Abu Dhabi: Morning Desert Safari with Dune Bashing & Sandboarding
What happens when you trade asphalt for sand at sunrise?
You get picked up from your hotel, driven into the desert, and spend four hours dune bashing in a 4x4, trying sandboarding, and riding a camel. The driver handles navigation, photos, and safety while you focus on the experience. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with water and all equipment. You're back by mid-morning.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Morning desert safari activities
- Hotel pick-up in morning
- Drive 45 minutes to desert
- Dune bashing in 4x4 vehicle
- Try sandboarding on dunes
- Take photos in desert
- Enjoy short camel ride
- Return to pick-up point
What’s included
Your morning includes hotel pickup and drop-off at your Abu Dhabi location, a 45-minute drive in an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle to the desert, 30 to 40 minutes of dune bashing, sandboarding instruction and time on the dunes, a camel ride, mineral water throughout, and a professional licensed driver who helps with photos and navigation. All equipment is provided.
Times
- Every day 07:30 14:30
Before you book
Operated by OceanAir Travels Abu Dhabi
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
You're picked up from your Abu Dhabi hotel and driven 45 minutes into the desert while the air is still cool. The 4x4 pulls up to dunes that stretch in every direction, and that's when it hits you. This is the actual Sahara-adjacent landscape, not a postcard. Your driver is licensed, knows the terrain, and has done this hundreds of times, which matters when you're about to spend 30 to 40 minutes dune bashing. The vehicle climbs and drops over sand ridges at angles that feel impossible until you're in the seat and your stomach tells you it's real.
After the dune bashing settles, you get a sandboard and instructions on how to use it. It's simpler than it looks: the driver shows you the stance, and then you're gliding down the face of a dune with nothing but sand beneath you. People bring phones and cameras, and the driver will help you get the shot without you having to ask. There's mineral water in the vehicle, which you'll want after the exertion and the heat, even in the morning. The whole thing moves at a pace that lets you catch your breath between activities instead of rushing from one to the next.
The camel ride comes near the end, a short one that feels earned after everything else. Then it's the drive back to your hotel, arriving before the day gets too hot. The whole safari runs four hours door-to-door, which means you're back by mid-morning and the rest of your day is yours. You can choose semi-private (a few other travelers) or private (just your group), depending on what you want to spend and whether you prefer company or silence in the vehicle.
Is this one for you?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want the desert experience without arranging their own transport or guides. Plan for early pickup and a full morning out. The 4-hour window is what fits all three activities (dune bashing, sandboarding, camel ride) and gets you back before midday heat.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.
What's the age requirement for sandboarding and the camel ride?
Sandboarding and camel riding are recommended for ages 12 to 50. Children under 12 and adults over 50 should check with the operator about modifications.
Do I need to be fit to do this tour?
Yes, you need at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for people with spinal injuries, heart conditions, or poor cardiovascular health. Pregnant travelers should not participate in dune bashing.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear comfortable shoes for sandboarding. Avoid eating 2–3 hours before the safari to prevent nausea during dune bashing. Bring sunscreen and a hat. Helmets and safety gear are recommended.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
No, this tour is not wheelchair accessible due to the nature of the activities and vehicle transfers.
Can I do this tour if I'm staying at the airport or a cruise port?
Yes. Hotel pickup is available from Abu Dhabi city center hotels, the cruise port, and the Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Airport hotel. Pickup will be within 45 minutes of your booked time.
What's included in the price?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, 4x4 transportation, dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride, mineral water, and a professional licensed driver are all included.
How long does the whole tour take?
Four hours total, including the 45-minute drive to the desert and back to your hotel.
Is there a difference between semi-private and private?
Semi-private means you share the vehicle with a few other travelers. Private means only your group is in the 4x4. Both follow the same itinerary and duration.
Abu Dhabi: Morning Desert Safari with Dune Bashing & Sandboarding
4h · EN · at your hotel
from AED 208 per person
≈ US$ 55 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.