Saharan Gems Of Sudan & The Kush

8 days
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Group Tour
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...

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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Camping
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

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

What's this trip about?

    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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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • High Adventure
  • Hiking & Walking
  • Overland Journeys
  • Trekking & Expeditions

Destinations

  • Africa
  • Sudan

Attractions

  • Khartoum
  • Meroë
  • Sahara Desert

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Nature
  • Ruins & Archaeology

Itinerary

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 mor...
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. ...
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 ...
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 Whirl...
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: p...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,300
Price per day$163
Last Updated: 0/7/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Dragoman.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Dragoman Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
Excellent
278
Great
11
Average
1
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
D

David

Jul 2019

Written on

Khartoum was brilliant -a must see

The archaeological sites were the main attraction and did not disappoint. ...

S

Sharon

Jul 2019

Written on

Enjoyed most the pyramids

Enjoyed most the pyramids at Meroe and the Whirling Dervishes.....and of course Bush Camping

S

Sharon

Jul 2019

Written on

Had a great time

Had a great time - and despite this being the first time the leaders had done ...

M

Michael

Jul 2019

Written on

Fantastic to visit beautiful sites

Fantastic to visit beautiful sites and to have them almost to ourselves....

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Tour Operator

Dragoman

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At Dragoman we aim to offer authentic, grass-roots adventurous holidays. Travel with us and we’ll get you off the beaten track and really under the skin of the places, whatever style of trip you choose. This means taking the road less travelled, mixing with the locals, learning about their culture and most importantly having an open mind.

We are based in rural Suffolk in the east of England and are proud to be independently owned. We ran our first tour in 1981 and have grown to be a market leader in overland travel. Over the years we’ve grown steadily in size but are still small enough to aim to ensure that each Dragoman traveller has a unique - and hopefully - life changing experience. Last year 2500 travellers joined us on a Dragoman adventure, visiting 55 different countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Our overland tours range from 9 days to 235 days in length. Our shorter 2 or 3 week trips offer a great snapshot of a country or region; giving our travellers a short, sharp adventure travel experience. In just a short break from your everyday life we can get you off the tourist trail and take you on a perspective-changing journey.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
4 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 4 Dinners
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
dragom-ZKH

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