A truly famous natural environment on Earth, the Sahara Desert is one of the most popular destinations on the continent of Africa. A must-do escapade if you’re keen to immerse yourself in a wild environment, it’s a magical landscape to trek and explore.
The Sahara Desert’s appeal is understandable for numerous reasons.
We’ve seen it in documentaries on occasion, there are action movies dedicated to it like Sahara, documentaries like The Desert Train, and popular slot games like Sahara Riches: Cash Collect are filled with a number of features associated with the famous desert, from the beautiful white palaces of the Arabian Peninsula to the lush desert sands that are associated with this stunningly beautiful location.
Put simply, it’s entirely understandable why so many holidaymakers want to travel there.
The world’s largest hot desert, the Sahara runs roughly north-south along Morocco’s eastern border through to Algeria. A holiday of a lifetime for millions of people, it’s a location everyone should explore if given the chance to. Let’s assess why below.
At A Glance
Why You Need To Visit The Sahara At Least Once In Your Life
Reconnect With Nature
First and foremost, one of the most attractive features of a Sahara Desert escapade is the ability to be able to get off the grid and reconnect with nature.
Not only can you leave all of your electronic devices behind, but you can immerse yourself in a truly unique landscape and explore an environment that certainly won’t be on offer to you anywhere else in the world.
You’ll have a knowledgeable guide with you, there are camels to ride when your legs tire, you can camp under the stars, discover the range of animals that live there, and essentially reconnect with nature in a way many other destinations simply can’t offer.
A Sunrise And Sunset Like No Other
Whether you’re camping under the stars or trekking early in the morning, you’re likely to be exposed to a glorious sunrise and sunset.
A place for a romantic evening or for an unforgettable extreme adventure, it will help create some truly memorable videos and images, alongside providing you with the perfect peaceful environment to fall asleep in or the most inspiring visual experience as you trek through the hot temperatures.
For people with a passion for the great outdoors and the natural beauty it exudes, the Sahara Desert is a must-visit location.
Try Unique Cuisine
Alongside the ability to reconnect with nature, travellers to the Sahara Desert are able to feast on a serious selection of delights that are usually cooked by Bedouin men.
They’re excellent cooks on the whole, too. With dishes consisting of organic and natural ingredients, while also being cooked the traditional way on an open fire, you’ll be able to demolish food that you definitely won’t have tasted before.
Additionally, you might even be able to witness the local people bake bread. Overall, it’s amazing to see local people cooking such an amazing range of delights in truly testing circumstances.
These cooking methods have been carried out for centuries and provide travellers with a truly unique culinary experience.
Explore Alternative Medicine
While you probably won’t need any medicine during your adventure in the Sahara, you’re likely to be exposed to a number of unique cures while you’re out there. The cure for sickness in this part of the world is fascinating, with the friendly locals sharing their culture in a number of ways, medicine included.
Their remarkable philosophy on life is also on show through the natural remedies they rely on, although some medicines offer a sense of magic and incantations.
It’s amazing to see in person as this fascinating population continues to make the most of natural resources and years of enthralling tradition.
Sahara Region Travel Guide: What To Know
The Sahara is, of course, not your typical tourist destination. And it’s not as if you’re going to simply book a flight to somewhere like Chad or Algeria, and then set off with your backpack.
A trip will take meticulous planning, coordination, and, depending on the type of trip, some training as well. Below we add some details of what you should anticipate and expect:
1. Morocco Is Your Safest Bet For A Sahara Trip
The Sahara is immense, covering a huge expanse of land across North Africa. It’s almost the same size as the United States. But more importantly, it covers a range of diverse countries.
Chad, Algeria, Egypt, Mali, Libya, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, and Morocco are all covered in part by the Sahara. Our recommendation would be to orientate your trip from either Morocco, Tunisia, or Egypt.
They’re the most tourist-friendly countries, both in terms of safety and amenities. There’s a mature industry in facilitating Sahara trips from these 3 countries.
Morocco, in particular, is a wonderful starting point, as you can experience the wonderful Marrakesh as your starting point.
2. Safety In The Sahara Region
We mentioned Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco as potential starting points for your trip, but it should be noted that they’re comparatively safe destinations. Precautions are necessary, including consulting the latest travel guidelines from official sources.
Moreover, it’s worth researching the tour companies for escorted trips to the Sahara. If you’re looking for a day trip from Marrakesh, then you’ll find dozens of companies providing the services.
But for something more adventurous, it’s worth liaising with official operators, particularly those with links to your country of origin. This isn’t something you want to do on the hoof, so take the time to plan before you make any decision.
3. Cost And Miscellaneous Factors
How much will a magical trip to the Sahara cost you? It will depend on the scope of your trip. As mentioned, you can go for day trips from a host city, which will cost you as little as USD 30 for an escorted trip.
It’s also cheap for camping trips of 2 to 3 days, which you can get for around USD 200. More “extreme” adventures can be tailored, and they can cost thousands of dollars.
The point, as such, is that it’s what you make of it. You can go luxury with private helicopter tours, or you can opt for something cheaper and rough-and-ready.
Whatever you decide, remember that planning is key. The Sahara crosses several different borders, and there may be issues around entry, vaccination, and other factors that must be anticipated.
Above all, we’d recommend that you only make bookings through accredited organizations with a proven track record of accompanying tourists through the world’s largest sand desert, even if it costs more than the average.
But if you plan well and have an adventurous spirit, then a trip to the Sahara Desert can be a trip of a lifetime.
