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Somaliland Travel
Somaliland Travel Agency (known as SML Travel) is a multiple award-winning local adventure tour operator. As our name tells, we are based in The Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared country. It is here where we have been crafting and pioneering our first trips before expanding to neighbouring Djibouti and beyond. If you are looking for an adventure to an off-the-beaten track, you have come to the right place. Join us on a journey full of discovery.
All tours available throughout the Year, Private & Group
Who We Are
The idea started with our Founder Abdirizaq Abdullahi. A young refugee during the Somali Civil War, fortunate to find a new home in The Netherlands. After graduating from Law School, he decided to travel. Fascinated by adventure travellers he had meet, he wondered whether experienced travellers wanted to visit Somaliland, the place where he was born. Inspired by Simon Reeve – Journalist who visited Somaliland for a BBC television documentary called “Places That Don’t Exist“, Abdirizaq years later went back to explore Somaliland. This was the start of Somaliland Travel Agency.
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Client Testimonials
Somaliland is a fascinating country with a very nice feel to it and nice people in general. The services provided were great with good services and the possibility to get close to people and great guiding. Car and hotels were also in good shape.
All around great trip. Company was very responsive with all questions and helped set something up with a short amount of time. Lake Assal was awesome, Akram was a great guide, and everything went smoothly. Highly recommend.
I am a woman solo traveller and very happy to make Djibouti and Somaliland, that was kind of a heartfelt journey. Even this was only a 5-day trip, I got a very good impression especially about Somaliland.
The Tour Organisation was very professional! Communication, Information about Visa, covid testing were fantastic. They provide you with inviting letters for the easy doing Visa applications. The price of the tour was absolutely fair. The hotels they booked where one of the best in all cities. They also took care about the flight booking between Djibouti and Hargeisa. They provide you with a safe car.My driver Akram in Djibouti was a friendly, caring person and Lake Assal and Djibouti city was nice to explore.
Somaliland: The locals were just wonderful. In the rural areas they were very shy, but kids face brightened up when I handed some candys over. I was exhausted every evening just from talking to so many people. I am glad that camels, goats& donkeys cannot talk, otherwise I would be still in the country.
The Damal hotel in Hargeisa had a lovely, modern restaurant and outside terrasse-palm garden. It was a relaxing place & I enjoyed sitting next to the splashing Fontaine while the Muezzin called to prayer. Staff was very friendly.
My driver & guide Mohamed was fantastic. He had a good sense of humour, we laughed much. He was a very educated person, and I learned a lot about the country.
The sunset swim in Berbera was gorgeous. My hotel (Maansoor) was next to the beach.
The day ended unexpected touring with a group of lovely Europeans & the Mayor of Berbera to look at new projects who were just set up (new bus station, solar street lights, planted trees, pavements).They have done much in Berbera and I think there is much more to come to make this little seaside village need.
The Heritage side of Las Geel was an unspoiled place. I was impressed how well the wall paintings were preserved.
Thanks to Somaliland Travel Agency, especially Abdillahi, Akram and Mohamed. Well done! I am sure I will be coming back one day.
First, I was researching tour agencies to help with my trip to Djibouti. I heard it can be a little difficult to do it without. I liked Somaliland Travel Agency for a couple of reasons… the founder was a Somali Civil War refugee, so I felt like I was supporting a native, plus they followed up with me and checked in constantly, which I think communication is key.
I had a short trip to Djibouti and did the 2-day/1 night Lac Abbe and Lac Assal trip. It was pretty sweet! My favourite part of the experience was that since tourism is very low right now, I had the main attractions basically all to myself. The driver maneuverer the bumpy roads very well and the guide was very knowledgeable.
The unfortunate thing is that tourism is very low right now, and Djibouti is a place you should not miss (well, maybe avoid the summertime- it gets REALLY HOT!).
Check it out and book with Somaliland Travel Agency. They will help you navigate through everything (COVID tests, moving flights, answering my millions of questions, you name it).
I travelled solo to Somaliland in mid-April 2022 for one week, both as a tourist but also as a writer working on a story. My experience with Somaliland Travel Agency was excellent. Firstly, organising the visas was very simple – all done efficiently and promptly via email. Once in the country, everything went smoothly from pick up through to departure. My itinerary had to be flexible, as I was working on a project which required a degree of uncertainty. My guide was extremely accommodating to these evolving requests and was able to leverage his personal networks and skills to grant me access to individuals I would never have been able to meet without travelling with Somaliland Travel Agency. For independent travellers used to travelling solo or on a shoestring budget, he costs might be slightly prohibitive. But in my view, every dollar spent with Somaliland Travel Agency was worth it in terms of access, flexibility, translation and fixing services, and easy transport around the country. Highly recommend.
I booked the 4 day / 3 nights highlight of Somaliland tour and loved it. Even we visited Dhagah Guure as my flight left only in the afternoon. My guide Abdillahi was great in arranging everything for me making it a wonderful experience. I fully recommend this agency to anyone coming to Somaliland.
If there was a six star, I would have given it to Somaliland Travel Agency. I had travelled with them to Berbera, Las Geer, Burco, Erigavo and the Dallo Mountains on an eight-day dour It was a perfectly organized trip. The hotels and food were very good and more importantly I had excellent chief guide Abdillahi and co-guide Mohamed with me. They were extremely knowledgeable, polite, gentle and took complete care of their clients. It can be a little expensive because the government mandates a security escort for every foreign tourist. Somaliland is extremely safe to visit. Its fact it is much safer than many cities in the west.
It has been an unforgettable adventure in Somaliland. We have only two days but still managed to discover Hargeisa and unique Las Geel. And Mansoor hotel has met my expectations. I should like to thank my guide Abdillahi and other crew members for an amazing experience with Somaliland Travel Agency. They took care of everything being always (and everywhere) on time. Not a single complains. I take this opportunity to recommend Somaliland Travel Agency to all future Somaliland visitors.
I had an excellent experience in southern Somaliland with Somaliland Travel Agency and would recommend the company to other visitors without hesitation. My guide Mohamed was very friendly and professional, and I felt well taken care of. Everything went smoothly as the agency took care of all the paperwork. No complaints.
Thank you to STA for an amazing two weeks in Djibouti. It’s an unforgettable experience which we will treasure forever. Using this fantastic local company to make arrangements allowed us the low impact but authentic and unique experience we were after. All credit goes to our guide Akram – a fountain of knowledge (including 7 languages!), improvisation, good humour, and great company. Djibouti is not for the faint hearted and you need to be prepared to rough it, but you are rewarded multiple times over. A real gem of a secret.
Excellent tour guide company. Our guide, Akram was awesome! Djibouti is a stunning area we discovered Lac Abe, Lac Assal, Canyon, and Rift Valley
Don’t hesitate to reach them!
I did the Djibouti/Somaliland overland trip, and it is difficult for me to describe what an amazing experience it was. Abdillahi is impeccable guide from start to finish, quick to respond before you go and a great, knowledgeable, and flexible guide throughout. He is a very open person who wants to ensure that his clients have their ideal experience. You will notice this from the start. The entire trip was incredibly smooth which was much appreciated as I did not have much time to plan for or prepare in advance and I had not a single problem throughout.
Somaliland is a much underrated destination and anyone taking this trip will see how much it has to offer and the exceptional people there (contrary to anyone who has never there, it felt very safe and, as a solo female traveller, I never at any time felt concerned in this regard). While I did the trip on the website, from my understanding, Somaliland travel agency will tailor the trip to your interest and whatever you want to see. The Djibouti part is excellent too with many incredibly different landscapes to view, beautiful ocean for diving and again wonderful people. Highly recommend
I spent some days in Somaliland organized by Somaliland Travel.
Everything was professional from beginning to end thanks to Abdillahi Adam Awale, my referent and driver/guide. He was helpful and constructive. When I asked my questions before the trip, I got the correct answers within 24 hours. The hotels were comfortable, the jeep had got AC. The program gave a lot of experience, especially Laas Geel which is the oldest rock art in Afrika. I liked Berbera very much, it has got a special atmosphere, and the people looked at me as if they saw a miracle. There are not too many tourists in the streets … Somaliland is absolutely safe; I recommend the visit for everybody – of course with Somaliland Travel Agency.
Highly recommended!!
1. Totally underrated destination, so much on offer! (highland/lowlands, busy city & dozens of bookshops/quiet & welcoming port/minds blowing old history & modernity all mixed up), delicious food, friendly & diverse hosts/hub)!
2. Professional, knowledgeable & super friendly crew from the tour agency.
A friend and I toured Djibouti and Somaliland with Somaliland Travel Agency.
The preparation phase and the actual trip were impeccable. Despite changing dates and arrival time on our end due to us arriving by train from Addis, the company was extremely flexible and adjusted the itinerary to still allow us to see all the highlights.
The off-road drive from the border-crossing with Djibouti to Borama is an awesome experience, while Laas Geel alone is worth a visit to the Horn of Africa.
Mohamed Youssef, our guide in Somaliland did an exceptional job in showing us his country and is a very knowledgeable and interesting guide to travel with.
This tour group is absolutely top-notch! Akram is quite knowledgeable and willing to do whatever is needed to make sure you are happy. I travelled with my 11-year-old son and the guides always tried to make connections with him. The ride to the amazing sites was long and bumpy- and Akram drove like a champ! When I was dropped off at the airport, I realized that I forgot my good camera in the back of the SUV. They send it to my country.
I just took a trip with Somaliland Travel and had a fantastic time. Abdillahi was an excellent guide, arranging everything for me and taking me everywhere I wanted to go and more. We went to Laas Geel, Berbera, and Sheikh, which was a nice amount of variety. The rock art in Laas Geel was amazing, and Sheikh was such a beautiful juxtaposition to the rest of the country. Abdillahi did a great job explaining some of the history and culture of Somaliland, and we had a lot of fun. He was more than a guide: he became a friend. I’m so grateful to have had such a nice trip, and I hope to come back someday and see more of this beautiful country.
Somaliland Travel Agency made it very easy and convenient to visit Djibouti and Somaliland on a fantastic, combined tour. They worked around our schedule and preferences, and adapted quickly when our flight options changed, packing a very thrilling itinerary within only eight days. They also did a great job of fitting in all the necessary COVID testing for us to move across borders. And their service went beyond what was expected: hearing that one of the persons in our party was having a birthday, they pre-arranged a surprise ice cream cake for us. Overall, theirs is a friendly and responsive service, and I’d recommend them to anyone hoping to discover this intriguing part of the world.
Very well organized from start to end. We did a 3-day trip (Sat to Mon included) and visited Hargeisa (Saryan Museum and cattle market), Las Geel, Berbera (tea shop, beach) and Sheikh (abandoned British camp) in Somaliland. We were able to customise our trip, and Abdillahi was super responsive, clear, and consistent – magically paying off our snacks and meals with mobile money (honestly that has to be the future). Not only that, he made us feel welcome and shied away from no question. Sorted covid-19 test out for us, gave us space and time when we needed it, and always wore a smile on his face, even when I made inappropriate jokes.
Easy, not cheap, given sometimes not great value (I cannot in good faith recommend Berbera Beach Hotel) but really, really worth it all the same. Would do it all over again!
I went to visit Lake Assal from Djibouti City. The guide and driver were excellent and took great care of me. They brought plenty of cold water for the trip as it gets hot, and tour was incredible to see the lowest point in Africa. The organization is professional, and everything went smoothly. They even took me to get my covid test prior to the tour. I highly recommend them for your visit to Djibouti.
We booked a tour in Djibouti for Lac Assal and Foret du Day. Information was great, guide Akram was on time and friendly and knowledgeable. Great experience!
I had a great time with Abdillahi going to see Laas Geel. Mohamed was incredibly kind to help me get my PCR test as well. A great team all around.
Very professional and organized tour agency. Guides and drivers, both in Somaliland and Djibouti, were very friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend.
We had a perfect tour with this agency. Everything ran so smoothly, and the drivers and guide were excellent.
Excellent and supportive travel company. Our guide Abdillahi made us so welcome throughout our 6-day trip and was kind and attentive. He is rightly proud of Somaliland.
This was a great tour. The cave paintings at Laas Geel are magnificent and so worth visiting. The guide and driver were really professional and helpful. I recommend them highly.
Somaliland is an amazing and beautiful place with hospitality that rivals that of Oman, Iran, and Pakistan, and that was felt and reflected every step of the way with this agency!
Abdillahi Awal is a fantastic guide, extremely knowledgeable of all the fantastic sites as well as Somaliland‘s history and culture and he took care of everything I could’ve asked for, and more, from visiting Laas Geel, to arranging a dive in Berbera, to arranging day trips to Gacan Libah and Dhaka’s Guure which I absolutely recommend, making sure all the entry/exit requirements are met regarding visas and Covid, and even accommodated my hobby as a Travel Vlogger to help make great content!
Also very accommodating to the challenges of traveling during Covid, as I had to reschedule on more than one occasion and they were absolutely understanding and flexible!
If you’ve ever even had as much as a slight interest in visiting Somaliland, do yourself a favour and get in touch with Somaliland travel and you will realize just how possible, and amazing a trip to Somaliland will be with their help! I spent six days in Somaliland with them and it was what are the most serendipitous experiences in all my travels!
Your Passport will thank you. As mine surely does.
I booked a private tour, and they were very responsive and professional. Our local guide in Djibouti, Mr Akram, was very friendly and made the whole tour enjoyable!
My guide was Abdullahi. A more thoughtful and positive soul, you could not hope to find. Speaking great English, he is well organized, knowledgeable, and super thoughtful. He seems to know everyone;) He is very responsive but typically he was a few steps ahead in anticipating my needs.
Very interesting trip to Djibouti and Somaliland including highlights like Lac Abbe, Volcanic Region, Les Geel Rock Art and the cities of Djibouti, Hargeisa, and Berbera.
Special thanks for the opportunity to do snorkelling at Les Sables Blancs (Tadjoura, Djibouti) and near port of Berbera. The underwater life is just incredible, so many tropical colourful fish to see and you have it all for yourself far away from mainstream tourism!!!.
I had a fantastic tour experience with Somaliland Travel last weekend. The guide and guard were very kind, friendly, knowledgeable, capable, and professional. The guide communicated with me in great detail prior to our departure and arrived to meet me in my hotel lobby prior to the agreed-upon time. He even went way above and beyond usual expectations by helping ensure that I would get my COVID-19 test results in time for my departing flight later that day. The tour itself was wonderful; Las Geel is spectacular, and the livestock market in Hargeisa was quite fascinating. The transportation was reliable and safe, and it was interesting to see a bit of Somaliland outside of Hargeisa during my short stay there. I highly recommend Somaliland Travel to anyone visiting Somaliland (or Djibouti, as this company also offers tours there).
I did a two-day tour of Somaliland from Hargeisa to Berbera and back and was very happy with how well the trip went. Above all the possibility to speak with locals with the help of my great guide Mohamed was priceless. Thanks to it I was able to have a conversation e.g. with a 60-year-old nomadic woman Fatima, who has never learnt how to read and write, delivered her 6 children under a bush tree and in general had an unbelievably different conception of life from mine. For these experiences I’m thankful.
They arranged for an incredible trip to Laas Geel in Somaliland from Hargeisa. The cave art is beautiful and not to be missed. It exceeded my expectations. Everything went smoothly and they are experienced and knowledgeable. I was especially grateful that they arranged the trip for me on short notice and helped me get a Covid test on the way. They even dropped the test off at the hotel later that day. I highly recommend Somaliland Travel Agency for any tours. They will go out of their way to make sure your trip is perfect.
Somaliland is a unique destination, and I was really lucky to find Somaliland travel agency. I’m a solo female traveller and through all my trip I felt really safe with the guide. He was very knowledgeable and flexible. Before my arrival they shared with me many interesting information that made my experience amazing.
I return totally satisfied with these fifteen days trip to Somaliland entrusted to Somaliland Travel. The guide was perfect, friendly and with a pleasant sense of humour, the driver excellent and his vehicle up to the difficulties that one can meet on the ground. The accommodations are not yet very comfortable everywhere, but the agency knew how to choose the best or the least bad according to the places. I recommend the agency without hesitation.
A+ experience! The Las Geel caves is a must on any trip to Somaliland, but what ulimately made the trip with Somliand Travel stand out is the really informative, thoughtful approach taken by the guides. Ours was Mohammed, who’s a very competent photographer, and would help “set up” each shot so that the beauty of the caves was perfectly captured 🙂 but also his passion for his country, and the way he spoke about the many more adventures possible in Somaliland were very inspiring. Overall, I highly recommend this team of experts to organize any travel in Somaliland, and I will be coming back to visit the other amazing things Somaliland has to offer with Somaliland Travel!
Huge thanks to Somaliland Travel Agency, 200% reliable (safety, ponctuality, professionalism). Abdilahi is an amazing guide, super kind and very attentive to the well-being of its customers. Thank you so much for this memorable experience in Laas Geel !
Several years travelling around the globe, and my passion for unbeaten paths bring at my attention this amazing country, still rugged, authentic and home to some of the most welcoming people I’ve ever met… Somaliland is one of the few places to truly explore in the world, and SomalilandTravel is definitely the right partner to choose if you are planning a visit there!
I did the combined tour Somaliland+Djibuti (overland) and I couldn’t be happier! With Akram, Abdullahi Awale, Mohamed and all the other guys of the team, I was able to see and experience the best of what this two hidden gems in the Horn of Africa have to offer.
Traveling during pandemic could be challenging, but SomalilandTravel made life a whole lot easier: before the tour, Abdirizaq, the manager, gave me all the all the informations I was looking for, and “on the field” the team took extra care of everything (visa procedures, transportations, itinerary, sleeping arrangements, meals..), allowing me to enjoy the trip to the fullest, without worries, feeling welcomed like at home!
Thank you so much guys, we’ll definitely see each other again soon!
Somaliland tour agency is the best partner if you are planning a tour to Somaliland and Djibouti. They are very knowledgeable, responsive and eager to fulfill every wish / provide you with a great travel experience! Both my guides Akram in Djibouti and Awale in Somaliland were super friendly, fun and they know so many people in town, the coolest restaurants and all about the history of their countries. They go out of your way to really tailor the itinerary to your travel preference and go the extra mile (for example taking pictures from all possible angles, dancing at a music concert until late at night, bargaining at the market and having a lot of patience with me to find the perfect dress fabric). Anyone who comes to Somaliland or Djibouti should be guided by Akram and Awale, thank you so much you really made the trip extra special!
Excellent tour agency with helpful and friendly staff, comfortable car, guides fluent in English, and flexible to adapt the itinerary according to my personal wishes. Can recommend without any hesitation.
I had a great time with Somaliland travel agency i feel they are by far the best. in terms of professionalism welcoming friendly organised always on time with the secluded activities. the main guy that took us to the adventure was no other then the main guy Abdillahi he was so professional friendly always active and a time keeper my family liked him and always spoken highly of him.
I honestly can say being my first time travelling with the family i had the best time and enjoyed every moment with my family. our journey to Laasgeel berbara the famous shiek mountain and of cource the actual beach in berbara was the moment i will never forget. we took alot of pictures and videos on our adventure. we even had a boat tour ride in the sea in berbera.
The boat driver Ahmed was really funny welcoming and friendly. we stayed one night in an hotel recommended by the agency and the hotel itself was really nice with a friendly staff. they looked after us really well. the next day we went out and dine in a really nice restaurant called mansoor. and from there we made our journey back to Hargiesa. I would humbly advise anyone who would want to travel to Somaliland and want to visit the beautiful places in Somaliland i would recommend you to pay a visit to Somaliland travel agency you won’t regret it they are the best and you will have the best time of your life.
Guys met me in the airport. There was a roundtrip to the Laas Geel, everything was great! I learned a lot of how people live in Somaliland, also we visited local authentic cafe (the goat with rice were very good). Everything I want was completed. I recommend 🙂 Ребята встретили…
Je suis allé à Las Geel avec Awale. Bien organisé et communication très facile. Les peintures rupestres sont bien conservées et surprenantes par leur modernité.
I have originally found the agency when looking for Djibouti day trips and took the plunge reading other reviews here.
My trip involved 4 day trips from Djibouti City (my choice, which made for longer days) to the highlights such as Tadjourah and Sable Blanc, Lake Abbe, and Lake Assal. That was initially supposed to be 3 days but I was very pleased with how things were going and extended it by another day.
Both Akram and Hassan were excellent, punctual and organised every single detail, including helping me hunt for best photography locations and arranging the various COVID test appointments so that they did not cut into the sightseeing too much.
The company itself made sure everything was going to my satisfaction, both getting daily briefings from Akram and reaching out to me independently as well.
Would be very happy to use them for future trips to the region and can recommend to others.
I did a tour Somaliland Highlight + Eastern Circuit for eight days. I was travelling alone. First of all, the company answers very fast to the e-mails, I was very surprised and pleased about that. They are very flexible with the tour as I had to cancel my tour for the first time in the last minute due to flight cancellations. They were very flexible with that and I came to Somaliland about two months later than was planned.
Somaliland feels very safe. I didn’t feel the need to have the SUP protection, but it is a law to have it as a foreigner visiting Somaliland. The guide, my bodyguard, and driver were all very friendly and welcoming. The car was a very comfortable 4 x 4.
We visited several cities during the tour. The drive to Erigavo was very long and tiring, about 8-10 hour one way. So if you are ok with such a long drive, then go for it. Otherwise, choose another tour package. All the hotels were great and well-equipped. The internet connection in Somaliland was surprisingly good. The local people are welcoming and friendly. Also the owner of the company seemed very friendly as he called me to welcome me personally.
A big thumbs up on taking me to see a local music and dance live show upon my request. That was very interesting. I also requested a visit to a beauty salon in Hargeisa and eventually went two times to the salon.
The only negative point is the price, which is high for a solo traveler, so if you can, team up with your friends. I understand that it is pricey when everything is organized for one person only.
Another minus was some of my guide’s personal values – his view on women and religion (everyone can practice their own religion, no problem on that, yet you should not advice another person to change their believes, religion is something very personal) which I did not agree with. Yet this had nothing to do with the tour as such, just a cultural and personal difference that I had with my guide.
I hope to do the Djibouti tour with this company in the future!
We spent 5 days in Somaliland. We crossed the land border from Djibouti which enabled us to get an up close view of life in Somaliland. It’s a long journey but worth the effort.
Borama is an incredible little town with a great University. A highlight of our trip was to meet some of the curious students. One said “Welcomr to Somaliland. Tell everyone we are friendly”
Ancient rock carvings at Laas Geel are super cool and well preserved and the ottoman architecture in Berbera should not be missed if you are a photographer.
Our Somaliland Travel Guides in Djibouti a f Somaliland were top notch.
No better way to discover this hidden, authentic gem of a country than with Somaliland Travel. From the high mountains near Sheikh, cave drawings of Laas Geel and Dhaqax Guure, and blue waters and beaches of Berbera, to the high speed (amazing internet) capital of Hargeisa, there is so much to see. Somaliland Travel took care of every details to make our tour of this unique destination seamless and comfortable. The food was memorable and delicious … don’t forget to try Somali tea and pancakes. Our guide Abdilahi was an excellent driver and host!
I was certainly not an easy client – everything had to be arranged super last minute – but these guys handled everything with ease and incredible dedication!
About the Country: Somaliland is not for the faint hearted – you would think. The proximity to Somalia, both by name and by miles is somewhat scary. But in fact Somaliland and Somalia are totally different worlds. Compared to other African capitals Hargeisa feels quite safe and with these guys you can also feel safe traveling the country. Btw.: As of December 2020 you can get a visa on arrival (60$), the process is easy and the immigration officers at the airport are friendly. Check with the crew for Covid-Regulations – they always have the latest information and can guide you through the process. In December it was super easy though. PCR-Test before flying, rapid test on arrival – and you’re free to go.
About the crew: I was on a research trip in neighboring Djibouti and wanted to come over to Somaliland to do some interviews. And these guys organized everything over night. The contacts they have, the knowledge of the country and its history and the dedication to show the world that Somaliland is not Somalia – absolutely incredible! I’m pretty sure they can handle whatever you throw at them, any wishes, any special requests. But you can also just do one of their guided tours and know it’s gonna be a trip to remember.
Had the most amazing off road trip in Somaliland Hargeisa-Borama-Zeila-Lughaya-Berbera-Laas Geel-Hargeisa.
The wonderful people from Somaliland Travel was able to arrange everything during my stay, even my PCR-test and some interviews with very prominent people.
Job well done
Somaliland Travel Agency provided an excellent service and the most wonderful experiences. It was my first time visiting Somaliland and some of the greatest highlights came from this travel group.
We were accompanied by Awale and Mohamed, both very friendly and knowledgeable about the culture and history of the places we visited.
We went on 2 excursions. First we had a day trip to visit Laas Geel where we saw the ancient cave paintings and then to Dhagax Guure, an area with beautiful rocks and scenery. We had plenty of time to explore and take photos. Even along the road trip, we stopped to say hello to locals and ask to hear stories from them.
The second trip was to Berbera which is on the coast of Somaliland and has a beautiful beach. Initially we wanted to do a day trip however in the last moment we asked to stay one night which Somaliland Travel Agency kindly agreed to. This gave us the chance to spend the day on the beach and enjoy a lovely dinner beneath the stars.
The travel group suggested we visit Sheikh (a town on the top of a mountain) the next day as it is nearby. This just so happened to be the birthplace of my mother who was with us so we were keen to go. It is a long winding road up the mountains which is known to be dangerous but we felt safe with Awale. The view were breathtaking and every moment was worth it. This was the first time my mother came back to her hometown and no words can describe how much we will treasure this moment.
Thank you to Somaliland Travel Agency for giving us the most spectacular experiences. We definitely recommend you!
I just finished a fantastic 10 day tour in Djibouti and Somaliland. I booked the tour on line with Somaliland travel agency. The experience exceeded my expectations, I highly recommend this company. Communication has been excellent, accurate and very timely. They delivered exactly what they promised. Further they have been very flexible, I have had to change travel plans because of the Covid issue and they responded very well, they adjusted the schedule to my needs. The tour guides in both countries have been nothing short of outstanding. My number one priority in this trip was safety and I never felt uncomfortable. All the locations we visited were very secure and people were quite friendly. The 4×4 cars we used were quite comfortable and reliable, we did not experience a single breakdown. I very much enjoyed the scenery, culture, food and people on the trip. Again I highly recommend Somaliland Travel Agency.
The Somaliland Travel Agency is highly recommended. Through the agency we have booked an individually arranged day tour in Hargeisa, capital city of Somaliland. Everything went perfectly – and our guide Awale was brilliant.
The experience: In February 2020, we, two friends from Berlin and Hamburg (Germany), traveled through Djibouti for two weeks. From Djibouti we spontaneously made a one-day trip by plane to Hargeisa: in the morning by plane from Djibouti City to Hargeisa, four hours sightseeing in Hargeisa, in the afternoon flight back to Djibouti City.
Booking and communication: We booked the Hargeisa sightseeing tour two days in advance from Djibouti through the Somaliland Travel Agency. Communication via email was quick and easy. Managing Director Abdullahi provided us with friendly, competent and good English advice via e-mail – and also provided excellent support with the entry formalities to Somaliland.
Guide: Guide Awale picked us up at Hargeisa airport on time and showed us the highlights of Hargeisa. Awale is a marvelous, outstanding guide – perfect English, very polite, highly informative and absolutely customer-oriented. We experienced a lot in the short time and learned a lot from Awale – and we were able to discuss the history as well as the cultural, political and economic present of Somaliland with him. Awale was more than a guide – for us he was like a good friend for a day and at the same time a fascinating ambassador for Somaliland. Thank you very much, Awale!
Hargeisa sightseeing tour: Hargeisa is one of the friendliest, most colorful, and at the same time dustiest big cities I’ve ever seen. Visiting Hargeisa is a unique, beautiful experience. The sightseeing tour that Somaliland Travel Agency arranged for us included all highlights such as the Civil War Memorial, the Central Market, the Money Market and the Saryan Museum. An off-road vehicle was available for the sightseeing tour, which Awale drove carefully through the lively city. The culinary highlight was a delicious lunch at the Fish & Steak House before Awale brought us back to the airport.
Somaliland was perfect! I told them the days I had and what I wanted to do and they arranged everything for me.
Accommodation, food, transport and guides were perfect. I took over toys and clothing and we were able to hand them out along the way.
Laas Geel was something I’ve wanted to see for awhile as the history nerd inside of me and they made this trip a memorable one.
I would highly recommend their professional service, contact and enjoyable time.
I booked a short two night/one full day touring quickie.
Somaliland TA stood out because they got back to my queries quickly, and in perfect English which helped this American.
Stayed in nice hotel, and all was on time in great vehicles, with great driver.
No worries.
Went to Las Geel rock drawings, a rough transit. They made it easy.
Very professional and knowledgeable tour guide and superbe driver; we did the two day Lac Abbé – Lac Assal tour in Djibouti in October 2019 on very short notice and Somalilandtravel set it all up for us in a matter of days. Thumbs up for their customer service! The tour itself I can also highly recommend, especially in October when there are few tourists around.
Used Somaliland Travel Agency to arranged my tours in Djibouti and Hargeisa in Somaliland. The tours were great in these two locations! Special thanks to my guide Akram in Djibouti and Awale in Somaliland, they are great tour guides and Awale is an amazing driver. They are super accommodative and friendly. I have been in contact with Abdullahi who supported me in terms of planning. He is responsive and reply my email within 24 hours and very understanding as well. In Djibouti, I have visited Lake Assal and in Somaliland I have visited Las Geel. I felt safe when I was in Somaliland and really had a great time.
I recommend their service if you are planning to visit Djibouti and Somaliland !!
En rentrant de Djibouti, j’en ai profité pour passer 3 jours au Somaliland; L’agence a été super reactive est m’a proposé une excursion à Laas Geel, Berbera pour finir à Hargeisa. Le guide Abdilahi s’est mis en quatre et à repondu à toutes les questions et m’a vraiment montré tout ce qu’il y avait à voir; présence aussi du garde armé, mais à aucun moment je ne me suis senti en insecurité. Un peu cher quand meme et aurait pu etre un peu compacté, mais dans l’ensemble, rien à redire. Je recommande, en combinant avec un tour à Djibouti.
Abdullahi and Awale were both very responsive to initial emails, and helped fit me into a tight schedule. If I had more time, I would have loved to go to Berbera as well.
The trip to Laas Geel was great. Awale provided lots of background information on the cave art, and I learned alot about the history of the site and of Somaliland in general.
Somaliland is incredible, but it is virtually impossible to travel alone in the country. Somaliland Travel Agency opens up the country to visitors. The trip I took to Laas Geel was authentic and low-key, not the sort of “touristy” experience I typically associate with paid-excursions.
Overall, this is the company to contact if you wish to maximize your experience in Somaliland. Somaliland is a wonderful place, and its people have much to be proud of. I’m glad that I got to see Laas Geel, and only wish I had more time to see more of the country!
Having attempted to combine a journey to Ethiopia with one to Djibouti with a UK based agency I failed due to seeming disinterest on its part. This proved to be a blessing as I researched local agencies and happened upon Somaliland Travel.
The initial request was speedily answered and the detail made me select it from its competitors. All through the process I was impressed by the response time which was often almost by return. Help in obtaining a letter of introduction for the visa process astonished me. I asked one afternoon and received the letter the next morning.
Payment was clear. A deposit was taken by credit card or Paypal and the rest in djibouti in US dollars. The latter provided amusement as it was exchanged for local currency with a woman who touted a large money bag. Our guide had already phoned ahead for the transaction.
Our guide, Akrem, was excellent he took great care of us was punctual, knowledgable and friendly. He speaks a variety of languages and his English was fluent.
The trip was more than one to Lacs Abbé and Assal. He took in the geological highlights such as the point where the three tectonic plates are separating and pulling Djibouti apart. He also acted as a wildlife guide and we saw many species. We interacted with local villagers
Our driver was excellent. He made us feel safe. He knew the routes very well as he came from a village near Lac Abbé. His ability to drive on the rugged terrain was much appreciated.
Somaliland Travel offers value for money and great professionalism.
I only decided to visit Somaliland two days before travelling, and from the first contact with Abdullahi, the owner of the Agency, everything went incredibly smoothly. Although it was a busy season, Abdullahi responded immediately to my emails and I managed to join another person on his private tour.
I spent three days visiting Hargeisa, Las Geel, Berbera and Dhagax Khoure and everywhere we went the friendliness and openness of the Somaliland people was apparent. As a woman travelling alone, at no time did I feel in any way threatened or afraid and people were incredibly welcoming and hospitable, inviting us into their houses and to share their food. Awale, the guide is very professional and kind, and always made sure that I was looked after, especially when I was not feeling well upon arrival. Kasey the friendly guard accompanied us at all times, and throughout our trip Abdullahi was following up continually with Awale to make sure everything was going well.
I enjoyed every minute of my time spent in Somaliland and can highly recommend visiting Somaliland with Somaliland Travel.
The dream came tru thanks to the Agency!
They were extremely professional and I didn’t have to worry about anything, from transportation, to security, food, drinks and timing.
I sent them email 1 week in advance to organize everything. They picked me up at the airport and took to the site.
No words to describe how beautiful the Las Geel was, how safe I felt myself in the country.
Only positive words and highly recommended if you’re searching for the new places and destinations off the beaten track.
Thanks to the Somaliland Travel Agency it all went smooth and easy.
We had terrific experiences with the tours we did with Somaliland Travel. We took the 2 day tour to the Abbe and Assal lakes in Djibouti. Great staff, super helpful and friendly, and the structure they offer is of excellent quality. We slept in typical Afar tents on Lake Abbe and were able to see the wonderful sunrise the next day. Then we head to the lowest point in Africa on sensational Assal Lake. A remarkable and wonderful experience!
I had the pleasure of spending 3 days in Somaliland recently. Didn’t see any other tourists there which is very nice since it means that people are seriously interested in chatting and noone is trying to sell you anything.
I have traveled quite a lot all over the world but I think that as a whole, the people of Somaliland are the friendliest people I have met so far.
There’s only so much to see and do there since the country is fairly small and not developed for tourism yet, but just walking around and feeling the vibe is a great experience. I spent 3 days: One in Hargeisa, one driving to Las Geel and Berbera, and one going back to Hargeisa and visiting Dhagaz Khoure.
My guide (Awale) and guard (Kaysee) were both very nice and I enjoyed spending my time there with them.
If you are looking for a travel destination out of the ordinary (the country is not even officially recognized by the UN), I can definitely recommend Somaliland – and the Somaliland Travel Agency 🙂
Very realiable, friendly and flexible. I recommend this agency, our group felt as pioneers in tourism.
Had a great one-day tour to Las Geel. The agency arranged the tour, airport transfers and accommodations at the Damal Hotel (a great stay… see review). They were easy to deal with, very responsive, and helpful with providing guidance on visas. They required a deposit through wire transfer beforehand, and the rest payable upon arrival. No issues and no hidden fees/expenses. My guide, Awane, was great… super polite, friendly, concerned I had what I needed, and really looked out for me. He was waiting at the airport as promised, and we took a drive around the city before dropping me off at the hotel. The next day we had a great tour to the camel market and Las Geel. After a short rest, we met again for a walk around the city center, then a tasty dinner of local food. I can highly recommend this agency. Somaliland is an interesting and safe place to visit, so don’t worry about it, and just go!
A very smooth communication and booking process, trustworthy and reliable. I had an amazing two-day tour in Djibouti with the guide Akram. I will for sure contact them to arrange tours in Somaliland, Erithrea and Somalia next time I am there. Well done guys!
Thank you for taking good care of our clients. Good service!!! Reasonable price! Good choice for traveling in Somaliland.
Thank you for taking so good care of our two business clients in August. Perfect service with hotel bookings and transfers. Pleasant e-mail communication.
With Ethiopia Air opening air service to Hargeisa, Somaliland, I was interested in going to this rarely visited place. After reading lots of reviews to determine whether it was safe, I started looking for a host. I found the Somaliland Travel Agency website, which I thought looked professional. I liked that its founder had lived in Europe, and that they responded to me within 24 hours. I decided to go with them.
The group was as professional as any travel agency I have worked with. When a change to my trip occurred 24 hours prior to arrival, they were flexible, and helped me with arrangements so I could still visit. I was met by Awale and driver after clearing Customs (bring a passport photo and $60 for your visa on arrival application.). We visited the camel market, downtown, including the money changer with bricks of money stacked high, other markets, and had a good meal.
At no time did I feel unsafe during my visit. Awale is professional and speaks excellent English. If you are seeking to visit Somaliland, I highly recommend using Somaliland Travel Agency as your organizer.
We made a combination of Djibouti and Somaliland and the truth is that the agency responded to the expectations being the very professional guides. We were very happy
Just returned from a long weekend trip to Hargeisa, Laas Geel, and Berbera and would highly recommend it for those well experienced travelers wanting to see and learn some new things. We arranged the trip on our own and then connected with Somaliland Travel after arrival for a guided tour. I’d recommend instead booking with them from the outset – in so doing they could, for example, arrange a visa on arrival for you (I flew to Dubai first to get mine). I’d let them arrange a visa on arrival, arrange the required body guard, accommodations, driver, etc. These 3 locations together make for a really interesting 2-3 day trip.
Somaliland Travel Agency was our groups land operator.
We were 7 people from Europe and North America interested in Rock Art and it was the first visit to Somaliland for all of us but one member. We had 3 excellent drivers who took care of us during the 6 days stay in the country. One spoke good English, the remaining two not really, which was too bad but, not very surprising as the country gets very few tourists. We used a rather rough roads in search of the Rock Art and the drivers stood up to the task. Some roads were truly awful. The 4x4s however beaten up were in good technical condition. All was working. We appreciated functioning A/C very much.
I would call the service of Somaliland Travel Agency excellent.
Full professionalism in organizing and preparing the expedition. Flexible and offer tailored to the individual needs of the participants. Easy and quick contact as well as friendly and professional service during the trip. I highly recommend expeditions with Somaliland Travel Agency
Somali travel organised a 2 day trip to Lac Abbe and Lac Assal in Djibouti.
We were very satisfied with the trip and guide, and driver. Guide was knowledgeable about the places we visited
Great experience with Somaliland travel. I had signed up for a visit to Laas Geel, the camel market and the Hargeysa Central Market, in one day. Somaliland is safer than you think, but just be aware that as a woman you have to dress according to local custom: with a headscarf and a long wide dress that covers legs and arms completely (abaya).
The driver was on time and spoke good English. We first went to the camel market, a lively and colorful happening. In a comfortable Toyota Landcruiser we drove to the rocky landscapes outside the capital, to Laas Geel, with cave paintings estimated to date estimated to date somewhere between 9.000 and 3.000 yrs BC. It was an unforgettable experience. The driver guided us around and gave us historical backgrounds. In a place so peaceful, not flooded with tourists, we could just sit back and enjoy the scene. We then drove back to get a tour around the center of Hargeysa. There is something magical about the central market in Hargeysa, with all those colorful fabrics. We were offered tea with camel milk by a market vendor, was very tasty!
There was enough flexibility in the programme to cater for our special wishes, such as visiting the money exchange market and buying herbs and spices to take back to Holland. Overall a great experience, which I warmly recommend.
In general, all the good. There are some comments on the work of the guide. But this does not lower the estimate.
Somaliland travel agency tailored an itinerary to suit my travel needs. Communication before I travelled was informative and supportive so that I felt completely prepared for my trip. All accommodation and transport were ideal, especially the driver! Everything was perfectly organised with no hitches including my arrival and visa. I had a wonderful time.
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