Posted on: Oct 30, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Cold Deserts in the World: 8 Famous Places to Visit

Cold Deserts In World

Cold deserts are referred to as temperate deserts due to their cold temperatures throughout the year. The weather remains dry with moderately high winds. These cold deserts in the world receive very little rainfall. Polar deserts are one of the prominent examples of Cold deserts.

There is hardly any rainfall in cold deserts, and in most cases, it is rain. These cold deserts are located at higher latitudes. While winters are extremely cold, summers are relatively hot. These places experience a lot of snowfall during winter, and the soil remains heavy and salty. Are you planning to explore these cold deserts? Let's find out some of the most popular cold deserts in the world.

List of famous Cold Deserts

Considering the cold weather and low temperatures, few people prefer visiting cold deserts during winter. However, summers are slightly comfortable, and you get a chance to enjoy a variety of activities. If you plan to visit any of these cold deserts, it is advisable to get travel insurance online. With additional safety, you can explore these majestic cold deserts in less time.

Here are some of the popular global Cold deserts that you may consider visiting:

1. Atacama Desert

Located in Northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. This cold desert hardly receives any rainfall throughout the year. You can find various landscapes here, such as unusual rock formations, salt flats, and clear skies. Because the desert is so arid, you hardly get to see any animals around. However, some plants have adapted to cold climates.

2. Greenland

Greenland is one of the most popular cold deserts in the world. Most of Northern Greenland is covered in thick sheets of ice. It is one of the coldest places on Earth to visit. It receives significantly less rainfall, with most of it falling as snow. Weather conditions in Northern Greenland are incredibly harsh, with temperatures going as low as -40°C.

3. Great Basin

The Great Basin in North America is spread across Utah, Oregon, Nevada and California. It is the largest desert in the United States. The northern latitude and high elevation are what make this place cold. While the place experiences hot summers and freezing winters, precipitation is relatively low, with most of it being snow. It is best to get overseas travel insurance and secure your trip before visiting the Great Basin.

4. Gobi Desert

Covering Northern China and Southern Mongolia, the Gobi Desert is one of the most famous cold deserts in the world. The extreme climates, especially severe winters, contribute to it being a cold desert. The Gobi Desert is the sixth-largest desert in the world. While summers are warm, spring is relatively dry and chilly. The Bactrian Camels are one of the top attractions of this region.

5. Antarctica

Due to its remote location, Antarctica is rarely visited. However, if you want to explore this place, you must purchase travel insurance online to avoid the risk of any uncertain situations. The thick, icy, and snowy sheets are one of the top characteristics of Antarctica. The climate conditions in Antarctica are extremely harsh, characterised by cold temperatures and strong winds. Upon your visit to Antarctica, you can witness the beauty of majestic glaciers and expanses. As for wildlife, you can watch penguins and seals in their natural habitat.

6. Svalbard

Svalbard is an archipelago in Norway and is often known as a cold desert because of the extremely low temperatures. The summers in Svalbard are relatively short, whereas winters are extremely cold. Svalbard experiences rainfall mostly during late winters. Being part of the Arctic environment, you can watch various unique wildlife, such as Svalbard reindeer and polar birds. As Norway belongs to the Schengen Zone, you must buy overseas travel insurance to get a visa approval.

7. Patagonia

Patagonia is one of the largest deserts in the Americas. It is considered a cold desert due to its arid conditions, combined with low temperatures. The winter months are extreme in this region. This desert is located in the rain shadow region of the Andes Mountains. Therefore, the desert receives very little rainfall and is extremely dry.

8. Ladakh

Ladakh is located in the Indian Himalayas and is one of the highest altitude desert landscapes. Although a cold desert, Ladakh has several beautiful Buddhist monasteries and attracts several tourists. Many bikers often set out on a bike ride to Ladakh to experience the beauty of the region. While offering a religious experience at the monasteries, Ladakh also provides several opportunities for mountaineering, trekking, and cultural exploration.

Apart from these cold deserts, you can also visit a lot of other cool and fun places during the summer. Read more about them in our blog Where To Keep Things Cool On Your Next Summer Vacation.

Conclusion

Now that you're aware of the famous cold deserts you can visit, you may start planning your trip soon. Don't forget to get your hands on a travel insurance that provides you with sufficient coverage during the trip. Whether it's a financial emergency or medical, the insurance you choose should provide you with proper financial coverage. Therefore, you wouldn't be suffering from any hiccups if they occur during your trip.


Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.


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