Desert & strong sun
Deserts, dunes, arid plains and anywhere with intense sun and heat.
Illustrative image.
What to pack
- Loose, light, long clothing - Covering up beats bare skin in the desert - and locals dress this way for a reason. Find on Amazon →
- A wide-brim hat + sunglasses - Shade for your face and eyes where there is none overhead. Find on Amazon →
- High-SPF sunscreen + lip balm - Reapply often; desert sun is relentless. Find on Amazon →
- Far more water than you think - Carry and sip constantly; dehydration creeps up in dry heat. Find on Amazon →
- A scarf or shemagh - Shields your face and neck from sun and blowing sand. Find on Amazon →
- Warm layer for the night - Deserts turn cold fast after dark - a fleece is not optional. Find on Amazon →
- Electrolytes - Plain water is not enough when you sweat heavily all day. Find on Amazon →
Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list the kind of gear we would pack ourselves. Check the season and the official source for each place before you go.
🖨️ Printable checklist →Where this comes in handy 920 places
ruins
Mbanza Kongo
church
Alto Vista Chapel
archaeological site
Dilmun Burial Mounds
archaeological site
The Tsodilo Hills
ruins
The Ruins of Loropéni
old town
N'Djamena
lake
Lake Peipus
theme park
Lottemaa Theme Park
beach
Pärnu Beach
winery region
Bordeaux Wine Country
beach
Dune du Pilat
forest
The Landes Forest
island
Helgoland
island
Sylt
national park
The Darss and Zingst Peninsula
fortress
The Cape Coast and Elmina Castles
botanical garden
The Botanical Garden of Padua
archaeological site
Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
monument
The Great Mosque of Djenné
old town
Chinguetti
old town
Ait Benhaddou
archaeological site
Twyfelfontein and Damaraland
old town
Agadez
church
Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity
old town
Arequipa
archaeological site
Al Zubarah
archaeological site
AlUla and Hegra
beach
Calblanque
national park
Donana National Park
beach
Ibiza and Formentera Beaches
lake
La Albufera
mountain
Mount Teide
beach
Playa de las Catedrales
botanical garden
Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
archaeological site
Jebel Barkal
beach
Gower Peninsula
beach
Northumberland Coast
botanical garden
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
national park
Acadia National Park
national park
Arches National Park
national park
Big Bend National Park
canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park
beach
Cape Cod
lighthouse
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
cave
Carlsbad Caverns
national park
Death Valley National Park
national park
Great Basin National Park
national park
Great Sand Dunes National Park
national park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
beach
Indiana Dunes National Park
national park
Joshua Tree National Park
mountain
Lassen Volcanic National Park
viewpoint
Monument Valley
national park
Petrified Forest National Park
tradition
Route 66
national park
Saguaro National Park
old town
Santa Fe Plaza
museum
Taliesin West
old town
Taos Pueblo
theme park
The Las Vegas Strip
Showing 60 of 920. Use the search box to find a specific country or place.
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