Desert Secrets of Sudan Tour:
The Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs

Travel to Sudan on our small group Sudan tour. This is an adventurous journey visiting ancient historical sites, nomadic tribal cultures, the vast Sahara Desert and the timeless Nile River.

Visit significant archaeological sites such as the temple of Amun, Nuri Pyramids and the royal city of Meroe.

Additionally, the tour includes the important Meroetic site Nagaa, the Temple of Sesibi and Temple of Soleb – the most beautiful Egyptian Temple.

See ancient remains from the Kerma civilization, Christian and Egyptian cultures on the Island of Sai.

Tour the pyramids of Meroe and visit the ancient settlement of Musawwarat.

Spend time in the Bayuda and Nubian Deserts. Afterwards, cross the Nile and reach the archaeological site of Old Dongola.

In Old Dongola, see a Christian Coptic Temple and several churches on the banks of the Nile. Visit some Nubian villages where local hospitality is enthusiastic.

This is an exciting tour and not difficult or uncomfortable. Four & Five Star Hotel options in Khartoum.

Once we leave Khartoum, accommodations are a mix of a comfortable permanent tented camp and beautiful boutique hotels designed like a traditional Nubian house.

The resident chefs at both accommodations offer amazing dishes based on traditional cuisine with a western flair. Three nights in traditional Nubian homes (basic accommodation), we share with local Nubian families.

There are electrical outlets to charge your devices in all types of accommodation.

In each setting we are near local villages providing an opportunity to observe and interact with local people in an authentic setting.

SUDAN TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Explore an undiscovered region.
  • Observe camel caravans and desert tribal cultures
  • Visit Sudan’s pyramids and ancient city of Meroe
  • Connect with local people in desert markets and small, isolated villages
  • Enjoy fantastic diverse landscapes such as date groves, the Northern U-bend of the Nile and a vast desert of moving sands

Opportunity to visit Sudan & Ethiopia!

We have scheduled the Sudan tour January 3-14 to coordinate with our Ethiopia Timket Festival tour. Join both tours to get the most value for your time and cost.

View A Detailed Itinerary:

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Meroe Pyramids

  • 1
    NORTH SUDANThe itinerary sequence can change for various dates. Shown here departing Khartoum to Meroe; some dates may start by going to Karima and Soleb first and Meroe at the end.
    Day 1: Arrival in Khartoum

    Transfer to hotel.

  • 2
    Day 2: Khartoum-Meroe

    Tour Khartoum. Visit the Archaeological Museum and Omdurman, ancient capital of Sudan where we see Mahdi's tomb and explore the souk.

    We then travel north along good roads to the desert and Meroe. There are more than 40 pyramids along the Nile in Sudan. Arrive at the permanent tented camp of Meroe, your base for the next three nights.

  • 3
    Day 3-4: Meroe-Royal City

    Tour the pyramids of Meroe; visit Naga, east of the Nile and the ancient settlement of Musawwarat.

  • 4
    Day 5: Karima

    Follow the road along the Nile to the city of Atbara, located on the confluence between the Nile and the Atbara rivers.

    We cross the Nile by ferryboat. While waiting for the boat and during the crossing you will have ample opportunity to observe and interact with the local people.

    Head to the Bayuda Desert. The landscape is characterized by sharp black basalt mountains, most of them volcanic and cone-shaped, alternating with pebble stretches and large valleys with dry wadis.

    You may encounter isolated groups and camel and donkey caravans. These are the Bisharin nomads who live in small huts close to the rare water wells in areas where surviving seems almost impossible.

  • 5
    Day 6: Jebel Barkal & El Kurru

    Jebel Barkal stands as a landmark in the Nubian Desert. At the foot of this isolated red sandstone mountain are the ruins of a temple dedicated to the pharaohs of the New Reign and to their patron Amon.

    Explore the Royal necropolis of the ancient city of Napata, the Nubian capital from 800 to 400 B.C., before the Meroitic period. Scattered in three different locations are a large number of pyramids. Visit two tombs excavated from the rock under the pyramids in the village of El Kurru.

  • 6
    Day 7: Karima-Old Dongola-Karima

    We follow the Nile until we reach the archaeological site of Old Dongola. Here a Christian Coptic Temple and several churches are on the banks of the Nile. We then visit some Nubian villages where local hospitality is enthusiastic.

  • 7
    Day 8: Karima-Kerma-Tombos-Wawa

    Drive north west through the Nubian Desert to Kerma village and visit the majestic Defuffa and Tombos village. We visit one of the richest sites of rock engravings located in Sebu.

  • 8
    Day 9: Wawa-Soleb-Island of Sai

    Cross the Nile to the Temple of Sesibi and then visit Temple of Soleb-the most beautiful Egyptian Temple. On the Island of Sai we see ancient remains from Kerma, Christian and Egyptian culture.

  • 9
    Day 10: Nubian Villages

    Drive through the Nubian Desert to Karima, visiting Nubian villages enroute. Overnight in Nubian guesthouse in Karima.

  • 10
    Day 12 Return to Khartoum

    Today we drive south along the tarmac road acoss the western desert. We reach Khartoum and tour Omdurman souk.

    At sunset attend the whirling dervishes ceremony (Fridays only). Transfer to hotel for wash/change, available until 9 pm.

  • 11
    Depart-Transfer to airport

    Intl flight departs at late night or very early am.

  • Trip Length

    12 day trip begins and ends in Khartoum

  • Dates

    2024: December 25, 2023-January 6, January 9-20, February 15-26, February 27-March 9, March 12-23

  • Land Cost

    2024 Jan-Mar: $5210-5510 based on hotel selection in Khartoum, minimum of 6 people. Single Room Supplement: $905-1136
    2024 Oct-Dec: $TBA
    Oct-Dec prices TBA

  • Accommodations

    Option to select 4 or 5-star hotel in Khartoum
    Nubian-style house in Karima, exclusive Italian permanent tented camp in Meroe; simple Nubian guesthouse Soleb and Kerma

  • Group Size

    6-12 people

  • Included Meals

    All meals outside Khartoum

  • Duration

    12

  • Reading List

    Suggested Reading

  • Extend Your Trip

    Historic Ethiopia & the Wild Omo Valley Precedes Sudan
    LEARN MORE  
    Post Tour Extension to Eritrea. Details on Request..

Khartoum, Sudan

Meroë, Shendi, River Nile, Sudan

Karima, Northern, Sudan

Jebel Barkal, Marawi, Northern, Sudan

Al Karru, South Kordofan, Sudan

Karima, Northern, Sudan

Old Dongola, Sudan

Karima, Northern, Sudan

Khartoum, Sudan

Kerma, Sudan

Tombos, Dongola, Northern, Sudan

Wawa, Sudan

Soleb, Northern, Sudan

Saï, Wadi Halfa, Northern, Sudan

Nubian House, Karima, Sudan

Khartoum, Sudan

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