Dubai Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and Dune Bashing

Glide down dunes, ride camels, and savor shawarma under Arabian stars

A 6-hour desert safari from Dubai combines 4x4 dune bashing through red sand dunes with a Bedouin-style camp experience: camel rides, sandboarding, henna tattoos, shisha, and a BBQ buffet dinner with live tanoura dance and fire shows. Hotel pickup and drop-off in a shared or private 4x4 Land Cruiser is included, along with Arabic coffee, dates and soft drinks throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dubai desert adventure and dinner

• Drive into Arabian Desert by 4x4
• Experience dune bashing and take photos
• Visit camel farm and watch desert sunset
• Arrive at Bedouin camp, enjoy Arabic coffee
• Ride camel and try sandboarding
• Get henna tattoo and relax with shisha
• Enjoy BBQ dinner with live dance shows
• Transfer back to Dubai hotel

The experience

The tour starts with a 4x4 ride across the rolling red dunes of the Arabian Desert: 20 to 30 minutes of dune bashing with chances to stop for photographs. You'll then visit a traditional camel farm to learn about the animals' role in Bedouin culture before heading to a scenic spot to watch the desert sunset. The drive from your Dubai hotel and back may add another 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic and time of day.

At the Bedouin-style desert camp, you arrive to Arabic coffee and fresh dates. The camp is where the activities happen: a short camel ride, sandboarding down the dunes, a traditional henna tattoo on your hand or arm, and a shisha (water pipe) experience in a designated area. Separate washroom facilities for men and women are available on-site.

Dinner is a live BBQ buffet with lamb chops, marinated chicken, beef burgers, barbecued potatoes, sautéed onions, steamed rice and lentil curry, plus hummus, salad, olives and Arabic bread. A vegetarian option is available if you request it at booking. Throughout the evening, you watch a colorful tanoura dance, a fire show and a belly dance performance under the stars. The tour ends with a comfortable transfer back to your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a shared or private 4x4 Land Cruiser.
• 20 to 30 minutes of dune bashing across the red dunes.
• camel farm visit and a short camel ride.
• sandboarding on the dunes.
• traditional henna tattoo.
• shisha (water pipe) experience.
• Arabic coffee and fresh dates on arrival.
• live BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian option available.
• unlimited soft drinks and water.
• live tanoura dance, fire show and belly dance performance.
• separate washroom facilities at the camp.

Options for this experience

6 options

Desert safari in a private carGuide in English · 15:00Camp activities include a desert dune drive, sand boarding, a visit to a camel farm and a camel ride, plus a BBQ dinner, lasting 6 hours. The Toyota Land Cruiser (PVT) is private only for the vehicle; guests share the other camp activities (camel ride, sand boarding, etc.) with other guests. Entertainment features a Tanoura dance, a fire blower show and a belly dance performance. Pickup is included.

Desert safari on a sharing basisGuide in English · 14:30Camp activities include a desert dune drive, sand boarding, a visit to a camel farm and a camel ride, lasting 6 hours, plus a BBQ dinner. Travel is in a Toyota Land Cruiser shared with other guests. Entertainment features a Tanoura dance, a fire blower show and a belly dance performance. Pickup is included.

Safari with a 15-minute quad bike on a sharing basisGuide in English · 14:30Camp activities include a desert dune drive, sand boarding, a visit to a camel farm and a camel ride, plus 15 minutes on a quad bike for each person, lasting 6 hours. Travel is in a Toyota Land Cruiser shared with other guests, who also share the camp activities (camel ride, sand boarding, etc.). Children under 21 are strictly not allowed to join this tour. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Safari with a 30-minute private quad bikeGuide in English · 14:30Camp activities include a desert dune drive, sand boarding, a visit to a camel farm and a camel ride, plus 30 minutes on a quad bike for each person. Children under 21 are strictly not allowed to drive the quad bike. The Toyota Land Cruiser (PVT) is private only for the vehicle; guests share the other camp activities with other guests. Pickup is included.

Safari with an alcohol beverage packGuide in English · 15:00Alcohol beverage package offering 2 hours of unlimited alcohol (beer, wine and regular spirits such as Bacardi rum, Smirnoff vodka and Old Monk rum). Premium drinks are not included. The Toyota Land Cruiser (PVT) is private only for the vehicle; guests share the other camp activities (camel ride, sand boarding, etc.) with other guests. Children under 21 are strictly not allowed to join this tour. Pickup is included.

Safari with a 30-minute private dune buggyGuide in English · 14:30Camp activities include a desert dune drive, sand boarding, a visit to a camel farm and a camel ride, plus 30 minutes in a dune buggy per person. Children under 21 are strictly not allowed to drive the dune buggy, but they can sit together with their parents. The Toyota Land Cruiser (PVT) is private only for the vehicle; guests share the other camp activities (camel ride, sand boarding, etc.) with other guests. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 14:30 and 15:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Odyssey DMC

Is this one for you?Book the shared-vehicle option if you're comfortable with other travelers and want the standard experience at a lower price. Choose the private 4x4 if you prefer your own group and driver for the full 6 hours. Add quad bike or dune buggy time if you want to drive the dunes yourself instead of riding as a passenger.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What is dune bashing like on a Dubai desert safari?

Dune bashing is a 20- to 30-minute ride in a 4x4 across the rolling red sand dunes of the Arabian Desert, with stops for photographs. The vehicle climbs and descends the dunes at speed, creating the adrenaline rush that defines the experience.

Can I sandboard on the dunes during the tour?

Yes, sandboarding is included at the desert camp. You'll have the chance to try it on the dunes. Wear sports shoes for safety and grip.

What food and drinks are provided?

The tour includes a live BBQ buffet dinner with lamb chops, chicken, beef burgers, potatoes, rice, lentil curry, salad, hummus, olives and Arabic bread; Arabic coffee and dates at arrival; and unlimited soft drinks and water throughout. A vegetarian option is available if you request it when booking.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in a shared or private 4x4 Land Cruiser is included. The drive from your hotel and back may take 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic and time of day.

What entertainment happens at the desert camp?

Live entertainment includes a tanoura dance (a whirling skirt performance), a fire show and a belly dance performance. Note: during Ramadan and Islamic holidays, live entertainment and alcohol service are restricted by UAE law, so the safari operates without these performances on those dates.