Guided Treks in Takla Makan Desert

It is hard to imagine a desert submerged in a layer of snow, but in 2008 it was reported that the entire China's Takla Makan desert was covered in it. This is because it has a typical cold desert climate, with temperatures falling below -20°C (-4°F) in winter due to cold air streams from Siberia.

Even in summertime, the nights are stiflingly cold since the desert is landlocked and thousands of kilometres from the sea. However the summer days are much hotter with temperatures reaching 38°C (70°F) in eastern areas.

Although all of these factors combine to make the desert a very hostile environment, it is possible for tourists to take guided treks through the desert at certain times of the year.