Itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Khartoum via Addis Ababa
Overnight flight on Ethiopian Airlines from
London (regional connections available) to
Khartoum via Addis Ababa. (N)
Day 2: Khartoum
Late morning arrival. Overnight at the Grand
Holiday Villa Hotel & Suites / Corinthia Hotel
Khartoum. In the afternoon, take a Nile cruise
to see the confluence of the Blue and White Nile.
Sunset performance of the Whirling Dervishes
(Fridays only). Welcome dinner included at
Assaha restaurant. (D)
Day 3: Wadi Mugaddam Old Dongola Karima
Drive to Karima via the chai houses at Wadi
Muqaddam and marble-columned Coptic
temple on the banks of the Nile at Old
Dongola. Hospitality abounds in this central
area of the Nubian region, and some houses
are painted with colourful patterns and
flowers. Stay 3 nights in the Nubian Rest
House, right at the foot of Jebel Barkal. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Jebel Barkal Napata
Visit the Unesco world heritage site at
Jebel Barkal. At the foot of this isolated red
sandstone mountain lies a holy temple,
dedicated to the Pharaohs of the New Reign.
Take an optional 20-minute walk to the top of
the mountain, where you will be greeted by
impressive views overlooking the ruins of the
palaces and temples. Return to the Nubian
Rest House for lunch. Drive south to the
village of El Kurru and the necropolis of
Napata. Visit tombs located under partially
collapsed pyramids. Return to Karima after
visiting a desert area containing fossilised tree
trunks. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Tombos Kerma
Drive via the Third Cataract of the Nile to the
village of Tombos, where there is a small stele
and a statue of King Taharqa. Continue to the
town of Kerma and visit the deffufa (a type of
mud brick temple) and a fascinating museum.
Return to Karima. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Bayuda desert Mero
Cross the Nile and visit the Pyramids of
Nuri. Enter the impressive Bayuda desert,
characterised by sharp, black basalt
mountains. Picnic in the desert, where groups
of Bisharin nomads, with their herds of
camels and donkeys, are likely to be seen.
Cross the Nile for the last time and visit the
Railway Museum. Stay 3 nights at Mero
Tented Camp. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Mero
Visit the royal necropolis at Mero, located in
a semi-desert area, set against reddish-brown
hills. Optional 10-minute camel ride between
the north and south necropolis (payable
locally). Return to camp for lunch and then
visit the ancient ruins of the royal city of the
Kushite kings. (B, L, D)
Day 8: Naga Mussawarat
Morning visit to the archaeological sites of Naga
and Mussawarat. Picnic lunch in the area around
Mussawarat and return to camp. (B, L, D)
Day 9: Khartoum
Drive to Khartoum via a spectacular desert
area covered in huge granite boulders. Have
lunch at the Sabaloka gorge, where there are
impressive rock formations, and the rapids
of the sixth cataract. Drive on to Omdurman
where local handicrafts can be purchased in
the colourful souk. Continue on to Khartoum
and watch Nuba wrestling. Overnight at the
Grand Holiday Villa Hotel & Suites / Corinthia
Hotel. (B, L)
Days 10-11: Fly to London via Addis Ababa
Check out of the hotel after breakfast. Morning
visit to the Omdurman market and Khalifa House
Museum (including Mahdis tomb). Lunch at Al
Hoshe restaurant on the Nile. Afternoon visit
to the Archaeological Museum. Transfer to the
airport and fly back to London via Addis Ababa,
arriving the next day. (B, L) (N)
