This Is
Not a Tour.

Self-drive desert adventures. Vehicles provided.

You drive. You set up camp. You cook together.
One week off work. A story for life.

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Vehicle Provided
A fully-equipped 4×4 is waiting for you when you land. Shared between two people. No ownership, no shipping, no prep.
Founder-Led, Always
Every expedition is led by the founder. He leads the convoy in Car 1, coaches over the radio, and manages all safety and navigation.
Real Self-Sufficiency
You set up your own tent, shop for food together, take turns cooking over fire. Satellite comms and full recovery equipment throughout.
One Week Off Work
Fits in a standard week of annual leave. Fly in, head straight to the desert. Back at your desk the following week — changed.
Any Experience Level
Never driven off-road before? Most haven't. Equally, seasoned off-roaders will find these deserts a genuine challenge. Everyone earns their stripes.

The Scarab Difference

Overlanding is expensive.
Adventure travel
is passive.

Scarab Adventures exists to change this. On a Scarab adventure, you experience a true, raw overland adventure in just one week off work. No own vehicle. No experience. No months of planning. A 4×4 is waiting for you when you land. We head into the desert the next day. You come back with friends for life.

This is not a desert safari where you're driven to a luxury camp in the dunes. There are no tour guides with flags. You are a true participant. You drive, you set up camp, take turns cooking over fire, and sleep under stars no one else gets to see. Each adventure is guided by our founder who coaches you on the radio and steers you clear of any consequential mistakes. Everything else is up to you.

Whether you're a solo traveller looking to be part of a crew, an existing group of friends looking for the adventure of a lifetime, or an organisation looking to take team building to a whole new level - the desert connects people like nothing else.

Where We Go

The Adventures

Every departure is founder-led. New destinations added as we grow.

Private & Group Expeditions

Got 6 or more people? We build a trip entirely around your group, in Morocco, Kazakhstan, or Egypt. Any time of year.

Get in touch

What It's Really Like

End the day around a fire in T-shirts with a G&T. This is overlanding at its purest and best.

A typical desert day: wake up in the dunes, pack camp, brief on the route. Drive, but rarely in the car for more than 30 minutes without stopping. There's constant involvement: spotting lines, recovering vehicles, climbing dunes for views, the occasional camel encounter.

About an hour before sunset, we find a National Geographic–worthy camp spot. People wander, decompress, watch the sun go down. Whichever car is cooking gets started. Then fire, food, and the kind of conversation that only happens when there's no signal and nowhere to be.

On day one, almost everyone has never driven off-road. By the last day, you're crossing some of the highest dunes in Morocco, places even seasoned off-roaders avoid on their own. Once you've done it, Wales is a tough sell.

The Process

Simple. Just Show Up.

01
Book or Register
Reserve your place on a scheduled trip or register interest for future dates. We send you everything you need: flights guidance, kit list, pre-departure pack.
02
Fly In
Fly to the gateway city on Saturday. Your 4×4, radios, and recovery gear are waiting. Day one: a briefing, the supermarket, and a night on the edge of the desert.
03
Drive, Learn, Explore
The founder leads the convoy from Car 1 and coaches over the radio. You drive, you navigate, you get stuck, you get out. Skills build fast.
04
Fly Home Changed
Five days of work missed. A crew made. A desert crossed. The hangover is real, and so is the urge to book again before you've even unpacked.

What's Covered

Pack Light. We've Done The Rest.

Included

  • Self-drive 4×4 (shared between 2)
  • All tolls and permits
  • Wild camping nights in the desert
  • Boutique hotel nights
  • Recovery equipment & radios
  • Satellite comms device
  • Full driving tuition
  • Mechanical support on call

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Petrol
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending
  • Solo room upgrade (£150)

What to bring

A sleeping bag, a head torch, and basic outdoor clothing. That's it. We handle everything else.

Your Guide

An Adventure Coach.
Not a Tour Guide.

"Hi, my name is Tibet. I've been to over 80 countries, driven from the UK to the Chinese border through the deserts of Kazakhstan, and crossed the deserts of Bolivia, Peru and Chile on motorbike. I grew up in Egypt going to the desert every weekend with a handful of families, no expensive gear, just the vehicles we had and a willingness to figure it out. Scarab Adventures exists to share that with everyone."

I've taken over 40 people, most of them complete novices, into the desert in Morocco and Egypt. I've built the safety systems, the driving curriculum and the convoy protocols from scratch. I lead from the front on every trip, coaching the adventure as we go. I leave as much as possible to the group, I just steer us clear of any consequential mistakes.

— Tibet Fonteyne, Founder & Guide

80+ Countries 40+ Novices Guided Deserts on 3 Continents ex-F1 Engineer Product Management Leader

From Previous Adventurers

What People Say

5.0
★★★★★
13 Google Reviews

"Easily one of the most incredible adventures I will ever go on. I joined the trip with little interest in cars or the desert and knowing no-one else but Tibet; and I ended up having the time of my life. Tibet has something special here: he'll take you off the tourist trail to see places and drive around dunes in a way that would take weeks of preparation to do yourself. It's more challenging than the usual holiday, but much much more rewarding as well."

Richard Tanburn ★★★★★ Google

"Such an incredible experience. Crossing dunes, camping in the open desert, exploring remote landscapes, it truly feels like a real expedition. What makes it stand out is how perfectly balanced it is: full sense of adventure without being overly risky or requiring months of planning. It fits easily into a short week, making it something you can actually do again and again. My only problem is that it's so unforgettable, I can't stop thinking about going back."

Charles Ravarani ★★★★★ Google

"Camping in the Sahara was like being on a different planet, so quiet, such bright stars. I will definitely go again."

George Watson ★★★★★ Google

"I've been on trips to Morocco and Egypt, both totally unique and unforgettable. The excitement of dune bashing, sleeping under the stars, not seeing another person for a whole week."

Adam ★★★★★ Google

Stay in the Loop

Not Ready to Book Yet?

Register your interest and we'll keep you updated on new trips, new destinations, and available dates. No commitment, no pressure.

Or if you have a group of 6 or more and want to talk about a private expedition, use the form to get in touch directly.

Prefer to talk directly?

WhatsApp the founder →

Register your interest

Takes 2 minutes. Tells us which trips and dates interest you. No commitment.

Open Registration Form →

Got 6 or more people?

We'll build a private expedition around your group, in Morocco, Kazakhstan or Egypt.

WhatsApp the founder to discuss →

Morocco. October 2026.
Spaces Available.

8 nights. 4×4 provided. From £2,595 per person. One week off work.

Book Morocco — Oct 2026 Ask the Founder