Best time to visit the Sahara

Photograph people without permission. Yes, a passing Touareg swathed in indigo against a dune creates the perfect orange/teal colour contrast, but hold that trigger finger. Ask politely before you take any photos, and listen to the advice of your guide. Fight the sway. When you’re on a camel, you’ll be quick to notice they’ve got an extraordinary, swaying gait. You might be tempted to sit up as straight as you can, but ditch the dressage. The most comfortable way to ride a camel is to sway with it (but not so much that you fall off). Lean in, like you’re on a motorbike – your back will thank you. Think climbing a dune will be easy. Big mistake: you’ll exhaust yourself on the shifting sand as you work your way up an erg. Take it slow.

“If you are thinking of adventuring to the Sahara Desert with your family, then you are in for some great adventures and fabulous discoveries – kasbahs, dunes, nomads, oases etc… However, we suggest you avoid travelling between the months of May and late September when the desert is extremely hot and uncomfortable. It can be over 45°C. This means for UK holiday makers with kids, the best time is during the half-term, winter or spring breaks. We welcome children aged from five years upwards on our desert tours – this is because we are concerned about dehydration of very young children and also the long journey necessary to reach the Sahara.”

“Remember – some people will be able to speak a little English that they have learned, though most will communicate in basic French and Arabic. Although school is free and obligatory, there are many people (especially women) in rural areas who still cannot read or write. Do not assume you are always being understood. We encourage visitors to the Sahara to bring second hand toys, simple games, unwanted clothes/shoes, school supplies such as notebooks and pens, colouring books, art materials which we distribute via local school teachers.”

“Travelling in the Sahara isn’t for everyone. One needs to be able to withstand some discomfort, long drives over often difficult terrain, and sand and dust getting in everything. Facilities are rudimentary – although we make people as comfortable as they can be – and so it’s not for someone who wants luxury. But the landscapes are incredible, and ever changing, and there’s something very special about heading off into such a remote area – again, that sense of exploration.”

“Chad’s a fantastic destination. It has some incredible scenery and receives so few tourists that a trip here really feels like an expedition, and true exploration. It’s this that is really one of the highlights – travelling for days on end without seeing any other westerners, traversing vast areas of sand dunes, and setting up camp each night in a pristine location, far away from anything resembling a town or settlement. The Guelta d’Archei is definitely one of the highlights – the spectacle of five or six hundred camels coming to water, their bellows echoing off the walls of the gorge, is something you’re unlikely to forget.”

“As for Mauritania, I would say that the security situation in many parts of the country, including the most interesting areas for visitors, has improved considerably in recent years, a fact unfortunately not reflected in the FCO advice. The FCO tend to be very quick to put negative advice in place, less quick (in fact usually very slow) to rescind it, particularly in places that don’t have much of a tourist industry. We’ve been running several trips a year here since 2015 and are confident that we can run trips here safely – of course, always monitoring what is happening in the country through our local team and contacts.”