WE'RE GOING ON A MISSION - AND YOU ARE INVITED
The Rub' al Khali, arabic for Empty Quarter, is the largest contiguous sand desert in the world, encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsular. The desert covers some 250,000 square miles (650,000 sq. kms) and includes parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. It is part of the larger Arabian Desert.
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“It is very still”, wrote Wilfred Thesiger “with the silence we have driven from our world”. The British explorer was talking about his two epic journeys with the Bedouin of Arabia that took him through the massive sand dunes of the Empty Quarter and the oasis settlements located in Liwa. His book Arabian Sands recounting his experiences and journeys remains as one of the classics of travel literature. Those sand dunes and oasis are still there today and to see and visit them is to experience one of the true natural beauties on Earth.
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However the vastness of the desert and the natural features of its high sand dunes make it difficult for human life to survive and move around. Located within this ‘ocean of fire’ is Tel Moreeb, standing at over 300 metres in height (the same height as the London Shard) and with a 50 degree incline to the top it is considered to be the world’s tallest sand dune.
ABOUT OUR ADVENTURE
Our X Platoon Ocean of Fire adventure has been designed to provide you with a very unique and enthralling insight into the necessary skills, techniques and procedures you will require if you are to survive in a desert environment. X Platoon aim to give you the confidence and ability to understand your surroundings and the environment, protect yourself from the elements, source food and critical water supplies and then light a fire using only what is available from the land.
Essential skills such as dune driving, emergency repairs and freeing vehicles stuck in deep sand will be expertly covered along with key navigational techniques for movement by foot and vehicle using maps, compass, GPS and dead reckoning will also be practiced. Vital medical training and situational awareness of the effects this hostile environment can have on the body will be rehearsed until they become second nature, the desert takes no prisoners.
The adventure will also provide you with the opportunity to live under the stars and view them in their full beauty, you will encounter Bedouin tribesmen as they move their camel herds through the vast desert and witness nature test even the hardiest of animals and wildlife. Of course not to forget, the whole adventure will be great fun and a truly unforgettable experience.
Essential skills such as dune driving, emergency repairs and freeing vehicles stuck in deep sand will be expertly covered along with key navigational techniques for movement by foot and vehicle using maps, compass, GPS and dead reckoning will also be practiced. Vital medical training and situational awareness of the effects this hostile environment can have on the body will be rehearsed until they become second nature, the desert takes no prisoners.
The adventure will also provide you with the opportunity to live under the stars and view them in their full beauty, you will encounter Bedouin tribesmen as they move their camel herds through the vast desert and witness nature test even the hardiest of animals and wildlife. Of course not to forget, the whole adventure will be great fun and a truly unforgettable experience.
THE SCHEDULE
This adventure will run over 7 days and 7 nights and will include the following:
Day 1: Travel from UK to Abu Dhabi (capital) and then on to the desert camp. Upon arrival you will be met by transport waiting to drive you into the vastness of the desert and into the X Platoon camp. The camp is basic and you will be living in tents.
Day 2: After your first desert breakfast you will receive your full adventure briefing, meet the team and your fellow camp mates and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Day 2-3: Desert Survival - A desert is the place where difficult living conditions like lack of water, major temperature differences between day and night, and high or low temperatures during the day, made it into an unfriendly area. At first glance, the desert is exactly as it sounds: a deserted area, which is why desert survival is quite different from surviving in the woods where you can find wild food and water almost everywhere. At a second glance you start to realise that even in the most unlivable conditions there are plants and animals that enjoy calling that place home. Being able to survive in these conditions takes knowledge, determination, resilience and above all the will to keep going. These 2 days will focus on skills such as:
Day 4-5: Desert Navigation - Finding the way in a desert presents a great degree of difficulty for a person who has never been exposed to this environment. Desert navigators have learned their way through generations of experience. In a survival situation being able to navigate using a map and compass, a GPS, dead reckoning, the sun and stars, the shape of the sand dunes and even the flight path of birds will be the difference between life or death. These 2 days will focus on skills such as:
Day 6-7: Desert Mobility - Movement through the desert is controlled by the effectiveness of your driving, your understanding of the environment, the reliability of your vehicle and your skill in dealing with any and all unexpected eventualities. This phase of the adventure aims to give you the necessary skills and experience required to move through the desert with confidence in your abilities to handle a 4x4 vehicle and navigate this extremely challenging terrain. These 2 days will focus on skills such as:
Day 7: The adventure will end with a traditional Arabian feast as you watch the sun set over the Rub’ al Khali, remembering this once in a lifetime experience and the people you have shared it with. We hope this adventure will ignite your love for the desert and provide memories that you will cherish forever.
Day 8: Our transport will take you back to Abu Dhabi for your return journey home. Alternatively, stay on for a few days and enjoy the sights of this great capital city and its glamorous neighbour Dubai which is only 90 minutes drive away.
All meals will be provided on this trip along with specialist equipment such maps, lightweight compass, GPS and of course 4x4 vehicles. An extensive kit list and full joining instruction paperwork will be sent to you in time for you to make your travel arrangements and preparations for the trip.
If you are interested in joining us on this true desert adventure, click this link, send us your details and we'll be in touch.
Day 1: Travel from UK to Abu Dhabi (capital) and then on to the desert camp. Upon arrival you will be met by transport waiting to drive you into the vastness of the desert and into the X Platoon camp. The camp is basic and you will be living in tents.
Day 2: After your first desert breakfast you will receive your full adventure briefing, meet the team and your fellow camp mates and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Day 2-3: Desert Survival - A desert is the place where difficult living conditions like lack of water, major temperature differences between day and night, and high or low temperatures during the day, made it into an unfriendly area. At first glance, the desert is exactly as it sounds: a deserted area, which is why desert survival is quite different from surviving in the woods where you can find wild food and water almost everywhere. At a second glance you start to realise that even in the most unlivable conditions there are plants and animals that enjoy calling that place home. Being able to survive in these conditions takes knowledge, determination, resilience and above all the will to keep going. These 2 days will focus on skills such as:
- Equipment and clothing preparation
- Utilise STOP - Stop, Think, Observe and Plan
- Finding shelter
- Water concerns including: daily requirements, water discipline, locating possible water sources and making a solar still
- Getting rescued including: signalling methods and attracting attention and emergency ground indication signs
- Finding food and learning to identify edible plants and fruits
- Travelling and resting
- Making and maintaining a fire
- Predator awareness
- Medical conditions, symptoms and treatments
Day 4-5: Desert Navigation - Finding the way in a desert presents a great degree of difficulty for a person who has never been exposed to this environment. Desert navigators have learned their way through generations of experience. In a survival situation being able to navigate using a map and compass, a GPS, dead reckoning, the sun and stars, the shape of the sand dunes and even the flight path of birds will be the difference between life or death. These 2 days will focus on skills such as:
- Using outdated mapping and associated pitfalls
- Map and lightweight compass work
- Use of a GPS
- Using a watch and the sun to find north
- Establish an east west travel line
- Finding north using the stars
- Dead reckoning
- Reading sand dunes and land formations to interpret direction
- Animal habits and indicators
Day 6-7: Desert Mobility - Movement through the desert is controlled by the effectiveness of your driving, your understanding of the environment, the reliability of your vehicle and your skill in dealing with any and all unexpected eventualities. This phase of the adventure aims to give you the necessary skills and experience required to move through the desert with confidence in your abilities to handle a 4x4 vehicle and navigate this extremely challenging terrain. These 2 days will focus on skills such as:
- Preparing your vehicle
- Standard vehicle equipment
- Safety factors
- Reading the sand
- Good driving habits
- Practical driving techniques to include: up and down sand dunes, crossing slopes, crossing ditches and gullies, traversing rocky ground
- Vehicle recovery from deep sand
- Basic vehicle repairs
Day 7: The adventure will end with a traditional Arabian feast as you watch the sun set over the Rub’ al Khali, remembering this once in a lifetime experience and the people you have shared it with. We hope this adventure will ignite your love for the desert and provide memories that you will cherish forever.
Day 8: Our transport will take you back to Abu Dhabi for your return journey home. Alternatively, stay on for a few days and enjoy the sights of this great capital city and its glamorous neighbour Dubai which is only 90 minutes drive away.
All meals will be provided on this trip along with specialist equipment such maps, lightweight compass, GPS and of course 4x4 vehicles. An extensive kit list and full joining instruction paperwork will be sent to you in time for you to make your travel arrangements and preparations for the trip.
If you are interested in joining us on this true desert adventure, click this link, send us your details and we'll be in touch.
