Deserts are remarkable places. Invoking images of nomads and sand dunes, cowboy’s and tumbleweeds, Indian’s and pueblos, even the gilt and glitter of “Sin City”, these amazing regions offer some unforgettable experiences for the traveler. Deserts cov...
Tour Host Review
The Garden
The Garden, all 83 acres of it, is not only a place of intense beauty but a living museum. Created only a little more than half a century ago from raw land and a dream, it explores, explains, and conserves tropical plants. Among its wonders? A world center for palm studies with over 700 species of palms; cycads dating back to the age of dinosaurs and representing each...
Stepping out of the aircraft door in Mali feels like walking into a warm, damp blanket. Immediately you know you are somewhere different, exciting and palpably African. Even the stroll across worn blacktop to the airport terminal assaults the senses, with the sounds of cicadas in the background and a gang of baggage handlers push-starting the baggage truck.
In China’s most western province, the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in central Asia, is a desert known as "if you go in, you won't come out” or "Desert of Death" or "Place of no return", the Taklamakan Desert.
The Taklamakan is roughly 90,000 sqare miles in size and is dominated by the Tarim Basin,...
The history, beauty, and civilization of Israel make it one of the most fascinating countries of the world for cultural experience. The religious zeal and cultural fervour with which the deserts, oases, and forested hills of Israel have been contested have enriched the tapestry, attracting scholars and travellers for centuries.
Since earliest childhood, I have been fascinated by stories of the ancient European traders, and most notably, my countryman, Marco Polo, who followed the Silk Road to Asia, seeking profit and adventure. It had always been my dream to follow in their footsteps. Finally, after years of studying and dreaming, I decided to make my dream a reality, and travel to the Taklamakan Desert
In November 2003, I finally escaped Southern California, packed up my “priceless” possessions, including Sam and Alex, my black and white female cats and moved to Santa Fe. As much as I love all the charming little shops around the Plaza, and great downtown-area places to eat authentic New Mexican comidas such as Josephina’s (enchiladas and soipapillas to...
For off-road and desert enthusiasts, the Canning Stock Route in outback Western Australia is the ultimate challenge. Known as “The Loneliest 4WD track in the world”, this 100 year-old cattle route stretches for more than 2,000 kms and traverses four different deserts - the Gibson, Tanami, Little Sandy and Great Sandy Desert.
As a nation, with a lot of European stock, America has always found it comfortable to look across the Atlantic for its influence, but with the demographic shift, Internet age, mass travel and other exposure to larger portions of the world, I would hope the curious would be venturing past the...
The United Nations launched its International Year of Deserts and Desertification to raise global public awareness of the advancing deserts, of ways to safeguard the biological diversity of arid lands covering one-third of the planet and protecting the knowledge and traditions of the 2 billion people affected by the...
“Dumela Ma (Greetings Madam), How far are you driving today?” I’d just reached the Martin’s Drift Border crossing between South Africa and Botswana and the custom official’s question was more out of empathy for how far I still needed to travel in the oppressive heat than out of legal necessity. It was breakfast time and already the mercury...
The Kalahari is a vast semi-desert that covers more than three-quarters of the whole land area of Botswana. It is a great wilderness where the intrepid traveller can find isolation and marvel at pristine Africa. It covers a vast area including the dazzling white saltpans under the baobab trees and savannah where the game is plentiful. The original San inhabitants, some of...
Tucked away in southwestern Wyoming, the Red Desert remains one of the last high-desert ecosystems in North America. Long before the West was settled, the region played a significant role in the lives of native peoples, including the Shoshone and Ute tribes, and its unique features helped guide pioneers on their way to Oregon, California and Washington.
Although this month’s theme is “Great Deserts” – and indeed I was torn between lemon meringue and sticky toffee pudding – you will understand that in Ireland, we have a slight problem in meeting the one fairly unavoidable characteristic of your average desert: near zero rainfall.
Comparing Aghagallon to the Atacama and Kilkenny to...
In Wind, Sand and Stars Antoine de Saint-Exupery, pioneering aviator and author of The Little Prince, writes: ‘Man discovers himself when he measures himself against the obstacle.’
The desert, and in particular the vast expanse of the Sahara in North Africa, is one of the great obstacles that, like its polar antitheses, has transfixed...
We were apprehensive about flying aboard a Russian AN-24, and that it would have to land on a rough runway of a remote airport in Mongolia's Gobi Desert. Flying on these planes is a bit of an adventure, at least for those of us used to comfort.
Just before we took off from Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, our co-pilot threw a sheep’s carcass in the space between...
You are given the assignment of finding a perfect river trip in a desert wilderness and want to cool down by rafting or kayaking beginner-intermediate white water. This trip would need to meet the ideal expectations of most persons. This trip would offer an breath taking river flowing through the desert, wilderness, canyon explorations and adventure to meet the desires of individuals, families,...
Since earliest childhood, I have been fascinated by stories of the ancient European traders, and most notably, my countryman, Marco Polo, who followed the Silk Road to Asia, seeking profit and adventure. It had always been my dream to follow in their footsteps. Finally, after years of studying and dreaming, I decided to make my dream a reality, and travel to the Taklamakan Desert