Dubai Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner
The 4x4 hits a dune at full speed and your stomach does something unexpected
You get picked up from your Dubai or Sharjah hotel, spend the afternoon in a 4x4 racing across red sand dunes, ride a camel at sunset, try sandboarding, and end the evening at a Bedouin-style camp with live entertainment, henna, and a BBQ buffet. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you show up and the rest is arranged.
Step-by-step itinerary
Desert safari with activities and dinner
- Pick up from your doorstep
- Drive 4x4 on red sand dunes
- Enjoy dune bashing adventure
- Take sunset photography on dunes
- Ride traditional camel
- Try sandboarding on dunes
- Relax on camp sofas
- Get henna painting and tattoo
- Enjoy unlimited refreshments
- Watch belly dance and tanura shows
- See fire show performance
- Eat BBQ dinner with veg and non-veg
What’s included
Your day includes 4x4 pickup and drop-off from your Dubai or Sharjah hotel, dune bashing in a 4x4 vehicle, a traditional camel ride at sunset, sandboarding, Arabic costume photography, henna and temporary tattoos, unlimited refreshments (coffee, tea, soft drinks, water, and traditional qahwa), a BBQ dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, and live entertainment including fire shows, tanura dancing, and belly dancing.
Times
- Every day 14:00 14:30
Before you book
Operated by Dubai Desert Ride
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
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The experience
The pickup arrives at your hotel in Dubai or Sharjah in the late afternoon, and you climb into a 4x4 with maybe eight other people, not a huge group, which matters when the driver points the hood toward the red sand dunes and floors it. The dune bashing is the thing nobody quite prepares for: the vehicle tilts at angles that feel impossible, drops down slopes that make you grip the handle, and somehow stays upright. It's loud and fast and genuinely disorienting in the best way. After about an hour of that, your legs are shaky and you're laughing at yourself.
Then comes the camel ride, which is slower and stranger. You sit on something that sways in a rhythm your body has to learn, and the guide walks alongside pointing out how Bedouins used these routes for centuries. It's not Instagram-smooth: the camel moves how it wants, and you're just along for it. Sunset happens while you're up there, and the light on the dunes turns orange and gold in a way that photographs capture but don't quite explain. There's also sandboarding if you want it, which is like snowboarding except the sand is hot and forgiving when you fall.
By the time you reach the camp, you're tired and dusty and ready to sit down. The camp has low sofas arranged around an open area, and servers bring around coffee, tea, soft drinks and water constantly. You don't ask, they just keep it coming. If you want henna or a temporary tattoo, someone's there to do it. The entertainment starts as the light fades: a fire show, a traditional tanura dancer in a spinning skirt, belly dancing. It's theatrical and a bit cheesy and somehow works because everyone's in the same headspace by then. The BBQ dinner arrives on big platters (grilled meat, fish, biryani, salads, flatbread), and it's the kind of meal that tastes better because you've earned it.
The whole thing runs about six to seven hours from pickup to drop-off. You don't have to arrange transport, negotiate with a driver, or figure out where the dunes actually are. The car collects you, the guide handles the timing, and you're back at your hotel by late evening. It's the kind of day that feels both completely touristy and genuinely memorable, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want the classic Dubai desert experience without arranging your own transport or timing. The pickup, pacing, and logistics are all handled, so you just show up and spend the evening doing things you couldn't easily do alone.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Hindi, Arabic and Urdu.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.
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 time does the safari start and finish?
Pickup happens in the late afternoon (usually around 3–4pm), and you're back at your hotel by 9–10pm. The full experience is about 6–7 hours.
Is dune bashing safe?
Yes. The vehicles are 4x4s driven by experienced guides, and the activity is designed for tourists. It's bumpy and thrilling, not dangerous.
What's included in the BBQ dinner?
Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options: grilled meat, fish, biryani, salads, flatbread, hummus, and traditional Arabic sides. Soft drinks, tea, coffee and water are unlimited throughout the evening.
Do I need to bring anything?
Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting sandy, bring sunscreen and sunglasses, and wear closed-toe shoes for dune bashing. A light jacket is useful for the evening when it cools down.
Is the camel ride uncomfortable?
It's unusual rather than uncomfortable. The camel sways, and the ride lasts about 20–30 minutes. It's a traditional experience, not a smooth one.
Can I skip activities I don't want to do?
Yes. Sandboarding, henna, and the entertainment shows are optional. You can sit at the camp and watch, or participate as much as you want.
How many people are in a group?
Groups are typically 8–12 people per vehicle, so it's not a private tour but not a massive group either.
Dubai Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner
6h · EN +3 · at your hotel
from AED 76 per person
≈ US$ 20 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.