Sandboarding is an exciting extreme sport that combines elements of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding. This activity is based on riding a special board along sand dunes and dunes. This is a great opportunity to diversify your vacation and add a drop of adrenaline and extreme sports to it. The most popular locations for sanding are in desert areas, sand quarries and near beaches. We tell you about the best places where you can try this sport.
Egypt
Sandboarding is not very popular in Egypt, but nevertheless, it is practiced here. The best locations are the dunes of the Great Sand Sea, as well as in El Safra. According to local beliefs, sandboarding originated in Egypt. It is believed that pharaohs in ancient times rolled down sand dunes on pieces of wood.
Egypt offers unique sandboarding opportunities thanks to its vast desert terrain. For example, the Sahara Desert, the largest in the world, offers many places to practice this sport: the most popular locations are the Farafra Oasis, the Dakhla Oasis and the Bahariya Sand Dunes. And the Libyan Desert, which is located on the western coast of Egypt, offers excellent conditions for sandboarding in the Siwa oasis area.
Egypt also has a hot and dry climate, so you can practice sandboarding here all year round.
How to get there
There are direct flights from Russia to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. Ticket prices start from 42,000 rubles in both directions*. To enter, you must obtain an e-tourist visa in advance.
Namibia
In Namibia, there is a unique sport similar to sandboarding – sand skiing. Most of the tracks are located in the Namib Desert near the cities of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. With special permission, you can visit the highest dunes in the world, located in Sossusvlei. One of the most famous dunes in this region is Dune 45. There are two styles of boarding here: regular, like snowboarding, and lying on your stomach, face down. For the latter, a special board is used.
Namibia is famous for its huge and impressive sand dunes, especially in the famous Namib-Naukluft National Park. Here you can find dunes up to 300m high, making them ideal for sandboarding and sand surfing.
Be sure to try sunset skating. Golden light and long shadows create a unique atmosphere and make your experience even more magical.
How to get there
There are no direct flights between Russia and Namibia. You can fly to the capital, Windhoek, with a transfer in Doha. Ticket prices start from 98,000 thousand rubles round trip*. Russians can stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days during each period of 180 days.
UK
Sandboarding in the UK is a fun extreme sport that is practiced on sand dunes and beaches. And although the UK is not as famous for its high sand dunes as, for example, Namibia or Egypt, it does have excellent conditions for sandboarders.
Firstly, the UK has many beautiful sandy beaches and dune systems, especially on the south coast. Some popular sandboarding destinations include Dorset, Cornwall and Southend-on-Sea. There are a variety of beach types, from wide sandy beaches to narrow dune strips.
Secondly, most beaches and dune systems in the UK are at most a couple of hours drive from major cities and do not require long travel to desert areas. This makes sandboarding very accessible to tourists and locals.
However, the UK climate limits the sandboarding season. These are usually the summer months when the weather is more favorable and the beaches attract more people to enjoy outdoor activities.
How to get there
There are currently no direct flights between Russia and the UK; you can fly with transfers in Istanbul and Dubai. Round-trip tickets will cost at least 43,000 rubles*. Russians will need a visa to enter.
Germany
The only place in Germany available for sandboarding is in the city of Hirschau in the east of the country. Monte Caolino is an artificial sand mountain equipped with a 120-meter elevator to the top. The annual sandboarding world championships are held here. There are schools and instructors here to teach beginners the basics of sandboarding. You can also rent the necessary equipment if you don’t have your own board.
Thanks to the synthetic material that allows you to ride on a snow-like surface, Monte Caolino is open to sandboarding all year round. This is especially valuable since the climate in Germany is not always suitable for traditional winter sports.
In addition to sandboarding, in the winter months you can go skiing and snowboarding on Monte Caolino.
How to get there
The closest airport to Hirschau is in Nuremberg. Tickets for a flight with a transfer will cost at least 77,000 rubles. Russians will need a Schengen visa to enter.
Peru
In Peru there are large sand dunes near the city of Ica. Duna Grande is the largest in the world. The Copa Sandboarding Peru has been taking place here since 2009. There are also large dunes near the capital, Lima. The main advantage here is that you don’t have to walk to the dunes – you can be taken there in special buggies (by the way, you can book a whole desert buggy tour with bouncing on the dunes).
Another popular location for sandboarding is the oasis of Huacachina. This is a small lake surrounded by sand dunes.
If you are considering sandboarding in Peru, we recommend working with experienced guides or tour operators to help you choose the most suitable spots and ensure your safety while riding. Sandboarding in Peru is a fun and unforgettable way to explore the beauty of the desert and experience the adrenaline rush of high sand dunes.
How to get there
There are currently no direct flights between Russia and Peru; you can fly with transfers in Turkey, Qatar and Brazil. Ticket prices start from 183,000 rubles*. Russians can stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days.
Australia
Australia offers a variety of sandboarding locations, and with its vast coastline and sand dunes, the country attracts locals and tourists alike. The country has one of the longest coastlines in the world, providing many beaches and dune systems for sandboarding.
The center of sandboarding in Australia is the Lesser Sahara region in the south of the country. The size of the local dunes reaches about two square kilometers, and the height is 70 m above sea level. Another popular spot for sand surfers is Lucky Bay. It is located 30 km from the small town of Kalbarri, in Eastern Australia. This place is famous among sandboarders and competitions in this sport are held here. Another find for sandboard lovers is the Stoknoe Dunes. They are located north of Sydney. The dune is about one kilometer wide and as much as 32 kilometers long. The total area of the dunes is about 4,200 hectares.
Other locations include the beaches of the south coast of New South Wales, the coast of South Australia and the sand dunes of Mornington Island in Western Australia.
How to get there
There are currently no direct flights from Russia. You can fly with transfers in China, Thailand, the UAE and Qatar. Ticket prices start from 79,000 rubles* in both directions. All Russian citizens must obtain a visa to enter Australia.
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
