Exotic Mount: Desert

How to complete Exotic Mount: Desert

Riding a camel across sand connects you to how people have crossed deserts for millennia, and the slow, rolling gait gives you a completely different sense of the landscape than a vehicle. It's a short, accessible adventure available wherever deserts meet tourism.

1. Book a camel trek in a desert region such as Morocco, Egypt, the UAE, Rajasthan, or Jordan
2. Choose between a one-hour ride and a longer trek with an overnight in the dunes for the fuller experience
3. Wear long sleeves, closed shoes, and a scarf, and bring sunscreen and water
4. Listen to the handler's instructions for mounting; lean back hard as the camel stands and sits, since that lurch unseats beginners
5. Hold the saddle horn, relax into the sway, and let the animal find its footing

Tips

• Go at sunrise or sunset to avoid midday heat and get the best light
• Pick an operator that visibly treats its animals well; skip any with sores or overloaded camels
• The standing-up motion is the jolt that surprises everyone, so brace for it both ways

What counts as done

You've ridden a camel across desert terrain or a designated desert riding zone.