Last Updated on February 18, 2024

Sandboarding and sand sledding can be practiced on locations with both desert and beach sand dunes all over the world, as well as on the slopes of artificial sand berms, sand quarries, and active volcanos.

There are also two sports facilities dedicated to sandboarding and sand-skiing: Sand Master Park in Florence, Oregon and Monte Kaolino in Hirschau, Germany.

Below, a list of locations where you can practice sandboarding worldwide.

Click on a highlighted region in the map to see where you can go sandboarding in that country. More locations will be added gradually, feel free to recommend sandboarding spots near you in the comments.

Sandboarding / Sand sledding spots worldwide

Sandboarding Locations by Country

Afghanistan

Reg Rawan Valley – Kapisa


Algeria

Erg el Arma – Aïn Beïda, Ouargla

Erg d’Admer – Djanet

Isaouane-n-Tifernine (Tifernine Dune Field) – Illizi

Taghit Dunes – Taghit Oasis


Argentina

Playa Piedras Coloradas – Las Grutas, Arroyo

Médanos Blancos – Monte Hermoso, Buenos Aires

Playa Mar de las Pampas – Villa Gesell, Buenos Aires

La Frontera – Pinamar, Buenos Aires

Dunas de Tatón Fiambalá – Tatón, Catamarca

Duna Magicá – Saujil, Catamarca

Punta Este Sand Dunes – Puerto Madryn, Chubut

Cerro Huancar – Abra Pampa, Jujuy

Médanos Grandes – San Juan Province


Aruba

Arashi / California Dunes – Hudishibana, Noord


Australia

New South Wales

Pebbly Beach – Norah Head, NSW

North Entrance Beach – NSW

Stockton Beach – Port Stephens – NSW

Queensland

Tangalooma Desert – Moreton Island, QLD

Carlo Sand Blow – Rainbow Beach, QLD

Kirrar Sand Blow – Fraser Island, QLD

Big Red – Birdsville, QLD

South Australia

Little Sahara – Kangaroo Island

Yanerbie Sandhill – Streaky Bay

Lincoln National Park – Eyre Peninsula

Coffin Bay National Park – Eyre Peninsula

Fowlers Bay Conservation Park – Fowlers Bay

Tasmania

Henty Dunes – Strahan

Victoria

The Big Drift – Wilsons Promontory National Park

Thurra Sand Dunes – Croajingolong National Park

Spew Hill – Philipp Island

Western Australia

Lancelin Sand Dunes – Lancelin

Green Head Sand Dunes – Green Head

Moore River Sand Dunes – Guilderton

Nanarrup Beach Sand Dunes – Albany

Cheyne Beach and Hassell Beach Sand Dunes – Albany


Belgium

Oostduinkerke Dunes – Koksijde


Bolivia

Lomas de Arena – Santa Cruz


Botswana

Khawa Sand Dunes – Khawa


Brazil

Dunas de Genipabu – Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte

Praia de Pipa – Tibau do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte

Coca Cola Lake – Salinópolis, State of Pará

Praia da Joaquina – Florianópolis, Santa Catarina


Canada

Carcross Desert – Yukon

Great Saskatchewan Sand Hills – Saskatchewan

Sandhill Park – Port Burwell, Ontario

Okanagan Desert – Osoyoos, British Columbia


Cape Verde

Deserto de Viana – Boa Vista


Chile

Cerro Dragón – Iquique

Duna Cerebro – Iquique

Dunas de Concón – Viña del Mar

Death Valley – San Pedro de Atacama


China

Mingsha Dunes – Dunhuang, Gansu

Tianmo Sand Sliding Field (Baolong Mountain) – Huailai County, Hebei

Ningxia Shapotou National Nature Reserve – Shapotou, Ningxia

Nandaihe Golden Beach – Qinhuangdao, Hebei

Emerald Isle

Resonant Sand Gorge Desert (Xiang Sha Wan Desert) – Inner Mongolia


Colombia

Taroa Dunes – Guajira Desert


Cyprus

Akrotiri Sand Dunes – Limassol


Dominican Republic

Dunas de Baní – Las Calderas


Ecuador

Palmira Desert


Egypt

Nubian Desert – Aswan

Great Sand Sea – Siwa

Hurghada Desert – Hurghada

Sinai Desert – Sharm El-Sheikh / Dahab

Wadi El-Rayan – Fayoum

Western Desert – Bahariya Oasis


Fiji

Sigatoka Sand Dunes – Sigatoka, Viti Levu


France

Dune du Pilat – La Teste-de-Buch

Saint Quentin en Tourmont – Somme

Fort Mahon – Somme

Dunes de Berck – Berck sur Mer, Pas de Calais

Dunes de la Slack – Ambleteuse, Pas de Calais


Germany

Monte Kaolino – Hirschau, Bavaria


Greece

Gomati Sand Dunes – Lemnos


Guatemala

Pacaya Volcano – Antigua


India

Sam Desert – Jodhpur

Thar Desert – Jaisalmer


Indonesia

Parangkusumo Sand Dunes – Bantul, Yogyakarta

Mt. Bromo Volcano – East Java


Iran

Varzaneh Sand Dunes – Varzaneh Desert, Isfahan

Rig Zarin – Lut Desert, Yazd


Ireland

Curracloe Beach – Wexford


Israel

Negev Desert Sand Dunes


Italy

Porto Pino Sand Dunes – Sardinia

Mt. Etna Volcano – Sicily

Mt. Stromboli Volcano – Sicily


Japan

Tottori Sand Dunes

 Nakatajima Sand Dunes – Hamamatsu


Jersey

Jersey Sand Dunes


Jordan

Wadi Rum – Aqaba


Kazakhstan

Singing Dunes – Altyn-Emel National Park

Senek Sand Dunes – Mangystau


Kenya

Turkana Sand Dunes – Lake Turkana


Kuwait

Al-Huwamiliyah/Al-Nimriayn sand dunes

Umm Niqqā sand dunes


Lesotho

Leribe Sand Dunes – Butha-Buthe


Libya

Gabr Oun Oasis – Sebha

Ghademis Sand Dunes – Ghademis


Malaysia

Klebang Dunes – Pantai Klebang, Malacca


Maldives

Thoondu – Fuvahmulah City


Mauritania

Chinguetti Sand Dunes – Chinguetti

Nouckchott Sand Dunes – Nouckchott


Mexico

Chachalacas Beach Dunes – Veracruz

Cuervitos Dunes – Mexicali, Baja California

Dunas de San Felipe – San Felipe-Mexicali, Baja California

Duna del Mogote – La Paz, Baja California

Samalayuca Dune Fields – Rancho Dos Hermanos, Chihuahua

San Nicolas Beach Sand Dunes – Hermosillo, Sonora

El Golfo de Santa Clara Sand Dunes – San Luis, Sonora


Mongolia

Khongor Els Sand Dunes – Gobi Desert


Morocco

Taboga Sand Dunes – Agadir

Erg Chebbi Dunes – Merzouga

Erg Chigaga Dunes – Ouarzazate


Namibia

Swakopmund Dunes

Walvis Bay Dunes


Netherlands

Strandavonturen – Hoek van Holland


Nicaragua

Cerro Negro Volcano – Léon


New Zealand

Te Paki Sand Dunes – Cape Reinga, Northland

Ninety Mile Beach – Kaitaia, Northland

Hokianga Sand Dunes – Opononi, Northland

Bethells Beach Black Sand Dunes – Lake Wainamu, Auckland

Sandfly Bay – South Island, New Zealand


Oman

Sharqiya Sands (formerly Wahiba Sands) – Muscat

Bousher Dunes – Muscat


Pakistan

Katpana Desert (Cold Desert) – Skardu

Makran Coast Sand Dunes


Paraguay

Dunas de San Cosme y Damián – San Cosme y Damián, Itapúa Department


Peru

Lima region

Dunas de Asia

Dunas the Chilca

Ica and Nazca region

Huacachina

Cerro Blanco

Cerro Huaricangana

Usaka Desert

Pisco and Paracas region

Pampa de Ocas – Pisco Desert

Laguna de Morón – Pisco Desert

Trujillo region

Conache Sand Dunes

Las Dunas Cañoncillo, Pacasmayo

Dunas de Laramie – Chao, Virú

Chimbote region

Duna Huamanchacate / Duna Terror – Coishco

Cerro Manchan – Casma

Arequipa region

White Sand Dunes – Pampas De La Joya

Duna Toro Mata – Acarí

Cerro de las Minas – Acarí


Philippines

La Paz Sand Dunes – Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

Paoay Sand Dunes – Laoag City, Ilocos Norte


Poland

Łeba Dunes – Słowiński National Park, Pomeranian Voivodeship


Portugal

Duna de Salir do Porto – Caldas da Rainha


Puerto Rico

Middles Beach – Isabela


Qatar

Inland Sea – Khor Al Adaid

Singing Sand Dunes – Al Wakrah


Russia

Sychevo Sand Quarry – Moscow

Dzerzhinsky Sand Quarry – Moscow


Saudi Arabia

Red Sand Dunes – Riyadh Desert


Senegal

Lompoul Desert – Foundiougne


South Africa

Western Cape

Atlantis Dunes – Cape Town

Hout Bay Dunes – Cape Town

Betty’s Bay Dunes – Cape Town

Dragon Dune – Mossel Bay

Knysna Dunes – Knysna

Eastern Cape

Jeffrey’s Bay Dunes – Jeffrey’s Bay

Alexandria Dune Field – Gqeberha / Port Elizabeth

Nahoon Beach – East London

Northern Cape

Witsand Dunes – Kalahari Desert

Gauteng

Mt. Mayhem – Boksburg


South Korea

Haeundae Sand Festival – Busan


Spain

Andalusia

Duna de Bolonia – Tarifa

Duna de Valdevaqueros – Tarifa

Cala del Tesorillo – Tarifa

Punta Paloma – Tarifa

Canary Islands

Dunas de Maspalomas – Gran Canaria

Dunas de Corralejo – Fuerteventura


Sri Lanka

Pottufil Sand Dunes


Sudan

Marawi Sand Dunes – Marawi, Ash Shamaliyah


Taiwan

Kenting National Park – Pingtung County


Turkey

Patara Beach – Gelemiş, Antalya


Venezuela

Médanos de Coro – Falcón

Pico Pan de Azucar – Merida


Uruguay

Dunas de Cabo Polonio – La Paloma

Dunas de Valizas – La Paloma

Bajada 6 – Montevideo

Lomas de Solymar – Ciudad de la Costa

Las Vegas / Parque del Plata – El Pinar

Chihuahua Beach – Maldonado

Punta Colorada – Maldonado

Barra de Valizas – Rocha

Santa Teresa’s Park – Rocha


United Arab Emirates

Al Badayer – Sharja

Al Faya – Abu Dhabi

Lahbab – Dubai

Liwa Oasis – Abu Dhabi

Sweihan – Abu Dhabi


United Kingdom

England

Holywell Bay Beach Sand Dunes – Newquay

Braunton Burrows Sand Dunes – Devon

Seaton Sluice Sand Dunes – Northumberland

Camber Sands – Sussex

Northern Ireland

White Rocks Beach – Portrush

Portstewart Strand – Portstweart

Murlough Sand Dunes – Dundrum

Scotland

Balmedie Beach – Aberdeen

Wales

Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes – Bridgend


United States

Arizona

Ehrenberg Sandbowl – Ehrenberg, AZ

Hot Well Dunes – Safford, AZ

Parker Dunes – Cactus Plain, Parker, AZ

Yuma Sand Dunes – Yuma Desert, Yuma, AZ

California

Mesquite Sand Dunes – Death Valley National Park, CA

Marina State Beach – Marina, CA

The Pit – Sand City, CA

Oceano Sand Dunes – Pismo Beach, CA

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes – Guadalupe, CA

Algodones Dunes – Glamis, CA

Kelso Dunes – Flynn, CA

Dumont Dunes – Baker, CA

Point Mugu – Malibu, CA

L.A. Sand Sledding (winter only):

Zuma Beach – Malibu, CA

Venice Beach – Venice, CA

Hermosa Beach – Los Angeles, CA

Dockweiler State Beach – Los Angeles, CA

Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve – Duncan, CO

Hawaii

Makena Big Beach – Kihei, HI

Papakolea Green Sand Beach – Ka Lae, HI

Idaho

Bruneau Dunes State Park – Bruneau, ID

St. Anthony Sand Dunes – St. Anthony, ID

Indiana

Indiana Dunes – Indiana Dunes State Park, IN

Mt. Baldy – Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN

Massachusetts

Cape Cod Sand Dunes – Provincetown, MA

Michigan

Silver Lake State Park – Oceana County, MI

Nevada

Nellis Dunes – Las Vegas, NV

Amargosa Sand Dunes – Las Vegas, NV

New Mexico

White Sands National Park

North Carolina

Jockey’s Ridge State Park – Nags Head

Oklahoma

Little Sahara Sand Dunes – Waynoka

Oregon

Sand Master Park – Florence

Honeyman State Park – Florence

Siltcoos Beach – Florence

South Jetty – Florence

North Bend Sand Dunes – North Bend

Umpqua Dunes / Winchester Bay – Reedsport

Cape Kiwanda – Pacific City

Nehalem Bay – Manzanita

Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site – Tillamook

Rhode Island

Coventry Sand Dunes – Mishnock Lake 

Big River Management Area – West Greenwhich

Texas

Monahans Sandhills State Park – Monahans, TX

Utah

Coral Pink Sand Dunes – Kanab, UT

Little Sahara Sand Dunes, UT

Sand Hollow State Park, UT

Moab Sandhill, UT

Wyoming

Killpecker Sand Dunes – Rock Springs


Tunisia

Douz Sand Dunes – Douz

Tozeur Sand Dunes – Tozeur


Vanuatu

Mt. Yasur Volcano – Tanna Island


Yemen

Noget Sand Dunes – Socotra

Ahrer Beach – Socotra


We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. Activities covered may change based on your destination and country of residence.


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Where can you sandboard?

Sandboarding destinations can be found in every continent except Antarctica. The best locations for sand surfing are the the hot deserts of South America, Africa and the Middle East – where you can find the tallest and steepest dunes without vegetation.

That said, most countries with a coastal area are also suitable for sandboarding: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and even the UK have a lot of great spots where you can practice this sport.

Coastal dunes are usually shorter and less steep and better suited for sledding, but sand surfing can be a lot of fun there nonetheless, and you can make do with a plastic sand sled or disc saucer.

What are the best locations for sandboarding?

Huacachina, Peru is often considered the best location for sandboarding, especially because there are plenty of majestic desert dunes so close to the oasis that you can easily rent a dune buggy to reach them and spend the whole day sandboarding.

There are however steeper and higher dunes in Peru for those who are looking for more adventurous rides a bit more off the beaten path.

Alternative forms of sand boarding and sledding can also be practiced in some continental areas where there are no deserts nor beaches, such as mainland Europe or Canada, where you can find some steep sandhills or artificial sand quarries to slide.

You can even practice volcano boarding on a handful of locations worldwide (Nicaragua, Italy, Indonesia, Vanuatu and Japan), which consists of sandboarding down hardened lava slopes on active volcanos.

What are the most popular sandboarding destinations in the US?

There are plenty of popular sandboarding and sledding destinations in the US, particurarly in the southwest. These include the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Florence, the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve in Colorado, Kelso Dunes in California, White Sands National Park in New Mexico, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah, and Jockey’s Ridge State Park in North Carolina.

Each of these locations offers a unique and exciting sandboarding experience, from the largest sand dunes in North America in Oregon to the beautiful white sands of New Mexico and the largest coastal sand dunes in the Atlantic in North Carolina.

Where and when can you go sand sledding in Los Angeles?

Sand sledding in Los Angeles is a seasonal activity that takes place every year between mid-December and early April.

During this time, artificial sand dunes are constructed along the shores of various beaches in Los Angeles to protect against winter storms and high tides.

One of the most popular sand sledding spots in LA is Point Mugu in Malibu, where you can enjoy sledding on large, steep dunes while taking in stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Another popular spot is Zuma Beach in Malibu, which provides a seasonal alternative to Point Mugu and is known for its large sand dunes and great workout.

Venice Beach is another well-known spot for sand sledding in LA, with a vast sand berm located south of the Venice Beach Pier being constructed every year from October until spring. Hermosa Beach is also a popular location for sand sledding, with its slopes being perfect for young kids to practice their skills.

In addition to these beaches, Manhattan Beach Sand Dune Park is another location where you can enjoy sand sledding, although it is only allowed using cardboard sleds. Finally, if you’re looking for a less crowded option, Dockweiler State Beach is another location to consider, with its oceanfront RV park making it a popular spot for winter sand sledding.

Sandboarding / Sand sledding spots worldwide
Couple sandboarding near Cape Town, South Africa.

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