Dubai: Desert Safari, Quad Bike & BBQ with Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (6,069 reviews) 96% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/31

Duration6h–7h

GroupUp to 99

LanguagesEN · AR

PickupAt your hotel

Ride Dubai’s red dunes quad bike then feast under desert stars

You’ll cross Dubai’s red dunes by quad bike, try sandboarding and camel riding with local guides, then relax at a Bedouin-style camp for live shows and a BBQ dinner under lanterns. Expect real desert silence between bursts of laughter—and maybe find yourself lingering over Arabic coffee longer than you meant to.

6h–7h

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with activities and dinner

Pickup from any Dubai location
Arrive at Lahbab Red Dunes
Safety briefing by guide
25-minute self-drive quad bike ride
Gentle camel ride
Dune bashing in 4×4 vehicle
Try sandboarding on dunes
Scenic desert photo stop
Arrive at Bedouin-style desert camp
Welcome with Arabic coffee, tea, and dates
Relax in shisha lounge and try henna art
Wear traditional Arabic attire for photos
Dine on upgraded BBQ buffet dinner
Watch Tanoura, belly dance, and fire show
Return to original pickup location

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was the color — that deep, rusty red of the Lahbab dunes, almost glowing in the late afternoon. Our driver, Ahmed, showed up right on time at my hotel in Dubai (he even texted when he was five minutes away), and I ended up sharing the back seat with a couple from Istanbul who were just as nervous about dune bashing as I was. The 4x4 felt like a spaceship as we left the city behind and everything got quieter except for our laughter bouncing around inside.

I’d never driven a quad bike before, so when they handed me the helmet and pointed to my ride, my hands were shaking a little. The sand felt softer than I expected — it kind of gave way under the tires in this weirdly satisfying way. There was this moment where I stopped at the top of a dune and just listened: wind, some distant engine noise, nothing else. After that adrenaline rush (and a lot of sand in my shoes), we slowed down for a camel ride. The camels looked so patient — our guide Rashid joked that they know tourists better than anyone in Dubai. He taught us how to say “thank you” in Arabic but honestly I probably butchered it; Rashid just grinned.

The camp itself was all lantern light and low cushions — smelled like cardamom and grilled meat. Someone pressed a tiny cup of Arabic coffee into my hand before I’d even sat down properly. Henna artists worked quietly in one corner while kids tried on those flowing white kanduras for photos. Dinner was this sprawling BBQ buffet (I still think about those grilled eggplants) and there was so much going on: Tanoura dancers spinning until you got dizzy just watching, then belly dancing and fire performers lighting up the sand like it was their own stage. My favorite part? Lying back after dinner with shisha smoke curling up into the night sky — not talking much, just listening to people’s voices drift across the camp.

What’s included

Your evening includes pickup and drop-off from anywhere in Dubai by 4x4 vehicle, a guided adventure through Lahbab Red Dunes with quad biking and sandboarding stops, plus camel riding before heading to a Bedouin-style camp for Arabic coffee rituals, henna tattoos, shisha lounge time and traditional dress-up photos. Dinner features a full BBQ buffet with live entertainment before you’re returned safely to your starting point.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Desert Fun Tourism LLC