Sudan holiday
Highlights
Khartoum | confluence of White & Blue Niles | Omdurman | Whirling Dervishes Ceremony (if dates permit) | Naqa and Musawwarat Temples | Naqa & Musawwarat | Royal Necropolis of Meroe | Jebel Barkal Monuments | Old Dongola | Nubian Villages | Karima market | Nile cruise | Necropolis of NuriDescription of Sudan holiday
Foreboding deserts, nomadic families, Nubian villages and some of Africa’s most outstanding archaeological sites – this is Sudan, and it’s now open to visitors, though few intrepid travellers make it to these ancient sands. In the Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs, and history is everywhere in this Sudan holiday. In Khartoum, you can visit temples moved here by UNESCO when the land they stood upon was flooded by Lake Nasser. Explores the wonders left behind by the ancient civilisations that ruled this vast Saharan landscape, with trips to Jebel Barkal’s monuments and pyramids, the Royal Necropolis at Meroe and the impressive Nuri pyramids – including the ancient pyramid of Taharqa.Discover more modern Sudanese culture in the souks and the Nubian villages, where these deeply traditional people live in beautifully painted houses. Old Dongola reveals the country’s Christian past, with its Coptic temple and riverside churches. This is a country quite unlike any other – and this well paced, comfortable tour really makes the most of its culture, history and otherworldly landscapes.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Small group cultural tours
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.Responsible tourism
Responsible tourism: Sudan holiday
Sudan is an emerging destination for adventurous travellers. Perhaps the greatest attraction for most visitors is its fine collection of archaeological ruins. We are pleased to report that the Government of Sudan has gone to great lengths to protect these sights. Your payment of archaeological fees directly contributes to the up-keep and essential preservation of these important sites.
Our Nuba People and Villages tour travels to some very remote and untouched tribal areas. The tribes that we meet have no idea of tourism and we have a huge responsibility when exposing them to different cultures. For this reason, our operations in this area remain very limited with an average of only two group departures per year. To minimise our impact, everyone who travels with us is briefed on the customs and beliefs of the local tribes.
We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.
We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. This may include giving a percentage of the profits from each tour to a foundation to help street children or local conservation projects. Furthermore, in order to allow our clients to make an informed decision on where a greater proportion of their money should be spent, we avoid including pre-paid full board meals where possible. Local restaurants and cafes then benefit.
Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents.
3 Reviews of Sudan holiday
Reviewed on 17 Dec 2018 by Peter Chapman
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Sudanese people.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Just go.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes it does benefit local people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
One of the best - a really interesting country. And the local operators do a really good job keeping western tourists comfortable in sometimes challenging local conditions.
Reviewed on 05 Apr 2018 by Virginia Draper
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The people, the remote locations, the sights we saw tucked away off streets - no fencing around them, just there for all to enjoy...sunrise on camels, sunset on the pyramids.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you are expecting well developed tourism akin to going to Egypt and seeing all the tombs etc then scale this expectation back, you are going to a country which has not built out all these sights along the usual tourist route, its what makes it so special but at the same time may also seem more basic...the sights are incredible here, but bearing in mind they might be open to all and not jazzed up, they are as they were 2000 years ago which is incredible!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes we ate using local produce, but not sure how else it benefited locals to be honest.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Sudan is an amazing location, I was saddened by the amount of plastic littering the country, its almost everywhere, but the beauty is there and the sights are incredible and the people are just wonderful.
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2016 by Geoffrey Hermsen
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The visit to Meroe. Mind blowing! The pyramids in the daytime WOW, but even better at sundown. A very big shame that there were no G&T`s to go with the atmospheric feeling of history. When you stay in tent city, it`s fantastic with the night sky and no light pollution. Eating and sleeping, with the stars, all around you, then you have arrived in paradise.If you are lucky to go on this trip and have Kahlid as your guide, then you are in for a treat.If you think the desert is desert. It is not. Walk about and see it is alive and full of majesty. Peace!!
When you stay in the Nubian rest house, you are in for a treat.Beautiful and peaceful and if you have a chance, then climb the big rock opposite at sunset. It is worth the effort for the view and history at your feet.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You don`t need loo rolls or torches if you are on the 8 day trip as all accommodation has it all with no squat loos. Take a fly whisk as there are many flies in the countryside especially by the Nile.If you are into history and archaeology and don`t mind piles of stone ruins, you will appreciate all the other sites, which are fantastic. Don`t expect to see fossils, because there are not fossils other than fossilized trees
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The employment by locals from drivers/guides and hotel staff help with the local economy. The trip is low impact on the environment and the travelling arrangements include complete re-cycling. The only rubbish seen was by the locals and not the tourists.The only evidence we were there, were tire tracks and foot prints.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I had a great time with a good international group of friends. A brilliant guide Kahlid, great drivers and support staff. I set out to learn on the ground the difference between, Sunni, Shia and Sufi Islam, which I did. I also filled in the gaps between Egyptian and Nubian history. All this was explained by Kahlid in great detail with plenty of patience for us oldies. I will visit the Sudan again. It is safer than Bournemouth.
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