Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours
Exciting desert trips through the Namib with fat bikes
A special way to get to know the fascinating Namib Desert is on a fat bike tour. Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours offers various exciting desert rides with special bicycles (fat bikes) which let you experience the Namib Desert in a gentle and ecological way.
Specifications
- Guided desert tours
- Swakopmund city tours
- Sandwich Harbour excursions
- Adrenaline tours with Fat Bikes
Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours
Owner Marc has made the Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours one of the most popular activities in Swakopmund within a few years. The passionate guides from Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours show their connection to Swakopmund and the Namib Desert in every sentence. Their main aim is to convey appreciation and respect for the habitat of the Namib Desert and to arouse guests' interest in the flora and fauna.
The fat bikes
Physical activity is sometimes neglected on a holiday in Namibia. You spend a lot of time sitting in the car or at the lodge or at the campsite. It is often too hot for hikes, the food is plentiful everywhere and usually hearty. By the second half of your holiday at the latest, you'll be longing for some physical exercise - so a fat bike tour in the Namib Desert in pleasantly cool Swakopmund is just the thing.
Fat bikes are special bicycles with extra wide tires (can also be rented as an e-bike). Fat bikes offer two decisive advantages when discovering the desert:
- The large, balloon-like tires of the fat bikes allow you to float almost effortlessly over sand and gravel
- Due to the larger contact surface of the fat bike wheels, the rider's weight is better distributed and the ruts on a fat bike are much flatter than even footprints. This makes fat biking the most environmentally friendly way to explore the vulnerable Namib.
For more leisurely adventure seekers, Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours also offers e-bikes (e-fat bikes).
The fat bike tours in the desert and Swakopmund
Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours offer various tours, which are briefly presented below.
Included in the tours are:
- Fat bike or e-fat bike
- Experienced guide
- Helmet
What you should bring with you on the Fat Bike:
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Decent shoes
- Camera
- Water bottle
Living Desert
Living Desert Fat Bike Tour (3.5 hours)
This tour is recommended for visitors who are less interested in the thrill than in experiencing and getting to know the Namib Desert. On this tour with Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours we explore the diverse flora and fauna of the desert and gain insights into the unique habitat of the Namib. With a bit of luck, the well-trained and experienced guides will find spiders, Tok Tokkie beetles, desert chameleons, various lizards and geckos, sidewinder snakes and desert scorpions. A fascinating ride for the whole family. You don't need any special cycling training. E-bikes are available.
Swakopmund city tour
Swakopmund city tour (2 hours)
On this short Swakopmund bike city tour we cycle into Swakopmund's past. We discover many of Swakopmund's historic buildings and landmarks. The Fat Bike Guides give you a feel for how the charming Swakopmund developed and why the small town on the Atlantic is still one of Namibia's most popular places and travel destinations.
Sandwich Harbour
Sandwich Harbour Fat Bike Tour (7-8 hours, full day tour)
This unique fat bike tour takes us to the world-famous “Sandwich Harbour”, a freshwater lagoon between the ancient Namib Desert and the rough Atlantic Ocean.
After being picked up from our accommodation in Swakopmund or Walvis Bay, we drive by 4x4 vehicle through the Walvis Bay lagoon and the dazzling salt mines, heading south for about 40 km along the coast towards Sandwich Harbour. The base camp is set up 8 km before the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon and the fat bikes are made ready.
Now the actual fat bike tour begins between the coast and the dunes. Especially on a bike you can now understand the unique landscape “Where the desert meets the sea”, as it says in all travel guides. On the three-hour, approximately 18 km long tour there is enough time for water breaks and photo stops. When we return to base camp, cool drinks and a light meal await us. We then drive back towards Walvis Bay / Swakopmund with our 4x4 vehicle.
Dune Tour - Short
Fat Bike Dune Tour - Short (2 hours)
A special kind of adventure: This tour is for experienced and trained cyclists, as the focus is on the thrill and it involves cycling up and down the dunes and this requires a lot of fitness. The Fat Bike Dune Tour is approximately 12 to 14 km long and involves riding through the dry riverbed of the Swakop and then cycling up and down the dunes of the Dorob National Park between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Guaranteed to be exciting and an unforgettable and unique experience. For untrained and inexperienced riders, Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours recommends one of the other exciting tours, eg the Living Desert Tour.
Dune Tour - Extended
Fat Bike Dune Tour - Extended (3.5 hours)
This tour includes all aspects of the Fat Bike Dune Tour, but is twice the distance and includes riding even higher dunes. Overall, this tour is longer and more demanding. The total distance is approximately 21 km. For untrained and inexperienced riders, Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours recommends one of the other exciting tours, eg the Living Desert Tour.
Rates & Reservations
| Type | 2026 | 2027 |
| 01.01.26 - 31.12.26 | 01.01.27 - 31.12.27 | |
| Living Desert | N$ 900 | N$ 1100 |
| Living Desert E-Bike | N$ 1000 | N$ 1300 |
| Swakopmund City Tour | N$ 520 | N$ 580 |
| Swakopmund City Tour E-Bike | N$ 620 | N$ 690 |
| Sandwich Harbour (min. 3 pax) | N$ 3680 | N$ 4050 |
| Dune Tour Short | N$ 520 | N$ 580 |
| Dune Tour Short E-Bike | N$ 620 | N$ 690 |
| Dune Tour Extended | N$ 950 | N$ 1050 |
| Rates per person | ||
Booking enquiry
It’s our pleasure to book this activity for you. You will have no additional costs as we charge the public rates. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
