5 Places to See the Desert

Endless sand dunes, rolling over each other like waves. The sun melts above the horizon, and the air shimmers with the heat of the earth. Such landscapes are worth seeing at least once in a lifetime. But it’s best to do it in a comfortable, controlled environment, always knowing where north, south, west, and east are, and that a car or hotel awaits you nearby. We’ve found 5 places where you can feel like Paul Atreides from Villeneuve’s “Dune” or László Almásy from “The English Patient.”

Egypt

Although the Nile with its fertile banks occupies a central position in Egypt (remember ancient history from your school curriculum?), the country is still strongly associated with deserts. There are even several here: the Western Desert is part of the Sahara, the Eastern Desert belongs to the Arabian Desert, and there are also the Sinai, White, and Black Deserts. Therefore, it’s very easy to go see the dunes here. If you’ve booked tickets to Cairo, to the pyramids, then it’s already a win-win situation: the complex is located right on the edge of the desert. Those who chose an all-inclusive hotel vacation in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh can always go to the desert for quad biking or camel rides.

How to get there: Direct flights to the capital of Egypt are operated by EgyptAir.

UAE

We say “UAE,” and in our minds, we already picture the sandy desert stretching endlessly across the peninsula. Local authorities regularly have to clear sand from the roads. Otherwise, within a week or two (or even faster), they would be so covered that they’d be impossible to find. Most of the country’s territory is occupied by the Rub’ al Khali desert. Dunes reach a height of 250 meters, and the climate is very harsh: in July and August, temperatures rise to 47–50°C. So, it’s best to choose months from October to April for a visit. Both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, desert excursions are organized. Experienced drivers take tourists on safaris, first slightly deflating the tires to increase the contact area of the tires with the sand. Then, all that’s left is to hold on: the jeep maneuvers between dunes, climbs ridges, and descends at an angle, while waves of sand cascade onto the windows. And yes, it’s a lot of fun.

How to get there: Tickets to Dubai can be found with Air Arabia, Etihad, Fly Dubai, Emirates.

Namibia

It’s easy to remember the name of the desert in Namibia: just remove the last two letters of the country’s name. The Namib is considered the oldest desert in the world. During the day, air temperatures reach 45 degrees Celsius, and at night they can drop below zero. Perhaps its most beautiful part is where the sand meets the ocean, creating a huge, endless beach. Unlike the Arabian Peninsula, it’s better to visit here from May to October. One of the “attractions” of the Namib and Namibia in general is Sossusvlei valley. This is a clay pan within the Namib-Naukluft National Park with a striking contrast of colors. Bright blue sky, red sand dunes, a white plain between them, and black tree trunks. However, you can also see the desert in more comfortable conditions, for example, by going to Swakopmund — the country’s beach capital. There are plenty of hotels with European-level service here.

How to get there: There are no direct flights. to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, you will have to fly with at least two layovers — for example, in Dubai and Addis Ababa. Swakopmund has its own airport, with flights from Windhoek. Another option is to drive along highway B2.

Spain

Most often, when speaking of a desert in Spain, people refer to Tabernas in Andalusia. But the landscapes here differ from what we’re looking for. So, we’ll send you to the Canary Islands, to the southern tip of Gran Canaria. Here lies one of the island’s main attractions: Maspalomas National Park, a nature reserve, and a resort area. The main advantage of the local dunes is their small size. You can walk among the dunes without fear of getting lost, because if you climb to the top, you’ll definitely see the ocean to your right or left. And before heading to it and diving into the cool waters, we recommend taking atmospheric photos in the style of “Mad Max” or “Prince of Persia.”

How to get there: Direct flights to Las Palmas are unavailable, but there are flights with layovers. A minimum of two: in Istanbul and Seville. From the airport, bus 66 goes directly to Maspalomas. From the center of Las Palmas (San Telmo) to Playa del Inglés, you can get there in just 45 minutes on route 30.

Mongolia

Mongolia is home to the Gobi Desert. Here you’ll find a variety of landscapes: canyons, mountains, and even ice-covered slopes. For dunes, head to the “Singing Sands,” Khongoryn Els. They are located in the Gurvan Saikhan National Park. And they truly sing when the wind sends millions of grains of sand flying. Excursion tourism is quite well developed in the country. You can join a group of travelers and see all the most interesting natural attractions in one to two weeks. Or rent a car and plan your tour independently.

How to get there: To get to Ulaanbaatar, you can fly with a layover in Istanbul. After that, you need to rent cars, at least two, as it’s unsafe to go into the desert alone.