Rub al Khali expedition, ex. Salalah
Q4-2021
FULL, Reserved for one group from Germany
In Summary
- Join us in exploring the Rub Al Khali desert – one of the world’s most extreme ecosystems.
- See the most spectacular and remote expanses of sand dunes in the region.
- Learn from master drivers how to cross the high dunes with desert driving lessons.
- Camp, BBQ and chill out after a hard day’s drive under the stars with your friends.
- Small groups of just four to eight people plus four experienced crew. Only two people per car.
- Fully customized trips from three to six days – or more.
- Perfect for unique team building events or out-of-the-box (peer-) coaching.
- Also possible with your own vehicle (overlanders).
Rub Al Khali expedition with 5 Toyota Landcruisers, navigating by the 248 waypoints, explored by Jurjen Duintjer in the last 10 years.
"The most beautiful starry skies I have ever seen"
- Erwin
"The sand dunes are tall and majestic and just begging to be explored"
- Nick
"One of nature’s most creative pieces of art"
- Roderick
"A competition between man and nature"
- Edwin
"The ultimate desert experience"
- Edwin
"Enjoy the incomparable flavour of a campfire meal"
- Nick
"Every single star in the sky is visible"
- Edwin
"The absolute silence is something unique"
- Roderick
"In the footsteps of the great explorers"
- Sean
"It’s a One Thousand and One Nights fairy-tale with a magical star show"
- Roderick
"Great to be out with mates, constantly having to problem-solve"
- Sean
"You might also see a Bedouin train of camels"
- Stef
"The inaccessibility is part of the fun"
- Dennis
"One of the world’s really wild places"
- Sean
"An extreme trip"
- Tabe
"Overwhelming sense of emptiness"
- Dennis
"Driving up massively high dunes"
- Bart
Who we are
Dunes and Stars is operated by two partners and friends: Jurjen Duintjer (Dutch) and Abdullah Mashaikhi (Omani). Sharing a great passion for cars and desert driving, they have extensive experience of organizing and operating desert tours.
Jurjen Duintjer
Jurjen lives in the Netherlands where he co-owns several businesses. He is the route planner and navigator. Living and working in Oman from 2008 to 2014 inspired him to set up Dunes and Stars in order to show others this remote but stunning part of the world and share adventures with more people.
Abdullah Mashaikhi
Abdullah lives in Muscat where he owns a travel agency. With vast experience guiding tourists around the beautiful sites of Oman, he is also very skilled in desert driving and enjoys teaching others how to master the sand.
The Crew
Jurjen and Abdullah will be part of every trip. To complete the crew we will bring several crew members for each trip, both Omani and Dutch expert drivers. On some trips we will also bring a cook.
1000
Kilometres
12
People
248
Waypoints
1 billion
Stars
What to expect
From October to March, we venture into Oman’s remote Rub Al Khali desert. Now you can join us too, driving yourself deep into this true wilderness and out again. Most of our trips are over six days / five nights which allows for a relaxed pace as you learn to drive in the sand and take in the stunning nature all around. Think of them as light expeditions.
Getting there
You’ll fly to Oman’s capital Muscat or the southern city of Salalah. Next morning, we’ll pick you up and give you your car. Don’t worry, we come fully prepared for this adventure with plenty of food, drinks, camping gear, navigation and communication equipment, recovery gear, tools… everything!. Then we’ll set course for the Rub Al Khali desert, an endless sea of sand. We can go straight there or take a scenic route, crossing mountain passes or along the Indian Ocean coast.
Feel the sand beneath your feet
We’ll take it slowly at first to see how comfortable everybody is driving in the sand and teach you the basics if required or help you improve your skills. Then, for the next 400 km or so, there is nothing but sand as we follow the planned route, often crossing sections of high dunes. Each dune crossing is a little adventure. Together, we’ll have to ‘read the sand’ to pick the easiest way to ascend and descend again. Often, it’s not that easy! And you WILL get stuck but that is all part of the fun. Getting unstuck, which requires a team effort, is hard work but very rewarding.
A billion stars
Before sunset, we’ll find a nice place to make camp and soon you’ll be sitting around the campfire with a cold drink and the delicious smell of food on the grill. We do the cooking and help you set up your tents. Then, beneath a billion stars in the dark desert night sky we can share stories – or just enjoy the silence as we recharge for tomorrow. After three or four days in the sand, we’ll exit on the other side of the desert and head back to base, looking forward to a dip in the pool or the ocean. Then celebrate our last night together over dinner and drinks at a 5-star hotel. Next day, we’ll say goodbye and you will be a unique experience richer.
Limited Availability
Please note that we only operate a limited number of tours in the period mid-September - mid-April. We prefer to take dedicated groups that book as one.
Rub al Khali expedition, ex. Salalah
11/10/21 - 19/10/21
Full, Reserved for one group from the Netherlands.
Rub al Khali expedition, ex. Salalah
02/10/21 - 09/10/21
Reserved for Pearlcard / FCN members
Desert crossing on foot, expedition support team
18/09/21 - 25/09/21
Full. Reserved for Italian adventurer.