Dubai Red Dune Safari: Camel Ride, Sandboarding & BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.89 (114 reviews) 93% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/7

Duration6h 30m

GroupUp to 99

LanguagesEN · AR +3

PickupAt your hotel

Dubai desert safari with camel ride sandboarding BBQ dinner

You’ll feel Dubai’s wild side on this desert safari: race across red dunes in a 4x4, try sandboarding (wipeouts included), ride camels at sunset, then unwind at a Bedouin-style camp with henna art, shisha, live dance shows and a full barbecue dinner—all with hotel pickup and local guides who make you feel part of it.

6h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with camel ride and BBQ

Drive to Red Dunes
Experience dune bashing
Sandboard down dunes
Relax at Bedouin camp
Enjoy soft drinks and tea
Wear traditional Kandura and Abaya
Take a camel ride
Watch Tanoura, Belly, and Khaliji dances
See fire show
Have BBQ dinner
Return to hotel

The Experience

Somebody handed me a tiny cup of Arabic coffee before I’d even found my seat in the 4x4. Sweet dates too—sticky, warm from the sun. Our driver, Khalid, grinned and said something about “rollercoaster time” as we set off from Dubai. The city faded fast and suddenly it was just us and these wild red dunes, the kind that look like they go on forever. The air outside was dry but not as hot as I’d feared; there was this faint scent of spice and dust when we stopped to let some air out of the tires. I didn’t expect to laugh so much during dune bashing—my friend nearly lost her sunglasses on one of those drops.

We tried sandboarding next. Honestly, I wiped out twice before managing a halfway decent slide (Khalid cheered anyway). There’s this weird silence out there between shouts—the wind in your ears, nothing else for miles except maybe another group in the distance. After that came the camel ride. The camels looked bored but patient, plodding along while the sky started turning gold. I got a photo that’s still my phone background—me squinting into the sun, awkwardly holding onto the saddle while our guide Li laughed at my posture.

The camp felt like stepping into someone’s backyard party. Henna artists waved us over; I let them draw a little flower on my hand (it lasted days). Shisha smoke drifted around while music started up—first that spinning Tanoura dancer, then belly dancing and fire twirling. Dinner was this huge spread—BBQ chicken, lamb skewers, salads, bread still warm from the oven. I ate way too much luqaimat (little dough balls with syrup), but honestly? Worth it. We stayed until the last song faded and stars began showing up overhead—I still think about how quiet it felt walking back to the car after all that noise and color.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Dubai or nearby emirates.
all dune bashing in a 4x4 SUV.
free use of sand boards.
sunset camel rides (repeatable).
entry to a Bedouin-style camp with Arabic coffee and sweets on arrival.
soft drinks.
henna tattooing.
shisha at your tent.
live dance performances through dinner.
plus a seven-course barbecue meal with vegetarian or Jain options if requested before heading back under the stars.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by RoyalTour