Desert Safari Dubai: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & Entertainment

Speed across the Red Sand Dunes, then settle into a desert camp for fire shows and belly dance.

A desert safari in Dubai combines dune bashing in a 4x4, camel riding, sand boarding and a full evening at a Bedouin-style camp with live entertainment, international BBQ dinner and henna painting. Pickup from your hotel is included. The activity runs about six hours and ends around 9:30 pm. Children from age one can join, though the dune bashing is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening desert safari adventure

• Pick up from guest location
• Dune bashing in red sand dunes
• Sandboarding activity
• Camel ride experience
• Arrive at campsite
• Enjoy live entertainment shows
• Participate in henna painting and costume photos
• Dine with BBQ and refreshments
• Drop off at guest location

The experience

The driver picks you up from your location and heads straight into the Red Sand Dunes for 30 minutes of dune bashing: the vehicle crests and drops across the sand in what the operator calls the most thrilling part of the day. After that rush settles, you move into sand boarding, then a camel ride across the quieter dunes. These three activities make up the first half of the evening. By the time you reach the campsite, the light is fading and the temperature has dropped.

At the camp, live entertainment runs through the evening: belly dance, fire shows, Tanura dance (a traditional Arabic spinning performance), and henna painting for those who want it. Arabic costumes are available for photos. An international BBQ buffet serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, with unlimited tea and coffee throughout. The whole experience winds down around 9:30 pm, when the driver returns you to your pickup location.

The six-hour window means you leave in late afternoon and return after dark, so the camp's entertainment and the desert's cooling air are the real draw, not a rushed morning sprint through landmarks. Dune bashing itself is the physical centerpiece. Sand boarding and the camel ride are gentler by comparison, and the camp portion is entirely seated or standing still. If you're staying in a hotel without a rental car, this is a complete evening that doesn't require you to arrange transport or navigate the desert on your own.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your hotel.
• air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle for dune bashing.
• sand boarding and camel ride.
• live entertainment shows including belly dance, fire shows and Tanura dance.
• henna painting and Arabic costume photos.
• international BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
• unlimited tea and coffee.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (20 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 80 years) · Youth (10 to 19 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 600

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by NEXT TRIP TRAVEL L.L.C

Is this one for you?Book this safari if you're staying in Dubai without a rental car: pickup from your hotel means the entire evening, from dune bashing to the camp's entertainment and dinner, is arranged and timed to end when the driver brings you back, no planning required.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

130 verified traveler reviews

5 ★123

4 ★6

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 19 years); Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): 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 happens during the dune bashing part of the desert safari?

Dune bashing is a 30-minute drive through the Red Sand Dunes in an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, where the driver navigates steep sand slopes and valleys. It's the most intense physical part of the activity, and it comes first, before sand boarding and the camel ride.

What kind of food is served at the desert camp?

An international BBQ buffet dinner includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, with unlimited tea and coffee served throughout the evening at the campsite.

Does the price include the henna painting and Arabic costume photos?

Henna painting and Arabic costume photos are included in the safari. Falcon photos are available as an optional add-on for an additional cost.

How long does the whole activity take from pickup to drop-off?

The desert safari runs about six hours total, starting with pickup from your hotel in the late afternoon and ending around 9:30 pm when the driver returns you to your original location.

What's the difference between sand boarding and the camel ride?

Sand boarding is a short activity where you slide down dunes on a board after the dune bashing. The camel ride comes next and is a slower, more leisurely way to move across the quieter desert before heading to the camp.