Beneath endless, unblemished skies and across landscapes sculpted by time, the world’s deserts reveal a beauty that is both elemental and extraordinary. In Namibia, wind-carved dunes rise like burnt-orange waves above parched salt pans; in Jordan, ancient tombs emerge from rose-red cliffs at Petra’s edge. Oman’s Wahiba Sands shimmer with shifting light, while high in Chile’s Atacama Desert, salt-crusted valleys and volcanic peaks form a lunar tableau, where stargazing feels almost otherworldly. Across these varied deserts, you will find not only solitude and scale, but also richly textured experiences, a taste of adventure, and encounters with cultures shaped by centuries of survival and storytelling.
FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE DESERT
Dune bashing in a sturdy 4x4 provides endless heart-stopping moments as you swoop, slide and glide among the ever-shifting sands in the care of a skilled local driver. For something quieter, but no less exciting and even more energetic, you could surf the dunes on a specially shaped board similar to a snowboard, the thrill of which is well worth the climb to the top. Driving fanatics might prefer the fun of hurtling through the sand on a quad bike under the supervision of an expert guide. Rockier desert landscapes are perfect for climbing; Jordan’s Wadi Rum has hundreds of different routes for all experience levels.
There’s a romantic feel to some of the gentler adventures, from channelling your inner Lawrence of Arabia walking over vast dunes to stargazing under crystal-clear night skies with the sounds of nature as your soundtrack. You might find yourself face-to-face with a magnificent bird of prey as you learn about the popular UAE sport of falconry or take to the skies yourself in a hot-air balloon, drifting over the dunes at sunrise looking out for gazelles and Arabian oryx below. Or you may want to learn about life in these harshest of environments by spending time with a Bedouin family.
EXPLORING THE OMANI DESERTS
The Empty Quarter, or Rub al Khali, blankets the south of Oman in rolling dunes, and there’s more dramatic scenery to admire in both Wahiba Sands and the Hajar Mountains. There’s plenty of history to be explored, from the ruins of ancient towns that once grew rich from producing frankincense to prehistoric rock paintings and 5,000-year-old beehive tombs. Despite the unforgiving conditions, wildlife lovers will also be in their element; as well as birds such as chestnut-bellied sand grouse, there are intriguing insects and reptiles, along with mammals including Nubian ibex and sand cats. Or you may prefer to go fossil hunting; palaeontologists have found petrified dinosaur bones, marine creatures and trees in Oman’s most arid regions.
Whatever your interests, be sure to factor in a stay at the Canvas Club, which takes the idea of desert camping to a new level. There’s nothing so humdrum as a set location; instead, you’ll be whisked by 4x4 to a private tent among the dunes of the Wahiba Sands, where you can stretch out in a huge bed and shower in your open-air bathing tent before settling down for a meal prepared by your personal chef, with a campfire to keep you warm.
NAMIBIA DESERT SAFARIS
With over 90% of the country classed as desert, there really is no better place in Africa for a dune-based adventure than Namibia. And the desert in Namibia is surprisingly diverse. In the south, terracotta dunes of Sossusvlei rise above a massive white salt-pan, dotted with ossified tree trunks. The 325-metre climb up the Big Daddy dune at dawn delivers not only a spectacular sunrise but also unadulterated exhilaration on the charge back down. Hot air balloon rides or helicopter flights offer an alternative perspective of Sossusvlei’s iconic dunes. On the Skeleton Coast, the dunes take on a different character entirely. Here, the blanched sands conceal enormous whale bones and the remnants of historic shipwrecks being reclaimed by the deserts, while lions are known to prowl the sand. By night, Namibia’s deserts are equally enchanting. The NamibRand is home to one of only two International Dark Sky Reserves in Africa, and you can fall asleep under a blanket of endless stars from a star bed or desert camp.
EXPLORING THE JORDANIAN DESERTS
Of all Jordan’s desert areas, Wadi Rum is the name on everyone’s lips. Its otherworldly landscape – it’s also known as ‘the Valley of the Moon’ – has been shaped over thousands of years by water and wind. The sculpted sandstone cliffs, canyons and rock formations, tinted red, orange and apricot, have featured in a host of films, from 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia to Dune in 2021, while scientists and space agencies have used the rocky expanses as a training ground for future expeditions to Mars.
Adventure seekers can dive deep into this 178,000-acre wilderness with guided walks and 4x4 expeditions that showcase everything from how plants survive in such a hostile setting to the history of the Arab Revolt. For a richer experience of the desert, opt for a few nights in a luxury tented camp. Discovery Bedu has just six suites, each with a solar-powered shower room and a private deck for soaking up the sunset views and the spellbinding clarity of the star-laden sky. Sun City Camp is a more out-of-this-world option, where you can stay in a futuristic dome-shaped tent complete with a king-sized bed and raised deck from which to drink in the spectacular vistas.
EXPLORING THE DESERTS OF THE UAE
Around four-fifths of the UAE is covered by desert, from Abu Dhabi’s stretch of the Empty Quarter to the Hajar Mountains that run through Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al-Khaimah. While the miles of rolling sand dunes – at their most epic and extensive in Abu Dhabi – capture much of the attention, there’s another side to these stark landscapes. Far from being barren, they’re bursting with interest, from Bronze Age tombs and date farms to native flora and fauna adapted to the lack of water. You can learn more about the area’s surprising biodiversity with a game drive or horseback safari in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, or take a hot-air balloon flight to see it from a different perspective.
Savour the peace of your surroundings at Al Maha, a luxurious desert resort fringed by palm groves within easy reach of Dubai. The generously proportioned tented suites are decorated with antiques, and each has a private infinity plunge pool from which you can gaze out over the sandy plains. Even more remote, the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara rises from the sands of the Liwa desert like an ancient oasis settlement. Impressive eco-credentials are matched by equally impressive facilities, particularly the sublime spa.
EXPLORING CHILE'S ATACAMA DESERT
Staking its claim as the driest place on Earth, Chile's Atacama Desert truly lives up to its desert status. Despite this, the region is brimming with thrilling activities. The Atacama’s unearthly landscapes are the closest one can get to exploring another planet – without leaving our own. Adventure through the striking Moon Valley, where salt deposits create the illusion of the lunar surface, or trek to the hypnotic Rainbow Valley, where an enchanting blend of colours creates a natural display like nothing you’ve seen before. The desert’s remoteness also lends itself perfectly to stargazing – so much so that the world’s largest telescope is found here.
Those seeking to admire the natural wonders of the Atacama will no doubt have their appetites sated by the lively El Tatio Geysers – one of the world’s largest geothermal fields. There’s also the chance to spot majestic Chilean flamingos foraging for shrimp and algae in the shallow waters of the Salar de Atacama salt flats. For spirited adventurers, take to a bicycle and explore the Martian surroundings in the fast lane. There are many guided treks through sloping valleys for those looking to explore at their own pace. Slow the pace further with a visit to the Cejar Lagoon, whose high salt density allows visitors to float effortlessly on its shimmering surface.
