Desert Buggy & Camel Ride Dubai: Self-Drive Dune Bashing

Six and a half hours: dune bashing, camel riding, and three live shows under the stars.

A 6.5-hour desert activity in Dubai where you self-drive a buggy through dunes, then spend the evening at a traditional camp with camel rides, henna painting, live entertainment and a full dinner buffet. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The guide speaks English and Arabic and leads the dune-bashing portion. The camel ride and camp activities follow at your own pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert adventure and cultural evening

• Pickup from hotel by 4x4
• Safety briefing and gear provided
• Drive off-road buggy through dunes
• Explore desert wildlife and views
• Arrive at traditional desert camp
• Camel riding across dunes
• Henna painting on hands
• Dinner buffet with soft drinks
• Enjoy Tanoura dance show

The experience

You get picked up from your hotel or residence and driven to the desert meeting point, where a safety briefing and gear setup happen before you take the wheel. Then comes 30 minutes of self-driving a 4x4 buggy across open dunes. You navigate the terrain, spot desert wildlife if it appears, and stop at a high dune for sunset photos. This is not a passenger experience. You operate the vehicle while the guide follows and points out the landscape.

After dune bashing, the camp opens up. You ride a camel across the golden dunes at a walking pace, the way locals have for centuries. Back at the traditional camp, a henna artist applies intricate designs to your hands, and you can sit with a sheesha pipe and Arabic sweets. Three live entertainment shows run through the evening (Arabic music, Tanoura dance with lights), and happen on stage and around the grounds while you settle in.

Dinner is a full buffet served at your table: vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, unlimited soft drinks, and the meal spans the entire evening. The whole experience runs 6.5 hours from pickup to drop-off at your location. A guide in English or Arabic leads the dune-bashing portion. The rest of the camp activities run at your own rhythm, so you move between camel riding, henna, the shows and dinner without a fixed schedule.

What’s included

• Hotel or residence pickup and drop-off.
• 30 minutes of self-drive buggy time across dunes with a safety briefing and all gear.
• a stop at a high dune for sunset photos.
• camel ride.
• henna painting.
• traditional welcome with Arabic tea and sweets.
• sheesha pipe.
• three live entertainment shows with Arabic music and Tanoura dance.
• full international buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options and unlimited soft drinks.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Arabic15:00 and 15:30

Guide in English or Arabic15:00 and 15:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 15:00 and 15:30

AgesAdult (13 to 70 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Seven Tours Dubai

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to operate the vehicle yourself rather than watch from a passenger seat. The self-drive buggy is what sets this apart from a standard desert tour, and it is the core of the experience. The evening camp activities and dinner happen at your own pace after the guided dune-bashing portion, so you control how long you spend on each activity.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

Can I really drive the buggy myself, or does the guide drive it?

You drive the buggy yourself for the 30-minute dune-bashing portion. The guide follows in another vehicle and leads the route across the dunes. You operate the controls and navigate the terrain.

What happens at the desert camp after dune bashing?

At the traditional camp you ride a camel, get henna painted on your hands, enjoy Arabic tea and sweets, watch three live entertainment shows with Arabic music and Tanoura dance, and sit down to a full buffet dinner served at your table with unlimited soft drinks.

Is the camel ride included, or do I pay extra?

The camel ride is included in the package, along with henna painting, all camp activities, the entertainment shows and the full dinner buffet.

What time does the activity start and end?

Hotel pickup happens at the start, and the entire experience runs 6.5 hours from pickup to drop-off at your location. The timing depends on your hotel location and the sunset, which is when you stop at the high dune for photos.

Is this activity safe if I've never driven an off-road vehicle?

A safety briefing and all essential gear are provided before you drive. The guide leads the route and follows you across the dunes. The activity is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the dinner, and are there vegetarian options?

Dinner is a full international buffet with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, served at your table with unlimited soft drinks throughout the evening.