Dubai Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Camel Riding & Dinner

Ride the red dunes, then settle into camp as the sun drops and the show begins.

A Dubai desert safari combines dune bashing across Lahbab's red dunes with camel riding, sandboarding, and a full evening at a desert camp. You're picked up from your hotel in an air-conditioned 4x4, guided by an English-speaking professional, and returned after dark. The tour runs roughly seven hours and includes a BBQ buffet dinner, live performances, henna art, a falcon photo opportunity, and unlimited refreshments.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with activities and dinner

• Hotel pickup in luxury 4x4
• Drive to Red Dune location
• Buggy and ATV ride at Labab
• Dune bashing with photography and sandboarding
• Drive to camp for BBQ dinner
• Camel riding at camp
• Enjoy unlimited refreshments
• Experience falcon encounter and henna
• Watch Belly Dance, Tanoura, and Fire Shows
• Drive back to hotel

The experience

The day starts with a drive to the red dunes, where you stop at Lahbab for a 30-minute buggy or quad bike ride before the main event: dune bashing. A licensed driver takes the 4x4 up and down the high dunes for about an hour, with time built in for sandboarding down the slopes and photography in the deep desert. The ride is fast and physical (the vehicle pitches and rolls), but the pace is controlled and the driver is trained for it.

After the dunes, you head to the camp, where the rhythm shifts. A traditional camel ride crosses the desert floor at walking pace. Back at the camp, henna artists apply intricate designs to your hands while you watch a falcon handler bring out a trained bird for close-up photos. The sunset happens here, and there's a dedicated photo stop to capture it. Refreshments flow constantly (Arabic coffee, dates, soft drinks, tea, cold water), and the BBQ buffet arrives as the light fades, with both vegetarian and meat dishes.

Once dinner is done, the entertainment takes over. A belly dancer, a Tanoura performer spinning in traditional skirts, and fire acts fill the night. A shisha lounge is available if you want to sit with a water pipe. The return drive to your hotel takes about an hour, and you arrive after the shows end.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a luxury air-conditioned 4x4.
• dune bashing with a licensed driver and sandboarding on the red dunes.
• camel riding across the desert.
• a 30-minute buggy or quad bike ride at Lahbab (depending on the option chosen).
• entry to the red dunes.
• deep-desert photography stops and a sunset photo opportunity.
• henna art application.
• a falcon photo encounter.
• a full BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and meat options.
• unlimited tea, coffee, Arabic coffee, soft drinks, and cold water.
• live entertainment including belly dance, Tanoura performance, and fire acts.
• shisha lounge access on the standard option.
• and guidance from a professional English-speaking tour guide throughout.

Options for this experience

5 options

Standard safari, shared option, pickup includedGuide in English or Arabic · 14:30Duration: 7 hours. Dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, photo stop, standard BBQ dinner, shows, water, and shared pickup and drop-off. The BBQ dinner is served at a standard camp. Travel is by 4x4, and pickup is included.

Premium safari, shared optionGuide in English or Arabic · 14:30Duration: 7 hours. Premium dinner at a premium camp, with dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, photo stop, falcon experience, premium BBQ dinner, shows, water, and shared pickup and drop-off. Travel is by SUV, and pickup is included.

Private Safari with Premium DinnerGuide in English or Arabic · 14:00, 14:30 and 15:00Duration: 7 hours. Premium BBQ at a Premium camp, with a private safari, premium BBQ dinner at a private table, dune bashing, sandboarding, camel and falcon experiences, entertainment, and pickup and drop-off included. Travel is by private SUV, and pickup is included.

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Premium safari including a quad bikeGuide in English or Arabic · 14:30Duration: 7 hours. Dune bashing, camel ride, 30 minutes of sandboarding, quad biking, a premium BBQ dinner with entertainment and sharing, and pickup and drop-off included. Travel is by 4x4 SUV, and pickup is included. BBQ dinner comes with soft drinks.

Premium safari with a buggyGuide in English or Arabic · 14:30Duration: 7 hours. Dune bashing, camel ride, 30 minutes of sandboarding, a 2-seater buggy, a premium BBQ dinner with entertainment, and pickup and drop-off included. The premium dinner comes with soft drinks. Travel is by 4x4 SUV, and pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 14:00, 14:30 and 15:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (6 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 5 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Great Day Tourism LLC Dubai

Is this one for you?Book the private option if your group wants to set the pace and skip the shared-tour schedule. Book a standard or premium shared option if you'd rather join others and keep the cost lower. The buggy and quad bike upgrades add speed and a different kind of adrenaline to the dune experience, so choose one if you want more time on those machines and less on the camel ride.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 5 years); Infant (under 4).

What's the difference between the standard and premium options for this Dubai desert safari?

The standard option is shared with other guests and includes the full itinerary with BBQ dinner and entertainment. Premium options add either a quad bike or buggy ride (30 minutes each) and can be booked as a private tour with a customizable route, or as a shared premium experience. Private tours let you adjust the timing and stops to suit your group.

How long does the dune bashing part of the tour actually last?

The dune bashing itself runs about one hour, which includes the high-speed driving across the red dunes, sandboarding down the slopes, and photo stops in the deep desert. The full tour from hotel pickup to drop-off is roughly seven hours.

Is sandboarding included, or do I need to pay extra?

Sandboarding is included in all options. You glide down the high red dunes on a premium sandboard during the dune bashing portion of the tour, with no additional cost.

What happens if I'm not comfortable with the dune bashing or camel riding?

Both activities are core to the tour, but you can discuss customization options when booking a private tour. The camel ride is a slow walk across flat ground, while dune bashing is a faster, more physical ride in the 4x4. If either concerns you, contact the operator before booking to explore alternatives or confirm what suits your comfort level.

Does the tour include food and drinks, or are those extra?

A full BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes is included, along with unlimited refreshments throughout the day: Arabic coffee, dates, soft drinks, tea, and cold water. Shisha is available on the standard option. No meals or drinks beyond these are included.

What's included in the "falcon encounter" mentioned in the tour description?

The falcon encounter is a photo opportunity with a trained falcon handler at the desert camp. You get a close-up moment with the bird for photos, but it's a brief, stationary experience rather than a hands-on activity.