Sahara Desert Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

The Sahara Desert is in North Africa. It spans a mighty 9,200,000 square kms across 10 countries, including Morocco, Egypt, Mali and Libya.

It's the world's largest hot desert and third-largest after Antarctica and the Arctic.

As a desert region, the Sahara can experience extreme weather. Winter (December to February) can be very cold, with overnight temperatures dropping to 5°C or lower.

You'll need a sleeping bag, thermals, a scarf, gloves and a warm jacket for travel in winter.

Oh, and be prepared for cold showers at your desert camp!

Summer (June to September) can be very hot with intense temperatures that can reach the high 40°Cs. This might be too uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. It's super important to use sun protection and stay hydrated. That said, the desert can still get pretty chilly at night when the sun goes down, so you'll need a fleece to rug up.

Spring (March to May) sees the arrival of strong winds and there is an increased risk of sandstorms in April – but don't worry, your leader will always check the forecast beforehand to see if it's safe to stay in the desert.

The best time to visit the Sahara Desert is during the spring months between March to May, as well as the autumn months of October and November. During these times, the desert temperatures are hot but manageable and the nights don't get quite as cold. However, one thing to note is that between January to May there is usually a higher number of sandstorms recorded, especially in April.

What to pack will differ slightly depending on the time of year and the activities you'll be doing. But below are the basics you'll need:

• Light scarf or face mask can be handy for preventing you from inhaling desert dust
• Sun hat – wide-brimmed, ideally, to protect your face and head from the sun's rays and strong winds
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen – when you're in the desert, it goes without saying!
• Small daypack for day trips and excursions
• Light, loose-fitting pants
• Joggers or jeans for camel rides
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Fleece – for all seasons
• Warm layers (for winter trips) – you'll need thermals, gloves, a woolly hat and a fleece to rug up as the temperatures can drop to below freezing at night
• Small head torch – handy for going to the bathroom at night
• Thongs (flip flops) for camp
• Hiking shoes or runners
• Camera

The Sahara Desert is one of the fiercest environments for animal life.

A wide range of mammals live in the Sahara, from cheetahs, dromedary camels, desert foxes, gazelles, ostrich, and hyrax to African wild dogs.

Reptile life includes the desert crocodile, sand viper and the desert monitor.

Other common species include the deathstalker scorpion, the Saharan silver ant, and over 90 species of birds.

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.