Trekking in Sudan
A trekking itinerary through Sudan, visiting the main sites of the country but with the addition of trekking routes that enrich the experience and will let you discover unique places of Sudan.
15 days
Oct-Apr
all accommodated
A trekking itinerary through Sudan, visiting the main sites of the country but with the addition of trekking routes that enrich the experience and will let you discover unique places of Sudan.
The services include:
Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Dinner NOT included and overnight stay.
Half day city tour. In the afternoon we take a boat ride on the Nile to see the confluence of the rivers, and then we go to see the Dervish ceremony (on Fridays only).
Today we begin the journey northward through the Western Desert. We travel for about 200 km on asphalt road in a flat desert where the view can span 360° around. We keep traveling until we reach the archaeological site of Old Dongola. Here there are the rest of a Christian Coptic church with marble columns as well as several suggestive ruins of other churches and the village situated on the banks of the Nile.
Breakfast at the camp then we drive a bit further north until we start our trekking in the Nubian villages where the houses are nestled between sand dunes and palm trees. Here we make some walks.
Today we reach the central part of the Nubian region. Here the population lives in small villages amongst yellow sand dunes and palm trees they speak a different language from the Arabs and also the Islamic religion is not as “strict” as in other regions. The women don’t cover their faces and readily speak to foreigners. Some houses in the Nubian Villages have very interesting painted doors. We than reach the Nile again near the Third Cataract, one of the obstacles that the ancient Egyptian had to cross on their way up along the Nile.Then we move to wadi Sebu, right on the river bank of the Nile it is possible to visit one of the richest sites of rock engraving of all Sudan with hundreds of images from prehistoric to Egyptian times. Arrival in the late afternoon in Tombos.
This morning we visit the ancient querries of Tombos and the “sleepy Pharaoh”. We then drive north to cross the Nile on a ferry boat and enter the Western desert. We visit the Temple of Soleb, the most beautiful Egyptian temple of all Sudan, testimony of the New Kingdom in Nubia, with many walls rich in hieroglyphic inscriptions, bas-relief figures and many columns. We then reach the town of Dongola, on the Nile, the most important settlement of North Sudan and before sunset we reach Karima.
Landmark in the Nubian Desert, Jebel Barkal (“Jebel” means mountain in Arabic) can be seen from a far away whilst still in the open desert. Amon’s ancient “Pure Mountain”, the Olympus of the Nubians, was the religious Nubian heart for more than 1000 years. Besides the ruins of the big temple there are still several sculptured granite rams that were supposed to border a long avenue that probably led to the pier on the Nile. Jebel Barkal archaeological sites are on the World Heritage list. In the afternoon we move southwards to the village of El Kurru where there is one of the necropolises of the ancient capital, Napata. Here we can visit one tomb, which is excavated in the rock under pyramids – partially collapsed – and it is 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. Sunset at Jebel Barkal.
After breakfast we start our journey crossing the Nile and visiting the Nuri Pyramids. We then enter the Bayuda Desert, an area bounded by the loop formed by the Nile between the 4th and the 6th Cataract and characterized by sharp black basalt mountains, most of them volcanic and typically cone-shaped. They alternate with level pebble stretches and large valleys crossed by dry wadis, where little vegetation can be seen. It is very likely to meet isolated groups of Bisharin nomads, who live in familiar groups in small huts made of intertwined branches close to the rare water wells, with their caravans and herds of camels and cattle. Just in the center of the Bayuda Desert we reach Atrun Crater, where nomads gather salt from the edge of a green colored pool. They will then sell it to markets of the towns outside the desert.
After breakfast, we set off from our camp in Osh Al Dalan (volcanic area) and walk half day to Atrun Crater. We then continue our desert crossing to reach the Nile River and we cross it on an old ferry boat (Ponton). Once on the other side we drive a short distance till we can glance at more than 40 pyramids, located on top of a hill, some of them perfectly preserved, which belong to the Royal Necropolis of Meroe.
This morning we set off on a full day trekking with friendly camels and cameleers in the amazing desert in the Meroe pyramids area.
We start the day with the visit at the pyramids with the perfect easterly light which will allow us to take great photos, we then continue with a full day trekking in the desert.
In the morning we say good bye to the Pyramids of Meroe, after 50 km we leave the main road to visit the colourful market of Shendi. We then continue our journey to reach Mussawarat El Sufra. This settlement is located in a a beautiful valley crowned by hills. Here the ruins of a very big temple are visible; it once played an exceptional important role. Its main characteristic, the “Great Enclosure” is made by many constructions and boundary walls which surround a temple built in the 1st century A.D. The large number of elephants represented on these walls makes you think that this animal used to have an important role in this area. Beyond the big wadi there is another temple – restored by a German archaeological mission – dedicated to the god Apedemak.
This morning we set off on a full day trekking between the sites of Mussawarat and Naga.
After breakfast in camp, we return to the main road and we continue toward South. We tale a detour to see the rocky formations of the 6th Cataract. We are in the Sabaloka Gorge that are the rapids of the 6th Cateract. Boat ride on the Nile. Picnic lunch and then in the afternoon we reach Khartoum.
This morning we drive to Omdurman to see the Khalifa’s house Museum (reopened on 28 Mar 2020) and the Mahadi’s Tomb. We shall also visit Omdurman Market.
In the afternoon, at sunset time, we drive to Khartoum North to see the traditional Nuba Wrestling (only on Fridays, Sat and Wed).
Transfer to the airport by private vehicle
The Acropole Hotel is the oldest existing hotel in Khartoum, founded in 1952. It is family run, cosy and characterized by a very friendly and warm hospitality. It is centrally located near shops, banks and important business firms.
An elegant architectural masterpiece of steel and glass set in the heart of Khartoum’s commercial district, the Burj Al-Fateh Hotel redefines the luxury hotel category with state-of-the-art technology, five-star accommodation and unrivalled service. Situated at the meeting point of the Blue and White Nile and set among exquisite landscaped gardens, the Corinthia Khartoum will be your gateway to Central Africa.
Formerly known as the Grand Hotel, it was constructed in the late 1800s and housed the office of the famous British Explorer: Thomas Cook. This elegant hotel which overlooks the famous Blue Nile River also hosted royal visitors and famous dignitaries including Queen Victoria and Sir Winston Churchill. The hotel is centrally located in the heart of Khartoum’s commercial hub.
For the overnights in wild camp in the desert we supply the following equipment:
• Igloo tents, 2 x 2 m., supplied by the manufacturer for three person but used by two or in single (very easy to set up, 3-4 minutes)
• Foam mattresses 5 cm. thick 2 x 0, 60 m.
• Folding chairs with arms and folding tables
• Gas lights, thermos for water, plates and all the cutlery
• A water basin for personal washings
• A first aid kit
A cook will be in charge of the meals
