Escape to the White Desert

Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).

In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.

ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.

• Sleeping bag : comfortable, the right size for you, preferably mummy-shaped (closer to the body and with a hood that closes) with a side zipper for easy opening. It's essential to choose a sleeping bag with a comfort rating of 10°C below the lowest average temperature you expect. In the White Desert, nights can be very cold in the heart of winter. We recommend a comfort rating of -10°C/-5°C in December and January, and -5°C/+5°C in October, November, March, and April. A sleeping bag that's comfortable at 5°C will also be comfortable at 20°C; simply open it to allow air to circulate. Conversely, if you already have a sleeping bag with a comfort rating of 10°C, for example, a fleece sleeping bag liner will provide an additional 5 degrees of warmth.
  
• Earplugs or Hears, your choice
  
• A notepad and pen, a good book, a deck of cards...
  
• A small pillow, inflatable or not, for added comfort
  
• A laundry bag so you can separate your dirty clothes from your clean ones.
  
• Toiletry bag
  
• Small personal pharmacy
  
• Towel
  
• Sunscreen cream and stick (face and lips)
  
• Headlamp with spare batteries
  
• A water bottle of at least 1.5 liters, lightweight and insulated, or a 2-liter water bladder
  
• A multi-purpose pocket knife is preferable (note: this must be packed in your checked luggage on the plane).
  
• Toilet paper + lighter for destruction
  
• An external battery to recharge your electronic devices if needed.
  

Clothing, from head to toe:

1. Footwear: Avoid high-top hiking boots, which are hot and unnecessary for walking in the sand or on the White Desert plateau. Some people prefer to walk in sandals, or even barefoot, during the day: depending on the individual, this can be very pleasant, or not at all! Therefore, to avoid spoiling your holiday, we advise you to bring lightweight shoes (like low hiking boots or sneakers) AND sandals, and choose your footwear once you arrive. The White Desert region is very flat, with little to no elevation change. Saharan traveler's tip : wear socks inside your sandals; it's ideal for preventing sand abrasion!
2. Socks: light for daytime and warm (wool or looped) for cool evenings.
3. Canvas trousers and/or shorts
4. Cotton shirts or T-shirts
5. Warm sweater or fleece: the latter has the advantage of being durable, warm, lightweight, and quick-drying, with the added benefit of being soft to the touch. The best-known fibers are Polartec, Carline, and Ulfrotté.
6. A hat or cap with neck protection, and/or a shemagh: the first two offer the advantage of also protecting your face from the sun, which the shemagh (long voile scarf) does not: however, it is very useful for protecting yourself from the cold, the heat, the sand, the wind and even the flies during a nap! You can buy one at the airport upon arrival.
7. Category 3 sunglasses.

For the coldest evenings in the heart of winter (December and January), you might also need:

1. Windbreaker
2. Cap
3. Gloves
4. A lightweight down jacket