Midweek Afternoon Fewbie Desert Drive - Long Range Desert Group: Sweihan Tilal to Al Adlah - Abu Dhabi - 14 May 2026

[Ale Vallecchi]

Please read, understand, and follow the guidelines, etiquette, and responsibilities below.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

• Environmental Policy
• Offroad Flag Guideline
• Two Way Radio Guideline
• Off road Driving Etiquette's
• Emergency details for all off-roaders
• Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities
• Convoy Off-road Drives - Safety protocol during emergency alert
   

DRIVE DETAILS

Level:  Fewbie and above

When:  14 May 2026, Thursday

Meeting time:  3:00 PM - Sharp (Without any exceptions)

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LwFMxvFgyrY5CoLu7

Action Plan: A fast drive along Faya's long-range dunes, to bring back a long track inspired by WWII's Long Range Desert Group. The unit was a specialized reconnaissance and raiding force established during WWII specifically to carry out deep penetration, covert reconnaissance patrols and intelligence missions from behind Italian lines. The LRDG were experts in desert navigation, who were sometimes assigned to guide other units, including secret agents, across the desert. Between December 1940 and April1943 the vehicles of the LRDG operated constantly behind the Axis lines. In the LRDG's honor, let's be fast and stealthy, covering as much ground as possible in the max. 4 hours of this drive. 

Approximate finish time: 7:00 PM

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance.

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Recommended off-road gears: Walkie-talkie radio and off-road flag (MANDATORY), plus tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

• This drive is limited to 10 cars only. 
• If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list.
• RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list.
• Latecomers will be returned back - Without any exceptions.
• Members without RSVP will be returned back - Without any exceptions.
• Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others.
• Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month.

PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

 

[Jerome]

I think something is wrong with the details for the drive. It says April 18 and the pin for meeting location is in Al Madam

[Frederic]

9 hours ago, Jerome said:

I think something is wrong with the details for the drive. It says April 18 and the pin for meeting location is in Al Madam

Well spotted @Jerome. Adjusted the date now. Ale will put the new meeting point soon @Ale Vallecchi  

[Ale Vallecchi]

22 hours ago, Jerome said:

I think something is wrong with the details for the drive. It says April 18 and the pin for meeting location is in Al Madam

Thanks @Jerome. I just added the meeting and deflation point. See you on Thursday. 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts

the briefing will be (hopefully) as quick as the drive. We'll enter at Sweihan Tilal, in an area not much driven but potentially interesting: long range dunes, mixed with some technical stretches, and not too many bushes (we hope). From here we'll head in the direction of the sunset (which should guarantee better visibility and readability of the dunes and ridges) toward the Fox's Den, and all the way to Faya Truck Road. If time permits, we'll enter a very technical area, of taller and tighter dunes, that runs parallel to the E20, all the way to our exit point, sometime around the setting of the sun.

The convoy order will be:

@Giacomo in Second Lead

@Joao Aguiar at #3

@Jerome at #4

@Jerzi at #5

@Ash S. at #6 and 

@Aser in Sweep.

See you tomorrow at the meeting point that was posted yesterday in the drive's thread and description. Thanks

[Jerome]

Looking forward to it, see you all tomorrow! I noticed that the Adnoc station is just before the entry/meeting point

[Aser]

I have to remove myself, car not available 😕

[Frederic]

1 minute ago, Aser said:

I have to remove myself, car not available 😕

Bring your helicopter:

 

[Jerzi]

Hy guys I’m here but I see nobody👀

[Jerzi]

Everybody came in the next second! I was just afraid to be in the wrong place 😇. The drive was really nice we had a full shower of sand by deflating! I just took the rest of the dune out of my ears 😂. Nice views! We saw a big group of camels… beautiful! Some bumps and a car wreck… completely melted away. We had a nice convoy! Thank you @Ash S. for your assistance and @Ale Vallecchi for organizing and guiding us through the dessert today! Will send some nice pics.