Discover the Mystique of Desert Vacation Destinations: Sights and Sounds Like No Other

Some deserts you cannot resist

If no human in sight for miles and miles, other than those in your group, is your idea of a holiday destination you should come to the deserts. You will find large ones on most continents other than Europe, so those used to city breaks will find this holiday idea very different. The desert areas are known to be rich in oil and natural gas, so you can follow in the footsteps of the many explorers who came here in search of these. Heat is something you will expect, particularly towards noon, so the choice of the right time of the day for hiking will always be useful. Here we suggest some desert destinations that usually don’t need any detailed introduction being already popular with tourists.

The Atacama Desert in Chile

This desert in Northern Chile lies between the Andes Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Your ideal base here will be small towns close to the desert. It is one of the driest deserts in the world and the organisms survive here because of the fog that provides all the precipitation. The conditions here are considered similar to what you will find on Mars making scientists test their equipment here. Here you will find towns that mine salt and at night there will be clear skies offering you the best opportunity to stargaze. You will find lagoons in the middle of the desert allowing you some sights to behold. You will even enjoy the sunset and the sunrise in the Moon Valley.

The Namib Desert in Namibia

This desert is a long strip adjacent to the South Atlantic Ocean in southern Africa, credited with having the largest and tallest sand dunes in the world. Here you will find a variety of views ranging from small canyons to shipwrecks on the coast. You will find tour operators who will take you to the right spot for sandboarding and you can hire All-Terrain vehicles to drive through the desert. There are coastal towns where you can enjoy the local culture and hospitality, apart from admiring the views of sea alongside the desert. You will be able to find lodging in the desert for your multi-day itinerary and you may even get to stay in camps.

Gobi Desert in Mongolia

This desert is in the south of Mongolia and crosses into northern China. The temperatures here stay low throughout the year, though there can be anomalies. You will find more rocks here than sand, so it is different from other deserts of the world. Some mountains here are green with the presence of streams and allow raising livestock. Such areas have some human population and you will find them taking their animals for grazing when it’s not too hot. The higher spots will also allow you good views all around you. The nomads will offer you accommodation and meals, which can be arranged for you, apart from camel rides. There are even some very old monasteries here for those interested in the history of the region.

The Sahara Desert in Morocco

One of the largest deserts in the world, it passes through a number of North African countries. Morocco is recommended for a tour of it, as it is known to offer good accommodation and doesn’t have the political troubles of its neighbors. To get to some prime destinations in the desert, helicopter rides are on offer, which will allow you to see a large part of the desert from a good height unless you prefer to walk up a tall sand dune for this. There are some desert camps that you can drive to and here you will find others with common interests. You can even get an opportunity to ride camels here. The people of this region have lived in the desert for millenniums and they know the best spots, so do not hesitate to seek their assistance.

The Arabian Desert in Dubai, UAE

Dubai is known for its tall skyscrapers and the opportunity to shop for luxury items. However, there is another side to this cosmopolitan city and it is the desert surrounding it. There are desert safaris offering rides through all times of the day and you can even book them for your overnight stay in the desert. You can even enjoy a barbecue dinner in the middle of the desert with some live performances. You can even book space for yourself on hot air balloons, if this is something you have wanted to do all your life. Some of you can even take your memories of your holding a trained falcon in your hand with photographs. You can ride quad bikes through the desert with a guide and watch groups of camels pass by.

Wadi Rum in Jordan

This desert has a valley known as the Valley of the Moon in the middle of it. Tourism here is organized by the Bedouin tribe that has occupied the desert here for centuries. Here you will find the tallest mountains in the country allowing you rock climbing options. The mountain valley itself is the main attraction, though you can get involved in all the activities that a desert will offer anywhere in the world. You will get to try a very different cuisine and understand a very different culture if you will be staying overnight in the camps. Part of the money you spend will be used to keep this area in prime condition. Here, you will even be able to see pre-historic sites with inscriptions that are as old as civilization in this part of the world.

Conclusion

Deserts are not known to have much population, so these will be a place to explore for most. This world has become smaller with flights, so you will not have any difficulty in reaching a city close to them. You will find people who will be able to assist you and here we have suggested the most traveled deserts in the world by tourists.