Dubai might seem all shiny and modern, but underneath those skyscrapers and malls lies a sprawling desert with dunes that offer rip-roaring adventures. Here’s how to choose the best desert safari in Dubai for you!
A luxurious overnight desert tour that’s a favourite of celebrities and other high-end travellers. The highlights include dune bashing, sandboarding, camel riding, and a Bedouin-style camp for BBQ dinner and henna painting.
Dune Bashing
Thrilling drives across Dubai’s desert landscape are a must-do for anyone visiting the modern, skyscraper-filled Gulf metropolis. You can also try other adventure activities like quad biking, sand boarding, and camel rides or unwind at a traditional Bedouin-style camp with apple-flavoured shisha.
A few things to keep in mind: You’ll want plenty of water and sunscreen, as well as a camera to capture the views from your high-speed desert safari ride. It’s also a good idea to bring some extra cash, as some tour companies will sell snack and beverage options.
The best desert safaris in Dubai usually offer a choice of morning and sunset excursions, with ticket options including quad bike rides and additional dune bashing. Some tours even offer an overnight desert safari, where you can stay at a luxe desert camp and wake up to the sunrise before heading back to the city. If you’re looking for the ultimate dune bashing experience, opt for a private tour with your own driver and hotel transfer for an all-inclusive experience.
Camel Riding
Unfortunately, many camel handlers rely on tourists for their livelihood and are unwilling to turn away people. That’s why checking that your tour company is ethical before booking a camel ride is important.
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Activity desert safari in Dubai
Camel riding is a popular desert safari activity in Dubai, and for good reason. It’s a beautiful way to see the dunes from above and feels like an old-fashioned safari experience. Plus, it’s a fun activity for families with children.
If you want to see camels without joining a desert safari, you can visit the Al Fahidi Historic District in downtown Dubai. Here, shepherds often bring their camels to show them off to visitors, although it isn’t a fixed activity and it may depend on the time of year.
Quad Biking
If you’re a thrill seeker and want to experience dune bashing on a different level, consider adding quad biking to your desert safari tour. It will cost you a little extra, but it’s worth it.
The quad bike ride takes place in a quad park, so it’s not a true desert safari, but it still adds to the experience. The ride lasts about 35 minutes.
This is a morning desert safari, so it starts before sunrise and gives you the chance to spot desert wildlife such as Arabian Gazelles and if you’re lucky a rare 100-spotted Arabian Oryx in their natural habitat. The tour also includes dune bashing, sandboarding, and a camel ride.
This is a very affordable desert safari, and it’s fully private, so you don’t have to share a jeep with other tourists. You’ll get dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride, three-cuisine buffets with live BBQ, Arabic coffee, dates and henna, shisha, falcon, and transfers included. This is one of the best-value Dubai desert tours.
Henna Painting
Henna is a traditional form of body art used for decoration and special events. It works much like ink or paint, staining down through the outer layer of skin and leaving marks that last a month or more. Since tattoos are forbidden in many Islamic countries, henna is used as a safe and natural replacement.
Activity desert safari in Dubai
The henna artist can draw any design you want, although flowers and intricate patterns are the most popular. The paste takes 15 minutes to dry, so you need to be patient while the artist works. Henna is unsuitable for children, as the paste can be messy and difficult to clean. Face painting or glitter tattoos are more suitable for younger kids and teens.
Some tours include additional activities, such as camel riding and quad biking or a hot air balloon ride. You can also try out a falcon experience or see the sunset from a dune’s viewpoint. If you choose this option, be sure to bring medication if you suffer from motion sickness. The dunes can be a little jarring, and the hot air balloon can make you dizzy! The quad bike ride takes place in a quad park, so it’s not a true desert safari, but it still adds to the experience. The ride lasts about 35 minutes.
Sunset Viewing
A desert sunset is magical, especially as a backdrop for some great photographs. The desert scenery is perfect for this spectacle, and many tours offer a sunset viewing experience as part of their evening offerings.
Some of the best Dubai desert safaris include a sunset viewing option. Some also include a falcon experience where you can see the birds of prey in action and learn about their history in this region. You can also try camel riding and watch performances in Bedouin-style camps. Other highlights include watching a traditional bread-making demonstration and having your henna painted.
The most complete desert safari in Dubai is the Premium Red Dunes, Camel Safari, and Sandboarding with Overnight Camp, which gets great reviews and includes all of the activities listed above. However, if you are travelling on a budget, the Half-Day Desert Safari is an affordable option that gives you most of the same experiences for a fraction of the price. Whatever you choose, a Dubai desert safari is a must-do experience for anyone visiting this exciting city.
Unfortunately, many camel handlers rely on tourists for their livelihood and are unwilling to turn away people. That’s why checking that your tour company is ethical before booking a camel ride is important.
If you want to see camels without joining a desert safari, you can visit the Al Fahidi Historic District in downtown Dubai. Here, shepherds often bring their camels to show them off to visitors, although it isn’t a fixed activity and it may depend on the time of year.
