Terra Nullius: Bir Tawil Incursion

DESCRIPTION

This time, YPT takes you… nowhere! That’s right — we push the boundaries by organizing the first group tour to Bir Tawil, a piece of land stuck between Sudan and Egypt which isn’t claimed by any of them. It is the world’s only inhabitable land that isn’t claimed by anyone, and we will go there. Call us crazy but this will actually be the second tour we have ran to this most amazing of places. In fact our last trip was so eventful we even wrote a book about it.

Bir Tawil has been claimed by many internet-based micronations, but very few of them have actually been there and no one has ever stayed to establish a presence. There, we will be beyond the laws of any nation.

To get there, we will start from Sudan so this trip can also be done as an extension of our Sudan trip. A trip to Sudan wouldn’t be complete without a visit of the Meroe so we will first head there and visit its multiple ancient necropolises.

Then, with our own transportation and food, we will head north, towards the Sudan-Egypt border — crossing not via road but directly through the depths of the deserts, with only the tyre tracks of other vehicles to mark our path.

We will then get to Bir Tawil and explore this land for a full day, setting foot where no one rules. You might be the first group to ever visit, but you will be one of only a handful of people that can claim they have been to Bir Tawil.

This is the ultimate adventure for extreme travelers and geopolitics geeks! Don’t miss your chance at making history!

ITINERARY

Friday 18th November – Khartoum

Arrival in Khartoum at your own convenience where our local driver will pick you up and drive you to our hotel.
Free time to explore Khartoum before you meet the rest of the group tomorrow.
Overnight in Khartoum.

Saturday 19th November – Meroe

Early drive today after breakfast to catch up with the rest of the group.
Meeting up with the group and your YPT guide.
Set off on an off-road/on-road adventure to visit Mussawart. This is a complex of temples dedicated the local god Apedamak – the lion god. This was the biggest construction in the history of Nubia.
After a local lunch we continue up to Naqa 20km from Mussawart. This was once a vital trading post between the Mediterranean world and Africa. It houses a wonderful collection of buildings dated to the first century AD.
Vist the Roman kiosk which represents the intersection of several ancient cultures.
Visit the Among temple, after which we head back north to Meroe.
Overnight in Meroe.

Sunday 20th November – Abu Hamad

After our breakfast, we leave early for the long trip to Abu Hamad, the end of the road!
The town of Abu Hamad is one of the last stops on the train, and name after a sheikh who was buried here. Our guide will introduce us to the legends behind him
We enjoy our last dinner in a human settlement, before we head… nowhere!
Overnight in tents by Abu Hamad.

Monday 21st November – Bir Tawil

Today, our expert guides drive us across the desert, where there is no road but the traces of the previous travelers cars.
We are in the deepest of the desert and shall stop for many photo opportunities.
Lunch today is a picnic in the desert.
We reach Bir Tawil in the evening!
Enjoy our camp meal outside of any country!
It wouldn’t be a YPT trip without a party, the first party ever probably, in that part of the world!
Overnight in tents, in Bir Tawil!

Tuesday 22nd November – Bir Tawil

Today, our day will be dedicated to the in-depth exploration of Bir Tawil.
If you brought a flag, plant it in Bir Tawil and claim the land! It is your opportunity to change the world and start a country according to your values (YPT can’t guarantee your claim will be approved by any international organization but you’re welcome to have a go at it!).
Lunch by our camp.
Afternoon spent exploring Bir Tawil some more. Chances are we’ll be scoring many firsts in that part of the world.
Dinner and overnight by our camp (the first human settlement?) in Bir Tawil.

Wednesday 23rd November – Abu Hamad

As always, all good things must come to an end and we start making our way down towards Khartoum but this time as proper trailblazers; fathers and mothers of a nation.
Lunch on the way.
Arrival in Abu Hamad by the beginning of the evening. We’re back in civilization! Kind of…
Overnight camping by Abu Hamad.

Thursday 24th November – Khartoum

After a good breakfast, we’re back on the road!
We arrive by Khartoum in the early evening.
We go for an evening stroll around Khartoum.
Dinner in Khartoum and our last night party, remembering the time when we were kings and queens of our own land!

Friday 25th November – Khartoum/Juba