When to Go

The Western Desert is not always as hot as you’d expect, and during the winter months (December–February) the nights can be downright cold. Avoid traveling in March and April, when the khamaseen (cyclonic wind) whips up frequent sandstorms, and during the summer months (June–August), when the intense heat can be unbearable. The desert's finest days fall between mid-September and March, with October marking the end of the all-important date harvest.