Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The world's largest hot desert stretches across North Africa and is almost always visible on Europe-to-Africa routes. The endless golden dunes, ergs, and rocky hamadas create a mesmerizing pattern from altitude.
108Flight Routes
1 kmClosest Pass
🏜️ DesertType
Routes that pass it108
NBO → YYZ
Both Sides
YYZ → NBO
Both Sides
CPT → MXP
Left
MXP → CPT
Right
BFN → LCY
Left
LCY → BFN
Right
CPT → ZRH
Left
ZRH → CPT
Right
ERS → FRA
Left
FRA → ERS
Right
CDG → MUB
Right
MUB → CDG
Left
CPT → FRA
Left
FRA → CPT
Right
FRA → WDH
Right
WDH → FRA
Left
COO → SAW
Left
SAW → COO
Right
AMS → CPT
Left
CPT → AMS
Right
ABV → BUD
Right
BUD → ABV
Left
GCJ → LHR
Left
LHR → GCJ
Right
JNB → LHR
Left
LHR → JNB
Right
HLA → LCY
Left
LCY → HLA
Right
GCJ → LCY
Left
LCY → GCJ
Right
JNB → LCY
Left
LCY → JNB
Right
DUB → MPM
Right
MPM → DUB
Left
BZV → CDG
Right
CDG → BZV
Left
DUR → LHR
Left
LHR → DUR
Right
DUR → GLA
Left
GLA → DUR
Right
CDG → JNB
Right
JNB → CDG
Left
SCL → TLV
Left
TLV → SCL
Right
DUR → ORY
Left
ORY → DUR
Right
MUC → WDH
Right
JFK → WIL
Left
WIL → JFK
Right
CDG → CPT
Left
CPT → CDG
Right
BOS → JRO
Left
JRO → BOS
Right
CDG → NSI
Left
NSI → CDG
Right
CDG → YAO
Left
YAO → CDG
Right
CPT → LCY
Right
LCY → CPT
Left
JNB → RTM
Left
RTM → JNB
Right
AMS → HLA
Right
HLA → AMS
Left
CPT → LGW
Right
LGW → CPT
Left
CPT → LHR
Right
LHR → CPT
Left
AMS → JNB
Right
JNB → AMS
Left
JFK → JRO
Left
JRO → JFK
Right
JFK → MRU
Left
MRU → JFK
Right
ABV → FRA
Right
FRA → ABV
Left
CAI → EZE
Right
EZE → CAI
Left
NBO → VLC
Left
VLC → NBO
Right
JNB → ZRH
Left
ZRH → JNB
Right
IAD → JRO
Left
JRO → IAD
Right
CDG → LBV
Left
LBV → CDG
Right
FRA → JNB
Right
JNB → FRA
Left
DAR → JFK
Right
JFK → DAR
Left
ELS → MAD
Right
MAD → ELS
Left
AMS → MPM
Right
MPM → AMS
Left
ADD → IAD
Left
IAD → ADD
Right
IAD → WMN
Left
WMN → IAD
Right
HEW → EZE
Left
ADD → JFK
Left
JFK → ADD
Right
CMN → SYD
Right
SYD → CMN
Left
JNB → MUC
Left
MUC → JNB
Right
KGL → LHR
Left
LHR → KGL
Right
EZE → IST
Right
IST → EZE
Left
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Sahara Desert from a plane?
Yes — 108 flight routes pass within 800 km of Sahara Desert. The closest routes include Nairobi to Toronto, Toronto to Nairobi, Cape Town to Milano. The landmark is visible from both sides, with the landmark passing about 1 km away.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Sahara Desert?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Sahara Desert: on a Nairobi to Toronto flight, visible from both sides; on a Toronto to Nairobi flight, visible from both sides; on a Cape Town to Milano flight, sit on the Left side.