Frequently Asked
Questions

You fly in and are greeted by your founder-guide and your 4x4. After collecting supplies at the last supermarket before the desert, we spend the first evening together at a hotel on the edge of the desert. There's a detailed briefing covering the adventure ahead, desert driving basics, and radio protocols. The next morning, we head out.

In the desert, we move through the landscape in a small convoy, stopping regularly to explore, recover a vehicle, gather firewood, make lunch, or take in a view that most people never see. We choose camp spots together, set up tents, make a fire, cook dinner and have drinks as the stars come out. It's simple, self-sufficient, and genuinely one of the best experiences most guests have ever had.

See the full itineraries: Morocco · Kazakhstan

Not at all. You'll pop out to explore fossils, climb dunes for views, push a car out of the sand, spot others through obstacles, gather wood, make lunch. The days are packed.

In the evenings at camp: go for a walk, help with dinner, build the fire, set up your tent. If you don't drive, you're welcome as a passenger, there's always plenty to do.

Maximum 4 participant vehicles, typically 2 people per vehicle. We can accommodate up to 3 in a vehicle in rare cases, making an absolute maximum of 12, but 8 is the norm. This is intentional. It keeps the dynamic small and real: you're a crew, not a tour group. Everyone gets a meaningful amount of driving time and the evenings feel intimate rather than like a resort.

Our adventures are designed to fit in a standard week of annual leave. Morocco is 8 nights (fly in on the Saturday, fly home the following Sunday). Kazakhstan is approximately 10 nights. You'll miss around 5 working days. Most guests are back at their desk on Monday having left the previous Saturday, and immediately wondering how to book the next one.

Wild camping means we pitch tents in the desert, no campsite, no other people, no facilities. Our founder is a perfectionist when it comes to finding camp spots: the kind of place that looks like a National Geographic cover. You pick where you pitch up and what view you wake up to.

There are no showers or running water in the desert. Washing is wet-wipe based. We carry sufficient water for drinking and cooking. In the morning, we pack up everything, all we leave behind is footsteps and tyre tracks.

No. Those are desert glamping experiences, a minibus takes you to a fixed luxury camp, you ride a camel at sunset, and you sleep in a proper bed. They're lovely, but they're not this.

A Scarab adventure is self-sufficient. You drive your own 4×4 through remote terrain, set up your own tent, take turns cooking over a fire. The hotels before and after the desert are genuinely nice (we try to find boutique places with pools), but the desert part is deliberately simple. That's the point.

All three destinations will feel genuinely remote, have incredible landscapes and spectacular stars. Private trips can even be timed around the moon cycle. Here's how they differ:

Morocco is our most adrenaline-filled adventure and the biggest driving challenge. It has the most varied landscapes of the three: dunes, mountains, dried riverbeds, rocky plains and more. You'll encounter a surprising amount of wildlife, and it's the easiest on logistics, with good access to bathrooms and hotels throughout, and easy to combine with a night or two in Marrakech before or after.

Kazakhstan has the most otherworldly landscapes. The Ustyurt Plateau, once the floor of an ancient ocean, produces formations found nowhere else: white chalk cliffs, multicoloured canyons, vast salt flats, Bactrian camels on the steppe. It's the least technical of the three on the driving, but arguably the most jaw-dropping on the eye. It's also the hardest to get to flight-wise.

Egypt is available for private groups only (6 or more people). It's the most remote of the three and the most sand-dominated: sand plains, sand highways, huge dune corridors. An intermediate driving challenge. Because local guides are mandatory in Egypt, the trip is fully catered unlike Morocco and Kazakhstan where we cook ourselves. It has the greatest feeling of pure space and can easily be combined with the pyramids, the Valley of the Kings or other Egypt experiences.

Morocco and Kazakhstan are available as scheduled group trips. All three are available as private expeditions. Get in touch to discuss a private trip.

None at all. The vast majority of guests have never driven off-road before. You'll cover everything you need to know in a full briefing the night before entering the desert, and our founder coaches you on the radio throughout. By day two you'll be navigating dunes. By the last day, you'll be doing things you genuinely didn't think you were capable of.

That said, experienced off-roaders will also find this genuinely challenging, Morocco in particular is our most technically demanding adventure.

Absolutely, solo travellers are very welcome and make up a good proportion of our guests. You'll be paired with another solo traveller for your vehicle. Hotel rooms are shared unless you'd like a private room (available for a supplement of £150). The small group size means you're never the odd one out, by day two, you'd never know who came alone.

Yes, couples and groups of friends are very welcome. You'll share a vehicle between two. If you have a group of 6 or more, we can build a private expedition around your group in any of our destinations. Get in touch to discuss.

We design our adventures to maximise the feeling of adventure while minimising physical fitness requirements. You need to be able to dig a vehicle out of sand, push when needed, and handle moderate walking on uneven terrain. If you can manage a ski holiday, you can manage this. You don't need to be a runner or a hiker.

If you have any medical conditions or mobility limitations, please let us know before booking, we'll be honest about whether the trip is right for you.

It can be. We welcome children from age 6 and above. Kids love the desert, the freedom, the space, the campfires. A third person (including children) in a vehicle is charged at 50% of the standard price. If you're thinking of bringing children, WhatsApp us first so we can talk through the specific trip.

As long as you pair up with someone who does drive, passenger-only guests are welcome. We're rarely in the car for more than 30 minutes at a time, there's always plenty to do outside the vehicle. You'll need to be comfortable being on the move in remote terrain.

Yes, a fully equipped desert-capable 4×4 is waiting for you when you arrive. You don't need to own, hire, or ship anything. Scarab handles all the logistics and payment for the vehicles. You will sign a rental agreement with the local rental company and are responsible for any damage caused during the trip.

Almost definitely, and it's one of the best parts. You'll learn vehicle recovery as part of the desert driving training on day one. The group carries all necessary recovery equipment including sand ladders, tow ropes and tyre deflators. The convoy format means there's always a vehicle that can help. It becomes second nature fast, and there's something deeply satisfying about getting a stuck vehicle moving again.

Our founder leads from Car 1, picking lines, reading the terrain and calling instructions over the radio. The convoy rotates positions, and each place has its own job. Car 2 is ready to divert if Car 1 gets stuck. The last car is the sweeper, responsible for making sure nobody is left behind, which means seeing all the others' mistakes before you make them. Each vehicle has a radio and the co-pilot handles communication. You'll practise it all on day one.

A mechanical support crew is on call throughout. We also carry basic spares and tools on the trip. In the event of a serious mechanical failure, we have protocols for getting a replacement vehicle or evacuating the occupants to the next car. In our experience, properly maintained 4×4s in convoy rarely encounter issues that can't be managed in the field.

Yes, a valid full driving licence is required. For Kazakhstan, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is also required alongside your national licence. For Morocco, your standard UK or EU licence is accepted. We'll confirm requirements specific to your licence when you book.

Less than you'd think. The essential kit is: a sleeping bag, a head torch, and basic outdoor clothing. That's it. Tents, camping chairs, cooking equipment, and communal camping gear are all provided. A full detailed kit list is sent when you book.

Wild camping in the desert is nothing like a soggy UK campsite. You're sleeping under a huge, unpolluted sky with zero light pollution, guests regularly say it's the most spectacular thing they've ever seen. Tents are simple to set up (or borrow from us if you don't have one). The temperature is comfortable. The ground is dry. Most first-time campers leave wanting more.

On day one, the whole group shops together for food and supplies for the desert days. Each driver pairing is assigned one cooking night, so you cook once, and eat someone else's cooking three times. Our founder helps every night. Hotel stays include meals. You'll be asked for dietary requirements before departure.

No showers or running water. Washing in the desert is wet-wipe based, it sounds worse than it is, and within a day you stop noticing. We carry sufficient water for drinking and cooking. Toilet facilities are the desert itself. Hotels before and after the desert have everything you need, and we always try to book places with pools.

Yes, we'll ask for dietary requirements before departure and factor them into the group shopping. Vegetarian and most common requirements are straightforward in the desert. Severe allergies should be discussed with us before booking so we can assess whether the trip is suitable.

Alcohol is not included in the trip price. Access varies by destination, in Morocco, alcohol is available but limited in remote areas (calculating how much beer to bring from the supermarket in Ouarzazate is always a tense moment). We recommend bringing spirits from duty free and buying beers locally. In Kazakhstan, alcohol is more freely available. Driving sober is a strict rule, no alcohol before or during driving.

Booking is done via our secure Stripe payment page. A 30% deposit is required at the time of booking, with the remainder due 60 days before departure. See available adventures: Morocco, October 2026 · Kazakhstan, 2027 TBC.

You can register your interest without any commitment, this tells us which adventures and dates interest you, and means you'll be contacted first when spaces open. To actually secure your place, a 30% deposit is required.

Full cancellation terms are set out in the booking conditions provided at the time of purchase. In general, the closer to departure, the less refundable the booking. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, this is a requirement of participation in any case.

A third person in a vehicle (including children) is charged at 50% of the standard per-person price. For groups of 6 or more wanting a private expedition, contact us directly, we build trips around your group in Morocco, Kazakhstan or Egypt.

We design our adventures to maximise the feeling of adventure while minimising genuine risk. Despite feeling remote, we aim to stay within an hour's drive of human settlements and a few hours of hospitals at all times. Every trip carries a satellite communication device, full recovery equipment, and has a mechanical support crew on call. Our convoy protocol is built around safety, nobody gets left behind.

These are not risk-free holidays. They are adventurous journeys undertaken with care, preparation, and an emphasis on group safety.

Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement. Your policy must cover medical emergencies and evacuation, repatriation, trip interruption or cancellation, and personal accident. Off-road driving on a Scarab adventure is simply transport, not motorsport or racing, so most standard travel policies cover it without issue. If in doubt, check with your insurer, and avoid policies that specifically exclude "motor sports" as these sometimes catch people out.

As a group we carry radios, sand ladders, tow ropes, tyre deflators and compressors, a comprehensive first aid kit, and sufficient water reserves. The lead vehicle carries a satellite communication device with global coverage. A mechanical support crew is on call for the duration of the desert section.

Our founder is first-aid trained and carries a comprehensive kit. The satellite device allows communication from anywhere, including areas with no mobile coverage. We know the locations of the nearest hospitals for every section of every route. In the event of a serious medical situation, we have evacuation protocols and will use the satellite device to coordinate emergency response.

For Morocco: fly into Marrakech (RAK). For Kazakhstan: fly into Aktau (SCO), most routes go via Istanbul or Baku. Once you've registered interest or booked, we'll share the exact dates and recommended flight options for your trip.

For Morocco: UK, EU, and most Western passport holders do not require a visa. For Kazakhstan: UK and most EU passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days. Requirements vary by nationality, we'll confirm what you need when you register or book.

Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date.

Expect no signal for the desert portion of the trip. In some destinations like Morocco a little signal is quite likely at points, but don't count on it. Download offline maps before departure (Google Maps works well for both destinations). Local SIMs are available or use an eSIM service like Airalo. The lead vehicle carries a satellite device for emergencies regardless of signal.

The essentials: a sleeping bag, a head torch, and basic outdoor clothing (lightweight for days, a layer for cooler evenings). Tents, camping chairs and cooking equipment are provided to borrow, but you're very welcome to bring your own if you prefer. A full detailed kit list is sent when you book. Don't over-pack, vehicles have limited space.

Yes, cash is useful for personal spending, snacks, souvenirs, and petrol (which is not included in the trip price). We make an ATM stop on the first day in each destination. Card payments are accepted in hotels but unreliable in remote areas and markets.

Our founder may capture photos and video during the trip for use in marketing and social media. If you'd prefer not to appear in any content, just let us know before departure. By default, participation implies consent for non-commercial use. You'll be asked to confirm this in the participant waiver sent before the trip.