Abu Dhabi Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/17

Duration6h

GroupUp to 6

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Evening desert adventure with camel rides, sandboarding, BBQ & live shows

You’ll feel your heart race during dune bashing in the Abu Dhabi desert before sharing coffee with locals at camp. Feed camels, try sandboarding if you’re brave enough, then unwind over a barbecue dinner as dancers spin by firelight. Expect laughter, a few surprises (sand everywhere!), and memories that stick long after you’re home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with activities and dinner

Meet safari guide and depart hotel
Drive to Abu Dhabi Desert in 4x4
Visit camel farm
Enjoy dune bashing and sandboarding
Watch desert sunset
Arrive at desert camp
Rest and enjoy coffee with dates
Try henna painting and shisha smoking
Take a short camel ride at dusk
Wear traditional Arabic attire
Watch Tanoura and belly dance shows
Enjoy BBQ dinner with Arabic cuisine
Return to hotel or selected location

The Experience

I’ll admit I was nervous about the whole “dune bashing” thing — my stomach isn’t exactly made for rollercoasters. But our driver, Khaled, just grinned and said it’s like surfing on sand. He was right. The 4x4 felt like a boat sometimes, sliding up and down those wild orange dunes outside Abu Dhabi. Sand got everywhere (I’m still finding it in my shoes), but that first moment when we stopped at the top and the sun hit the horizon — there was this hush, just wind and a sky that looked way too big.

We visited a camel farm before all that, which was actually more fun than I expected. Camels are… well, they make weird noises and have these long eyelashes that make them look wise or maybe just bored. One of the handlers let me feed one — I fumbled with the dates and almost dropped them, but he laughed and showed me how to hold out my hand flat so I didn’t get nipped. It smelled like hay and something sweet I couldn’t quite place.

The camp itself felt almost like stepping into someone’s living room — low tables, cushions everywhere, people chatting quietly over tiny cups of coffee. There was this older woman doing henna painting; she drew a little pattern on my wrist while telling me about her family back in Al Ain. I tried shisha (not really my thing) but loved watching everyone else try to blow smoke rings. After that we put on traditional robes for photos — mine kept slipping off my shoulder but nobody seemed to care.

Later came the food: smoky kebabs straight from the grill, salads with mint, sticky desserts I still think about. While we ate there were Tanoura dancers spinning so fast their skirts turned into colored blurs — then belly dancing under lantern light. On the short camel ride at dusk, everything looked gold. The drive back to Abu Dhabi was quiet; everyone half asleep or just staring out at nothing in particular. It’s strange how peaceful you feel after so much noise and color.

What’s included

Your evening includes pickup from your hotel or cruise port in Abu Dhabi (or Premier Inn Airport Hotel if arriving by plane), all transportation in an air-conditioned 4WD with a licensed driver-guide, visits to a camel farm plus a short camel ride at camp, dune bashing across high dunes with time for sandboarding if you want it, unlimited soft drinks and mineral water throughout the trip, traditional Arabic coffee and dates at camp along with henna painting and shisha pipe (in designated area), dressing up in Arabic attire for photos if you like, live Tanoura dance and belly dancing performances (except during Ramadan/holidays), plus an open buffet barbecue dinner offering both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes before your return transfer back to town.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by OceanAir Travels Abu Dhabi