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Compare Saharan Gems Of Sudan & The Kush by Dragoman vs Addis Ababa to Cairo (38 Days) Nile Trans by Oasis overland

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Duration 8 days 38 days
Price From $ 1,300 $ 2,869
Price Per Day $ 163 $ 75
Highlights
  • Explore Khartoum & the historic Omdurman market
  • Explore the medieval 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 pyramids and temples of Naqa and Musawwarat
  • Visit the incredible and haunting Nuri pyramids
  • Witness the wild antics of the Omdurman Whirling Dervish
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Trip Style Group tour Group tour
Lodging Level Camping Basic
Physical Level
  • 4- Strenuous
  • 2- Easy
Travel Themes
  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking
  • High Adventure
  • Trekking & Expeditions
  • Overland Journeys
N/A
Countries Visited
Cities and Attractions
  • Khartoum
  • Meroë
  • Sahara Desert
  • Sudan
Flights & Transport Ground transport included Ground transport included
Activities
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Nature
  • Ruins & Archaeology
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Meals Included

4 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 4 Dinners

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Description

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.

This expedition through the historically and culturally rich, and geographically diverse countries of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt takes you from the Ethiopian highlands (Africa's largest mountain range), to the deserts of Sudan and the coral reefs of the Red Sea. Ethiopia, itself has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other African country and Egypt needs very little introduction to its unique historical sites. This trip takes in major exotic-sounding cities, like Khartoum and gets well off the beaten track in between
Itinerary: Saharan Gems Of Sudan & The Kush

Day 1: Khartoum

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.

Day 2: Dongola

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

Included Activities (Included in Kitty)

Explore the curious medieval ruins of Old Dongola in the western deserts of Sudan

Day 3: Wawa, Dongola

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

Included Activities (Included in Kitty)

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

Day 4: Karima

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

Included Activities  (Included in Kitty)

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

Day 5: Meroe, Nuri

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.

Day 6: Naqa, Musawwarat, Meroe

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

Included Activities

Explore the ancient Kushite temples of Naqa and Musawwarat

Included in Kitty

Guided visit of Meroe Pyramids

Day 7: Khartoum

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

Included Activities

Witness the spectacular Whirling Dervishes of Omdurman

Day 8: Khartoum

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.

Itinerary: Addis Ababa to Cairo (38 Days) Nile Trans
DAY 1-7: ADDIS ABABA TO BAHIDAR We spend a couple of days in Addis Ababa where we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore 'El Mercato' - one of East Africa's largest open-air markets. We also spend the next few days organising our Sudanese and Egyptian visas - before heading onto Bahir Darvia the spectacular Blue Nile Gorge & Falls. DAY 8-16: BAHIDAR TO SUDAN Bahidar is based on the southern edge of Lake Tana - you can organise boat trips to some of the small islands which have Monasteries dating back up to 900 years, and which are still looked after by monks who live from subsistence farming or take a trip to Blue Nile Falls. Lalibela, famous for its 11 monolithic rock-hewn churches is our next destination where you have the option of a guided tour of one of Ethiopia's holiest cities. Gondar (the capital of Ethiopia from 1632 until 1868), we spend a few days where it is possible to organise overnight trips to the Simien Mountains National Park - home to the Gelada Baboon, hikes are available in the area. You may also wish to arrange a trip to the holy city of Axum dating from the 12th Century have been kept alive by generations of dedicated priests who guard their precious religious and artistic artefacts. The border with Sudan is not far from Gondar and the first town after the border is Gedaref & Wadi Medani. Note: If the security situation in Sudan has not improved, then we will adjust our itinerary in Ethiopia and then fly from Addis Ababa to Cairo (flight at your cost, budget $200), leaving the truck behind. We will then complete the Egypt section using public transport and local hotels. We ran our 2023 departure in this way and it worked very well. DAY 17-23: KHARTOUM TO WADI HALFA The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. Our stay here is on the banks of the Nile at the quirky but interesting Blue Nile Sailing Club. It houses one of General Kitchener's old Gunboats, a relic from the British military campaign against the Mahdi over a century ago. For such a large city, Khartoum feels quite laid back. Here you can visit the Hamed al-Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market or viewing the confluence of the two Niles are also interesting ways to pass the time. The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of the Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which are dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along with this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa. DAY 24-30: WADI HALFA TO LUXOR Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel - our ultimate destination on our expedition. We arrive in the small village of Abu Simbel, where you will notice you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel - the massive stone monuments built by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll, after spending the night we will travel in convoy to the city of Aswan. Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, is a great way to spend your days here. You can also join a 2 or 3 day felucca boat cruise to Edfu and/or Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. DAY 31-38: LUXOR TO CAIRO You will be kept busy exploring Luxor - where we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well-preserved tombs of the ancient rulers -namely Ramses ll and Tutankhamun -have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem fresh even after 3000 years. Karnak and Luxor Temples are both in easy walking distance from our camp - as is the local souq where you can pick up the last of your souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast. You will have time to relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters. Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the Egyptian Natural History Museum in the afternoon is a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
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