Dubai Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Dune Bashing & BBQ Dinner

Red dunes adventure, camel rides, sandboarding and fire-lit evenings

You’ll leave Dubai behind for an afternoon of dune bashing across red sands before trying sandboarding and snapping photos at sunset. At a Bedouin camp, ride camels, taste barbecue under lanterns, get henna tattoos and watch live belly dance and fire shows—all with hotel pickup included. It’s an evening full of laughter, new flavors and desert quiet you won’t forget soon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Desert safari with activities and dinner

• Pick up from hotel
• Drive to La Habab desert
• Enjoy 30-40 minutes dune bashing
• Sandboarding and photo session
• Arrive at Bedouin camp
• Camel ride experience
• Get henna tattoo
• Wear traditional Arabic dress
• Enjoy buffet dinner with drinks
• Watch belly dancing show
• Watch fire show
• Watch tanura show
• Drive back to hotel

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was how the city just sort of faded away as we drove out toward the La Habab desert. Our driver—Ahmed, who kept making us laugh with stories about his childhood here—cranked up some Arabic pop on the radio and before I knew it, we were bouncing over these wild red dunes. I’ll admit, dune bashing is way more intense than it looks on Instagram. Sand everywhere, my stomach somewhere back in Dubai, but honestly? I grinned the whole time. The air smelled dry and warm, like sun-baked earth.

We stopped in the middle of all that emptiness for sandboarding (I fell twice—no regrets) and took photos that probably don’t do justice to those colors at sunset. Then Ahmed brought us to this Bedouin camp tucked behind a low ridge. There were camels waiting; their eyes are gentler than you’d think. The camel ride was slower than I expected—kind of swaying—and for a second I just listened to the wind skimming over the sand. Some kids nearby were giggling as they tried on traditional robes for photos. I tried too; Li laughed when I tried to say “shukran” in Arabic—probably butchered it.

After that, there was henna (the artist’s hands moved so fast), cold drinks sweating in their bottles, and then dinner: smoky grilled chicken and spiced rice under strings of colored lights. The shows started while we ate—belly dancing first, then this guy spinning with a skirt that shimmered in the firelight. The fire show was honestly wild; you could feel the heat from where we sat. By then it was properly dark, except for lanterns and stars overhead. On the drive back to our hotel I felt sandy and tired but weirdly peaceful—I still think about that view from atop the dunes sometimes.

Top questions

How long does the Dubai desert safari tour last?

The tour starts in the afternoon with pickup from your hotel and ends after dinner and entertainment at the Bedouin camp, returning you to your hotel location in the evening.

Is hotel pickup included for this desert safari?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included as part of your booking.

What activities are included on this Dubai desert safari?

The tour includes dune bashing by 4x4 vehicle, sandboarding, a camel ride, henna tattooing, trying on traditional Arabic dress for photos, dinner with soft drinks, and live entertainment shows.

Is dinner provided during the desert safari?

Yes, a buffet barbecue dinner is provided at the Bedouin camp with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options plus soft drinks.

Are infants or small children allowed on this tour?

Infants can join using prams or strollers; specialized infant seats are available if needed.

Can pregnant travelers join this desert safari?

This experience is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to its active nature.

Where does dune bashing take place during this tour?

Dune bashing happens in Dubai’s La Habab desert area before heading to the Bedouin camp.

What kind of live shows are performed at the camp?

You’ll see belly dancing, a fire show and a tanura (spinning dance) performance during dinner at the camp.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your hotel in Dubai by air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle for transport out to La Habab desert. You’ll try dune bashing across red sands before stopping for sand surfing and photos. At the Bedouin camp you can ride camels, get henna tattoos done by an expert artist, wear traditional Arabic dress for pictures if you want to try it out—and enjoy a barbecue buffet dinner with plenty of cold soft drinks while watching live belly dance and fire performances before being dropped off back at your hotel.