Desert Safari Drive with BBQ Dinner in Dubai

Dune bashing and starlight dining instead of another night in the city

A six-hour evening desert tour from Dubai combines dune driving in a customized 4x4 vehicle, a golden sunset over the sand, and an Arabian camp experience with BBQ dinner, live entertainment, and optional activities like henna tattoos, camel rides, sand boarding and shisha. Hotel pickup is included. A live English-speaking guide leads the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with dinner and entertainment

• Drive across Dubai desert dunes
• Watch sunset from high dunes
• Arrive at traditional Arabian camp
• Enjoy BBQ dinner in Bedouin tents
• Watch belly dancing and Tanoura show
• Try sand skiing or camel riding
• Get henna tattoos and try shisha
• Take souvenir photos in Arabic robes

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and a drive into the Dubai Desert, where the real action begins: dune bashing in an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle across undulating terrain. You'll feel the shift from city noise to open landscape as the vehicle navigates the natural habitat of the desert. The route is timed to catch the golden sunset, when the light spreads across vast stretches of sand before fading into dusk.

Once the light goes, you arrive at a traditional Arabic camp lit by torches and designed to feel authentically Bedouin. Dinner is a BBQ served from the comfort of tent seating, and the evening fills with regional entertainment: a belly dancer and a Tanoura show (the famed Arabic folk dance performed in spinning robes). If you want to stay active, sand skiing and camel riding are available. If you prefer to sit, henna artists will paint intricate patterns on your hands while you sample different shisha flavors. A photographer can also capture you in classic Arabic robes as a keepsake.

The entire experience runs about six hours from pickup to return. Children under six travel without dune bashing and go straight to the camp. Specialized infant seats are provided at no extra cost. Pregnant travelers and those with spinal or cardiovascular concerns should inform the driver beforehand, as they can skip the dune portion and join the camp activities instead.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle for dune bashing.
• hotel pickup and return.
• BBQ dinner at the Arabic camp.
• live English-speaking guide.
• belly dancing and Tanoura folk dance performances.
• optional henna tattoos, camel rides, sand boarding, and shisha.
• photo in traditional Arabic robes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 14 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Travco Dubai

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a full evening out of the city with transport included. You'll drive the dunes at sunset, then settle into a traditional camp for BBQ dinner and live entertainment, all in one outing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): 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.

What exactly is dune bashing and will I be uncomfortable during the drive?

Dune bashing is off-road driving across the natural sand terrain of the Dubai Desert in a customized 4x4 vehicle. The ride is thrilling but not smooth. The vehicle navigates slopes and undulating ground. Travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant women, seniors over 65, and children under six should not participate in dune bashing itself, though they can join the rest of the tour at the camp.

Can I skip activities like camel riding or henna if I don't want to do them?

Yes. Camel rides, sand boarding, henna tattoos and shisha are all optional. You can choose to relax in the Bedu tents, watch the entertainment, or mix and match whichever activities appeal to you during the evening at camp.

What time does the tour start and when does it end?

The tour runs for six hours total from hotel pickup. It is timed to depart in the late afternoon so you arrive at the camp as the sun sets, then spend the evening there before returning to your hotel.

Is the BBQ dinner included, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, BBQ dinner is included and served at the torch-lit camp. The menu features regional cuisine prepared in a traditional style, though specific dishes are not detailed in the tour description.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the desert, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour. You'll need to confirm your pickup location at least 48 hours before the tour so the operator can arrange the right time and meeting point.