Dubai Desert Safari: 6-Hour Dune Bashing & Live Shows

Race over dunes, snap falcons mid-flight, and feast by firelight under the stars

An evening desert safari in Dubai lasting six hours combines dune bashing in a 4×4, camel rides, sand boarding and henna painting at a Bedouin camp, finishing with BBQ dinner and five live entertainment shows including belly dance, Tanura and fire performances. Hotel pickup in a shared vehicle is included, and a live English-speaking guide leads the group throughout. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or cardiovascular concerns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert Safari with Adventure and Dinner

• Pickup from residence by 4x4 vehicle
• Drive over desert dunes
• Enjoy dune bashing at Lahbab
• Experience sand boarding and photo stops
• Visit Bedouin camp
• Ride camel and get henna painting
• Have welcome drinks and refreshments
• Enjoy BBQ buffet dinner
• Watch live shows including belly dance, tanura, fire show

The experience

The tour starts with a 4×4 pickup from your hotel. Your guide takes the vehicle over the high red dunes of Lahbab, the area known for dune bashing, while you experience the rhythm of the desert landscape. The drive itself is part of the adventure: the vehicle moves across thin sections of dunes in a way that would be impossible on your own.

At the Bedouin camp, the activities shift to what you do on foot and in the sand. You'll ride a camel, try sand boarding down the dunes, and have henna painted on your hands while sitting in the traditional costume room. Bottled water and snacks keep you going through the late afternoon. The camp has separate male and female washrooms, and you can order shisha if you want it.

Dinner is a buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, served as the sun sets. After you eat, five live shows unfold in sequence: belly dance, Tanura (the spinning skirt dance), and fire performance are the main ones. The evening wraps around these performances, so the timing holds the whole day together without gaps between activities. Coffee and tea come at the end.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in a shared 4×4 vehicle.
• dune bashing across the red dunes.
• camel rides.
• sand boarding.
• henna painting.
• traditional costume room access.
• BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
• bottled water and unlimited refreshments.
• five live entertainment shows including belly dance, Tanura and fire performances.
• snacks.
• coffee and tea.
• shisha available to order.
• separate male and female washrooms.
• sunset photograph stop.
• live English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

2 options

Evening desert safari featuring a barbecue dinner and live showsGuide in English · 13:30 and 14:00Includes pickup

Desert safari with quad bikingGuide in English · 13:30 and 14:00Desert safari with quad biking, 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 dayDepartures at 13:30 and 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 500

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Desert Destiny Tourism

Is this one for you?Book this if you want multiple activities (dune bashing, camel riding, sand sports, and live shows) sequenced through one evening rather than piecing together separate experiences.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is dune bashing like in a 4×4?

Dune bashing is the drive across the high red dunes of Lahbab in a 4×4 vehicle with an expert guide. The vehicle moves over thin sections of the dunes in a way that creates motion and speed across the sand. It is the signature part of the evening and happens early in the tour before you reach the camp.

Can I choose which activities to do at the camp?

The tour includes camel rides, sand boarding, henna painting and the traditional costume room as part of the package. Quad biking and dune buggies are available to rent separately if you want to add them, but the core activities listed are included in your ticket.

What time does the evening safari start and end?

The tour runs for six hours total. Hotel pickup happens in the late afternoon, and the evening finishes after the live shows and dinner are complete, so you return to your hotel in the night.

Is the BBQ dinner vegetarian-friendly?

The BBQ buffet offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, so you can choose what suits your diet. Bottled water, snacks, refreshments, coffee and tea are included throughout the tour.

Do I need to speak Arabic or is English enough?

A live guide in English leads the tour, so you'll have commentary and instructions in English throughout the six hours. The guide holds an official license from the Dubai Tourism Department.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

Hotel transfer, dune bashing, camel rides, sand boarding, henna painting, BBQ dinner, five live shows, refreshments and coffee or tea are all included. Alcoholic drinks, quad bike rentals, dune buggy rentals and souvenir photos are available to purchase separately.