Meroë pyramids, SudanPhoto: Laurent de Walick, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Sudan
Sudan, made clear: pyramids, the Nile and the Red Sea
Sudan holds more pyramids than Egypt, the meeting of the Blue and White Nile, coral reefs few divers have seen and some of the warmest hospitality in Africa. Since April 2023 it has also been at war, and governments advise against all travel. This guide gives you honest answers, so you can plan a family visit now and a fuller trip when it is safe.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyTravel advice, visas, permits, cash and health, answered plainly
- LandingPort Sudan, registration and your first night, explained
- Your days in SudanFamily, the Red Sea and the Nile valley, planned around the seasons
- Home againDeparture checks so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Honest answersWe say plainly what governments advise and what is realistic right now.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain the cash economy so money never catches you out.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Sudan is one of the most rewarding countries in Africa and, today, one of the hardest to visit. We answer the difficult questions first, so you can decide whether to go, when, and how, with your eyes open.
Going back to see family in Port Sudan, Kassala, Atbara or Omdurman? This guide was written with you in mind too.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels well planned.
- Read the travel adviceStart with your government's current advice for Sudan, which shapes every other decision.
- Choose your SudanA family visit to the east, the Red Sea reefs, or the Nile valley pyramids when conditions allow.
- Sort the essentialsVisa, registration, permits, cash and health, checked against official sources.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape realistic days around distances, heat and permits.
Everything your Sudan trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Khartoum, Port Sudan, Suakin, Meroe and Karima, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
Pyramids, souqs, reefs, Sufi gatherings and stays, from classics to quiet corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Port Sudan and stays in each area.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The Sudan few people see
Pyramids in the sand, the Nile and the Red Sea
Sudan's great draws are the steep pyramids of Meroe standing alone in the desert, the sacred mountain of Jebel Barkal at Karima, the coral town of Suakin and the untouched reefs off Port Sudan. They have been closed to most visitors by the war, but they are still there, and they will be waiting.
- The royal pyramids of Meroe at sunrise
- Jebel Barkal and the tombs of El Kurru and Nuri
- Coral reefs and wrecks at Sanganeb and Sha'ab Rumi
- Friday Sufi dhikr in Omdurman
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the coast and the Nile valley fit together.
Sudan destinationsPlan with confidence
A realistic plan, without the worry
Front lines move, permits matter and cards do not work. Our free planner helps you think through seasons, distances, cash and the support a trip here needs.
- Realistic travel times
- The right season for the coast and the desert
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Sudan
From the meeting of the Niles to the Red Sea coast and the pyramids of ancient Kush.
Khartoum State
Khartoum
Sudan's capital at the meeting of the Blue and White Nile, deeply scarred by war, with Omdurman's souq and Sufi traditions across the river.
Read the guidePhoto: Mohoseen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Red Sea State
Port Sudan
The Red Sea port that became Sudan's working capital and main gateway, with reefs and wrecks just offshore.
Read the guidePhoto: Ahmed Bushra87, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Red Sea State
Suakin
A haunting island of coral stone ruins that was the great Red Sea port of Sudan for centuries.
Read the guidePhoto: Bekoelber, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
River Nile State
Meroe
Dozens of steep royal pyramids standing in the desert north of Khartoum, the heart of the ancient kingdom of Kush.
Read the guidePhoto: Ahmed Amir, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Northern State
Karima
A Nubian town beside the sacred mountain of Jebel Barkal, with painted royal tombs and pyramid fields nearby.
Read the guidePhoto: Hans Birger Nilsen, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Sudan safe for visitors?
No, not at present. Since April 2023 Sudan has been at war, and the UK, US, Canadian and Australian governments advise against all travel there. Most people travelling now are Sudanese families and aid workers. Read your own government's current advice before making any plans, and check whether your insurance covers you.
Do I need a visa for Sudan?
Most visitors need a visa arranged in advance through a Sudanese embassy, and rules vary by passport. Check with the nearest Sudanese embassy and your own government's travel advice before you book.
How do I get to Sudan right now?
Port Sudan on the Red Sea has become the main international gateway, with flights from Gulf and regional hubs. Khartoum's airport was badly damaged in the fighting, so check whether it is operating before planning around it.
Can I use bank cards in Sudan?
Assume not. International cards rarely work, so visitors bring clean US dollars or euros in cash. Locals pay with the Bankak mobile app, which needs a Sudanese bank account.
What is Sudan best known for?
The pyramids of Meroe and ancient Kush, the meeting of the Blue and White Nile in Khartoum, Red Sea diving, Sufi traditions and a reputation for extraordinary hospitality.
When is the best time to visit Sudan?
November to February, when days are warm rather than fierce. From April to September much of the country is extremely hot, and the rains fall from July to September.
Ready to find your Bliss in Sudan?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a plan that fits your dates, the seasons and the current advice.