The Land of Black Pharaoh

1st day:

departure from Prague to Khartoum

2nd day:

Arrival in Khartoum, road transfer and check-in into one of the best African hotels of the 19th century which hosted guests like Thomas Cook, Queen Victoria or Sir Winston Churchill. Overnight, breakfast, sightseeing tour in Khartoum: We will start at the confluence of the White and Blue Nile at Margan Park, then we will head to Omdurman, the former capital of Sudan located above the aforementioned river confluence. Photo stop at Mahdi's tomb (outside) and visit to Khalifa House Museum, walk through the traditional local market, lunch at a local Khartoum restaurant. Afternoon visit to the Archaeological Museum in Khartoum - tour of the Palaeolithic exposition, exposition of Egypt and the Kerma Empire (3000 BC-12th century BC) , late Kushite empire with the capital Meroe (3rd century BC - 3rd century), Christian and Islamic period. Pride of the museum are two temples rescued with the help of UNESCO from flooding by the Nasser Dam. During sunset we will move to the northern part of the city where it will be possible to watch a traditional Nubian fight. The day is ended with a return to the hotel and overnight.  

3rd day:

Breakfast followed by a transfer to Meroe desert which is covered by large granite stone structure around the 5th cataract. Afterwards we will move another 30 km in order to reach Naqa which used to be one of the two main centers of the Meroe epoch. There we will go through the Apedamak temple from 1st century AD and which replaced the God Amon during the Kushit era. The building is decorated with bas reliefs of the lion God, the Pharaoh, noble men and ritual scenes. Not far away from this place we will see a small pavillion decorated with slopes and arches with roman, greek and egyptian elements. Afterwards we will have a lunch picnic in nature and then head to the Musawwarat valley where the remains of an important temple from 1st century AD are. Its signifance lies in the surrounded walls and sculpted elephant scenes. Since no scientific research was able to prove continuous settlement on this place a number of theories have emerged about why the Meroens gave this site such imporantace. Then we will moe to the Apedamak temple which was renovated by German archologists. In the last part of the day we will see the beautiful local scenery dotted with acacia trees, camels and tens of pyralimds of the kings' necropolis. The day ends with dinner and overnight in a local base camp.

4th day:

Snídaně, přesun na královskou nekropoli, před pyramidami se nacházejí dva pohřební chrámy, jejichž stěny zdobí basreliéfy s výjevy ze života králů a bohů-prohlídka chrámů a pyramid, kterých zde bylo postaveno mezi lety 308 př.n.l. a 350 n.l. cca na sto, a to do výšky 10-30 metrů, oběd.  Návštěva školy Tarabil, pokud bude otevřena s následným servírováním kávy ve vsi Kabúšíja. Přesun do trosek královského města, vykopávky potvrzují, že se rozkládalo na velké ploše a bylo obklopeno předměstím a hradbami - prohlídka Amónova chrámu a lázní s patrnými římskými vlivy, návrat na základnu a pozorování západu slunce nad pyramidami, večeře, nocleh.

5th day:

Breakfast followed by departure to Bayud Desert which is located accross the 4th and 6th cataract and is well known for its black basalt rocks of volcanic origin. As we traverse the dry valleys we will meet local nomads from the Bsharin Tribe who live in shacks not far away from precious water sources. We'll have a picnic in desert and if time permits we will also visit the Ghazali church. Our day will end in a small city Karima lying on Nile's bank close to the Jabal Barkal - the sacred mountain of ancient Egyptians and Nubian Kings. Accommodation in a hotel, dinner and overnight.

6th day:

Breakfast followed by transfer to the archeological site of Jebel Barkal mountain typicao for its sandstone and gold. Back in the Nubian times it was called the "Nubian Olympus" and it was considered sacred by the Nubian people. We will go the Amon's Temple built by Thutmos III. a later renovated by pharoh Taharq. Afterwards we will talk through the kings' necropolis (former Nubian capital of Napata) comprised of tens of pyramids in three different locations. Lunch and afternoon excursion of the El Kurru including the royal tomb decorated with frescos and hieroglyphs. Late return to Karima, dinner and overnight.

7th day:

Breakfast followed by a walk through Karima's market and departure for the Nubian desert. The desert is completely sterile and has no vegetation except for beautiful granite rock formations. Cruise on the Nile river with a picnic stop at an idylic white sand beach island. Return to Karima with excursion of the Nuri pyramids. These used to be the most important as they are home to pharao's Taharq greatest pyramid that reaches heights of almost 50 meters. Then there are of course smaller pyramids (40m tall) which belonged to the younger kings, queens and princesses. Dinner in hotel and overnight.

8th day:

Breakfast, return to Khartoum through the Western desert with short stop for lunch in a local tea shop where locals like to recharge their "batteries". The programme will be topped with a traditional ritual dance. Return to hotel for short rest before leaving for the airport.

9th day:

Road transfer to the airport and arrival to Prague in early morning hours