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Best desert destinations in Europe

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Lanzarote
Volcanic Landscapes and Sunny Shores
8.1
Timanfaya National Park covers about 51 square kilometres of volcanic ground shaped by eruptions from 1730 to 1736. Temperatures just below the surface reach 600 degrees Celsius. Guides pour water into a hole and it shoots out as steam. Coach tours cross the barren black terrain of this island on a set road.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on golden sands of Playa de Papagayo beach
  • 🦀 Discover underwater wonders at Jameos del Agua caves
  • 🌋 Explore volcanic landscapes in Timanfaya National Park
Maspalomas
Sunlit dunes meet turquoise waves in paradise
8.6
Wind blew sand from a seabed exposed during the last ice age and built the dunes of Maspalomas. They cover about 404 hectares on the south coast of Gran Canaria. The area has been a nature reserve since 1987. Walking across the rippled golden sand to the sea feels like a small Sahara.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Dive into crystal waters for snorkeling adventures
  • 🗼 Explore the historic lighthouse and surrounding cliffs
  • 🏜️ Stroll along the iconic sand dunes at sunset
Svalbard
Arctic wilderness at Earth's edge
8.3
A treaty signed in 1920 gave Norway control of this Arctic archipelago. Western Svalbard gets under 400 millimetres of precipitation a year. Plants grow on only about 10 percent of the land and glaciers cover about 60 percent. The result is a stark and empty terrain of rock and ice.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike across the dramatic tundra and rugged landscapes
  • 🛥️ Explore glaciers and fjords on guided boat tours
  • 🐻‍❄️ Observe Arctic wildlife including elusive polar bears safely
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