Abu Dhabi Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Sandboarding & BBQ
Golden dunes at sunset, then dinner under stars in Abu Dhabi's desert
You're picked up from your Abu Dhabi hotel in a 4WD, driven into the desert for dune bashing and sandboarding, then spend the evening at a Bedouin camp with camel rides, henna, shisha, traditional dance, and a BBQ dinner under the stars. A photographer captures free photos throughout, and you're back at your hotel after dark.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Desert Safari with Cultural Experiences
- Transfer from Abu Dhabi hotel
- Travel in air-conditioned 4WD
- Visit camel farm
- Experience dune bashing
- Try sandboarding
- Arrive at Bedouin-style camp
- Welcome with Arabic coffee and dates
- Capture sunset views from dunes
- Enjoy henna painting and shisha smoking
- Take camel rides and wear Arabian attire
- Watch Tanoura and belly dance performances
- Feast on BBQ buffet dinner under stars
- Relax under starlit desert sky
- Return to Abu Dhabi
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Abu Dhabi, dune bashing and sandboarding in a 4WD, a short camel ride at sunset, henna painting and shisha smoking at the Bedouin camp, traditional Tanoura and belly dance performances, an open-buffet BBQ dinner with meat and vegetarian options, cold water and soft drinks, and free professional photography throughout the experience.
Times
- Every day 14:30 15:30
Last departure this season: 20 Dec
Another time? ›Before you book
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
The 4WD pulls away from the city and the sand takes over: flat, then rippled, then steep enough that the vehicle tilts and your stomach catches. Dune bashing is exactly what it sounds like: the driver accelerates up a slope, crests it, and drops down the other side while you grip the seat. After three or four runs your legs stop tensing and you start laughing. Then comes sandboarding, which is gentler but requires more balance than you'd think on a slope that slides under your feet.
By late afternoon you're at the Bedouin camp, a cluster of low tents and cushioned seating arranged around a fire pit. The guide hands you Arabic coffee and dates, and you sit while the light turns orange across the dunes. This is the moment people come for: the stillness of it, the color, the fact that you're not checking your phone. A photographer moves through the camp capturing shots they'll give you free. It's the kind of detail that matters more than it sounds. Henna artists work on hands and arms if you want it, and the shisha pipe gets passed around. A camel ride happens in the cooling evening, slow and swaying, nothing like the speed of the morning.
When the sun drops completely, the camp fills with music and movement. Tanoura dancers spin in layered skirts that flare like bells, and a belly dancer takes the floor while the crowd claps. It's performance, not subtle, and it works. Then the buffet opens (grilled meats, rice, salads, bread, vegetarian dishes if that's what you eat), and you eat under strings of lights with the desert dark beyond the circle of camp. Cold water and soft drinks flow all day. After dinner the lights dim, the music stops, and there's just the sound of the fire and the sky so full of stars it looks wrong, like someone oversaturated a photo. The drive back to Abu Dhabi takes about an hour, and you're quiet the whole way.
Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport or timing yourself. The group stays small enough that the guide knows who you are. If you're sensitive to henna or have a condition that makes dune bashing risky, the camp staff will know before you arrive: mention it when you book so they can flag it. Don't eat for a few hours before the safari. The dune bashing moves fast and an empty stomach keeps things comfortable.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main desert experiences (dune bashing, camp culture, sunset, and dinner) without arranging your own transport or timing. The fixed schedule and included pickup handle all of that, leaving you to focus on the ride and the stars.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.
How long is the full desert safari?
The experience runs most of the day, starting with hotel pickup in the afternoon and returning after dinner, typically around 8–9 hours total.
Is dune bashing safe?
It's a standard activity on these safaris, but it involves rapid acceleration and steep descents. If you have spinal issues, cardiovascular concerns, or are pregnant, it's not recommended. Mention any health conditions when booking.
What's included in the BBQ dinner?
An open buffet with grilled meats, rice, salads, bread, and vegetarian options, plus cold water and soft drinks throughout the day.
Do I need to book henna and shisha in advance?
No, both are available at the camp and you can choose to participate or skip them. Henna is optional if your skin is sensitive.
Will there be a dance show?
Yes, Tanoura and belly dancing are part of the evening program, except during Ramadan and certain Islamic holidays when performances aren't permitted by UAE law.
Is camel riding included?
Yes, a short camel ride is part of the experience, usually in the early evening.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, loose clothing that covers your shoulders and knees is respectful and practical for the desert. Bring a light jacket for the evening when it cools down.
Can I bring my own camera?
Yes, and a guide photographer also captures free photos throughout the day that you receive.
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Sandboarding & BBQ
7h · EN · at your hotel
from AED 433 per person
≈ US$ 115 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.