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What comes to mind when you think of a desert? Is it ripples, ridges and vast swathes of sand for as far as the eyes can see? Or is it the scorching sun blazing through the day? Or is it the intimidating presence of an unknown terrain?
While all of these descriptions fit deserts, they only scratch the surface. Once you get over the extremes, you will find that all the deserts in the world are distinctly different and fascinating in their own ways.
A desert safari might not be the first thing on your travel bucket list, but the desert is one of the most fascinating places to visit. They are free of pollution and crowds, offer nature at its best and its extreme conditions can reinvigorate the body and soul.
Do I see your wanderlust kicking in? Don’t worry. We have compiled a list of 10 must-see desert destinations in the world. Take your pick and pack your bags. This might well turn out to be the best holiday destination you have experienced yet.
This is the smallest among the great deserts of the world. But it packs a punch. Believed to be the oldest desert, the Namib Desert is perhaps the most majestic and unique of them all. It is located in South-West Africa and runs through South Africa, Angola, and Namibia.
Apart from the usual desert experience, this coastal desert offers a lot of insight and mystery. It is home to the skeleton coast, formed by the ruins of a thousand ships that were shipwrecked because of fog.
Fur seals thrive here. Other animals that live here are the darkling beetles and the desert elephants. They have found ways to live without water for days. You cannot leave without visiting the Namib-Naukluft National Park. This park is among the largest in the world. Here you will find skeleton Deadvlei trees, red dunes, and the Sesriem Canyon.
Getting there: You can either get to the capital Windhoek or the closest airport Walvis Bay. From there, you will need your own 4×4 car to drive to the desert. Keep the vehicle to take you around on your tour comfortably.
The Atacama Desert has the distinction of being the driest place on Earth. Located on the west of the Andes, it runs through Peru and Chile. Some weather stations in Atacama have no record of having received any rainfall. Yet, the region is home to over a million people.
Its biggest attractions are the geological structures and plateaus that offer great value, beautiful night-time skies with clear visibility, and the flora and fauna that have shown remarkable tenacity to adapt to the unforgiving climate. Although a desert plateau, you will find that the Atacama can be quite pleasant, mainly because of the fog cover that persists from its proximity to the coast.
Getting there: Several flights operate from Chile’s capital city Santiago to Calama. The Atacama Desert is an hour’s drive from here.
The largest hot desert and third-largest desert in the world, the Sahara Desert is probably the most well-known desert globally. Most people identify the Sahara with its golden dunes. However, the sand constitutes only a fraction of the desert. Most of it is made up of plateaus, small grasslands, and barren lands, or hamada. The Sahara Desert stretches almost across North Africa, sweeping through Algeria, Niger, Chad, Mali, Morocco, Libya, and Tunisia. Considering its size and topography, the features of the Sahara Desert vary by region, giving you diverse experiences across the different destinations.
The Sahara is home to animals like deer, onyx, gazelle, hyenas, foxes, and baboons.
Getting there: There are three commonly used starting points to visit the Sahara Desert. Most tourists use a car, bus, or helicopter from Marrakech to get in. Fes and Casablanca are the other entry points.
Check out the list of flights to Marrakech to get to the Sahara desert.
Found in China and parts of Mongolia, the Gobi Desert is Asia’s largest desert. It is marked by extreme temperatures that go as high as 50 degrees Celsius and drop all the way down to sub-zero temperatures in winter. You will find landforms like mountains, plateaus, basins, valleys, and steppes within this desert.
The special draws for tourists include fossils, animals like the Gobi brown bear, Siberian Ibex, and Bactrian camel. If you’re lucky, you may even manage to spot a dinosaur egg. Hikes and camel rides are some other things that make this desert part of the bucket list destinations for teens.
Getting there: Most travellers begin their journey into the Gobi Desert from Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. The nearest international airport is under 20 kilometres from here.
Here’s news for you. The largest desert on this planet doesn’t have sand. And it is not hot. The Antarctic Desert receives under 7 inches of rainfall every year. In this pristine white desert, you are likely to find one large mass of ice, which is mainly what this desert is all about.
Although little grows here apart from algae and moss, you are quite likely to find some interesting wildlife like the albatross, seal, sea lion, penguin, petrels, and leopard seal. Do keep in mind that you will be starved for company. The only people visiting the Antarctic desert are tourists or researchers.
Getting there: You can sail to the Antarctic Desert from South America. This journey takes about 48 hours. Alternatively, you can fly down in about 2 hours.
The great Indian desert is the perfect pick if you want to experience the magnificence of a desert holiday locally. The Thar Desert is mostly about sand dunes and has some jagged rocks and salt bottoms. It receives little rainfall and you will find hot, dry weather throughout most of the year.
Major attractions of this desert include the blackbuck and the blue bull. However, the vibrant culture of Rajasthan is a big reason why people continue to throng this desert destination. The Thar experience is among the most premium luxury desert tours in the world.
Getting there: The nearest airport is Jodhpur. If you are travelling by train, you can reach Jaisalmer and then use a bus or taxi service to reach the Thar Desert.
If you want to experience the highs and lows of desert living, this is the place. Mojave is known as the High Desert since it has elevations exceeding 2,000 feet. At the same time, it also plunges way below the sea level in the Death Valley. This desert has evolved to contain reserves, parks, recreation areas, and lakes within it, making it among the most sought-after desert destinations in America and the world.
Getting there: Las Vegas is the closest airport to Mojave. The drive thereon will take a little over an hour and a half.
The largest desert in Australia, the Great Victoria Desert, is also known for its delineation as an ecoregion by WWF. Many of the parks within it, therefore, are restricted. The harsh climate offers an abundance of wildlife. Several endangered species like the Sandhill Dunnart can be found here. Monitor lizards and dingoes are other predators common to the area. It is also home to several indigenous groups such as Anangu, Mirning, and Kogarah. Visit this desert for a mix of Australian wonder, wildlife, and adventure.
Getting there: You can access the Great Victoria Desert from any of the major cities, including Sydney and Melbourne. You will need to fly down or travel to Ayer’s Rock and take the road thereon.
It’s unfair to talk about deserts and not talk about the Middle East. Moving through parts of Yemen, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, the Rub’Al Khaliis pure desert fantasy. Almost nothing thrives here, and the sand dunes offer a wonderful desert safari tour for those who have the temper for it. Translated as the Empty Quarter, this tourist spot is far from empty in terms of the holiday experience. It is among the best desert safari luxury tours you can imagine.
Getting there: You can fly to Muscat and then reach Salalah by road or air, or you can fly directly to Salalah to get to the desert more easily.
The world’s second-largest desert is also a cold desert. Encompassing regions in Russia, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, the Arctic desert has either perennial days or nights during most parts of the year. The Arctic desert has lost a significant part of its character owing to global warming and the subsequent melting of snow. But it is still a wonderful place to enjoy nature and adventure. You can find polar bears, caribou, moose, arctic foxes, hares, muskox, and snow owls. A rare find is the beluga whales that come in search of warmer waters. You can revel in fishing, skiing, kayaking, hiking, and ATV adventure.
Getting there: You can travel into this desert using any of the countries mentioned above as a gateway. You may need a boat, bus, or car to take you closer.
Every continent has a desert unique to its topography, climate, and culture. They offer a travel experience that has the potential to change your life forever. Make the change worth the while by ensuring you have the best itinerary, discounts, and deals lined up with Cleartrip.
The Antarctic Desert is the largest desert in the world, spanning 14 million square kilometres.
The Sahara Desert is considered the hottest desert in the world.
Some of the most beautiful deserts in the world are found in Africa including the Kalahari Desert, Chalbi Desert, Guban Desert, Namib Desert, Karoo Desert, Sahara Desert, and the Danakil Desert.
Yes. The Arctic Desert goes through bits of Russia and Scandinavia in Europe. You can plan your visit here.
Desert tours are packed with ideas. Since every desert is different, the opportunities for tourists vary. Some may have safaris, hiking, trekking, and nature trails. Others may offer you water sports, kayaking, and skiing.
