Most beautiful places?
 

I'd like to make a trip in the Sahara, but it's so huge (and life is so short!) that I don't intend to go everywhere in the Sahara (other parts of the world are also worth the trip so I don't want to travel in the desert all my life). So I need an advice from people who love the desert, who know very well different parts of the Sahara (or even other deserts in the world) and who can tell me about the places which are the most beautiful, the most representative, the most significant, the most worth visiting, the places not to be missed in the Sahara (or in another desert, in Namibia, or other countries like Oman, EAU, Yemen or Saudi Arabia for exemple). Many many thanks!

Dear Anne
What an exciting question! I'm bubbling with ideas, probably too many!
Start with Algeria and the Hoggar region, all centred around Tamanrasset.
Go north a few days for Ideles, Assekrem (in the mountains), and the little oasis of Djanet. Climb the Tassili n'Ajjer at Djanet (takes all day, get fit first!) and look at the best rock art in the Sahara.
Then go south a few days to Tagrera, In-Akachakir, Tikoubaouine and other amazing rock formations in the desert, all surrounded by shifting dunes.
My last trip to the Targrera region took 10 days and covered 700 miles (without fuel stops). For pictures check out my website, (www.kitmax.com and go to: photo-gallery 3, 'Deserts and Travel')
If you're interested, call back and I shall give you the name of my Toureg guide. (A guide in these parts is essential).
You can fly to Tamanrasset, hire a 4x4 car and guide, finish at Djanet and fly home. Poorer, perhaps, but richer in spirit and wiser by far!
Good luck - Kitmax http://www.kitmax.com

[This message has been edited by kitmax (edited 01 October 2001).]

For Namibia - my all-time desert favorite - check out our pages on Namibia. and an incomplete photo album with Namibia pages

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: Horizons Unlimited - THE Motorcycle Travel site

For stunning huge dunes, you want to try the Empty Quarter in the United Arab Emirates. You can get to the top of a large (100m+ in height) range of dunes and all you can see as far as the eye can see is more and more dunes. The experience of driving down a 100 metre slip face is hard to beat!

The Hajar Mountains in Oman are a fantastic place to visit, particularly Jebel Shams near to Nizwa and Bahla. The Omani Grand Canyon is hugely impressive.

For peace and quiet, you would be pushed to beat Meda'in Salah in Saudi Arabia. I haven't had the chance to see it myself (yet), but friends who have been there have said that it is as spectacular as Petra but without the hoards of tourists and peddlars trying to part you from your cash. They were the only people in the whole place when they visited!

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Jon Harbour

Middle East Off-Roader
http://www.mid-east-off-road.com

In terms of sheer natural beauty, in my opinion nothing beats the Tassili-n-Ajjer plateau in S.Algeria.

Anne

I suggest the Tadrart and the Akakus in Libya - its one of THE best places I've seen for very unique and exceptional rock art, both engravings and paintings - give yourself PLENTY of time for exploring these wonderful regions - not a lot is known about the Libyan creative expression in the SW, and not a lot of people appear that interested, or really care much about it, but believe me, you won't be disappointed!!

Incidently, I'm returning there later this month....I'll keep the forum posted

Happy hunting! Renate

I found the Wadi Awis a very special place in the Jebel Akakus, Libya. There is a convenient Italian camp known by all the guides. Its set in a natural horse shoe of rock and has a restaurant!! (of sorts) The night I stayed there was a full moon and to gaze out over the surrounding desert was truly memorable. Camping out rough in the Sand Sea takes a lot of beating too. Go once and you'll have to go again. Its a drug.
Good luck, Toby