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

Red dunes, a camel, and dinner under the stars: all in one evening out of Dubai

You get picked up from your hotel, driven to the Arabian Desert, and spend 30 minutes dune bashing in a 4x4 before stopping for sunset photos. At the desert camp, you ride a camel, watch three live shows (Tanoura dance, belly dance, fire show), get henna painted, and eat an international BBQ buffet dinner with unlimited drinks. Hotel drop-off is included, and the whole evening takes you from city to desert and back without arranging anything yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening desert safari and entertainment

• Hotel meet and greet
• Drive to Arabian Desert
• Arrive and prepare at desert entry
• Dune bashing adventure
• Stop for sunset photos
• Sandboarding experience
• Arrive at desert camp
• Camel ride and henna painting
• Watch Tanoura and belly dance shows
• Enjoy fire show
• Dine on BBQ buffet dinner
• Return to hotel

The experience

So you're sitting in your hotel lobby and a guide shows up with a 4x4, and suddenly you're not looking at the Marina anymore. You're heading into actual desert. The drive out takes maybe 45 minutes, and your guide talks about the landscape and what's coming, which is nice because you're not just staring out the window wondering what you paid for. When you hit the entry point, the vehicles get prepped, and then the dune bashing starts. Thirty minutes of a professional driver taking you across the red dunes at angles that feel impossible, and honestly, it's the kind of thing that makes your stomach drop in the best way. You stop somewhere high up to catch the sunset and take photos: the light hits those dunes in this orange-gold way that photos don't quite capture, but you try anyway.

After that, there's sandboarding on the high dunes if you want to try it, and then you roll into the desert camp as the sun's basically gone. The place is set up like a traditional Bedouin camp, and there's a lot happening at once. You can get henna painted on your hands, wear an Arabic costume for photos, or just sit with Arabic coffee and tea while you wait for the shows to start. The entertainment is three separate things: a Tanoura dance (spinning skirts, traditional music, the whole thing), belly dancing, and a fire show. They're not long, but they're the kind of thing that fills the evening and keeps the energy up. The buffet dinner comes out after (international BBQ with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, salads, bread, rice, curries), and you eat under the stars with unlimited soft drinks, water, tea, and coffee included.

The whole evening runs from pickup to drop-off, and you're back at your hotel by the time most of Dubai's nightlife is getting started. It's not a rough experience. The 4x4 is comfortable, the guide handles logistics, and you don't have to arrange transport or figure out where the desert actually is. The dune bashing is the thing that stays with you, though. That thirty minutes of being thrown around while the driver grins in the mirror. That's the part people remember.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup in a comfortable 4x4 vehicle, a 30-minute dune bashing ride across the red dunes, a scenic sunset photo stop, sandboarding on the high dunes, a short camel ride at the desert camp, henna painting (subject to availability), three live shows (Tanoura dance, belly dance, and fire show), an international BBQ buffet dinner with salads, bread, rice, curries, and vegetarian options, and unlimited soft drinks, water, tea, and Arabic coffee. Hotel drop-off is also included.

Options for this experience

3 options

Evening Desert SafariGuide in English · 14:30Pickup is included

Quad bike desert safariGuide in English · 14:30Quad bike for 30 minutes, included, with pickup included

Dune buggy desert safariGuide in English · 14:3030-minute buggy ride for 2 people, includes pickup

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

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 3 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Dubai Abu Dhabi City Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want the desert experience without arranging your own transport or timing: the pickup, dune bashing, camp activities, and dinner are all coordinated in one evening. The dune bashing is active and can be intense, so it's not suitable for travelers with spinal issues, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy, but it works for most fitness levels.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What time does the evening desert safari start?

Hotel pickup happens in the evening. The exact time depends on sunset, which varies by season. Your confirmation will specify the pickup window for your date.

Is the camel ride long?

It's a short camel ride experience at the desert camp, not a multi-hour trek. It's part of the camp activities, alongside henna painting and photos.

What's included in the dinner?

An international BBQ buffet with salads, bread, rice, curries, and vegetarian and non-vegetarian BBQ options. Unlimited soft drinks, water, tea, and Arabic coffee are included.

Is dune bashing rough on the body?

The dune bashing lasts 30 minutes and is an active experience. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers. Specialized infant seats are available.

Can I do sandboarding?

Yes, sandboarding on the high dunes is part of the itinerary after dune bashing, though it's optional if you prefer to skip it.

Is henna painting guaranteed?

Henna painting is listed as subject to availability, so it's not guaranteed on every departure.

How long is the whole experience?

From hotel pickup to drop-off, the evening safari runs several hours, with the camp activities and dinner taking up the bulk of the time after the desert drive and dune bashing.