If one goes on a desert trip, there are some essential travel tips that ensure a safe journey. Some of these tips always include to plan your itinerary carefully, bring plenty of water and watch your gas tank. When we went on our first desert trip in December 2014, we had a Bedouin guide with us who took care of all the basic necessities. However, there are still plenty of things that can be easily forgotten at home but that make a trip much more joyful.
#Travelhacks – 11 Tips You Need To Know Before Going On A Desert Trip
1. Don’t bring closed shoes
And don’t bring sandals either. The best footwear are flip flops as you can easily take them off and put them on when you get in and out of the car. Everything else is just a hassle and takes up too time while everyone else is waiting in their flip flops.
2. Pack facial water
You guessed it right, the desert is dry and so the humidity is very low. If you spend a few days in the desert it is best to pack some facial mist to keep your skin hydrated. A trip to the desert is similar to a flight on the plane with the only difference that moisturising cream is not the best idea in combination with lots of sand.
3. Bring a pillow
If you do a guided tour like we did, don’t trust the guide to bring a fluffy pillow. Usually guided tours supply all the basics that are needed to survive a night but don’t expect any luxury. However if a good pillow makes or breaks a good night for you (like for me), be advised to bring an extra pillow with you.
4. Prepare some comfort food
I was surprised by the quality and choice of food that our guide prepared and cooked for us for dinner and breakfast. Unfortunate for me, dinner consisted of chicken (I don’t like chicken so much). By the time dinner was served it was already freezing cold outside and I was in desperate need of some warm soul food. So either tell your guide of your dietary restrictions or just bring your own food that can be cooked or grilled together with all the other food.
5. Take a cooling box with you
It is cold at night in the desert so you might not automatically think of a cooler. That is to say, it is cold at night during the winter months but during the day and all day in summer the desert can become boiling hot. And so a cooler becomes a necessity.
6. Don’t forget a Thermos
Temperatures in the desert ranges widely. Its hot during the day but it can become pretty cold at night. So fill up your Thermos with some tea before heading out to your trip and you’ll be glad to drink it once the sun sets.
7. Bring a thin blanket
Instead of packing yet another sweater to keep you warm, I suggest to take a thin blanket (like the ones that you get on an air plane). You can use it to sit on it, to wrap yourself up after sunset oder as an extra blanket for the night.
8. Pack your ski underwear
Anyone who has ever experienced the advantages of ski underwear knows that this is one of the best cold weather inventions ever. So in case your normal pyjamas are way to thin for cold weather, I can recommend this warm-hearted.
9. Buy a bottle of champagne
Camping-like experiences are usually not your cup of tea? Bring a cold bottle of Champagne to balance the basic desert life with some decadency. Also, nothing beats the moment of watching the bright stars and slurping some sparkling wine. Bliss!
10. Pick out a couple of board games
Once you set up your sleeping-place, there is only so much you can do between two desert dunes. Sandboarding. Yes. Star-watching. Sure. Talking. Certainly. But when did you get your hands on a board game last time? Let me tell you, the lone and quiet hours in the desert are dedicated for games.
11. Get hold of an underwater case
To avoid sand in your phone or even worse your SLR camera, an underwater case can do wonders. It does not only do its job against water but is a perfect protection for the fine desert sand. And trust me, already after a few hours you’ll find grains of sand everywhere and it becomes increasingly difficult to protect your electronic equipment against it.