Top Sandboarding Destinations [2023]

Why it’s great: very tall dunes made of the finest sand; awesome sight-seeing spots and many sand-related activities to do besides sandboarding

The tiny village-oasis of Huacachina, located south of the capital Lima, attracts sand enthusiasts from all over the world. It is surrounded by immense dunes of sand resembling ocean waves – including some of the tallest dunes in the entire world.

Not only that, the Ica region offers truly spectacular landscapes comprising emerald green waters, palm trees, eucalyptus trees, kiosks and restaurants. Huacachina is the ideal place for any type of sand-related activity, with sandboarding and dune buggying being the two main attractions.

Why it’s great: plenty of sandboarding spots around the country; incredible and unique landscapes

Once a colony belonging to the German Empire, Namibia hosts some of the most outstandingly scenic spots for sandboarding, such as Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and the spectacular Sossuvlei – an area of the Namib Desert characterized by suggestive red dunes.

You will need to obtain a special permit and bring your own sandboard in order to surf the dunes of Sossuvlei, but we promise it will be worth the hassle.

Why it’s great: ideal place for newcomers to learn the basics of sandboarding; regular sand-related events and competitions 

The Sand Master Park in Oregon was the first sports complex in the world entirely dedicated to sand sports and an ideal place for beginners to learn the ropes of sand boarding. Every year it hosts the Sand Master Jam on the 3rd Saturday of July.

Even without visiting the park, if you are looking for the best dunes in the US for sandboarding, head to the Oregon coast – you won’t be disappointed.

Why it’s great: ideal place for newcomers to learn the basics of sandboarding; regular sand-related events and competitions 

Sand dunes can be found all over the Australian continent and there are many sandboarding spots around the country, which can get overcrowded at times, especially near the cities.

Our favorite spot, located on tiny Kangaroo Island, is a naturally occurring system of coastal dunes named “Little Sahara”, covering approximately 2 square kilometres of the island. There, you can either rent a sandboard or a toboggan sled, depending on whether you’d rather stand or sit while gliding.

Why it’s great: only sand dune equipped with a lift; hosts yearly Sandboarding World Championships 

You wouldn’t think of Germany as a sandboarding hotspot, but Monte Kaolino in Bavaria offers many perks: first of all, it’s the largest sand hill in Europe, with dunes up to 100 metres tall.

Most importantly, it is equipped with a lift – which means that you won’t have to climb back on foot every time you reach the bottom. Because of this, it is also the place where each year the Sandboarding World Championships used to be held.

Why it’s great: pictoresque golden sand dunes in the world’s most famous desert; sand surfing next to the sea!

One of the most unique sandboarding experience you can have is offered by the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

About one hour away from the city of Agadir not only you can find the Timlalin dunes, some of the largest, “goldest” dunes of the Sahara, which are unique for they happen to be located just next to the ocean, in a location known as Taboga beach. There, you can ride the dunes of the Sahara desert while enjoying breathtaking views of the ocean.

Why it’s great: this desert has some of the tallest stationary dunes in the world, that also happen to be singing dunes.

The Chinese Desert Badyn-Jaran can pride itself with the tallest stationary dunes on Earth, some of which reach 500 meters in height. One of the mysteries is how these dunes stay in one place.

Water seeps from the lakes below, but how does it hold the sandy hills in place? It should be added that these dunes can “sing”: the wind blows away the top layer of sand, which causes an electrostatic charge in the lower layers, resulting in a low-frequency noise similar to the roar of an airplane. 

And what makes them even more special? You can sandboard on them.

Why it’s great: Vast sand dunes with colors ranging from white to grey, yellw and pink, with great scenery and lots of activities to do near the beach.

Vietnam hardly comes to mind when thinking about sand skiing. However, fanatical sand boarders can head to the dunes of Mui Ne Beach Resort.

At the same time, the responsibility for such an adventure will be entirely on the tourists themselves: there are no travel companies and official guides, and local residents act as instructors, and these residents are not always polite and often quick-tempered.