Adventure in the desert
Ken Bennett explores some of the most beautiful and driest landscapes on Earth...
Put all memories of Britain's cloying, mind-sapping winter behind you - and think sunshine, sunshine and more sunshine.
Planet Earth has given a unique insight into the real wonders of our world, none more fascinating than the desert regions. Because they offer a real chance to share some uplifting adventures to some of the most spiritual of places.
The Atacama Desert, highlighted in the series' final episode, is renowned as being one of the driest places in the world. In fact, in parts, no measurable rainfall has ever been recorded.
Sunvil's Latin America's 15-night Essential Chile itinerary includes a three-night stay in the frontier-like town of San Pedro de Atacama.
From here, the tour includes excursions to the dramatic Tatio geysers and the appropriately named, Valley of the Moon.
Santiago, Chile's vibrant capital, Lauca and Torres del Paine National Parks and a lake cruise to Peulla rate highly among the memorable highlights on this trip.
Alternatively, share specialist operator Explore's 17-day Inner Mongolian Adventure from £1,499 a head to the distant northern limits of China. Here, you'll explore the harsh landscapes and traditional pasturelands of Inner Mongolia.
Venture into the Tengger Desert on camels and marvel at the desolate fringes of the Mongolian plateau. This isolated landscape holds salt lakes, shifting sand dunes and unusual desert forests.
You can glide along the Yellow River on sheepskin rafts and finish at Datong and marvel at the 50,000 different sized Buddhist statues hewn into caves in steep cliffs.
If you want ultimate privacy, the Arabian desert's five-star Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa should be your choice.
The stunning property is made up of 40 luxury Bedouin tents - each with its own plunge pool and luxurious bathroom - a wonderful spa and chef.
He will serve you delicious cuisine in the main dining room, your own room - or even in the desert - giving a whole new meaning to just desserts!
The resort can organise desert field trips and horse riding and is only 55 minutes from the alluring shopping malls of Dubai.
Meantime, Expert Africa' Klein Aus Vista' is one of southern Namibia's most unexpected secrets - a farm, located on the edge of the Namib Desert.
Covering 150 square kilometres of striking mountain and desert land, it is home to the world's only wild desert horses. It borders the forbidden diamond mining zone, the Sperrgebiet, and is a short drive from the coastal town of Lüderitz and a nearby ghost town, Kolmanskop, which is being slowly swallowed by the shifting desert sands.
Stay at the Eagle's Nest, a more remote and romantic setting, seven kilometres from the main farmhouse. The chalets are creatively constructed around gigantic boulders at the edge of the escarpment overlooking the desert.
Or take a trip to see the Kasbahs and camels, 11 days in the "real Morocco", is a land of amazing contrasts.
Discover sun-baked dunes and lush oases, teeming markets and sleepy villages, inviting beaches and sheer mountain crags.
The landscape is dotted with ancient mud forts - Kasbahs - and is home to the hardy and hospitable Berbers.
Or you can head deep into the desert wilderness of the Sahara Desert, by 4WD truck, then on to the Anti-Atlas mountains.
Finally, you can get up close on one of Wild about Africa's awesome journeys.
Tracking rare desert adapted rhino on foot gives you the chance to get incredibly close to these animals, thanks to your expert guide.
Namibia's one million acre Palmwag private concession area in the Namib Desert boasts the largest concentration of these creatures outside a national park, and strong populations of elephant, giraffe, oryx, mountain zebra, and lions, cheetahs and leopards.
And if you still feel the urge to get some sand between your toes, Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) 150-plus expert members can arrange holidays to deserts all around the world, including the Great Victoria Desert in Australia, Argentina's Patagonia Desert and the Great Basin in Arizona.
* For a copy of the AITO newsletter, Travelling With The Experts, call 020 8744 9280 or visit: www.aito.co.uk.
