Dubai Red Dunes: 4x4 Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & Sandboarding

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration4h

GroupUp to 99

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Dubai desert adventure with dune bashing, camel ride and sandboarding

You’ll feel your heart race as you bounce across Dubai’s red dunes in a 4x4, try sandboarding (falling is half the fun), and see the desert from a camel’s back. With hotel pickup included and water always nearby, you can just let go and enjoy those wild colors and unexpected laughs along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Morning Red Dunes Desert Safari

Hotel pick-up in 4x4 SUV
40-minute dune bashing ride
Sandboarding on red dunes
Scenic desert photo stop
Camel ride experience
Return to hotel with water

The Experience

I’ll be honest — I signed up for this red dunes safari in Dubai mostly because I’d never been in a 4x4 on sand before. The idea of bouncing over those wild orange-red hills sounded fun but also… kind of intimidating? But our driver, Hassan, grinned when he picked us up (right on time) and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll scream once and then you’ll laugh.” He was right. The first drop made my stomach jump into my throat — after that it was just pure ridiculous joy. Sand everywhere. My friend still has some in her shoes.

The Lahbab Desert is quieter than I expected — just the wind in your ears and the crunch of tires or boards sliding down. We tried sandboarding next; I fell immediately (twice), but honestly it was worth it for the feeling of cool sand on my hands and that weird silence when you pause at the top before pushing off. There’s this moment when you look out — endless ripples of red dunes under a pale sky — and it almost feels like another planet. Our guide took photos for us at one stop, which was nice since my hands were shaking a bit from all the adrenaline.

Afterwards came the camel ride, which felt surprisingly gentle after all that chaos. The camels looked slightly unimpressed by us city people clambering aboard. I tried to say thank you in Arabic (shukran?) — our guide just laughed and offered me water instead. It’s funny how quiet everything gets out there except for little bursts of laughter or someone shouting as they slide down a dune too fast. The drive back felt sleepy; sun on my face, sand in my socks, brain still buzzing from the morning.

What’s included

Your morning includes pickup from your hotel in Dubai by 4x4 SUV, an expert driver for 40 minutes of dune bashing at Lahbab Desert, all equipment for sandboarding down the red dunes, a traditional camel ride to see more of the landscape, plenty of bottled water to keep you refreshed throughout—and finally drop-off back at your hotel or residence after all that sandy fun.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Red Dunes Desert Safari