Flights to Hargeisa

Dubai or Addis Ababa?

Booking Emirates with an onward flydubai flight on one ticket lets you start from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle or Glasgow, with luggage checked through to Hargeisa. Ethiopian Airlines flies from Heathrow to Addis Ababa, and the onward flight to Hargeisa takes about an hour and a half. Compare baggage rules carefully, as allowances on the final leg can differ from the long-haul flight.

Visas and arrival

Somaliland runs its own visa system, separate from the Somali eVisa used for Mogadishu. Check the current arrangements with Somaliland's representative office in London or with your host before travelling, and carry US dollars in clean notes for any fees. Egal International is on the edge of the city, and most visitors are met by family or a driver arranged in advance.

Markets, cafés and Laas Geel

Hargeisa stands about 1,300 metres above sea level, so days are warm and nights cool. Its livestock market, where camels, goats and sheep change hands, is one of the largest in the region, and the central Waheen market sells everything from spices to mobile phones. About an hour's drive north-east, the caves of Laas Geel hold rock paintings of cattle and herders thousands of years old. Trips outside the city are normally arranged through a local operator, who sorts out the permits and escort that visitors need. Check current UK government travel advice and your insurance before you book, as warnings cover much of the country.

When to book

Fares rise during the UK summer holidays and around Eid, when many families from Britain visit relatives. Rain is most likely in spring and late summer, but showers are usually short and rarely disrupt flights.

Visiting both Hargeisa and Mogadishu? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll price an open-jaw ticket with the domestic leg included.