Australia: the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Stay within sight of Uluru but away from the hordes, in the heart of Australia’s “red centre”, 440km southwest of Alice Springs. Owned by the Anangu Aboriginal people and managed by Parks Australia, Longitude 131° is an all-inclusive eco-sensitive encampment of 15 five-star tents, with a view of the rock and a deck to watch the sunset from. The “camp” organises guided eco walks through the desert landscape, as well as sunrise visits to Kata Tjuta (aka the Olgas), 50km west, a spectacular collection of 36 red steep-sided dome-like rocks. Book through Wilderness Australia Tailor Made Safaris (+61 2 9231 2113; wildernessaustralia.com.au)
Chile: the Atacama desert
The driest place on earth, the Atacama desert lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Cordillera de los Andes, a barren expanse of salt flats, volcanoes and geysers that feed extraordinary high-altitude wetlands (at 2,500m above sea level, it’s also the second highest desert in the world).
For all its remoteness, it’s not uncivilised. The Explora Hotel de Larache in the oasis of San Pedro is a stunning modern resort hotel, the perfect place to rest between excursions into the desert’s punishing terrain, which can be done on foot (the most demanding walks reach heights of up to 6,000m), on horseback, by bike or in a jeep. Explora Hotel de Larache (+56 2 206 6060; explora.com). Four-night minimum stay from $1,546pp, based on two sharing
Dubai: oases in the desert
The Emirate’s most famous hotels may be high rises in urban locations, but those in search of a classically Arabian experience might prefer to stay outside the city in the desert itself. Set among 225 sq km of pristine desert landscape, Emirates Al Maha is a both a conservation reserve and a resort designed to resemble a Bedouin encampment, albeit one where every suite has a private plunge pool, Bulgari bathroom products, satellite TV and 24/7 service. Even so, it’s an extraordinary place from which to watch oryx and gazelle in their natural habitat, or set out for a day’s sand-boarding.
Alternatively, there is the Jumeirah Bab al Shams, a luxurious resort designed to resemble a traditional fort. It’s located just 45 minutes from the airport, though this area feels like the depths of the desert. Emirates Al Maha, +971 4 303 4222; al-maha.com. Suites from USD$1,360. Jumeirah Bab al Shams, +971 4 8326699; jumeirahbabalshams.com. Doubles from AED1,700
India: the Thar desert in Rajasthan
Covering 238,700 sq km, the Thar, or Great Indian, desert lies mostly in Rajasthan, and the base from which to explore it is Jaisalmer, where you can join safaris by jeep, on horseback on in caravans of camels, lasting anything from three hours to 15 days.
The Desert National Park supports a range of wildlife – chinkara, Indian fox, desert fox, jackal, desert cat, jungle cat and nilgai, as well gerbils, lizards and snakes. The undulating Sam dunes are unmissable. Book through Rajasthan Adventure (+91 11 29521467; rajasthanadventure.com)
Jordan: to Wadi Rum on horseback
Anyone who has seen David Lean’s 1962 epic film Lawrence of Arabia will know that Wadi Rum – where TE Lawrence based his operations, and Lean shot much of the movie – is one of the most stunning stretches of desert on earth, with its extraordinary granite and sandstone formations and miles of rolling dunes.
The UK travel agent Black Tomato organises two-day treks on horseback from Petra, Jordan’s other major sight. It’s a two-day ride – you stay in authentic, but very comfortable Bedouin tents, but otherwise you live under the sky and stars – and the return journey takes you back to the Red Sea coast for seaside r’n’r. Black Tomato (+44 (0)20 7610 9008; blacktom ato.co.uk) offers seven nights from £1,499pp
