Qatar Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Sand Boarding & Camel Ride

Trade the city for dunes and learn what the desert actually holds.

A half-day desert safari in Qatar Desert Conservation Reserve combines dune bashing in a high-end 4X4 vehicle with sand boarding and a camel ride, plus a stop at Inland Sea. The tour includes roundtrip transfers from the city, bottled water, coffee or tea, and runs with a maximum of six travelers and a live English-speaking guide. Physical fitness of at least a moderate level is required. Pregnant travelers and those with spinal, heart or cardiovascular conditions cannot participate in the dune bashing portion.

The experience

The safari starts with a pickup in a climate-controlled 4X4 vehicle that takes you out of the city and into the Qatar Desert Conservation Reserve. The dune bashing itself is the centerpiece: the driver navigates the sand dunes at angles and speeds that create the thrill without requiring you to do anything but hold on and watch the landscape tilt and shift around you. Along the way, you'll spot local wildlife that inhabits the reserve, and the route times itself to reach the best vantage points as the light changes toward sunset, when the dunes photograph differently than they do in the middle of the day.

Once the vehicle stops, you get to try sand boarding, essentially a snowboard on sand, and a camel ride. Both are included, and both are the kind of thing that sounds simple until you're actually doing it and figuring out your balance on an unfamiliar surface. The tour also includes a visit to Inland Sea, a natural lagoon where the desert meets the water. Bottled water and coffee or tea are provided throughout the four hours.

The group stays small (no more than six people per vehicle), which means the driver can adjust the pace and the stops to what the group wants to do. Roundtrip transfers mean you don't arrange your own transport to the reserve. The vehicle picks you up and brings you back to the city when the safari ends.

What’s included

• Roundtrip transfers in an air-conditioned 4X4 vehicle.
• dune bashing across the reserve.
• sand boarding.
• camel ride.
• visit to Inland Sea.
• bottled water.
• coffee and tea.
• live English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English08:00, 09:00, 14:00 and 15:00

Guide in English08:00, 09:00, 14:00 and 15:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00, 14:00 and 15:00

Book up to1h before

GroupUp to 50 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: ““Pickup is at Qatar National Museum Metro, Exit 2 (easy to find on Google Maps). Our guide will call you before the tour. If unreachable, please wait at the meeting point and we will find you.””

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Arabian Tourism

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the thrill of dune bashing without renting your own vehicle or navigating the reserve alone. The small group size and fixed itinerary mean the day is structured and the logistics are handled, so you show up and the safari unfolds. Choose the Quad Bike option instead if you want to drive the dunes yourself rather than ride as a passenger.

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Top questions

What exactly is dune bashing, and do I have to do anything or just sit in the vehicle?

Dune bashing is high-angle driving across sand dunes in a 4X4. You sit as a passenger while the driver navigates the slopes and angles. It creates the sensation of movement and tilt, but you're not operating the vehicle or doing any physical work during this part.

Can I do the sand boarding and camel ride if I've never tried either before?

Both sand boarding and the camel ride are included and designed for first-timers. Sand boarding works like snowboarding but on sand, and the camel ride is a guided experience. Neither requires prior skill, though the tour does require at least a moderate level of physical fitness overall.

What is Inland Sea and how long do we spend there?

Inland Sea is a natural lagoon where the desert meets the water, located within or near the Qatar Desert Conservation Reserve. It's a stop included in the tour itinerary, though the exact time spent there depends on the group's pace and interests on the day.

How many people will be in my group, and will I have a guide?

Groups are kept to a maximum of six travelers per vehicle, and a live English-speaking guide accompanies the tour. The small group size allows the guide to tailor the experience to what the group wants to see and do.

What's included in the price, and what should I bring?

The tour includes roundtrip transfers in the air-conditioned 4X4, sand boarding, a camel ride, bottled water, and coffee or tea. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Your belongings are your own responsibility during the tour.

Are there any health conditions that would prevent me from booking this tour?

Pregnant travelers and anyone with spinal injuries, back or neck pain, heart problems or serious cardiovascular conditions cannot participate in the dune bashing portion by local law. If any of these apply to you, contact the operator to discuss customizing the tour or alternative options.