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Why choose us?
Return airport transfers
Private transportation throughout
All entrance fees included
Stay in traditional Nubian buildings
Overnight camp by the Meroe Pyramids
Guaranteed small groups (max 18)
Low minimum number of 4 required to guarantee departure
Travel with experienced local guides
Sand guaranteed!
Hidden Treasures, Sudan
This Sudan tour allows you to follow in the footsteps of ancient civilisations. This 9 day adventure through Sudan takes you to see some incredible ancient sites, we start with an in depth visit of the capital city of Khartoum seeing museums, tombs and markets. We then cross the Nubian Desert in search of the lost pyramids and temples of the Nile Valley; en route we visit various historical temples. The Meroe Pyramids are the most concentrated pyramid complex in the Nile valley. We get to eperience a true dessert camp with some creature comforts thrown in like private verandah's that boast stunning views of the pyramids. We then head to Karima for more pyramids and Temples before driving back to Khartoum for free time before you return home.
*New 2013-14 season dates & prices added.
*New 2013-14 season dates & prices added.
- Day 1 Arrive in Khartoum
- Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Khartoum where they'll help you settle in and introduce you to the local area.
OvernightKhartoum - 4-star hotel
- Day 2 Khartoum to Meroe Pyramids
- Our tour of Sudan begins this morning with a guided tour of the city of Khartoum. Discover the secrets of the capital before we see the point where the Blue Nile meets the White Nile we then venture to Omdurman where we have the chance to see the Mehdi Tomb, Khalifa’s house and the atmospheric old souk of Omdurman. Later we begin the journey northward, after about 50 km we get into a desert area covered with huge round granite boulders; these are the last offshoots of the rocky formations of the 6th Cataract. Suddenly, more than 40 pyramids appear as if out of nowhere! These Pyramids belong to the Royal Necropolis of Meroe and some of them are perfectly preserved. We then arrive at the permanent tented camp of Meroe with a beautiful view of the pyramids which you can enjoy from your own verandah.
OvernightMeroe Pyramids - Permanent tented camp MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 3 Exploring the Necropolis and Royal city of Meroe
- Today is where our local guide will start teaching you about the Kingdom of the Black Pharaoh's. Several pyramids stand out with their sharp shapes against the clear sky. Each one has its own funerary chapel with the walls fully decorated with bas-reliefs that show the King’s life and offers to the gods. In the afternoon we move along the Nile to visit the ruins of the Royal City. Most of the area where the city is located, formed by many small hills covered by red clay fragments, is still to be excavated by archaeologists.
OvernightMeroe Pyramids - Permanent tented camp MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 4 The Temples of Naga and Mussawarat
- This morning we visit two archaeological sites, the first, Naga is located about 30 km to the east of the Nile and it is one of the two centres that developed during the Meroitic period. Here we explore Temples, arches and columns that show influenses of the Romans, Greeks and Egyptian styles. We then go to Mussawarat, not far away from Naga. This settlement is located in a beautiful valley crowned by hills. Here the ruins of a very big temple are visible. We have lunch out in the desert today by way of a picnic. We will stop at the town of Shendi to visit the colourful market on the way back to camp.
OvernightMeroe Pyramids - Permanent tented camp MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5 Meroe to Karima
- After breakfast we leave from Meroe and we continue on the road that skirts the Nile to the city of Atbara, located on the confluence between the Nile and the Atbara River. Here we cross the Nile and we enter the Bayuda Desert, an area bounded by the loop formed by the Nile between the 4th and the 6th Cataract and characterised by sharp black basalt mountains, most of them volcanic and typically cone-shaped. It is very likely we will encounter isolated groups of Bisharin nomads, who live in familiar groups in small huts made of intertwined branches close to the rare water wells. After we reach our Nubian Rest house the rest of the afternoon is free.
OvernightKarima - Nubian house MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6 Karima. Visit to El Kurru and Jebel Barkal
- Today we explore the Jebel Barkal archaeological sites which are on the World Heritage list. Here we see Temples and Pyramids from the Royal necropolis of the ancient city of Napata. We then move southwards to the village of El Kurru. Here we can visit two tombs, which are excavated in the rock under pyramids - partially collapsed - and are totally decorated with images of the Pharaoh, of the gods and multicolour hieroglyphic inscriptions. Not far from here there is an interesting site of petrified wood, an ancient forest with hundreds of huge trunks.
OvernightKarima - Nubian house MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 7 Nile cruise and the Pyramids of Nuri
- After breakfast, we visit the market in Karima where we can have a real experience of the life of Sudanese people. We then board a small motorboat for a pleasant cruise along the Nile to enjoy the beautiful sand stretches and cultivated islands along the river. A little further northward there used to be the beautiful granite rocky formations of the 4th Cataract. After a scenic picnic lunch we visit the Pyramids of Nuri for the afternoon.
OvernightKarima - Nubian house MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 8 Karima to Khartoum
- After enjoying one last desert breakfast we pack up camp and drive back to Khartoum. We stop for lunch in a simple “chai house” (a roadhouse where the local truck drivers stop for food and to rest) and in the afternoon we reach Khartoum where we visit the Archaeological Museum that, besides many beautiful objects, contains two beautiful temples rescued by UNESCO and moved from the Lake Nasser area, when it was flooded by the water. We visit also the interesting Omdurman souk. (The visit to the Museum can be moved on to the first day according to opening time, the same also for the Omdurman souk). The rest of the evening is free time.
OvernightKhartoum - 4-star hotel MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- Day 9 Khartoum, departure airport transfer
- Your time is free until we pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.
OvernightN/A MealsBreakfast ExtrasExtra night - post-tour
Includes:
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- All transport and transfers
- 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
- Services of a local tour leader throughout
- All sightseeing tours as per itinerary
- Entrance fees for all archaeological sites and photo permits (approx. US$210)
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Visa invitation letter for most nationalities
- International Flights (available on request)
- Arrival taxes
- Sudan visa fees
- Travel Insurance (compulsory - available from Encounters Travel)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
- Tips for tour leader & driver
- Any other items not mentioned above
