Sudan

With the recent military coup on 11 April 2019, the security situation is a fluid one. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office still advise against all travel to much of western and southern Sudan, with all but essential travel to areas within 100km of Egypt west of the Nile Valley. Click here for more information.

Wake at the break of day under the golden pyramids of godlike kings of old, traverse a searing desert to the place where two Niles become one, and watch a million ruby-red fish swarm through gardens of coral. For the few travelers who venture here, the sights found amongst Sudan's sweeping hills of sand come as a fantastic surprise.

Various conflicts long put part of this vast nation off limits, but recent relative calm could lead to visitors rediscovering Sudan's 1st-century temples, thundering granite mountains and undeveloped diving in the Red Sea. Whether you rush through on a Cairo-to–Cape Town trip, or spend a slow month soaking up the history, visiting Sudan is a memorable experience.

Explore Sudan

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Meroe Pyramids
Seemingly lost under the folds of giant apricot-coloured dunes, this ancient royal cemetery, with its clusters of narrow pyramids blanketing the sand…
National Museum
This museum, the best in Sudan, has some breathtaking exhibits. The ground floor covers the rise and fall of the kingdoms of Kerma, Kush and Meroe. There…
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Hamed el-Nil Tomb
Every Friday afternoon you can see an incredible Sufi ritual, where a colourful local troupe of whirling dervishes belonging to the Sufi community stirs…
S
Soleb
A little south of Abri, for many travellers the wonderfully evocative Egyptian temple of Soleb is the highlight of the journey between Dongola and Wadi…
K
Khatmiyah Mosque
At the base of the Taka Mountains is this spectacular mosque, centre of the Khatmiyah Sufi sect. It's a lovely mudbrick building with a pointed octagonal…
S
Sai Island
With a temple from Egypt's Middle Kingdom, an Ottoman fort and a medieval church among the many ruins, Sai Island is something of a synopsis of ancient…
K
Kerma Museum
Next to Kerma's western deffufa is this well organised museum that contains interesting relics from the site, including seven imposing granite statues and…
W
Western Deffufa
A 15-minute walk away from town, this massive mudbrick temple stood about 19m high and stretched 50m long. Nobody is really certain what it was used for…
J
Jebel Barkal
Jebel Barkal, the tabletopped mountain hanging on the town's south side, was sacred ground for the Egyptians at the time of the 18th-dynasty pharaohs. At…

M
Meroe Pyramids
Seemingly lost under the folds of giant apricot-coloured dunes, this ancient royal cemetery, with its clusters of narrow pyramids blanketing the sand…
National Museum
This museum, the best in Sudan, has some breathtaking exhibits. The ground floor covers the rise and fall of the kingdoms of Kerma, Kush and Meroe. There…
H
Hamed el-Nil Tomb
Every Friday afternoon you can see an incredible Sufi ritual, where a colourful local troupe of whirling dervishes belonging to the Sufi community stirs…
S
Soleb
A little south of Abri, for many travellers the wonderfully evocative Egyptian temple of Soleb is the highlight of the journey between Dongola and Wadi…
K
Khatmiyah Mosque
At the base of the Taka Mountains is this spectacular mosque, centre of the Khatmiyah Sufi sect. It's a lovely mudbrick building with a pointed octagonal…
S
Sai Island
With a temple from Egypt's Middle Kingdom, an Ottoman fort and a medieval church among the many ruins, Sai Island is something of a synopsis of ancient…
K
Kerma Museum
Next to Kerma's western deffufa is this well organised museum that contains interesting relics from the site, including seven imposing granite statues and…
W
Western Deffufa
A 15-minute walk away from town, this massive mudbrick temple stood about 19m high and stretched 50m long. Nobody is really certain what it was used for…
J
Jebel Barkal
Jebel Barkal, the tabletopped mountain hanging on the town's south side, was sacred ground for the Egyptians at the time of the 18th-dynasty pharaohs. At…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Sudan.

See
Meroe Pyramids
Seemingly lost under the folds of giant apricot-coloured dunes, this ancient royal cemetery, with its clusters of narrow pyramids blanketing the sand…
See
National Museum
This museum, the best in Sudan, has some breathtaking exhibits. The ground floor covers the rise and fall of the kingdoms of Kerma, Kush and Meroe. There…
See
Hamed el-Nil Tomb
Every Friday afternoon you can see an incredible Sufi ritual, where a colourful local troupe of whirling dervishes belonging to the Sufi community stirs…
See
Soleb
A little south of Abri, for many travellers the wonderfully evocative Egyptian temple of Soleb is the highlight of the journey between Dongola and Wadi…
See
Khatmiyah Mosque
At the base of the Taka Mountains is this spectacular mosque, centre of the Khatmiyah Sufi sect. It's a lovely mudbrick building with a pointed octagonal…
See
Sai Island
With a temple from Egypt's Middle Kingdom, an Ottoman fort and a medieval church among the many ruins, Sai Island is something of a synopsis of ancient…
See
Kerma Museum
Next to Kerma's western deffufa is this well organised museum that contains interesting relics from the site, including seven imposing granite statues and…
See
Western Deffufa
A 15-minute walk away from town, this massive mudbrick temple stood about 19m high and stretched 50m long. Nobody is really certain what it was used for…
See
Jebel Barkal
Jebel Barkal, the tabletopped mountain hanging on the town's south side, was sacred ground for the Egyptians at the time of the 18th-dynasty pharaohs. At…

Guidebooks

Learn more about Sudan

Uncover the heart of travel and be inspired to see new sights with one of Lonely Planet’s in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.