Dubai Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & Sunset Dinner

Red dunes, quad bikes, and a falcon on your shoulder at sunset

You're picked up from your hotel at 4:30pm and driven to the Lehbab Desert for 30–35 minutes of dune bashing in a 4x4. Then you choose: camel ride, sand boarding, quad bike rental, or horse ride. At sunset, a buffet dinner arrives with live entertainment (Tanura, fire show, belly dance), while you get henna painted and a photo with a falcon. Water, soft drinks, coffee and tea are included throughout. Return is after dark.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dubai Desert Safari and Entertainment

• Pickup in luxury car
• Drive to desert location
• Dune bashing for 30-35 minutes
• Try sand boarding
• Rent quad bikes or desert bikes
• Enjoy camel and horse rides
• Watch Tanura, fire, and belly dance shows
• Buffet barbecue dinner at sunset
• Get henna painting
• Meet resident falcon expert

The experience

The sun sits low over the Lehbab Desert, turning the sand the color of rust. A 4x4 pulls up to your hotel at 4:30pm, air-conditioned and ready, and within an hour you're gripping the door handle as the driver takes the dunes at an angle that makes your stomach drop. Thirty to thirty-five minutes of dune bashing. That's the core of it, the part that wakes you up. The vehicle tilts and recovers, tilts again, and somewhere between the second and third big drop you stop thinking about whether you're safe and just feel the momentum.

After the driving settles, the options open up. Sand boarding down a slope if you want it, or a camel ride that moves at a pace so different from the 4x4 that it feels like you've switched centuries. Quad bikes are available to rent ($35 for one person, $40 if two of you share), and they let you steer your own line through the sand instead of sitting passenger. A horse ride is there too if you'd rather. The choice matters because it shapes the next couple of hours, and you're not locked into one thing. The Dubai Desert Safari doesn't force you through a single sequence. It offers the rides and lets you pick which ones fit your mood.

By the time the light goes orange, you're back at the camp. A buffet barbecue spreads across low tables, and you eat while dancers move through the center: Tanura spinning in geometric patterns, a fire show that makes the air shimmer, belly dancing that the crowd claps along to. Henna gets painted on your hands if you want it, intricate and temporary. There's a resident falcon expert there too, and the photo op with the bird on your arm is included, which is the kind of detail that sounds small until you're holding it and the handler is explaining what you're looking at. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, water, all flowing. The whole thing has the rhythm of a show you're watching and a meal you're eating and an experience you're collecting, all at once.

The pickup happens in the late afternoon and the return is after dark, so you're not losing a full day to logistics. Bring sunscreen and wear shoes that grip sand, because the dune bashing is real and the sand boarding is optional but worth trying. If you're thinking about the ATV, book it when you confirm the safari: the rental slots fill, especially on weekends.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle, 30–35 minutes of dune bashing through the Lehbab Desert, a free short camel ride, buffet barbecue dinner at sunset, live entertainment (Tanura dance, fire show, belly dance), henna painting, a complimentary photo with a falcon, bottled water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and snacks. Sand boarding, horse rides, and quad bike rentals are available as optional add-ons at additional cost.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 7

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Dubai Desert Safari

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the core desert experience (dune bashing, camel ride, entertainment, and dinner) without arranging transport or timing it yourself. The fixed 4:30pm pickup and included meal and activities mean you show up and the rest unfolds on schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What time does the Dubai Desert Safari start?

Pickup is at 4:30pm from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. The dune bashing begins after arrival at the desert location.

How long is the dune bashing?

The dune bashing lasts 30 to 35 minutes through the red dunes of the Lehbab Desert.

Can I rent a quad bike, and how much does it cost?

Yes. ATV rental is $35 for one person in one quad bike, or $40 for two people sharing one quad bike. Book when you confirm the safari.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes, a short camel ride is included free. Horse rides and sand boarding are also available as optional activities.

What's included in the dinner?

A buffet barbecue at sunset with entertainment (Tanura, fire show, belly dance), henna painting, a photo with a falcon, bottled water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and snacks.

Is the falcon photo included?

Yes, a picture with the resident falcon is included. A falcon expert is on-site to explain what you're seeing.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes with good grip for sand. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses. The vehicle is air-conditioned, but the desert activities are in direct sun.

When do I return to my hotel?

Return is after dark, typically in the late evening. The full experience runs from pickup to drop-off.

Is transportation included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your Dubai hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle are included.