When making a list of travel destinations, a desert might not be at the top. However, for a certain kind of explorer, the world’s deserts hide otherworldly attractions that can make you doubt you’re still on Earth, so here are a few you may want to consider.
The White Desert, Egypt
Most rightly assume the Sahara Desert is a seemingly endless sea of golden dunes, surrounded by the distinct cultures of North Africa. As the world’s most iconic desert, it already receives a lot of tourism and media attention. For example, it’s used as a setting for online games and as a popular filming location for movie studios. Games like the Sahara Riches online slot use the desert as a backdrop, along with other cultural symbols from the area. While the desert is a favorite in Hollywood, its rolling dunes don’t make a great travel destination.
That all said, the eastern reaches of the Sahara hide the White Desert, or the Sahara el Beyda. Hidden within Egypt’s Farafra depression, you’ll find Bedouin settlements surrounded by giant pearly white rock formations made from chalk. It’s about four hours away from Cairo, so it’s more than accessible for travelers well-acquainted with African travel. You can arrange travel there by local bus or with a private driver instead.
The white rocks look great against the golden sand, but most travelers come here to see and photograph its towering stone mushrooms. Those are ventifacts which, as World Atlas explains, are rocks that have been shaped by the wind. Through a slow but steady process of erosion, each tower is shaped into a unique, picturesque monolith that stands out against the Sahara.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
If you want your otherworldly destination to have a bit more life, then you may want to consider the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in northeastern Brazil. It’s not a desert because of how much rainfall it receives, but it’s full of giant sweeping dunes that have been transformed into staggered lagoons. This place is actually a newcomer to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list due to its outstanding natural beauty.
🔴 BREAKING!
New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, #Brazil 🇧🇷.
➡️https://t.co/FfOspAHOlX #46WHC pic.twitter.com/FkUkr6ALy7
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) July 26, 2024
If it wasn’t clear what happened here, the Lençóis Maranhenses has no way of dispersing water. Over time, lagoon after lagoon of electric blue or turquoise green water has built up in the valleys between its pure white sand.
To see the Lençóis Maranhenses at its best, you’ll want to visit in the short window between July and August. Roughly 60,000 people visit this strange desert of lagoons every year, but it’s so expansive that you can avoid people entirely. Thanks to its abundance of water, you can expect company from fish, manatee, and even tropical otters instead.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
If you want a truly otherworldly destination, then you should look no further than the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. More plainly referred to as the Bolivian Salt Flats, this is a very famous destination that’s been widely used in movies whenever they need an alien environment. It’s the world’s largest salt flat at 4,000 square miles, divided into hexagonal tiles of striking white crystal that glows under the sun.
Most visitors here take a spin through the salt flats and visit Isla Incahuasi, a cacti-filled island lying in the middle of this dried-up lake. Visitors also find a spot where there’s still water, providing a mirror reflection where the ground looks identical to the sky. For other tourist ideas, you can find some listed here by The Mirror.
If you were wondering, yes – you can take salt from the salt flats. Even better, locals package, clean, and sell it for you. It might not measure up to the professional salt farms covered here at East End Taste, but it’s a unique privilege to sample what’s left of this prehistoric lake.
By checking out these three very different places, you can have plenty of otherworldly adventures that don’t feel like anywhere else on planet Earth.