Luxury Desert Camps and Lodges of the Middle East

Desert stays range from full five-star resorts with pools and spas, such as Qasr Al Sarab, to intimate camps of a dozen tents in Wadi Rum or the Sahara. Resorts suit families and longer stays; small camps give the deepest sense of the desert. In winter, days are warm and nights can drop to the 40s Fahrenheit, so most camps provide heaters and heavy blankets.

Combine your stay with falconry, camel treks, dune drives and stargazing; our desert sports and safari guide has the details, and Bedouin heritage tells the story of desert life.

October to April is the season; summer days are very hot, and many small camps close. Book a guide through your camp, and consider a helicopter transfer to reach the more remote lodges. For the best months country by country, see our When to Go guide. The desert edges of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah are also home to some of the region's most private villa communities; see Ras Al Khaimah Luxury Real Estate.