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

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.90 (142 reviews) 94% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/15

Duration7h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Red dunes, golden hour sandboarding and Dubai’s desert BBQ feast

You’ll feel Dubai’s desert come alive—from bouncing over red dunes in a 4x4 to sliding down sandboards at sunset and sharing laughter over barbecue in a lantern-lit camp. Sip Arabic coffee, try henna or shisha, watch fire dancers spark up the night—and let that last stretch of quiet under desert stars stay with you long after you’re back in the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with activities and dinner

Meet safari guide at your location
Relax in comfortable 4x4 vehicle
Experience 20-30 minutes dune bashing
Sandboard down the dunes
Take photos during golden hour
Enjoy short camel ride and photos
Arrive at Deluxe-rated desert camp
Welcome with Arabic coffee, sweets, and dates
Get henna hand painting
Try local shisha in common area
Be seated for Middle Eastern dinner
Enjoy appetizers, main course, desserts, and soft drinks
Savor live barbecue grills and fresh bread
Watch fire artist performance
See Tanoura dance show
Watch belly dancer performance
Gaze at stars and city lights returning

The Experience

We rolled out of Dubai in this big 4x4 just as the city started to fade behind us. Our driver, Sami, had that quiet confidence you want when you’re about to charge into a desert. He cranked up some old-school Arabic music and grinned at us in the rearview mirror before hitting the first dune—honestly, I didn’t expect my stomach to drop like that. The sand outside looked almost soft but felt wild under the wheels. My friend tried to film but kept laughing too hard—her video is mostly ceiling and shrieks.

After the dune bashing (which was somehow both exhilarating and kind of soothing by the end), we tumbled out for sandboarding. I wiped out immediately—Sami just shrugged and handed me another board. The light was unreal at that hour; everything gold and pink. There was this brief silence before someone’s phone went off with a WhatsApp ping—felt weirdly grounding. Then came the camels: gentle eyes, slow steps. I got a photo with one who seemed deeply unimpressed by all of us.

The camp smelled like cardamom and charcoal smoke as soon as we arrived. We were greeted with tiny cups of gahwa coffee and sweet luqaimat—I probably ate six before even sitting down (no regrets). A henna artist painted a little flower on my hand while kids darted around with sticky fingers. Tried shisha for the first time, coughed embarrassingly, but nobody cared. Dinner was table service—grilled meats, fresh bread, salads—and it felt like everyone relaxed into their seats as night fell. The fire show started up; I still think about those sparks spinning against the dark sky.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off anywhere within Dubai city limits by comfortable 4x4 vehicle.
all activities like dune bashing on red dunes for about half an hour.
sandboarding.
a short camel ride with photo opportunities.
welcome Arabic coffee (gahwa) with sweet luqaimat.
table-served appetizers and buffet dinner with live BBQ station plus desserts.
unlimited soft drinks, tea and water.
small henna design for ladies or children.
shisha in a designated area.
seven live entertainment shows throughout your evening before heading back to town under the stars.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Dubai Leisure Holidays