10 Extreme Desert Vacations That Are Totally Worth It

Golden sand dunes, camel rides, incredible hikes, and an abundance of wildlife are just some of the many things that you have to look forward to when visiting a desert.

Located in Asia, covering parts of southern Mongolia and northern China, is the Gobi Desert, one of the most incredible deserts in the world. Visitors will enjoy beautiful landscapes and exciting adventures year-round. While you are there make sure that you ride a camel and climb one of the largest and most incredible sand dunes in the world — the Khongor sand dunes.

Famous for its limestone pillars, the Pinnacles Desert is a must-see destination. The pillars, which are scattered over yellow, rippled sand dunes, make for incredible photos. "The Pinnacles Desert is best seen at dawn or dusk when they cast long, strange shadows over the rippling yellow sand dunes," discoveraustralia.com.au says. Visitors say the best way to travel around in by 4WD.

This park, larger than the state of Rhode Island, is home to both the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. Set at different elevations, these deserts have their own unique ecosystems with diverse species of plants and animals. Visitors enjoy camping, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. "Common large mammals include mule deer, bighorn sheep, bobcats, coyotes, and foxes," nationalparked.com says. "The reptiles of the park include 18 lizards and 25 snakes, 4 of which are rattlesnakes." Other must-see spots in the park include Keys View, Skull Rock and Black Rock Canyon.

This is one of the best places to go camping in the world. The Erg Chigaga Luxury Desert Camp offers a comfortable and unforgettable experience. Stay in one of their spacious tents, equipped with furniture, wall-to-wall rugs, and solar-powered lighting. When you're ready for some adventure embark on a hike, go on a camel ride, or try sand boarding.

Covering the southwestern parts of Arizona, the Sonoran Desert offers an authentic desert adventure like no other. It is filled with beautiful wildflower displays and is home to the towering saguaro cactus. Visitors enjoy viewing the deserts incredible landscape on hot-air balloon rides, Jeep tours, and hikes.

Made up of clay, chalk, and sandstone, this is one of the most impressive deserts in Europe. The Bardenas Reales Natural Park, located about 170 miles from Madrid, occupies approximately 100,000 acres. Visitors enjoy hiking, biking, and exploring the park by car. Travel about nine miles west for incredible sightseeing opportunities as well.

Wadi Rum, located in southern Jordan, consists of a controlled protected area. It is well-known for its scenic and archaeological sites. Explore Wadi Rum by camel, Jeep, horse, or on foot. For the ultimate experience, stay in a desert camp and become one with nature.

This coastal desert, filled with stunning red sand dunes, is located in southern Africa. It covers an area of approximately 31,274 square miles, extends along the coast of Namibia, and merges along with the Kaokoveld Desert. Wildlife viewing is very common among visitors; you may see elephants, lions, rhinos, and Hartmann's zebras.

The Dubai Desert, surrounding the city of Dubai, is best known for its thrilling adventure opportunities. Embark on a safari with a tour guide, navigate the sandy landscape by yourself on a quad bike, go on a hot air balloon ride for incredible views, and go sand boarding down the dunes.

This desert is a natural wonder of Egypt, and it is best-known for its spectacular scenery. The gorgeous white landscape and chalk-colored rock formations will leave you in awe. Visitors enjoy camping overnight under the stars, especially on full moon nights.