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

Summary

Red dunes adventure in Dubai desert with camel ride and BBQ

You’ll feel your heart race as you tackle Dubai’s red dunes with dune bashing and sandboarding before sharing Arabic coffee at a desert camp. Ride camels at sunset, try henna art or shisha, then relax over a barbecue dinner with live dance shows under starry skies. It’s lively but there are quiet moments too — ones you’ll remember long after you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Desert adventure and cultural experience

• Dune bashing in red sand dunes
• Photo stop in desert for sunset
• Sandboarding fun and photography
• Arrive at traditional desert camp
• Welcome with Arabic coffee and Legemat
• Camel ride and henna design
• Photos in local costumes
• Enjoy barbecue dinner and shisha
• Watch belly dance, fire, and Tanura shows
• Return to hotel with traditional music

Top questions

How long is the Dubai desert safari tour?

The tour lasts around 6 hours including pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Dubai.

Is dune bashing included in this desert safari?

Yes, 35 minutes of dune bashing at Lehbab Desert’s red dunes is included.

Are meals provided during the tour?

A barbecue buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options is included at the desert camp.

Is hotel pickup included in this Dubai desert safari?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your hotel or residence in Dubai are included.

Can you try camel riding on this tour?

Yes, a short camel ride is part of the experience at the desert camp.

Are there live performances during dinner?

The evening includes belly dance shows, Tanura dance performances, and a fire show around the campfire.

Is sandboarding available on this safari?

Yes, sandboarding on the dunes is included during your time in the desert.

Are drinks provided during the trip?

You’ll have unlimited water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks available at camp.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup by 4x4 SUV for 35 minutes of dune bashing at Lehbab Desert’s red dunes before trying sandboarding and pausing for photos. At camp you’re welcomed with Arabic coffee and Legemat sweets; enjoy a camel ride, optional henna tattoos for ladies, shisha in a lounge area, plus a full barbecue buffet dinner with desserts before returning to your hotel late evening.

What’s the experience like?

“You can scream if you want — everyone does at first,” our driver Khalid grinned, hands loose on the wheel as we rolled into the Lehbab Desert. I thought he was joking until the 4x4 tipped over that first ridge and my stomach did a weird flip. The sand out here isn’t just sand — it’s this wild, deep orange-red that sticks to your shoes and somehow gets in your ears. There was this moment when we stopped on a high dune and everything went quiet except for the wind. I could smell something sweet, almost like warm bread from somewhere far off — maybe another camp getting ready for dinner.

I’d never tried sandboarding before (turns out I’m not great at it), but Khalid cheered anyway when I managed to stay upright for three seconds. He pointed out some tiny tracks in the sand — “fox,” he said, though honestly it looked more like someone dragging a stick. We took photos that don’t do any justice to how big the sky feels out there. Afterward, we headed to this camp set up with low tables and carpets. A woman named Salma handed me Arabic coffee (it’s spiced, kind of cardamom-y) and these little fried sweets called Legemat. I still think about those sometimes.

The camel ride was bumpier than I expected — they make this groaning noise when they stand up, which made us all laugh (except maybe the camels). Some people got henna designs while others tried on local scarves for photos. Dinner was a huge spread: grilled chicken, rice, salads, smoky eggplant dip. Later there was shisha smoke curling around us while dancers spun in circles so fast their skirts blurred into colors I can’t really describe. At some point I just leaned back and watched the stars come out over the dunes.

On the drive back to Dubai — about an hour or so — Khalid played old Emirati songs on low volume. Everyone got quiet for a bit; maybe tired or just full from dinner or maybe thinking about how strange and good it felt to be somewhere so far from home but also kind of welcome, you know?