The planet may be getting hotter, but there’s never been a better time to visit the world’s top desert destinations. Offering historic monuments, stunning natural landscapes, and life-changing experiences, these desert destinations need to be on your bucket list for 2020.

Soak Up The History In Egypt

Cairo was named one of the top destinations to visit in 2020 but Egypt itself is an awesome desert destination that should be on your bucket list. The African nation is a haven for history lovers as well as anybody interested in witnessing some of the most impressive structures the world has ever seen. The fertile land along the banks of the Nile is where the majority of the historic attractions can be found. The Pyramids of Giza are essential for anyone visiting Egypt for the first time, as are the Ottoman landmarks in Cairo. Luxor, Egypt, is home to an array of ancient monuments and has been hailed as ‘The World’s Greatest Open-Air Museum’. You can easily explore a great number of significant sites by basing yourself in Luxor, including the wonders of the Valley of the Kings, the complex of temple ruins at Karnak, and the Colossi of Memnon. RELATED: 15 Fascinating Theories People Have About The Egyptian Pyramids

Witness The Wonder Of Australia’s Uluru

Lying in the heart of Australia’s ‘Red Centre’ is Uluru, the sandstone monolith that has become one of the symbols of the country. Thought to be around 550 million years old, Uluru is sacred to Indigenous Australian people and, as such, tourists are no longer permitted to climb on it. But it is worth visiting this famous desert attraction just to witness the magic of it from afar, much like sites such as Stonehenge.

Uluru is located within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and is nearly 280 miles away from the nearest town, Alice Springs. This is one of the best places to experience the authentic Australian outback as the extensive park is home to stunning landscapes and open-air restaurants. There is also the option to stay in luxury accommodation or camp under the stars.

Kata Tjuta is another sacred natural landmark in the area that is essential to visit as part of your itinerary. Sometimes known as “the Olgas”, Kata Tjuta is particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset.

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See The Valley Of The Moon In Chile’s Atacama Desert

Why go to the moon when you can just go to Chile’s Atacama Desert? Okay, they may not be quite the same thing, but the Atacama Desert is often thought of as the driest place in the world and so resembles a lunar landscape. Located to the west of the Andes, the desert is home to the famous Valley of the Moon, an otherworldly landscape filled with curious rock formations and dunes. There are also salt flats, hot springs, and other natural wonders to explore in this ethereal place. Although the Atacama Desert seems like a ghostly plane that’s void of life, it does host the Los Flamencos Nature Reserve. Flamingos and other rare birds come here to enjoy the scenic lagoons. RELATED: Chile Voted World's Best Adventure Tourism Destination For Third Year Straight

Check Out The Wildlife In The Kalahari Desert

The Kalahari Desert stretches across Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, and is an extremely popular destination among those who wish to witness Africa’s natural flora and fauna up close. Thanks to the annual rainfall, a great number of animals and plants are sustained in the desert.

You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to animal encounters in the desert, which is home to a variety of game preserves. There are endless tours and safaris on offer, so visitors have the chance to experience the land by riding horses into the savannah, traveling in a 4x4 or bush-walking with an experienced guide.

The best time to see wildlife in the Kalahari is May or June as this period follows the annual rains. The animals return to the region during this time, guided by the presence of the water.

Discover Dinosaur Fossils In The Gobi Desert

The biggest desert in Asia, the Gobi covers northern China and southern Mongolia, though most visitors travel to the latter part. There are several points of interest within the expansive desert, including the Flaming Cliffs, a site famous for its dinosaur fossils. The landscape in the Gobi is vast and varied, with large patches of sand, gravel, dunes, mountains, and even lush forest. Many people traveling to the Gobi stay in yurts, the traditional huts that the nomadic Mongolian people have lived in for centuries. Camping in these lodgings, whether with a local family or alone, is a remarkable experience that will show you the peace, serenity, and simplicity of life in the Mongolian wilderness. The Gobi Desert offers the chance to camp under the stars, ride camels, hike up sand dunes, and discover fossils that are millions of years old. What more could you ask for? NEXT: 10 Reasons Why Mongolia Should Be On Your Next Asian Itinerary