Puntland, experience local every-day life, see the economic engines of industry and trade of the city, and villages and farms outside and the rural realities. 

Day 2: Cross the Somali Red Desert to Galkayo

We criss-cross an otherworldly landscape across multi-color pastel deserts and rocks, barren of many people save a few nomads, and populated with outposts of proud armed pastoral warriors carrying AK47's, and arrive in Galkayo. We learn about the traditional life of Somalis for centures out away from modern infrastructure today.

Day 3: Galkayo Food and History and Communities tour

We spend the day meeting local educators, merchants, religious leaders, importers, and farmers and families. Galkayo is a pretty large city in Puntland and hosts a very diverse cast of characters as far as Somali lifestyles go.

Day 4: Galkayo and out 

Our security force transfers you out to the airport. No siteseeing today.

-END OF SERVICES-

Included

-Excellent Guides in English, experienced and expert on the area, local and loving of their culture.

-Armed Trained Security Guard Authorized by the government and experienced

-Air Conditioned SUV's

-Fuel

-Entrances

-Accommodation

-Airport Transfers

-Assistance with visa documents for most nationalities

Not Included

-Food and Beverages (However we can arrange an ethnic and cultural cuisine meal program for extra cost)

-Travel Insurance (Required to attend the trip) that includes medical, evacuation, delay, cancellation, baggage

-Visas

-Flights or Border Crossings from Sea or Ground

-Extra activities or late night activities outside of tour hours (our guides and drivers need to get enough sleep to be safe)

-Room Upgrades or Room Service or Any Hotel Tabs and Bills Aside from the Room.

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*Notes: Tours can be slightly different than the above itinerary but if changes need to be made, you will be informed beforehand in most circumstances. Exact times and orders of sites visited are flexible. If you spend more time than advised at a destination you may miss aspects or stops on the tour and as s result will not be entited to any refunds. We do not take groups of more than a set maximum for ease of management and quality. We can typically customize and add special needs and activities and extensions to all of these tours. You are legally bound to follow the laws of the nation and also follow the authority on tour at all times and obey the safety rules. Guides and guards are the authority on tour and you are to pay attention to their directions. There will be no toleration of breaking the safety rules or endangering the guides and the group. Somalia is not an expensive destination but is not a budget travel country either. Tours are low price guaranteed already and though we can beat and match, we are a direct supplier and do not bargain. No cancellations are allowed nor refunds under any circumstances outside of our booking terms and condition and policy, and it will be your problem and loss if you cannot make your flight or trip and have failed to read the conditions. If the country or a section of it is closed or we cancel the tour you will always receive a full refund for the trip only and be notified of such. Ask us for special projects and customized itineraries

*Photos credit of warscapes and local photographers, past clients, and tourists