Desert Oasis Camp Among the Dunes

Rolling sand dunes stretch to the horizon under a pale sky, giving way to a dense cluster of palm trees that shelters an oasis camp below. Striped and patterned tents in red, blue and orange stand in small clearings, their entrances hung with woven rugs and pots. Two turquoise pools, linked by a stream, sit at the center of the scene, each crossed by a stone footbridge with carved balustrades. Ancient sandstone arches and a domed ruin rise on the right, reached by a wide flight of stone steps climbing into the rock. Lavender, marigold and bougainvillea grow between boulders and agave along the water's edge, near a small mudbrick house with clay jars. Palm fronds and desert shrubs crowd every open patch of sand between the tents. The camp splits naturally into pockets around each pool and archway, each one a separate stop along the walk through the palms.