Imagine wandering through a vast desert. The dry wind is whipping around you. Sand is pummeling your legs. And all you can think is that you need water before you collapse from dehydration. All of a sudden, you see a gorgeous oasis in the distance. The lush green of the vegetation and the alluring blue of the water seem too good to be true. It sounds like a mirage dreamed up by the writers of an Arabian legend but there are real locations like this all around their world. Their striking beauty would attract attention without any assistance but the fact that these fanciful spots exist against the backdrop of a barren desert landscape makes them all the more attractive to visitors from around the world.

Huacachina, Peru

Huacachina: Ensconced in the center of hundreds of miles of Peruvian desert, this South American oasis is said to have been a life-saver for many men and their mules who almost died from heat exhaustion. It has recently become a popular resort destination for travelers from around the world who have heard about the lagoon lined with palm trees and want to see it for themselves. The people who live here (there approximately one hundred residents) believe that the oasis was created when a bathing princess was startled by an aggressive suitor; she fled the scene and left behind the bathwater and her robes which formed the lagoon and surrounding desert here. Whether you believe this creation myth or not, you’ll be sure to feel like a princess yourself on a relaxing trip to this destination.

Siwa Oasis, Egypt

Siwa Oasis: The Siwa Oasis (alternative known as Siwah) is an Egyptian Oasis in the middle of the Libyan Desert. It provides refuge from the desert heat to a population of over 20,000 people who live in the isolated settlement built here. Although these modern people call Siwa home, it has been a populated oasis for much longer than any of them have been there; it dates back to the 10th Millennium BC and was used by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans at different periods of time throughout history. It was the location where Alexander the Great traveled to speak with an oracle who confirmed him to be an Egyptian Pharaoh. Filled with historic sites, including what might be the world’s oldest human footprint, the oasis is a popular spot for people on holiday in Egypt.

Awjila Oasis, Libya

Awjila Oasis: The Siwa Oasis is hardly the only one to be found in the Libyan Desert. Another that is strikingly beautiful is the Awjila Oasis which was once the capital of the surrounding area. It is an area which played an important role in both the East-West and North-South trade routes of Africa, acting as a place of rest for the traders traveling across the continent. Its beauty is notably unique because of the many small gardens that have been planted here by residents. In terms of historic attractions, it is visited by those people interested in seeing the oldest standing mosque in the area.

Ein Gedi, Israel

Ein Gedi: This oasis is located west of the Dead Sea in the Judean Desert of Israel. It is a popular tourist destination due in part to the fact that it includes a national park and an impressive botanical garden but also to the religious significance of the area. It is mentioned several times in the Bible and is considered to be a place of spiritual importance to many people. Even those who aren’t religious may feel some sort of magic when spending time here because the unique caves and waterfalls of the area contrast so strikingly with the desert surrounding the oasis. Many of the people who live here stay at a well-known kibbutz that has been part of the oasis for over fifty years.

Chebika, Tunisia

Chebika: It’s not too often that you’re going to have a reason to travel to Tunisia but if you get the chance then you’ll want to make sure that you see this heavenly oasis. Filled with fruit trees, this little oasis and the two near it (Mides and Tamerza) bring a natural beauty to the surrounding mountainous desert. An oasis in the mountains isn’t very common so this is a sight to see.

Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia

Al-Hasa: This Saudi Arabian oasis has the distinction of being the largest oasis in the world. Because it provided the refreshment of water in an otherwise dry land, it was populated as early as people began coming to the area and continues to be a home to people today. Oil production is a leading economic industry for the surrounding area but the vegetation of Al-Hasa makes agriculture important to the oasis itself.

San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

San Pedro de Atacama: Located in the Atacama Desert in Chile, this is a thriving city and tourist destination built up around an oasis which overlooks the Licancabur Volcano. It is beautiful not only because of the traditional appeal of an oasis in the midst of the desert but also because of numerous unique features including a salt flat, a field of geysers and a set of stone and sand formations called Valley of the Moon. People also get a kick out of seeing the pink flamingos that live in the lagoons of this oasis.

Heroubreio, Iceland

Heroubreio: You probably wouldn’t think of Iceland as having deserts but there are deserts in some of the oddest places in the world. This is one of them, a desert created by lava fields resulting from the historic activity of the surrounding volcanoes. The oasis that is associated with this area is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. There are numerous hiking trails through the area which is a major reason people go here but it’s also popular among visitors with a rebellious streak because it was once a location where Iceland’s troublemakers were banished to.

Turfan, China

Turfan: China is another part of the world that people don’t typically think of as having a modern oasis. Although there were numerous oases here in historic times, most have dried up. That’s not the case with Turfan which was historically an important stop on the Silk Road trade route and remains an active area in China today.

Tabas, Iran

Tabas: The official name of this Iranian oasis is Tabas-e-Golshan which translates to 'city with a lot of flowers in the desert'. That sums up the natural beauty of the area but there’s more to this place than just a pretty face. Destroyed by an earthquake in the 1970’s, Tabas has rebuilt itself and stands as a testimony to the beauty of persistent strength.