Today terrorism, kidnapping and banditry have seen tourism collapse in the Sahara, but back in the 1980s we were enjoying a golden age of independent exploration. The glamour of the original Paris-Dakar Rally along with the evolution of desert-capable motorcycles and 4x4s saw adventure tourism flourish. In 1982 I set off on a ratty XT500 and got halfway across the Sahara before being forced to turn back. Once I got out of that fix I vowed never again, but the lure of the dunes proved too great and over the next decade I returned most winters, each time going a little further and getting a little better at the desert biking game. Desert Travels was originally published as a paperback in 1996. In this revised version for 2021, some sections have been dropped, others extended and any French dialogue has been translated into English.You’ll find photos, maps and bonus chapters at: sahara-overland.com/desert-travels