Abu Dhabi: Evening Desert Safari, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/19

Duration6h

GroupUp to 200

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Evening desert safari with BBQ camel ride sandboarding & shows

You’ll sip cardamom coffee as you head out from Abu Dhabi for an evening desert safari full of wild dune bashing, camel rides, sandboarding fun, henna painting, local BBQ flavors, and live dance shows. Expect laughter, good food, unexpected moments with locals—and maybe even silence under desert stars before heading back to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with activities and BBQ

Pick up from Abu Dhabi
Travel to Bedouin-inspired desert camp
4x4 dune bashing adventure
Try sandboarding
Short camel ride
Visit camel farm and photo stop
Henna painting
Photo with falcon (if available)
Try traditional Arabian attire
Enjoy BBQ buffet dinner
Watch belly dance show (except Ramadan)
Watch Tanoura dance performance
Watch fire show
Shisha smoking and star gazing
Return to Abu Dhabi

The Experience

It started with Khalid handing me a tiny cup of cardamom coffee at the edge of Abu Dhabi — I almost spilled it climbing into the Land Cruiser, but he just grinned and said, “Desert’s forgiving.” The city faded fast behind us and suddenly there was just sand everywhere, this endless orange sea. Dune bashing was wilder than I expected; one moment we were sideways on a slope and everyone in the car was laughing or holding their breath. The wind outside tasted dry and sharp, and I got red dust in my shoes right away (should’ve worn socks). We stopped at a camel farm where a baby tried to nibble my sleeve — honestly, that was my favorite photo from the whole trip.

Later at camp, someone handed out dates and sweet tea while the sun dropped behind the dunes. I tried on a dishdasha for a picture (Li laughed when I tried to say it in Arabic — probably butchered it), then gave sandboarding a go. It’s harder than it looks; I fell twice but didn’t really care because everyone else did too. There was this quiet moment before dinner when you could hear nothing but distant voices and the soft hiss of shisha smoke curling up into the cooling air. The main keyword here is evening desert safari Abu Dhabi — but honestly, it felt less like a tour and more like being let in on something locals actually enjoy.

The BBQ buffet had everything from smoky chicken kebabs to creamy hummus — I piled my plate high and went back for seconds on the Umm Ali dessert (still think about that cinnamon smell). After dark, dancers spun under colored lights and there was this fire show that made everyone gasp. On the drive back to Abu Dhabi, I watched stars flicker through the window. It’s strange how quiet you feel after so much noise and color out there.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Abu Dhabi by 4x4 Land Cruiser (shared basis), wild dune bashing across golden sands with your local guide behind the wheel, visits to a camel farm plus short camel rides and sandboarding fun at camp.
Enjoy henna painting sessions or try on traditional clothes for photos.
Relax over sweet tea or coffee with dates before tucking into a full BBQ buffet dinner featuring grilled meats and local salads.
Watch Tanoura dance spinning or fire shows under open skies—belly dancing when not Ramadan—and finish with stargazing before heading back to your hotel late evening.

Good to know

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

Operated by Emirates Tours and Safaris