Saharan Gems of Sudan & the Kush Khartoum - Khartoum
Trip Overview
As a destination, Sudan is so often overlooked but to journey through the beautiful Nubian desert is a wonderful experience. Clustered along the banks of the Nile, are some of the greatest sites of antiquity. They may not rival Luxor or Abu Simbel in grandeur and scale, but in sheer, artistic beauty and isolation, they are second to none. The petit temples of Naga and Musawwarat are simply lovely, and the experience of camping under the stars in the wilds of the desert behind the Pyramids of Meroe is serene. Add in a boat trip across the Nile to the Temple Of Sulb, with its towering columns and you get a true sense of what is hidden in the Sudanese Sahara.
Khartoum, sits on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles, and across the river from the city in the plains of Omdurman, where we have the rare chance to witness the bizarre dances of the whirling Dervish. This a raw and highly vital street display by Sufi devotees.
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30% Highlights
Explore Khartoum & the historic Omdurman market
Explore the mediaval ruins of Dongola
Visit the pre-Kushite Temple of Deffufa, a 5,500 year old Nubian archaeological site
Visit Kushite temples and climb Jebel Barkal mountain
Visit to the Meroe pryamids and temples of Naqa and Musawwarat
Visit the incredible and haunting Nuri pyramids
Witness the wild antics of the Omdurman Whirling Dervish
SHOW MORE HIGHLIGHTS
A journey through the wilds of the Sudanese Sahara, with plenty of wild camping, small homestay hostels and city hotels. Ideal for those who want to see seldom visited sites. Sudanese Arabs are wonderfully welcoming and if you enjoy cultural interaction, this is a perfect trip. Do not expect too many home comforts.
Border Information: if joining in Khartoum, you will most likely enter Sudan at Khartoum International Airport (IATA code: KRT).
There will be an important group meeting at 10:00am - please look for a note from your leader at the hotel reception when you arrive with more details about this important meeting. Your leader will need to collect your passport in order to get everyone's visas registered today.
The rest of the day will be free to independently explore Khartoum, including possible optional visits to the impressive Grand Mosque and the bustling Omdurman market.
Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Khartoum before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Khartoum.
In Khartoum we stay in a comfortable hotel with good facilities.
Daily Activities
These activities are not included in the itinerary, however they are available to book and/or payable locally.
Explore Omdurman market in Khartoum
Witness the confluence of the Blue and White Niles at 'The Mogran' near Khartoum
Learn all about the Islamic Mahdist era with a visit to the Khalifa House Museum and the Mahdi's Tomb in Omdurman
Today our journey begins with a drive out into the Sahara deserts northwest of Khartoum. We will arrive at the historic site of Old Dongola, once an important city in medieval Nubia. After an included visit to the site, we will wild camp in the stunning deserts nearby.
Estimated Drive Time - 6-8 hours (please note that all drive times given here are approximate estimates only and are given with the best intentions - however please be aware that the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!).
Daily Activities
Explore the curious medieval ruins of Old Dongola in the western deserts of Sudan
Today we will journey through the remote areas of northern Sudan and the vast Sahara Desert. En route we will visit the Deffufa of Kerma near Dongola, once of the site of the capital of the Kingdom of Kerma, an incredibly ancient civilisation that flourished in the area as long as 5,500 years ago. In the afternoon we will arrive in the small village of Wawa, and will have an included visit to the deserted ruins of the Temple of Soleb on the opposite bank of the Nile.
We will wild camp near the village of Wawa.
Estimated Drive Times - 5-7 hours.
Daily Activities
Visit the pre-Kushite Temple of Deffufa, a 5,500 year old Nubian archaeological site built by the Kerma civilisation
Explore the ruins of the Temple of Soleb
Today we will journey to the town of Karima, where we have an included visit to the mysterious site of Jebel Barkal. A very distinctive flat-topped mountain in the desert, the site has some well preserved ancient paintings in a small temple underneath it and a few Nubian pyramids nearby.
We will wild camp in the deserts east of Karima.
Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours.
Daily Activities
Visit to the Kushite temples and climb to the summit of the distinctive Jebel Barkal mountain
Explore the ancient Kushite Royal Pyramids at Nuri, near Karima
Today we will visit the incredible and haunting Nuri pyramids of the Kushite era, east of the town of Karima. We will then continue our drive towards the famous site of Meroe, wild camping in the deserts nearby.
Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours.
This morning we will visit the incredible deserted Kushite pyramids of Meroe, one of the most iconic and haunting sites in Sudan. In the afternoon we will move on to the other magnificient Kushite sites of Musawwarat and Naqa - we will visit both highlights and then wild camp in the deserts nearby.
Estimated Drive Time - 1-2 hours.
Daily Activities
Explore the ancient Kushite temples of Naqa and Musawwarat
Guided visit of Meroe Pyramids
Today we will complete our journey back to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, where we have a much-deserved refresh and relax in the hotel after our time in the desert!
In the evening we will meet up for an included visit to Omdurman to see the weekly gathering of Whirling Dervishes, a magical cultural experience to see in the sunset.
In Khartoum we will return to our comfortable hotel with good facilities.
Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours.
Daily Activities
Witness the spectacular Whirling Dervishes of Omdurman
Border Information: if finishing in Khartoum, you will most likely exit Sudan at Khartoum International Airport (IATA code: KRT).
Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Khartoum. Please note there is no accommodation included on the trip tonight - please contact the Sales Team if you are interested in booking extra nights of accommodation in order to fully explore and take part in some of the optional activities listed below.
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DATES & PRICES
This group overland journey has multiple departures.
Please refine your search by selecting your preferred dates of travel.
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