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Dubai Desert Safari: Sandboarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.77 (915 reviews) 89% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/17

Duration6h

GroupUp to 60

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Red dunes, camel rides, sandboarding and starlit BBQ in Dubai

You’ll leave Dubai behind for an evening of wild dune bashing, camel rides across red sands, and sandboarding (prepare to get sandy). Sip soft drinks on a high dune as sunset hits, then share Arabic coffee before feasting on a smoky BBQ dinner under desert stars—with live dancing swirling around you. It’s more than just activities; it’s that strange quiet between laughs that stays with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dubai Evening Desert Safari Experience

Hotel pick-up in 4-wheel-drive
Dune bashing in desert
Watch sunset with soft drink
Arrive at Bedouin camp
Welcome with Arabic coffee and dates
Camel ride in desert
Sandboarding on dunes
BBQ dinner under stars
Enjoy Tanoura dance
Watch belly dancing
See fire show
Return transfer to hotel

The Experience

The first thing I remember is that weird hush when we left the city behind—just us, the guide (Ali, who joked about his driving skills), and this endless stretch of orange sand. The 4WD felt like a rollercoaster as we bounced over dunes. I actually laughed out loud when my friend shrieked during one of the bigger drops—Ali just grinned in the rearview mirror. The sun was already getting low, turning everything gold. There was this dry, mineral smell in the air that I still think about sometimes.

We stopped at a high dune for drinks—soft ones, nothing fancy—and everyone just stood there quietly for a minute. It’s weird how silent it gets out there, except for wind and someone’s scarf flapping. After that came the camel ride. I’ll admit I was nervous (camels are taller than you think), but our handler showed me how to hold on and made this little clicking sound to get the camel moving. He tried teaching me how to say thank you in Arabic—I butchered it completely and he laughed so hard he nearly dropped his phone.

Sandboarding was next. It looks easy until you try it—my shoes filled with sand instantly and my landing was not graceful, but honestly? Worth it for that feeling of sliding down with nothing but sky ahead. At camp, they handed out Arabic coffee and dates (the coffee tasted kind of spicy?) before dinner started cooking. The BBQ smelled amazing—smoke and spices everywhere—and there were henna artists painting hands while music started up. The Tanoura dancer spun so fast it made me dizzy just watching.

I found myself staring up at the stars during dessert, thinking how far away Dubai felt now—even though we’d be back in an hour or so. Something about being out there makes everything slow down for a bit. If you’re looking for a desert safari from Dubai with sandboarding and a real meal under the sky, this is probably as close as you get to feeling like you’ve stepped outside your own story for an evening.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off by 4WD vehicle with an experienced driver, all activities like dune bashing through red sands, camel rides guided by locals, sandboarding equipment provided onsite (just bring your sense of humor), henna hand painting at camp, plus unlimited soft drinks and juices throughout. Dinner is a regional BBQ buffet served under open sky with live performances before heading back to your hotel at night.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Arabian Adventures