Bucket List / Adventure Travel Goals
Sandboard Down A Desert Dune
Ticked off in January 2010
Race a board down a mountain of sand, then do the slow, sliding walk back up for one more go.
The adventure
From the top of a big dune the slope looks gentle. It isn't. Once the board tips over the crest it picks up speed fast, sand hisses underneath and spray flies past your face, and the bottom arrives far sooner than you thought it would.
In Wadi Rum the dunes are rust-red and framed by sandstone cliffs, the setting that has stood in for Mars in films. In Huacachina, a palm-fringed oasis in southern Peru, some of the dunes are among the tallest in South America, and the dune buggies that take you there are a rollercoaster in their own right. Either way, the climb back up is the hard part: two steps forward, one step sliding back, and sand in places you'll be finding for days.
Why it’s epic
- Red dunes below the sandstone cliffs of Wadi Rum.
- Huacachina, a desert oasis surrounded by huge dunes near Ica, Peru.
- Dune-buggy rides that are almost as thrilling as the boarding.
What it is
Sandboarding is snowboarding on sand: you ride, or more often lie on, a waxed board down the face of a giant dune.
How to do it
In Huacachina, dune-buggy tours include boards and stop at the tallest dunes. In Wadi Rum, Bedouin camps can lend boards for the dunes near camp.
Top tip
Lie on the board head first for the fastest run, keep your elbows in and your mouth shut.
Need to know
- Go early or late in the day; midday sand gets very hot.
- Bring sunglasses or goggles and keep your phone in a sealed bag.
- Buggy safety varies, so choose a well-reviewed company with seatbelts.
Do it yourself
My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
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