Compare Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs by Voyages Jules Verne vs Saharan Gems Of Sudan & The Kush by Dragoman
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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0 | Poor
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| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 3,530 | $ 1,300 |
| Price Per Day | $ 441 | $ 163 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Camping |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
4 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 4 Dinners |
| Description |
Long hidden from the world, Sudan is best known for the story of Gordon of Khartoum who was overwhelmed by the hordes of Mahdi. Less often told is the story of Sudan's ancient past. The Kingdom of the Kush dealt with Pharaohs of Egypt and the Emperors of Rome and these Nubian rulers, known as the Black Pharaohs, left behind an array of archaeological sites dotted along the Nile. Ruined temples can be visited without a tourist bus for miles and the country has more pyramids than Egypt. This exciting arrangement makes an arid region of extraordinary archaeological interest and beauty accessible even to those reluctant to sacrifice their comforts. |
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. |
Day 1 Fly from your chosen airport via Istanbul to Khartoum.
Day 2 Early morning transfer to the centrally located 4-star Grand Holiday Villa for one night. Visit the Archaeological Museum housing two entire temples rescued by UNESCO from Lake Nasser. Visit the Khalfa's House Museum and view Mahadi's Tomb from the outside. Later, visit the colourful Omdurman souk. Whirling Dervish performance (B, L)
Day 3 Head northwards across the Western Desert to Old Dongola (5 hrs). Visit the archaeological site of Old Dongola and a Nubian village. Continue to the 3-star Nubian Rest House in Karima for a three-night stay at the foot of Jebel Barkal. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Visit Jebel Barkal and the temple built by the Pharaohs of the New Reign and dedicated to their patron Amon. Visit Karima market and El Kurru, where the Royal Necropolis of the ancient city of Napata had a large number of pyramids. Visit an excavated tomb carved from the rock below the pyramid. Later, visit the Pyramids of Nuri. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Drive across the Nubian Desert (3 hrs) to the village of Tombos and visit the stelae on the shore of the Nile. Continue to the town of Kerma and visit the 'Western Defuffa' monument of this ancient civilisation and the Kerma Museum. Evening of local music and traditional dancing. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Enter the Bayuda Desert, an area bounded by the 4th and 6th Cataract of the Nile. Isolated camel and donkey caravans roam the area. Cross the Nile at Atbara, visit the Railway Museum and then travel south to Meroe. The 40 pyramids of the Royal Necropolis can be seen from the 3-star tented camp of Meroe. Stay two nights. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Visit the Royal Necropolis of Meroe before continuing to the ruins of the royal city, most of which has still to be excavated. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Visit the 1st-century Apedemak temple at Naga with its bas-relief images, the "kiosk" containing Egyptian, Roman and Greek styles of art and a temple to Amon. Picnic in the Musawwarat area and return to Khartoum (3 hrs) where day rooms will be available until the late evening transfer to the airport. (B, L)
Day 9 Early morning flight via Istanbul arriving later the same day.
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.
