• Overview
  • Trip Outline
  • Trip Includes
  • Trip Excludes
  • Booking
  • FAQ
Nubia is a region along the Nile river located in what is today northern Sudan and southern
Egypt. One of the earliest indigenous civilizations, with a history that can be traced from 2000
B.C. onward through Nubian monuments and artifacts as well as written records from Egypt and
Rome, it was home to one of the African empires. Today it will welcome you still with its own
culture and hospitality.
The two temples of Abu Simbel, last but not least, dignified witnesses of the history of Pharao
Ramesses II and his queen Nefertari, never lost their fascinating appearance.
Here, with us, „the journey is already the goal”, because we invite you to visit the temples
individually in a comfortable safari boat.
Further along the Nile we cross the border to Sudan and visits its antiquities.
 
Take the best of both countries back home with you.
 
Egypt-Sudan Black Pharaoes
 
Day 1:
Individual arrival in Aswan, pick up at the airport and overnight on Heissa Island. Heissa is
a small island located east of Aswan, squeezed between the Philae Temple and the Nile River
Dam. It is one of the oldest standing Nubian islands and the only one that remains to this day.
You can only reach the small island by boat and the place is a wonderful escape from the city.
Overnight Heissa Island
 
Day 2:
Visit of Aswan. Although Aswan has become a bustling city these days, it is of course worth a visit. The visit of Philae Temple is a must. This legendary site was built in 690 BC to honour Isis, the Egyptian goddess of healing and magic. As one of the last places of worship built in the classical Egyptian style, the Philae Temple has a complex and fascinating history. Finally we will visit also the Nubian Museum in Heissa Island to learn a bit more about the fascinating history. Overnight Heissa Island
 
Day 3:
Today we start a very special trip – a several-day luxury Safari boat trip on Lake Nasser from
Aswan to Abu Simbel. And as interesting as the destination may be – the very individual journey there intensifies every experience many times over.
Aswan - Kalabsha - Ghazal
After boarding the boat we commence our journey sailing south towards the temples of Kalabsha and Beit el Wali .
Lunch will be served as our boat sails to the original site of the Kalabsha temple. Kalabsha it was known with the name of Mandoulis dates back to the time of the Romains. In the old days it was located in the city of Kalabsha and then rescued and moved to its actual location.
Beit el Wali means the house of Saint; it was carved in the mountain during the reign of the great Pharaoh Ramses II. As the day comes to an end we will anchor at Khour El Ghazal where we will have a starlit dinner before retiring for the night.
 
Day 4: Wadi El Seboua - Dakka – Meharraqa
Breakfast on board. Resume navigation. On this day we travel down Lake Nasser with the goal
of discovering three relocated temples, known for their unique sculptures and delicate beauty.
During the sailing will pass by the region of Abu Steta and Maria on our way to Wadi El Seboua. Abu Steta desert known, with the reputation of its golden sand dunes and congregations of exotic birds in the small lagoons, such as Pelicans, Cormorants, Flamingos and many various of small birds.(at certain seasons) These temples have been moved by the UNESCO and many other global organizations.We will anchor to visit the site of Wadi El Seboua, Dakka and Meharraqa. Lunch on board.

Dakka (Greek: Pselchis): Erected in the same site by the Nubian king Ergamenes II along with Ptolemy II whilst they shared rule over Lower Nubia in the Third century. Later, the temple was refurbished by Roman Emperors Augustus and Tiberius.

Wadi El Seboua: Accessed through a pathway of sphinxes bearing Ramses’s effigy, this temple was built by the Pharaoh Ramses II in dedication to the Gods Amun-Re and Ra. Moving along, we will sail towards one of the most tranquil bays of the Nubian Lake, Wadi El Arab . Following on, our boot will move towards the Amada Temple, with a broad display of the local fishermen’s houses on the way. Occasionally on this route we are privileged to see some of the lake crocodiles as they surface for sunlight (at certain seasons). Our day will come to an end with a quiet sunset, as our boat makes its final stop of the day in Amada.We will anchor to spend the night. Dinner on board.
 
Day 5: Amada – Pennout – El Derr
Breakfast on board. We will start our day by visiting the temples of Amada, Pennout and El
Derr. The temple of Amada is considered among the most interesting temples in Nubia.They
were built by the king Thoutmusis III and the king Amenophis II. The temple of El Derr dates back to the time of the Great Pharaoh Ramses II, it was dedicated to the God Amon and later
on it helped as a church during the Coptic Era. The tomb of Pennout was cut and moved bloc by
bloc from the Nubian village of Aniba to its actual place. Returning for Lunch on board.
We will make course towards Kasr Ibrim. Arrival to Kasr Ibrim. Dinner and night on board
nearby the region of Kasr Ibrim.
 
Day 6: Kasr Ibrim – Abu-Simbel
Breakfast on board. Kasr Ibrim or the Ibrim Palace is the single monument on the Nubian Lake
that stands unmoved from its original location. It contains a selection of remains from Egypt’s
Christian and Islamic periods and was eventually transformed into a fortress by the Ottomans.
The resulting fusion of cultural artifacts gives the Palace a characteristic diversity. Lunch on
board, we will venture through the Masmas area, which is home to numerous Nubian villages. Soon in the distance, the Abu-Simbel Temples will start protruding from the horizon and emerging from the water, a gorgeous sight signifying the end of our prolific journey.
As night falls we have the option of attending the Sound and Light Show regularly performed in front of the temples. Dinner and night on board
 
Day 7: Abu-Simbel
After Breakfast, you will check out from the boat. This morning will be dedicated solely to
exploring the vast wonders of the Abu-Simbel Temples of Ramses II and his beautiful wife
Nefertari. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century

BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. They serve as a lasting monument to the king and his Queen Nefertari, and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Their huge external rock relief figures have become iconic .The Great Temple at Abu-Simbel, which took about twenty years to build, was completed around year 24 of the reign of Ramses the Great (which corresponds to 1265 BC). It was dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, as well as to the deified Ramses himself. It is generally considered the grandest and most beautiful of the temples commissioned during the reign of Ramses II, and one of the most beautiful in Egypt.

The program is given as an indication, it depends on the navigation and the local conditions of
the moment and any force majeur related to the weather.The order of the visits can be modified but the entirety of the program will be respected. Overnight in Abu Simbel
 
Day 8: Border crossing
Now we have solid ground under our feet again and follow the Nile to Sudan. We are crossing the border at Wadi Halfa, a place abandoned today since Lake Nasser was flooded. From here it goes in the direction of Soleb. If there is still time, the island of Sai (ancient Egyptian fortress and Meroitic necropolis) will be visited today. Continue to Soleb and overnight in a Nubian guesthouse.
 
Day 9: Soleb – Kerma
Head south from Soleb to the 3rd cataract of the Nile, where mighty granite barriers block the
way for ships. In Sebu, right on the banks of the Nile, you can see hundreds of rock carvings
from prehistoric to Egyptian times.
The journey continues to Tombos. Visit an ancient granite quarry and the remains of a large
statue of King Taharqa that appears to have just been left here 3,000 years ago.
In the evening arrival in the old royal city of Kerma, today a small town.
Dinner and overnight in a simple Nubian guesthouse in Kerma.
 
Day 10: Kerma – Kurru – Old Dongola – Karima
In Kerma are the remains of the "Defuffa", which is considered one of the largest massive
mudbrick buildings in the world and certainly played a key role in the culture of the kingdom of
Kerma. Here you are in the center of Nubia. The population here speaks their own language,
not Arabic, and lives Islam in their own way. Women here generally do not cover their faces and
talk to strangers. The Nubian villages are colourful, the houses are painted with colorful
patterns and flowers. The settlements lie between sand dunes and palm trees. Hospitality is
sacred here to this day. Invitations are often extended to strangers to visit one's home or to
share a meal or a glass of tea.
Drive south through the Nubian desert with its sand dunes and red rocks. Follow the course of
the Nile to Old Dongola. During the Middle Ages, Old Dongola was the capital of the Christian
kingdom of Makuria and long remained the country's capital during the Islamic period.
You will visit the archaeological sites, the ruins of the Coptic monastery complex with its marble
columns and several churches on the banks of the Nile. The oldest mosque in Sudan is also
located here. After sightseeing proceed to Karima, the largest city between Atbara and Dongola, located right at the foot of Gebel Barkal.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Karima.
 
Day 11: Karima – Gebel Barkal – Nuri
After breakfast visit to the market where you can get an impression of everyday life in Nubia.
Then trip to Gebel Barkal. This stage takes you to the center of the Cushite dominion of the
Kingdom of Napata, at Gebel Barkal (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
This kingdom is older than that of Meroe. Imposing temples and palaces, as well as a large
number of pyramids spread over the area, testify to the importance of this empire. First you
will encounter the Gebel Barkal, the sacred mountain near Napata since ancient times.
You will then drive to the remains of the Great Amun Temple, which lies at the foot of the red
sandstone cliff. This place of worship was the religious heart of Nubia for over 1000 years. Next
to the temple there is a series of granite pillars that probably once lined a processional avenue
to the banks of the Nile. We continue our way to the pyramids of Nuri. Overnight Camping.
 
Day 12: Nuri – Meroe
We visit the pyramids of Nuri and continue our way to Meroe. Meroë(/ˈmɛroʊiː/; also spelled
Meroe; Meroitic: Medewi or Bedewi, romanized: Meruwah and
مروي, Meruwi; Ancient Greek: Μερόη, romanized: Meróē) was an ancient city on the east bank of the Nile about 6 km north-east of the Kabushiya station near Shendi, Sudan, approximately 200
km north-east of Khartoum. Near the site is a group of villages called Bagrawiyah (Arabic:
البجراوية). This city was the capital of the Kingdom of Kush for several centuries from around 590 BC, until its collapse in the sixth century AD. The Kushitic Kingdom of Meroë gave its name to the "Island of Meroë", which was the modern region of Butana, a region bounded by the Nile (from
the Atbarah River to Khartoum), the Atbarah and the Blue Nile. Meroe is now declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You will then visit the royal necropolis, whose more than 40 pyramids look down from the sand
dunes onto the Nile plain. There are a total of three pyramid fields in the east of the ancient
city. Each pyramid has its own burial chapel, with walls decorated in bas-relief.
In the afternoon you will visit the temples, palaces and baths of the royal city. Here you can
enjoy the sunset at a legendary historical place. Overnight Meroe - Hotel
 
Day 13: Meroe – Naga – Mussawarrat Sufra – Khartoum
On the way back to the capital, visit the archaeological sites of Naga and Mussawarat. Once
there, first visit Naga, which is about 30 km east of the Nile and is the second center next to
Meroe that developed in the Meroitic period. See the magnificent Temple of Apedemak from
the 1st century AD, dedicated to the lion god of the same name.
Not far away is a "kiosk", a small temple that reveals Egyptian, Roman and Greek architectural
influences. You will also visit a temple of Amun.
Then drive to nearby Musawwarat. This site must have played an important role in antiquity,
judging by the sheer size of the temple ruins here, with their large walls decorated with
elephant figures. Another testament to the impressive Meroitic architecture.
Later drive to Khartoum. Overnight at hotel.
 
Day 14: Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital of Sudan and its beautiful market is located in Omdurman across the
Nile. Here you can buy plenty of exotic African products.
After breakfast, visit to the Archaeological Museum in Khartoum, which, in addition to
interesting exhibits, also includes two temples. These were dismantled before the Nasser Dam
was flooded and reassembled in the museum. Also visit the Ethnographic Museum.
Then visit the Omdurman district with the Caliph's house and the tomb of the Mahdi (the
Islamic leader who fought against General Gordon and the English colonization in 1885). In the
afternoon return to the hotel.
 
Day 15: Departure
After breakfast transfer to the Airport – international flight back home.
 
 

No details found.

No details found.

Please wait...

No Details Found