From soaring sand mountains to misty coastal dunes and polar ice sheets, the most beautiful deserts in the world are a diverse lot. Whether you’d rather seek out Earth’s tallest sand dunes in Namibia or enjoy some stellar stargazing in Chile’s Atacama, there’s a quiet beauty found in every harsh environment. But with 33 major desert areas in the world, the question is, where to begin? Read on for our roundup of the best of the bunch…
1. Sud Lipez, Bolivia
2. Hoggar Mountains, Algeria
3. Simpson Desert, Australia
4. Lencois Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
5. Antarctica
6. Thar Desert, India and Pakistan
7. Namib Desert, Namibia
8. Sahara Desert, northern Africa
9. Atacama Desert, Chile
10. White Desert, Egypt
11. Mojave Desert, USA
12. Gobi Desert, Mongolia and China
1
Sud Lipez, Bolivia
Kicking off our list of the most beautiful deserts in the world is the high-altitude haven of Sud Lipez, tucked in Bolivia’s southwestern corner between Chile and Argentina. Rich in colour, it’s home to sun-scorched, copper-hued volcanoes, vivid turquoise lagoons and salt flats. Sud Lipez’s cold, arid climate gives it a cold desert classification, and hosts a variety of fascinating wildlife, including flamingos, vicunas and Andean condors.
Insider tip: Combine a visit to stunning Sud Lipez with a trip to the world’s largest salt flats, Salar de Uyuni, one of the most astounding terrains on the planet.
Image by Evgeny / stock.adobe.com
2
Hoggar Mountains, Algeria
Located in the central Sahara in southern Algeria, the Hoggar Mountains are a dramatic desertscape comprised of steep peaks and soaring craggy cliffs. Formed as a result of volcanic activity billions of years ago, today, the mountains hold spiritual significance to the resident Tuareg people. It’s awe-inspiring not just for its size; wild, raw and extreme natural beauty is abundant throughout this harsh region. At sunset, marvel as the folds of the mountains bathe in coral and blood orange hues.
Insider tip: Keen hikers can enjoy the challenging climb up to the Assekrem Plateau for panoramic views of the jagged peaks and undulating desert as far as the eye can see.
Image by Natalia / stock.adobe.com
3
Simpson Desert, Australia
Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world, with around 18% of its mainland considered desert. Located on the border of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland, Simpson Desert is the loveliest of the lot. With a terrain of rolling red ochre sand dunes, craggy bluffs and rare pine trees, Simpson boasts a sun-baked beauty that’s a favourite for off-road driving enthusiasts. Home to the longest parallel sand dunes in the world – some stretch to almost 125 miles long – Simpson is undoubtedly one of the greatest deserts in the world.
Insider tip: Don’t miss Rainbow Valley near Alice Springs, a distinctive sandstone bluff comprised of bands of coloured rock and a sacred Aboriginal site.
Image by Ralph McConaghy / 500px / Getty Images
4
Lencois Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
While not strictly a desert (these sand dunes receive significant annual rainfall), the surreal emerald-blue lagoon-rippled dunes of Lencois Maranhenses deserve a spot on our list. Tucked on Brazil’s northeastern Atlantic coast, this UNESCO-recognised national park boasts a rolling landscape of tall white dunes, peppered with lagoons (some seasonal, others permanent) as far as the eye can see. Hike through the dunes, embark on a 4x4 tour, look out for diverse wildlife and swim in the enticing waters.
Insider tip: Visit after the rainy season, between May and September, to see the lagoons at their fullest (and most beautiful).
Image by dione film / unsplash
5
Antarctica
Who said deserts had to be hot? Thanks to its extremely low annual precipitation levels, Antarctica is classified as a polar desert – in fact, it’s the largest desert in the world, covering an impressive 5,500,000 square miles. This lunar landscape is quite unlike anywhere else on Earth, from its towering whipped meringue peaks and sprawling snowy ice sheets to its rich marine life. Despite its icy appearance, there’s no denying that Antarctica is one of the most beautiful deserts in the world.
Insider tip: In the Southern Hemisphere’s summer months (November to March), the sea ice melts, and Antarctica’s cruise season begins. Glide past mammoth icebergs on a kayak, snowshoe across land, spot breaching whales and admire waddling penguins – there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
Image by Daria Nikitina
6
Thar Desert, India and Pakistan
Also known as the Great Indian Desert, the Thar is the most densely populated desert in the world, spanning across northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. With an undulating surface comprised of large sand dunes, salt flats, rocky outcrops and sandy plains, you can expect some seriously epic sunsets here. Discover Thar’s golden, ever-shifting dunes on camel (or jeep) safaris, camp out under the stars, or bash your way across the dunes.
Insider tip: Visit Jaisalmer, a city in the heart of the Thar, around February for the Jaisalmer Desert Festival, a vivid celebration of Rajasthani culture.
Image by Ami Vitale / PANOS REA
7
Namib Desert, Namibia
Sand meets the sea in the Namib Desert, an endlessly moving mass of sand stretching more than 1,200 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. It’s at least 55 million years old, making it the oldest desert in the world. And its accolades don’t stop there – the Namib boasts some of the tallest sand dunes on Earth, some towering over 1,000ft high and 20 miles long. From the eerie beauty of the shipwreck-speckled Skeleton Coast to the chiselled red dunes and sun-scorched trees of Sossusvlei, the Namib’s beauty is the stuff of legends. The only source of humidity here comes from a coastal fog that transforms the arid desert into a habitat for diverse flora and fauna (including desert-dwelling elephants).
Insider tip: For comfortable temperatures, we recommend visiting the Namib Desert during the dry season between May and October.
Image by Joachim Wendler / Fotolia
8
Sahara Desert, northern Africa
Sprawling across 11 countries in northern Africa, the Sahara is the largest (and the most famous) hot desert in the world. At over three-and-a-half million square miles, it’s a vast and varied terrain filled with dusty mountains, expansive plains, plateaus and legendary dune fields that peak and trough against the horizon. Fringed by the Atlantic, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, the Sahara is one of the best deserts in the world for outdoor adventures, including camel treks, quad biking and stargazing.
Insider tip: There’s no shortage of cultural sites in this desert, but one of our favourites is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. This historic ksar (fortified village) is a beautiful example of traditional Moroccan architecture in Morocco’s sliver of the Sahara.
Image by Peter Maszlen / stock.adobe.com
9
Atacama Desert, Chile
The Atacama Desert – the driest non-polar place on Earth – is primarily located in northern Chile, with its edges spilling over into Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. Arid, silent and harsh, the Atacama boasts Mars-like scenery comprised of salt pans, geysers, thermal springs and rocky terrain. A highlight is the aptly-named Valley of the Moon, a mystical slice of desert famous for its sculpted rust-red rock ridges, dunes and salt flats. It won’t take long to be convinced of the Atacama’s magical character…
Insider tip: The Atacama Desert is one of the best stargazing spots in the world, enjoying crystal-clear visibility thanks to its low humidity, high altitudes and lack of light pollution.
Image by demarfa / Fotolia
10
White Desert, Egypt
Spires of carved, chalk white rock jut into the sky throughout Egypt’s White Desert, one of the most beautiful deserts in the world. Akin to a natural open-air exhibition, this otherworldly landscape looks like it's been dusted with snow; found in the Sahara’s Farafra depression, it makes a stunning contrast with the rest of the sun-baked Sahara. Visit at sunrise or sunset to see the sculpted spires, white rock formations and sugary sands illuminated in magnificent pink-orange hues.
Insider tip: Don’t miss Crystal Mountain (Crystal Rock), a glistening quartz rock arch which is the desert’s most iconic rock formation.
Image by Sameh Wassef / Getty Images
11
Mojave Desert, USA
Although it may be the USA’s smallest desert (spanning over 25,000 square miles), the Mojave is arguably its most beautiful. From the spiky silhouettes and rocky outcrops of Joshua Tree National Park to Death Valley’s painted hills, salt flats and spring blooms – the mighty Mojave is full of diversity. Straddling California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah, this is also one of the best spots for stargazing in the USA. Need we say more?
Insider tip: During the summer, the Mojave Desert has some of the hottest temperatures on Earth, so we’d recommend visiting in spring (February to April) or autumn (October to November) instead.
Image by Mariia Siurtukova
12
Gobi Desert, Mongolia and China
Last up on our list of the most beautiful deserts in the world is found around 3,300ft above sea level. The Gobi Desert is a mammoth region (and Asia’s largest desert) comprised of extensive steppes, mountains and dramatic dunes. Despite its harsh, cold desert climate, the Gobi is home to diverse wildlife, including wild Bactrian camels, snow leopards and critically endangered Gobi bears. Visitors can embark on camel rides across the shifting sand dunes, discover fascinating nomadic cultures and hike through beautiful, rugged landscapes like the Yolyn Am ice field.
Insider tip: Don’t miss Bayanzag (the Flaming Cliffs), an important geological site for dinosaur fossils that glows red at sunrise and sunset.
Image by Timothy Allen / Getty Images
Written by Hannah Whitehall | Header image is by photoange777 / Fotolia
