DESTINATIONS DESERTS ACTIVE & ADVENTURE
BEST OF THE REST
Falconry in Dubai: If Only recommends Bedouin-style
camp Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, for activities ranging from falconry and
archery to horse riding, all in the heart of the dunes.
Kalahari,
Botswana: Lions, cheetahs and leopards roam the 20,000
square miles of savannah that
make up the dusty Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and safaris take clients out to see the best of them.
Huacachina,
Peru: This ‘oasis in the desert’
has gained clout among thrill- seekers, with dune buggying, sandboarding and swimming in a mirror-flat lagoon among its most popular activities.
Bardenas Reales Natural Park, Spain: The park provides one of Europe’s few desert settings, with dramatic
canyons flanking sandstone, clay and chalk formations, spread across 28 miles.
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travelweekly.co.uk 17 May 2018
by John Ford’s westerns and several other iconic movies. Grand American Adventures
features a visit here on several itineraries, taking clients on a 4x4 drive and Navajo cultural experience. They’ll head out to see sacred sites and ancient rock art on a bumpy, jump- off-your-seat adventure through the remote, rainbow-coloured wilderness with a local guide, before enjoying a traditional meal with music and dancing under a star-covered sky. Just as impressive is Moab, where the operator’s Grand Canyon In-Depth tour carries on to afterwards. Set in the heart of the Wild West, it’s a far-out, secluded town surrounded by yet-more-impressive sandstone formations, which guests get to explore on a second 4x4 ride as they
pass famous sites such as Elephant Hill, and ancient petroglyphs that give a glimpse into the American Wild West of yesteryear. Book it: Grand American Adventures’ six-day Grand Canyon In-Depth tour starts at £2,124, excluding flights.
grandamericanadventures.com
8
SANDBOARD IN THE DUNES, ABU DHABI Soaring down sand dunes, breeze in the face, feet
strapped into what’s essentially a snowboard, has to be up there with some of the most exhilarating experiences you can try, and from Peru to Perth, you’ll find it in just about every desert you stumble across. But for those wanting to combine it with the allure of Arabia, Celebrity
Cruises has the answer: an Enchanted Desert shore excursion in Abu Dhabi. One of the line’s signature Ben Fogle
Great Adventures – designed by the explorer who crossed the Antarctic on foot – it gives adventurous types the chance to whizz down the softly sloping dunes while taking in the scenery, before indulging in an Arabian feast under the stars: think grilled meats and traditional dishes served with a side of shisha and an unforgettable backdrop. Book it: The Abu Dhabi Enchanted Desert experience starts at £286 and is available on regional itineraries including the 14-night Arabian Sea & India Cruise, which starts at £2,519 per person including flights, transfers, drinks and $300 onboard credit (round-trip from Abu Dhabi).
cruisingpower.com
ABOVE LEFT: Navajo cultural experience
ABOVE RIGHT: Sandboarding in the UAE
LEFT: Death Valley, US
PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK; G ADVENTURES; MARK LIPCZYNSKI; ANDREW HALSALL; OANA DRAGAN; INTREPID TRAVEL; GRAND AMERICAN ADVENTURES
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