SUDAN – EGYPT: The kingdoms of Nubia in the land of the black pharaohs

An unforgettable journey between Sudan and Egypt to discover the Kingdoms of Nubia in the Land of the Black Pharaohs.

On this 13-day journey, that follows the course of the Nile River, from South to North, you will retrace the history of Ancient Nubia, a region that stretched from Aswan, in Southern Egypt, to Khartoum, in Sudan.

You will travel to the Sudan desert to discover the pyramids, tombs and temples that were built during the reign of the black pharaohs and that have been jealously preserved from the sand of the Sahara Desert for millennia.

Also, along the banks of the River Nile, you can admire traditional Nubian villages and some graffiti dating back 5,000 years.

Finally you will sail in the waters of Lake Nasser in Egypt to discover the treasures, temples and villages that are hidden along its banks; obviously you can’t miss a visit to the imposing and iconic temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel.

The trip will end in Aswan, Southern Egypt, where it is possible to visit a traditional village or sail the Nile aboard a felucca, a typical boat.

This is a journey outside the classic itineraries that allows you to discover wonderful places and ancient buildings that tell a lesser known story of Ancient Egypt; traveling in the Sahara Desert, following the course of the Nile River and sailing the waters of Lake Nasser offer unique emotions.

Visit to Khartoum and Omdurman

The visit to the city of Khartoum, in Sudan, starts from the National Museum, that houses incredible archaeological finds declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO; among these there are some temples, Egyptians saved from the floods created by the Aswan dam.

The discovery of the Sudanese city continues with a visit to Mogran Park, where it is possible to observe the confluence of the White Nile and the Blue Nile.

Later you will go to Omdurman, where you will visit the Mahdi tomb and the picturesque souk, the local market; you will also witness the Sufi Ceremony that is celebrated in front of the tomb of Hamed el-Nil, an entrancing mystical experience.

Visit to Meroe

You will visit the pyramids and the ancient royal city of Meroe, here you can admire the ruins of the temple, palaces, houses and Roman-style baths.

You will then cross the Nile to go to Atbara, near this town you can meet some camps of the Rashaida, the native nomads of Arabia.

Then you continue through the Bayoda Desert, along the way you visit the Monastery of Gazali, an ancient testimony of the Christian era.

Here there is a chance to meet the Hassania nomads.

Finally you come to the Pyramids of Nuri, a burial founded by King Taharka between 680 and 669 BC.

Visit to Kurru and Karima

You will visit the royal cemetery of the 25th dynasty at Kurru; the latest archaeological excavations have revealed that Kurru was a fortified city dating back to the 9th century BC.

During the 25th dynasty, King Biye was the first Nubian ruler to adopt the title of pharaoh and to order the construction of a pyramid.

In two rooms inside the cemetery still survive splendid murals, that have withstood the passage of millennia and have come down to us.

Afterwards you will go to Karima and visit a Petrified Forest that is really impressive.

Then you will visit the Jebel Barkal, here is the Pure Mountain, a very suggestive rock formation, and an ancient archaeological site relating to the ancient city of Napata that was founded by Thutmose III in the then Nubia; Napata was mentioned in Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Aida on 1870.

Here at Jebel Barkal you will visit the Temple of Amun, the Temple of Mut and the pyramids, the latter are located West of the mountain.

Visit to Kerma and Tombus

At Kerma, one of the oldest urbanized agricultural and pastoral communities in Sudan and Africa, you will visit the bizarre deffufa monument in a mixed Nubian and Egyptian style; deffufa is a Nubian word that indicates an ancient construction.

This sturdy 19-meter-high mud brick structure was once a religious center, while today it is surrounded by shops, public buildings and homes.

You will also visit the museum to fully understand the history of the Nubian kingdom and admire the interesting statues that are kept there.

Your journey will continue through the Nubian desert towards the village of Tombus; you will follow the traditional camel caravan trail that takes 40 days to reach Egypt, and even today it is possible to meet caravans along the way.

Once at Tombus you will admire an unfinished colossal statue lying on its side, it seems that it was carved about 3,000 years ago.

Here at Tombus you will stay in a traditional Nubian house and will be the guests of a local family.

Visit to Sesibi and Soleb

Visit to the village of Tombus, with its finely decorated houses and the stele of Thutmose I. Departure to Soleb and, along the way, you will stop to admire the graffiti on the Sebu rock that date back to the reign of ancient Egypt, around 3,100 BC; here is the third cataract of the Nile.

The journey continues and you make another stop at Sebisi where the relics of Akhenaten and his temple dedicated to the god Aton are found.

Once at Soleb you will visit the Amun temple built by Amenhotep III, the beautiful architecture of this temple recalls that of the temple of Luxor, also dedicated to the god Amon.

At sunset, stay at a traditional Nubian house, a few steps from the temple, to spend the night.

Visit to Sadenga

You will reach the Jebel Dosha, a mountain overlooking the banks of the Nile, here you can admire the chapel of Thutmose III built in the rock of Thutmose III and the splendid landscape.

At Sadenga you will visit the temple of Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep III, and a series of tombs in the shape of small pyramids.

Visit to Abu Simbel

Visit the famous temples of Abu Simbel, that of Ramsès II and his wife Néfertari.

These two temples were saved, thanks to the help of UNESCO and several states, from the waters of Lake Nasser that rose following the construction of the Aswan dam.

The temple of Ramses II dates back to the 13th century BC. and was built to commemorate the victory in the battle of Qadesh and celebrates the glory of the gods Ptah, Ra and Amon; this temple was carved in the mountain.

Its pink sandstone facade measures 30 meters in height and 40 meters in width; four colossal statues of Ramsès II are depicted here, as well as bas-reliefs and friezes.

Not far from the temple of Ramses there is a smaller temple that was dedicated to the cult of Néfertari, wife of Ramses who was depicted here with the features of the goddess Hathor.

Cruise on Lake Nasser

Boarding aboard a 6-cabin Dahabeya, here begins your 4-day navigation of Lake Nasser.

Visit of the site of Kasr Ibrim, or the palace of Ibrim, that has different architectural elements of the Christian and Muslim era; this palace was transformed into a fortress during the Ottoman era.

Back on board you will continue your navigation towards the temples of Amada, Pennout and El Derr that you will visit once you land again.

In navigation you will cross the Korousko region, with its mountainous reliefs, and the Wadi el Arab, one of the largest valleys in the region, extends for several kilometers.

The navigation continues until you reach the temple of Dakka, the temple of Meharraqa and the temple of Wadi el Seboua; three wonderful structures with unique colors and sculptures in their beauty and finesse.

Dakka temple was built on the same site where the Nubian king Ergamenes and Ptolemy II exercised the co-principality on Lower Nubia, in the 3rd century BC; later it was decorated and enlarged again by other kings of the Ptolemy dynasty and by the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius.

The temple of Wad el Seboua was built by Ramsès II and was dedicated to the gods Amon-Ra, Ra-Horakhty and also to the deified Ramsès II; the temple is accessed through an avenue of sphinxes with the effigy of the pharaoh.

Next you will sail to Beit el Wall temple and Kalabsha temple that you will visit once you land again.

Finally you will arrive at Aswan where you will have free time to visit the temples of the city.

When to visit

The climate of Northern Sudan is desertic and the territory is occupied by a strip of the Sahara Desert, the part of which laying East of the Nile is called the Nubian Desert.

In inland areas of Southern Egypt, the climate is desertic, with practically no rainfall; temperatures gradually increase as you go South.