Desert travel 2020/21 | Algeria, Sudan and Namibia

The desert is a spectacular place where extraordinary things happen. It captures our hearts and creates a longing to return that becomes part of our lives. Here, the mineral world dominates — something unfamiliar to us that evokes almost spiritual feelings of immensity, grandeur and solitude…

Desert trips in 2020: welcome to the vast emptiness.

Fresh air, spectacular scenery and the wonderful sense of having no one around for miles. Our vehicle becomes a second home, taking us into remarkable places and letting us stop for unexpected discoveries.

What's the best trip to the desert?

Tadrart in southeastern Algeria, Nubia in northern Sudan and Namibia’s Namib Desert are selected for our Sahara and desert programme for 2020/21.

What is a day in the desert like?

Emptiness may be our travel companion, but only parts of the desert are empty. Elsewhere, we find archaeological remains, oases and shepherds moving with their flocks.

Do the 4×4 vehicles climb the dunes?

Sometimes the terrain is difficult: we must navigate a field of dunes or find traces of an old track towards our destination. At other times, we cross the dunes with our experienced Tuareg drivers. Few can drive through this sea of sand; you must know how to read the dunes.

How are meals prepared in the desert?

At midday, we find shelter from the wind for lunch. The cook prepares everything while we climb dunes, chat or rest in the shade.

Where do you eat? Are there tables and chairs?

In Sudan, we have good camping equipment, including comfortable tables and chairs. Elsewhere, equipment is simpler, with basic stools. In Algeria, we use floor mats and a rug as a table covering.

What's never missing is the kettle warming up next to the fire.

What are the camps like?

We arrive before dark, with time to set up camp and explore. We pitch tents or choose a bivouac spot if we prefer to sleep beneath the stars. Then we enjoy the final daylight hours, wandering our surroundings and watching the sunset.

When do you have dinner on the trip?

At nightfall, we dine by the fire and hear the desert’s countless stories and legends. The cook prepares everything, as at lunch. Afterwards, we often gather around the fire, singing to percussion played on a couple of fuel drums. Desert nights are unforgettable.

Do you walk during the trip?

After breakfast, we pick up our luggage and leave it ready to load in the vehicles. As the team of drivers and cooks disassemble the camp we set out in the company of one of the guides.

Walking in the desert in the morning, a magical moment in which we feel part of our surroundings.

What are our desert trips in 2020?

Algeria trips begin in October, with departures from October 10 through March. Sudan has a special departure on 4 December, while Namibia offers Spanish-guided departures until year-end.

Over time, wind-blown sand gathers beneath Tadrart’s rock formations, shaping places of extraordinary beauty.

Dunes of red sand and an impressive canyon where impossible shapes hide.

Following the Nile from Khartoum, this Sudan route explores Nubia’s most fascinating places. We stay in adapted local homes, camp and use a pre-established camp facing Meroe’s pyramids. These stays introduce us to Nubian customs, which differ greatly from those elsewhere in Sudan.

The area’s archaeology is spectacular and its inhabitants’ hospitality legendary.

Our varied Namibia itinerary explores the central Namib Desert and northern Etosha National Park, with an unmissable visit to the Himba.

Namibia is a country of changing landscapes, contrasting unspoilt nature with cosmopolitan cultures.