ATV Riding in Riyadh Desert: Quad Bikes & Dune Bashing

You operate the quad bike. The desert is yours to cross.

ATV riding in the Red Sand Dunes near Riyadh puts you in control of a high-quality quad bike across the desert terrain, with dune bashing in a 4x4, sandboarding, a short camel ride and an Arabian picnic all included. The activity takes four hours from the meeting point, with round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide in English or Arabic, and all equipment provided. Quad biking is self-driven and carried at your own risk. The operator recommends personal travel insurance for self-driving activities.

The experience

The day starts with roughly an hour's drive from the meeting point to the Red Sand Dunes in Nisah, where high-quality ATV quad bikes are waiting. After a safety briefing from your instructor, you ride across the desert terrain on your own. The bikes are included in the price, and you control the pace and the line you take through the sand. This is not a passenger experience. You're the one steering.

Once you've had your fill of quad biking, you switch to a 4x4 off-road car for dune bashing, where a professional driver adjusts the tire pressure and takes you on an adrenaline run down the dunes. After that comes sandboarding: you glide down the sand slopes on a board, feeling the soft sand beneath you. Then a short camel ride rounds out the action, letting you experience a moment of traditional Bedouin desert life at a slower pace.

The day wraps with an Arabian-style picnic: Saudi coffee, dates, snacks and bottled water, all included. Transport back to the meeting point is in the same air-conditioned 4x4 you arrived in. The whole outing runs four hours, which leaves the rest of your day open for the city or your hotel.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport in an air-conditioned 4x4 from the meeting point.
• high-quality ATV quad bikes with safety briefing.
• dune bashing in a professional-driven 4x4.
• sandboarding on the soft dunes.
• a short camel ride.
• an Arabian-style picnic with Saudi coffee, dates and snacks.
• bottled water.
• a professional guide in English or Arabic.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (6 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 5 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Nomadic Tours

Is this one for you?The four-hour commitment means you can fit this into a morning or afternoon and still have time for other Riyadh plans. You're in control of the quad bike itself, so the pace depends on your comfort level, not a group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 17 years); Child (2 to 5 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I ride the ATV if I've never done it before?

Yes. Your instructor gives a safety briefing before you ride, and the quad bikes are high-quality machines designed for the terrain. You control your own speed and line through the sand, so you can ride at whatever pace feels right to you.

What's the drive time from Riyadh to the Red Sand Dunes?

The drive to Nisah, where the dunes are, takes roughly an hour from the meeting point. Round-trip transport in an air-conditioned 4x4 is included in the price.

Is the camel ride a long one?

No, it's a short ride. It's meant to give you a taste of traditional Bedouin desert life, not a lengthy trek. It comes after the more active parts of the day.

What happens if I'm not comfortable doing one of the activities?

All activities are included in the price, but you're not obligated to do every one. If sandboarding or the camel ride doesn't appeal to you, you can skip it and relax during that part of the day.

Do I need travel insurance for this?

The operator strongly recommends personal travel insurance because quad biking is a self-driving activity that carries inherent risks. Any accidents or damages during the ATV ride are the rider's responsibility, and standard tour insurance typically doesn't cover self-driving activities.