Spanning 25 years of sustainable ecotourism and wildlife conservation on three continents, world-leading luxury experiential travel company andBeyond offers unparalleled luxury travel experiences. The andBeyond trained guides and trackers provide a tailor-made experience that revolves around the company’s “Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, and Care of the People” conservation and community model.
For thrilling tours, andBeyond recommends two desert adventures for wanderlust travellers looking to explore this unique landscape. Visit the endless sand dunes and wildlife in Namibia, Africa, or explore the world’s driest and most desolate Atacama Desert in Chile.
Enchanting Namibian Safari
Guest area boasts unimpeded desert vistas at at andBeyond Sossusvlei (Credit/andBeyond)
Revel in magnificent landscapes, sand dunes and premier wildlife destinations with andBeyond’s Enchanting Namibian Safari. The adventure includes visiting Sossusvlei, a place of awe-inspiring beauty surrounded by some of the world’s highest free-standing sand dunes. During the trip there will be the opportunity to climb these magnificent ochre-coloured sand dunes on quad bikes with a guide.
Avid photographers and guests will be able to capture sightings of desert-adapted animals such as gemsbok, bat-eared foxes, lions and jackals.
Bat-eared fox (Credit/WikimediaCommons)
From the dry desert to the charming coastal retreat of Swakopmund (German for “mouth of the Swakop”) on Namibia’s western coast, intrepid travellers can then experience one of Africa largest game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, the Etosha National Park. Guests will stay at the safari chic Onguma Tented Camp, which is situated near a popular waterhole, and relax with a cocktail while enjoying sightings of large game animals like lions and elephants from the comfort of their seats.
Accommodation also includes a stay at the andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, surrounded by the mountains and sand dunes of the Namib Desert, one of the oldest and largest in the world. This stunning stretch of surreal landscape is said to be over 55 millions years old.
Onguma Tented Camp (Credit/andBeyond)
Escape from the world in total tranquility and romantic luxury. From stargazing to intimate picnics in the desert, this is an extraordinary desert wilderness.
andBeyond Enchanting Namibia Safari – 12 days itinerary
From US $7,150 per person
Surreal Atacama Desert, Chile
The area is used by NASA to test instruments for future Mars missions (Credit/Unsplash)
Adventure seekers and photographers can discover the world’s driest Atacama Desert in Chile all year. The striking white salt pan surrounded by towering volcanoes provides an extraordinary view, and can be explored best by mountain bikes. Surf down an alien landscape of sand dunes or marvel at the world’s highest geyser field. Geological transformations of the desert have manifested in ranges, volcanoes and salt flats, as well as bodies of water, such as lagoons, thermal pools and marshes, that emerge in the middle of the desert.
No light pollutions means amazing stargazing (Credit/Wikimedia Commons)
The immense Atacama lives up to its title as the world’s driest desert, with some areas registering not even a single raindrop in over 150 years. Sitting at an altitude of 3,500 metres and enjoying the perfect combination of dry skies and almost zero light pollution, the dramatic Atacama Desert boasts some of the best stargazing in the world, with April to September being the best time to appreciate the glittering sky.
Vicuna live in the high alpine areas of the Andes (Credit/Pixabay)
For wildlife enthusiasts, guanacos, vicunas (both related to the camel) and brightly-coloured flamingoes can be seen during the trip.
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey with andBeyond—small group journeys, outstanding lodges and camps, trained guides, and local hospitality—under the company’s community model that combines conservation partnerships, environmental sensitivity, and care of wildlife and indigenous people with unique luxury travel.
andBeyond Best of Chile – 12 days itinerary
From US $13,225 per person
For more information about Africa, Asia or South America luxury travel, please visit the andBeyond website.
Written By: Adriane Rysz