Europe & Beyond

Visit the Sahara Desert in Tunisia

Behind the sanctity of the glittering beaches and bustling cities along Tunisia’s coastline lies one of the great feats of nature, into which a large number of holiday-makers have yet to travel. The Sahara desert is the world’s largest and most stunning non-arctic desert, covering over nine million square kilometres of Africa and has sand dunes which tower up to six hundred feet high. Tunisia’s tour operators offer desert safaris for those who want to explore this magnificent realm on their Tunisia holidays either by jeep to cover wide expanses out of the glare of the sun, or by camel for an authentic and first-hand experience.

Desert Safari in Tunisia

Whether in a cosy air-conditioned jeep or aloft on the back of a camel, safari-goers can watch the sand dunes disappear into the horizon in every direction. Contrary to many expectations, the Sahara offers many awe-inspiring sights other than sand dunes; radiant pink salt lakes, cascading gorges, spectacular oases and even sites used for famous movies such as Star Wars and The English Patient can be found within the Tunisian desert.

Near Tozeur, the safari heads past the desolate Atlas Mountains, then through the Gorges of Selja, whose rocky sides plunge almost vertically down to the narrow valley through which the safari passes. Nearby, the Chott El Jerid salt lake shimmers in red and pink shades in the sun, which is a breath-taking view for any traveller and can create the most striking mirages. Take a trip from the resorts of the Carthage Coast, Hammamet, Sousse or Port el Kantaoui to visit the sites which featured in two Star Wars movies which have remained the same since the time they were filmed. The Ksar Haddada citadel is fortified into a sheer rock side and featured in Star Wars Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, and the Troglodyte Village of Matmata featured in Star Wars Episode IV, which is a village built into the rock for inhabitants to escape from the sun within man-made cave dwellings.

The Tunisian Sahara is also home to a great number of structures still standing from many ancient and other historical empires, as this country has witnessed the passage of the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Vandals, Turks, Spanish and French over a period of three thousand  years. In the desert near the town of El Djem, drive through a sea of olive trees to visit one of the best conserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. Journey to the holy city of Kairouan, for a panoramic view of the Grand Mosque of Kairouan, whose interior is adorned with marbled columns and large gold chandeliers.

You can find tour operators in the major tourist destinations in Tunisia, such as the resorts of Hammamet, Hammamet Yasmine, Port el Kantaoui, Sousse and Skanes which operate throughout most of these sights. These affordable trips come in one to four day packages and can include a combination of jeeps, camels and trains for a more complete desert experience and to see the most in the relatively short time you’ll have to explore this fantastic expanse. To get the most out of what the desert safaris have to offer, take advantage of great savings on your holiday to Tunisia with http://www.lowcostholidays.com

Sightseeing excursions from Abu Dhabi city

Abu Dhabi is known not only for its luxurious hotels – see the newly opend Yas Hotel, retail therapy and city sights, but also for its desert and mountain landscapes, interesting oasis cities and its wide range of unusual adventure activities. You can pick up car rental in Abu Dhabi to go off sightseeing independently, or join a tour group for organised excursions from the city.

Go sand skiing in the Liwa Oasis

The lush Liwa Oasis is too far from Abu Dhabi city to visit on a day trip as the journey takes about five hours, so you’d need an overnight stay if you plan to go sand skiing whilst visiting Abu. It’s well worth the effort, though, with camel markets, date palm plantations, freshwater pools, rugged landscapes and mountain peaks.

Sand Skiing Video

It’s also a great base from which to take desert excursions. Boasting the biggest sand dunes in the world, the Liwa Oasis is a sand skier’s dream. You can join an organised tour and they’ll provide some tuition and your sand board, so you can enjoy an exhilarating ride down the red-tinted dunes.

Embark on a desert safari adventure

Abu Dhabi is a great base from which to enjoy desert adventure activities. Most desert tours pack in a variety of activities such as camel riding; sand surfing or skiing; a trip to a camel farm; 4×4 dune buggying; and ‘wadi bashing’ — a bone-shaking romp along dry, twisting riverbeds in a four wheel drive. If you’re lucky you may glimpse animals such as gazelle (a type of goat), or local tribes, during your excursion, and the day’s activities are usually followed by supper under the stars.

Your hotel can usually arrange such trips for you, or you can book through one of the city’s travel agencies. The best time to go is between April and October, avoiding the intense heat of the summer months.

Relax on a Corniche Cruise

For a very local excursion, you can sail along the Abu Dhabi Corniche in a locally-designed dhow (boat), which you will spot anchored along the breakwater.

This gives you a chance to see the skyline from the water, with cruises to suit everyone’s pocket, ranging from brief trips on fairly basic vessels to cruises lasting several hours on luxury liners with a seafood supper included.

Experience Al Ain, an authentic Arab oasis city

Rising out of Abu Dhabi’s desert sands is the oasis city of Al Ain, a settlement which dates back to the 4th millennium BC and is home to Jebel Hafeet, the UAE’s highest mountain. It takes about 90 minutes to get there from Abu Dhabi city, and it is the closest you’ll find to an authentic Arab city in this region. It’s a pleasant destination in the mild winter months, when it’s not too hot to explore ancient archaeological sites, but it’s also a great escape from coastal humidity during the summer.

Al Ain has plenty of attractions to keep you busy, including historic forts, Al Ain Museum, and the palace museum of Sheikh Zayed. One of its most fascinating sights, however, is the busy camel market on the outskirts of town, teeming with a variety of camels from Sudan, Pakistan and Abu Dhabi, all vying for buyers’ attention.