The Last Desert Kingdom

Gateway to the Sahara – N’Djamena

Arrive in Chad’s capital, where the hum of the desert feels close yet unseen. Settle into Hotel La Résidence, meet your expedition team, and prepare for the adventure ahead—one that will trade the city’s rhythm for the silence of infinite sand and stone.

Fly east by private charter over shifting dunes and fossil riverbeds to reach the Ennedi Plateau, the Sahara’s “Eden.” Land at Warda Camp, where sandstone cathedrals rise like monuments to time, and spend the afternoon exploring the first of many ancient canyons.

Journey northwest through sandstone corridors and shifting dunes to reach Bir Kora, where the desert preserves millennia of history. Examine ancient petroglyphs of rhinos and giraffes, then stand among the relics of the Toyota Wars, where rusting tanks rest in silence.

Travel deeper into the central plateau, following dry wadis that wind through vast canyons. Explore Beijuoa and Erdebeche, where painted figures and animals stretch across cliff walls, then walk through the palm-lined oasis of Aoue Guelta. End the day among the ruins of Nohi Stone Village, a place that once sustained desert families for generations.

Venture southeast to explore the Aloba and Archei regions, where natural wonders rise from the desert floor. Walk beneath Aloba Arch, one of the largest stone arches on Earth, and continue to the fossil-rich Cruziana site. Later, enter the narrow gorge of Archei Guelta, where nomads water their camels and crocodiles linger in hidden pools.

Cross the vast Mourdi Depression toward the Ounianga Lakes, a network of oases glowing turquoise amid golden dunes. Pause for a lakeside picnic before continuing toward the volcanic highlands of Tibesti and arriving at Moiounga Camp as the evening light settles across the peaks.

Ascend toward the summit of Emi Koussi, the highest volcano in the Sahara. Explore its immense caldera and walk along the rim for panoramic views over the Tibesti range, surrounded by colors and textures that feel otherworldly.

Continue east into the Ouri region, where traces of human life stretch across millennia. Visit ancient rock carvings, megalithic tombs, and colonial forts that reveal how belief, trade, and empire once intersected in this remote land.

Head south to the Borkou region to explore landscapes shaped by forces far older than human history. Stand on the rim of the Aurounga meteorite crater and walk through the Borkou Yardangs, vast ridges sculpted by wind into alien formations. End the day at a natural hot spring sacred to the local Tubu people.

Enjoy a slow morning before your helicopter lifts from Moiounga Camp toward Gouro Oasis, a remote outpost marking the edge of the mountains. Board your private charter to N’Djamena and return to the comforts of Hotel La Résidence. As the desert fades from view, reflect on a journey defined by vast horizons, ancient art, and the rare privilege of access few have ever known.