From Morocco to India: 5 places to go sandboarding right now

Head of Press Service of OneTwoTrip travel planning service

Sandboarding is an ideal sport for those who like to ride a board on steep mountains but can’t stand the cold. Sandboarding is also for extreme athletes who want something special: conquering sandy peaks is still a rare hobby. Today I will tell you where to look for suitable places for this entertainment and how to prepare for the trip.

What is sandboarding?

The word “sandboarding” was formed from the combination of English sand and board – “sand” and “board”. That is, it is literally riding on sandy mountains on a board resembling a snowboard.

You should not think that this is a fashionable innovation: according to some data, they went down on boards on the dunes in ancient Egypt, and snowboarding became a professional sport in the 1960s. However, there are still far fewer sandboarders than their colleagues conquering snowy mountains.

Geography is to blame: there are far fewer dunes and dunes suitable for riding, which are also easy to get to. But there are still options.

Where can I go boarding right now?

UAE, Rub Al Khali

How to get there: there are several flights from Moscow to Dubai every day. A round-trip flight per person will cost about 30 thousand rubles, and a night in a three-star hotel – from 3.8 thousand rubles.

Entry rules: Russians can stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days.

The UAE today is probably the most accessible country for Russian extreme athletes. In Dubai there are many companies that will take you to dunes suitable for sandboarding, and the instructor will explain all the nuances of riding.

Alternatively, you can take a car and head south along Hatta Road (E44). The most popular point is the big Red Dune, and there are equipment rentals here. There are no elevators (there are none anywhere on the dunes), so you can get to the top on foot or by rented buggies.

Rub al-Khali Desert, UAE

Morocco, Sahara Desert

How to get there: fly to Casablanca or Marrakech (round-trip ticket can be found for 60 thousand rubles), the way with a transfer will take about 12 hours. Spend a night in a three-star hotel can be at least 2.3 thousand rubles.

Entry rules: Russian tourists can get to Morocco without a visa, you only need a passport valid for at least six months. It is also necessary to fill out an official form for entry.

The most popular sandboarding spot – Erg Chebbi Dunes – is located in the dunes near the small village of Merzouga, which is located in the south-east of the country. It can be reached by bus or train.

It is a tourist place: there is a camp where you can rent equipment and get to the top of the slope by camel – for an extra fee, of course. An instructor from the locals will help you to get up on the board, so the skiing is accessible to beginners and even children.

There are cafes and hotels in Merzouga itself. In addition to sandboarding, you can ride around the dunes on camels or quad bikes. Overnight desert safaris are very popular.

Sahara Desert, Morocco

Qatar, Khor al-Adaid

How to get there: if you want to go boarding in Khor-al-Adaid, you need to fly to Doha. The way from Moscow will take from six hours by direct flight, and return tickets will cost 60 thousand rubles (you can find a cheaper option with a transfer in Cairo). The cost of a night in a three-star hotel starts from Br3.7 thousand. The reserve is located 60 km from Doha, it is convenient to go there for a day with an excursion, including riding on the dunes.

Entry rules: Russians can stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days, the main thing is that the passport was valid for at least six months. You will also have to register on a special website, download and activate the EHTERAZ application on your cell phone.

Sandboarding is quite common in Qatar, so there are a lot of spots. But the best spot is in Khor al Adaida, an amazing natural location, also called the inland sea. It’s a shallow, salty bay set amongst the golden desert sands near the Saudi Arabian border. You can go boarding here on snow-white dunes and perfectly flat dunes. You can also go on a buggy tour to observe the local fauna: here you can see sea turtles and migratory birds, including flamingos.

Khor al-Adaid Desert, Qatar

India, Thar Desert

How to get there: by plane to Delhi (a ticket from Moscow and back costs from 32 thousand rubles), and then to the city of Jaisalmer – either by domestic flight (but tickets can only be found locally), or by night train (runs daily). Accommodation in a three-star hotel will cost at least 1.2 thousand rubles per day.

Entry rules: Russians issue an electronic visa for a period of 30 days and up to five years. Upon arrival at the airport, passengers may be asked to take a PCR test.

The Thar Desert is located in the region of Rajasthan. The easiest way to surf the dunes is to stay in a hotel that offers sandboarding as one of the services for tourists. These are available near Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.

Of the other activities here, safari is of course common. Jaisalmer itself is a very interesting and beautiful ancient city that has been standing in the middle of the desert for many years.

Thar Desert, India

Iran, Lut Desert

How to get there: direct flight from Moscow to Tehran, ticket prices start from 18 thousand rubles, you will spend 4 hours and 20 minutes on the way. Accommodation in a three-star hotel will cost at least 5 thousand rubles per night. The most convenient way to the desert is by car. The nearest town is Kerman, where you can also find a guide who will take you to the place by SUV. More to the spot (it is called Rig Zarin) get from the city of Shahabad.

Entry rules: independent travelers can get an electronic visa on the website of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, paying a fee (from 2.5 thousand rubles). In addition, COVID restrictions for tourists have not yet been lifted in the region, so you will need a negative PCR test (to be taken a maximum of 72 hours before departure) or a certificate of vaccination in English (“Sputnik V” is suitable). It should be 14 days since the last dose of vaccine.

Iran has two deserts where sandboarding is practiced: the salt-marsh Deshte Kevir in the north and Deshte Lut in the east, which made our list.

The Loot Desert is officially the hottest place on the planet: a temperature of +78.2°C has been recorded here. Therefore, February and March are quite acceptable times for traveling, in summer you won’t even want to get out of the car. From June to October you should not come here either, as strong winds blow here, causing erosion of barchans, so it becomes simply dangerous to ride.

The desert itself is impressive at any time of year: endless dunes are replaced by salt marshes and seem to stretch all the way to the horizon. No wonder that this site is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the vicinity you can visit the ancient city of Meybod and the Zoroastrian temple in the settlement of Chak-Chak.

Lut Desert, Iran

What to consider when skiing?

You will need a special board: you should not take an ordinary snowboard, as it will quickly deteriorate due to sharp grains of sand. In some locations you can rent equipment, but sometimes you will have to buy a sandboard at home and bring it with you.

You need to understand that the technique of riding is different from what snowboarders are used to: the sandboard moves the upper layers of sand, and you slide on those grains of sand that got under the board. You need to enter turns smoothly, otherwise there is a risk of falling sideways. Be careful when landing, too: the sand dampens the speed of the jump.

Falling is not very pleasant, the sand scrapes the skin. For this reason, wear long pants and use a mask or goggles.