Red Dune Desert Safari Dubai: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ

Seven hours in the red dunes: you drive the sand, ride a camel, and watch three live shows over dinner.

A seven-hour evening desert safari in Dubai combines dune bashing in a 4x4, camel riding across the sand, sand boarding down slopes, and a BBQ dinner at a desert camp with live Tanoura, belly dance and fire performances. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with soft drinks, coffee, tea and sheesha. The tour runs from late afternoon into evening and ends with the shows after dark.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with activities and dinner

• Pick up from hotel
• Drive 7 minutes to desert camp
• Enjoy camel ride
• Try sand boarding
• Relax in smoking area with sheesha
• Have veg and non-veg BBQ buffet dinner
• Watch live Tanoura dance show
• Watch live belly dance show
• Watch fire show
• Enjoy unlimited coffee and tea
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Dubai hotel and a seven-minute drive to the desert camp. Once the vehicle hits the red dunes, the pace shifts: thirty to forty-five minutes of dune bashing means the driver tackles steep sand slopes at speed, tilting the 4x4 hard as it crests and drops. Between runs, you get out to ride a camel across the flatter stretches and try sand boarding down the dunes. Both are included and neither requires prior experience.

Back at camp as the light fades, the evening settles into food and performance. A buffet of vegetarian and non-vegetarian BBQ dishes spreads across the dining area, with soft drinks, mineral water, coffee and tea available throughout. The sheesha lounge sits nearby if you want to smoke. As darkness falls, three live shows unfold: Tanoura dancers in tall spinning skirts, belly dancers, and a fire performer. Henna painting happens during the meal if you want it applied to your hands or arms.

The tour runs seven hours total, which means you leave the hotel in late afternoon and return after the final show ends. Air-conditioned transport keeps you cool during the drive out and back. Two options are available at checkout (the standard Red Dune Safari or a version that swaps camel riding for quad biking), so you pick the one that fits what you want to do in the desert.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle for dune bashing.
• camel ride across the desert (or quad biking on the alternate option).
• sand boarding down the dunes.
• vegetarian and non-vegetarian BBQ buffet dinner.
• soft drinks, mineral water, coffee and tea.
• three live shows: Tanoura dance, belly dance and fire performance.
• henna painting.
• sheesha smoking area.

Options for this experience

2 options

Best Desert ExperienceNo fixed timeLasts 7 hours; vehicles are Toyota, Nissan or Honda; includes pickup

Quad Bike Safari Through the Red DunesNo fixed timeATV buggy ride in a Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan, Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Petrol or Toyota Fortuner, 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 day

AgesAdult (19 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 70 years) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (2 to 10 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 100

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 18 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Dubai Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book the standard Red Dune Safari if you want the full range of desert activities: the dune drive, camel riding and sand boarding all in one evening. Choose the quad biking option instead if you prefer speed and control over the sand without the camel ride, or if you want a different kind of adrenaline during the dune portion of the tour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (2 to 10 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What exactly happens during the dune bashing part of the tour?

Dune bashing is a thirty to forty-five minute drive through the red sand dunes in a 4x4 vehicle where the driver navigates steep slopes at speed, tilting the vehicle as it climbs and descends. It is the most active part of the drive and happens early in the tour before you reach the camp.

Is camel riding included in both of the tour options?

Camel riding is included in the Red Dune Safari option. The other option at checkout swaps camel riding for quad biking, so you choose which one you prefer when you book.

What time of day does the desert safari run?

The tour is an evening safari that runs seven hours total, starting with hotel pickup in the late afternoon and ending after the live shows finish at night. This timing means you watch the performances under the stars.

What food and drinks are provided during the tour?

A vegetarian and non-vegetarian BBQ buffet dinner is included, along with soft drinks, mineral water, coffee and tea throughout the evening. Sheesha is available at the camp if you want to smoke.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off from your Dubai hotel are included in the tour price. The seven-minute drive to the desert camp is part of the experience.

What live performances happen at the desert camp?

Three live shows are included: Tanoura dancers performing traditional spinning dances, belly dancers, and a fire performer. All three happen after dinner as the evening progresses.