HomeDestinationsChadFada to Guelta d'Archei
Easy
Off-Road
🇹🇩 Chad
Satellite

This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.

ID: TD-EO-02
Visitors to Ennedi need authorisation from the Chadian authorities and normally travel with a licensed local operator and guide. Check your government's travel advice before planning a trip.
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1475

Fada to Guelta d'Archei

Added on 13 Oct 2026
Logged by @trailx

A sand-and-rock track across the Ennedi Massif, a UNESCO World Heritage site of sandstone towers, arches and canyons in the Sahara. From the oasis town of Fada the track winds south between rock outcrops and dry riverbeds to Guelta d'Archei, a deep canyon pool where camel herds come to drink and a few of the Sahara's last desert crocodiles survive.

Trail Map

Initialising Map Engine...

Trail Profile

General Instructions

About 60 km of sand and rocky track, a slow half day in a 4x4. Travel with at least two vehicles and a local guide, lower tyre pressures in the sand, and carry all fuel, water and food from Fada. The last stretch to the pool is on foot through the canyon. November to February is the coolest time to go.

Weather check

At Start
565m

Sampling Micro-Climate...

17.1935, 21.5819

Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: 17.1935, 21.5819 @ 565m

Quick Stats

Distance
60.19 km
Type
Off-Road Trail
Elevation Range
524m - 701m
Max Elevation
701 m
Max Gradient
2.8%
6.2%

Highlights

  • Walk into the canyon to watch camels drinking at the guelta
  • Look for the desert crocodiles from a respectful distance
  • See the prehistoric rock art of Ennedi
  • Photograph the sandstone towers and arches at sunset
  • Camp under the desert stars

Field Radio Protocol

VHF-UHF Communication

Emergency Simplex
146.520MHz
Team Coordination
446.006MHz
Scout Primary
146.400MHz

Propagation Telemetry

Ridge Line

92%

Gorge Floor

18%

Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range

Regulatory Compliance

VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.

Technical Analysis

Total Ascent

+155 m

Total Descent

-195 m

Ruggedness Index

Terrain Roughness Index

Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).

0 (Smooth)50 (Steep)100+ (Extreme)
5.8

5.8

Tortuosity Index

Route Curviness Index

Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).

1.0 (Direct)2.0 (Winding)3.0+ (Serpentine)
1.38

1.38

Gradient Distribution

Flat (0-3%)95%
Moderate (3-8%)5%
Steep (>8%)0%

Surface & Hydrology

Paved46%
Unpaved54%

Surface Spectrum Analysis

Asphalt
46%
Gravel
38%
Dirt Track
16%
Water Crossings

Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.

0

Difficulty Analysis

SCORE: 15

Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.

Resulting CategoryEasy

Bounding Box (WGS84)

MIN LAT: 16.815371
MAX LAT: 17.193527
MIN LON: 21.509780
MAX LON: 21.692567

Point Spacing: 85.1 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0

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Before you go: Fada to Guelta d'Archei

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