Whilst unfortunate souls in the North of England are still contemplating building arks, there are plenty of places around the world where rain is something of a rarity.

Indeed it hasn't rained in some locations for...well…ages. Skyscanner brings you a guide to holidays in some of the driest places on the planet, and where the umbrella and wellies will not be needed.

Death Valley, California/Nevada, USA
This enticingly titled valley in the Mojave Desert is home to the Badwater basin and at 85.5m below sea level is the lowest point in the United States.  Death Valley is one of the hottest places on the planet and temperatures of 56.7°C have been recorded.  Despite this, it remains a popular tourist destination due to the unbelievable scenery and diversity of landscape.

Sahara Desert, Tunisia
Probably the most famous desert in the world, the vast size of the Sahara means that it can be accessed from a number of countries on the African continent. Take a mini desert safari trip and see oases and mirages, visit local villages, have camel rides, and imagine that you are Lawrence of Tunisia.

The Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA
"If you're a Buddhist, you go to Tibet. If you're a motorhead, you go to Bonneville", so reads one website.  This is where serious motorcars come to do their thing on the smooth expanses of what was once a salt lake.  The annual World of Speed Races are due to be staged here in September 2010 – but remember to take your factor 50 with you.

Atacama Desert, Chile
Located in Northern Chile, the Atacama Desert can well lay claim to being the driest place on earth, since the area has had no recorded rainfall - ever.  Despite the seemingly inhospitable terrain, the area attracts many tourists who are drawn to the unique geography and also the Spanish legacy of the sixteenth century.

Antarctica
It seems entirely counter-intuitive, but Antarctica is the driest continent in the world getting less than 10cm of rainfall per year.  Cruises depart from Ushuaia in Argentina, the southernmost city in the world, and from here you will set sail for one of the most remote places on earth.  You will see seals, penguins, icebergs and glaciers and the boats will usually have an onboard scientist to answer any of your questions.

Dune Boarding, Namibia
The seaside town of Swakopmund has become Southern Africa's dune boarding capital – a coveted title indeed.  You can reach speeds of up to 60 to 70kph as you zoom down giant dunes wearing welding goggles, heavy gloves, riding something akin to a snowboard.  Be warned, there are no chairlifts though.

Desert Safari, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
For a taste of desert exploration in comfort, head to Dubai and enjoy an afternoon and evening of authentic tourist desert life.  You can visit a camel farm, go dune bashing, have your hands or feet henna tattooed, before enjoying a delicious barbecue dinner with belly dancers for dessert. And they say life in the desert is tough.

Gobi Desert, Mongolia
The Gobi Desert is in the rain shadow of the Himalayas and as such, it gets little rain but it does get jolly cold.  On a desert tour, you can visit local people in their gers (tented homes), learn to make local drinks, find out how to milk a camel (who doesn't need that life skill?), and get a taste of life in the world's fifth largest desert.

Desert Tours, Australia
Experience life at Australia's "Red Centre", which despite being a pretty harsh environment, nevertheless sustains a diverse range of animals and plants.  The magnificent Ayers Rock should be on the schedule, and after that, enjoy the delights of camping in the outback, learn about land and meet the indigenous peoples of the area to understand more about their culture and tradition.

Yuma, Arizona, USA
Yuma is officially the driest town in the US.  It is also the sunniest with residents spending around 90% of the year bathed in sunshine.  And what a lot there is to do there…you can visit the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the Yuma County Historical Society and if that isn't enough, the Imperial Sand Dunes.  In other words, there's something for everyone. 

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