There’s something about the desert that leaves you feeling rested, renewed and inspired. Perhaps it’s the wide-open spaces and the soothing silence. Or maybe it’s the constant contrast between the heat of day and the chill of night — a refreshing reminder of nature’s power. Add in blazing sunsets, surreal landscapes, prickly cacti and quirky critters and you’ll discover there are 1,001 ways to enjoy a desert honeymoon. Whether you opt to stay close to home in the Southwest or head for more exotic oases in Africa, Australia or South America, here are our suggestions for how to turn your desert dreams into reality.
Ayers Rock/Uluru, Australia
Australians call the heart of the Northern Territory the “Red Centre” and after just a single sunset you’ll understand why. Monolithic Ayers Rock, known as sacred Uluru to the local Aboriginal people, glows an almost unearthly shade of crimson that when juxtaposed against the twilight sky is nothing less than magical. Outback nature and indigenous culture are both plentiful here, making it a great option for couples seeking romance and relaxation, plus adventure and education.
The country's vast "Red Centere" (photo courtesy of Australia's Coral Coast)
By day: Rise early to revel in this vast desert’s silence and watch the sun awaken 1,142-foot-high Uluru’s hues. Take hikes around the base of Uluru (about 4.5 miles) with a local guide or sightsee larger areas of rugged Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (including the magnificent Olgas) via jeep, motorcycle or even camel. For a bird’s-eye view, you can book a scenic helicopter flight. The region’s culture comes alive on day tours: See indigenous rock paintings at Cave Hill andlearn about daily Aboriginal life at cultural presentationsabout traditional crafts such as dot painting and didgeridoo carving. By late afternoon, you’ll be ready for a massage.
At night: Once the sun has set (and viewing that spectacle in the open while sipping champagne is a must), you’d think the darkness would be anticlimactic. But nighttime here is filled with even more captivating sights and sounds as “star talkers” share insight into the vivid constellations above (including the Southern Cross) and a didgeridoo player coaxes haunting melodies out of a wind instrument carved from a hollow eucalyptus branch.
Where to stay: There’s a room for every budget at 825-room Ayers Rock Resort, where four resorts-within-a-resort and a campground occupy a prime location not far from Uluru. Top accommodations are in the romantic Sails in the Desert Hotel, with 231 rooms featuring modern decor and Aboriginal art (rates start at $336 a night; ayersrockresort. com.au), while the Desert Gardens Hotel offers some of the best views of Uluru from its 218 rooms (rates start at $290 a night; ayersrockresort.com.au). For an unforgettably romantic splurge, book a two-night package at Longitude 131, an eco-resort that takes glam camping to its most indulgent in 15 distinctively white-peaked luxury tents, each with a kingsized bed positioned to enjoy sunrise views of Uluru (room rates start at $2,170 a night; longitude131.com.au).
The definition of "glamping" — Longitude 131 (photo courtesy of Voyagers Latitude 131)
Where to eat: Ayers Rock Resort offers 13 dining outlets, but one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have while sitting in awe of Uluru is the four-hour “Sounds of Silence” dinner, which begins with canapés and cocktails as the sun sets and continues with a wonderful al fresco buffet dinner during which you can try Aussie specialties such as barramundi, kangaroo and crocodile. During dessert, when the stars are shining brightly, you’ll learn about the southern skies and be entertained by local song and dance.
More Amazing Deserts:
Sedona, Arizona ►
Marrakesh, Morocco ►
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile ►
Sossusvlei, Namibia ►
Sedona, Arizona
Located just north of Phoenix, Sedona, with its high-desert locale, is renowned for its striking red-rock landscape framed by verdant green juniper and cottonwood trees, as well as its spiritual metaphysical vibe. The destination excels in both nature and nurture, with top-notch spas, creative cuisine, and varied activities that appeal to hedonists and adventurers.
The Sedona Rouge (photo courtesy of Wilderness Safaris/Dana Allen)
By day: Mornings in Sedona are glorious — cool, clear and perfect for a hike or mountain bike excursion (trails are plentiful and many are easily accessible from hotels) or a round of golf (there are a half dozen courses) or a tennis match. Have your cameras ready as you take in the region’s iconic redrock stone formations with names like Bell, Cathedral and Coffeepot during a classic Pink Jeep Tour sightseeing expedition. Collect handcrafted gemstone jewelry, Southwest-inspired photography and striking artwork at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village and the Sedona Arts Center gift store. Or just laze by the pool and relish lunchtime room service.
At night: Transition from day to evening with a couple’s spa treatment — the pampering 90-minute jojoba butter wrap with massage at Mii Amo is a favorite — followed by an astrology reading. Even if you’re zodiac skeptics, the insights and coincidences may astound you. Or take part in stargazing of a more scientific sort with a nighttime astronomy lesson as you sip wine and ponder the mysteries of the universe.
Where to stay: Enchantment Resort, set on 70 spectacular acres in Boynton Canyon and home to Sedona’s most splurge-worthy spa, Mii Amo, lives up to its name, offering 218 spacious casita-style rooms and suites (most with fireplaces). There’s also a trio of restaurants, a Native American cultural program and fitness activities ranging from yoga to obstacle courses (room rates start at $295 a night; enchantmentresort.com). A more centrally located yet just as romantic option is Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa, offering 77 comfortable Andalusian-inspired rooms and suites (the most seductive are the spa rooms with large, free-standing soaking tubs); a serene spa with a couples bathing and massage ritual; and flavorful, modern American comfort cuisine at Reds (room rates start at $219 a night; sedonarouge.com).
The aptly named Enchantment Resort (photo courtesy of Enchantment Group)
Where to eat: While Sedona’s resorts have their own exceptional restaurants, be sure to reserve a table at Elote Café for Chef Jeff Smedstad’s lamb adobo. Another great casual option with a red-rocks view is Heartline Café, known for its creative American bistro cuisine.
More Amazing Deserts:
Ayers Rock/Uluru, Australia ►
Marrakesh, Morocco ►
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile ►
Sossusvlei, Namibia ►
Marrakesh, Morocco
Within minutes of arriving in this palm-tree-ringed red city on the outer fringes of the Sahara, your taste buds will begin to work overtime, sampling rose water and almond milk, juicy dates and exuberant spices, tender lamb and fluffy couscous — all paired with excellent local wines and served in settings so memorable even the French have been seduced. Shoppers love the fabled souk, a labyrinthine market overflowing with handcrafted goods. An authentic Moroccan spa experience awaits at a beautifully tiled hammam (traditional steam bath), while adventure calls just outside Marrakesh in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains or on a camel trek through the desert’s endless sands.
An inner courtyard at La Maison Arabe (photo courtesy of La Maison Arabe)
By day: Temperatures range from 100 degrees and higher in summer to the comfortable mid-60s in winter, so get your sightseeing done early with a guided morning tour of the medina (old city): the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, bustling Djemaa el Fna square and the colorful Jardin Majorelle (a botanical garden once owned by Yves St. Laurent). Then have your guide lead you through the souk, where you can shop for everything from elaborate hammered tin or brass lanterns and lamps and mosaic-framed mirrors to colorful ottomans and carpets. Escape the late afternoon heat by enjoying a famed black soap scrub in the hammam. Outside the city, tour rustic villages and venture into the scenic Atlas Mountains, where hiking is the main activity.
At night: Begin your evening by sipping a refreshing Moroccan rosé as the sun sets and the melodic call to prayer rises. The medina, especially Djemaa el Fna square, pulses with vibrancy after dark, making it an intriguing spot for a stroll among the food vendors and snake charmers.
Where to stay: To be in the center of it all — and have it all (dining, spa, recreation) at your fingertips — stay at La Mamounia, the city’s legendary enclave that dates to 1923. Its 210 rooms and suites feature seductive archways and intricately carved doors (room rates start at $659 a night; mamounia.com). On a smaller scale, 26-room La Maison Arabe offers elegant modern Moroccan decor, plus a pool, cooking school and a nearby country club with a golf course (room rates start at $275 a night; lamaisonarabe.com). If you’re seeking a quiet vibe and want to enjoy some hiking, book into Kasbah Tamadot, a 27-room luxury hideaway (the Berber Tent suites are especially romantic) located in the Atlas Mountains about an hour from the city (room rates start at $540 a night; kasbahtamadot.virgin.com).
The sun setting over Marrakesh (photo courtesy of Anson Smart)
Where to eat: For a savory traditional cuisine, reserve a table at La Morocaine, La Mamounia’s exceptional Moroccan restaurant, or Le Restaurant at La Maison Arabe, where the house specialties are accompanied by music.
More Amazing Deserts:
Ayers Rock/Uluru, Australia ►
Sedona, Arizona ►
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile ►
Sossusvlei, Namibia ►
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
You may think that the world’s driest desert would be an endless expanse of red, beige and ecru colored sands. Yes, the area has its requisite dunes, red-rock caves and dusty-air fiery sunsets, but the fact is the landscape, which is framed by the snow-capped Andes and seven active volcanoes, is unbelievably varied. Cauldron-like geysers bubble high in the mountains, endless salt flats are dotted with scrubby brush, rocky canyons are punctuated by towering cacti, and the town itself, San Pedro de Atacama, is a large oasis loaded with greenery. Travelers, who generally stay at one of four all-inclusive resorts, come here for the scenery, the chance to spot flamingos and the world’s most spectacular night sky.
One of Atacama's many landscapes (photo courtesy of Ivan Guillot Boyer)
By day: Rise with the sun for excursions at every level with naturalist guides in scenery that is as diverse as it is awesome. Adventures include trekking or horseback riding across the great dunes of the Valle de La Muerte, an area of oversize, striated red rocks encircling enormous, soft sand mini-mountains that appear almost cinematic. Hikes along rocky mountain cornices, down into canyons and along the path of the mountain waters are popular, as are bike rides along the salt flats. Tours in vehicles give an overview of the entirety of the desert landscape and include stops at local villages, colonial churches and ghost towns. The area’s don’t-miss adventure begins before the sun rises high in the sky. It is an excursion to Tatio field, a nearly endless expanse of 80 active geysers set high in the Andes. When not trekking,hiking, cycling or riding in bumpy vans, simply kick back on your private terrace with a local Austral brew and sit in awe of the spectacular scenery.
At Night: At Tierra Atacama, just before dusk, a honeymooning couple is invited to the spa. Bring your camera and your swimsuit. And while we’ve been sworn to secrecy, the ultra-romantic experience includes lots of bubbles, a brilliant desert sunset and plenty of alone time. Late night, it’s all about the stargazing — Saturn, Uranus, the famous Southern Cross, the far-off galaxy of Andromeda and the only-on-viewhere Andean Llama constellation can be spotted.
Where to Stay: Tierra Atacama, a 32-room, earthfriendly all-inclusive enclave offers sumptuous accommodations with outdoor lounging areas and open-air showers set among a desert garden that is sourced for food and spa treatments (room rates start at $1,190 per person for two nights and are all-inclusive; tierraatacama.com).
Inside Tierra Atacama (photo courtesy of Tierra Hotels)
Where to Eat: All meals are taken in the wood-and-stone common dining area or on the wide, mountain-facing terrace. For a more local taste, try Baltinache, a seven-table eatery steps from the resort. The owner/chef specializes in modern interpretations of the native cuisine and only serves what is absolutely fresh. The menu changes daily and vegetarian options are happily whipped up on request.
More Amazing Deserts:
Ayers Rock/Uluru, Australia ►
Sedona, Arizona ►
Marrakesh, Morocco ►
Sossusvlei, Namibia ►
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Before arriving, you’ll soar over a stark no man’s land in a tiny four-seat Cessna en route from the Namibian capital, Windhoek. When you circle above a sun-saturated valley and spot your luxury resort, your journey into the Namib Desert — a fantasyland of sculptural dunes and night skies so clear and infinite you can see another galaxy — has begun. This parched yet resplendent corner of Namibia (still most famous for being the country where Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was born) is nature at its most dramatic — with scenery so surreal it will be locked into your subconscious forever.
Dune trekking is a popular activity (photo courtesy of And Beyond)
By day: The vibrant, rust-hued Sossusvlei Dunes are the stars here and the best time to see and photograph them in all their National Geographic glory is at sunrise. You’ll set out in the dark and arrive at Namib-Naukluft National Park just as dawn is turning them from mysterious dark sand piles into soaring orange swirls set against a deep-blue sky. Your vantage point shifts as your guide leads you up and over the dunes, the cool sand shifting beneath your feet, for one splendid vista after another. Later, you can bust some dunes on ATVs, laze by the pool or be coddled at the spa. But when evening beckons the desert-dwelling antelopes — oryx, springbok and gemsbok — and ostrich out in search of food, you’ll be right behind them on a twilight safari. It’s more about the scenery than the sheer number of game, especially as you enjoy sundowner cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as sunset paints the parched earth like a kaleidoscope.
At night: The silence and darkness are disorienting — until you tilt your head upward and take in the blinking canopy of stars. Go stargazing with a resident astronomer who will point out South Hemisphere constellations, distant planets and, on the clearest of nights, even the Andromeda Galaxy. Afterward, a skylight above the bed in your villa continues the seduction by moon glow.
Where to stay: andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, with its 10 stone-and-glass villas arrayed in a privacy arc so you can shower with nothing but a wall of glass between you and the view, is the perfect luxury base from which to explore the Namib Desert (rates start at $1,200 a night and are allinclusive;
andbeyond.com).
A desert oasis of the luxe kind — andBeyond Sossusvlei (photo courtesy of And Beyond)
Where to eat: Sossusvlei Desert Lodge’s creative Pan-African cuisine — whether it’s breakfast in your villa, a private picnic lunch in the dunes or a multicourse dinner by candlelight — is first-class in every way.
Dinner is served at andBeyond Sossusvlei (photo courtesy of AndBeyond)
More Amazing Deserts:
Ayers Rock/Uluru, Australia ►
Sedona, Arizona ►
Marrakesh, Morocco ►
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile ►