Red Dunes Safari Dubai: 4x4 Dune Bashing with Camel Ride

Dune bashing, sandboarding, sunset stops, camel rides, henna, and a desert camp dinner in one evening

A Red Dunes Safari in Dubai combines 4x4 dune bashing through the red sand in a Land Cruiser with sandboarding, camel rides and a traditional desert camp experience over 6–7 hours. You're picked up from your hotel, driven to the dunes for the adrenaline part of the day, then transferred to a Bedouin-style campsite where you eat a BBQ buffet, watch live Tanoura and belly dance performances, get henna painted, and ride a camel at your own pace. The tour wraps with hotel drop-off after sunset and evening entertainment.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dubai Red Dunes Desert Safari

• Hotel pick-up in Dubai
• Drive to desert outskirts
• Adrenaline-filled dune bashing
• Try sandboarding on dunes
• Stop at highest dune for sunset
• Arrive at traditional desert camp
• Enjoy Arabic coffee and dates
• Ride a camel around camp
• Get a henna tattoo
• Feast on BBQ dinner buffet
• Watch belly dance and fire shows
• Relax under open desert sky
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Dubai hotel in a 4x4 Land Cruiser. Once the vehicle reaches the red dunes, your driver takes over and tackles steep slopes and sharp drops across the undulating sand. This is the dune bashing part, and it's the adrenaline core of the experience. You're a passenger here, strapped in as the vehicle maneuvers through terrain built for this kind of work.

After the driving portion, you get out and try sandboarding: strap on a board and slide down the dunes yourself, feeling the rush as you glide over soft sand. The tour stops at the highest dune for sunset photos before heading to the desert campsite. At the camp, activities unfold at your own pace: camel rides (short, but repeatable if you want another go), henna painting on your hands or feet, Arabic costume photography, and a shisha lounge. You're welcomed with Arabic coffee, dates, tea and water, and the atmosphere shifts to something slower and more cultural.

Dinner is a self-service BBQ buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. While you eat, live entertainment runs continuously: Tanoura spinning dancers, belly dance, and fire shows. The tour includes a falcon photo experience as well. Everything winds down under the open sky on comfortable cushions before the drive back to your hotel. A guide speaks English, Hindi, Filipino, Hungarian and one additional language throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a 4x4 air-conditioned Land Cruiser.
• dune bashing and sandboarding with equipment.
• sunset photo stop at the highest dune.
• camel ride (repeatable).
• henna painting and Arabic costume photography.
• BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
• welcome Arabic coffee, tea, dates and soft drinks.
• Tanoura dance, belly dance and fire show performances.
• shisha in the designated shisha area.
• falcon photo experience.
• live guide in English, Hindi, Filipino, Hungarian and one additional language.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 13:30 and 14:00

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 150

Live guideEnglish, Filipino, Gujarati, Hindi and Hungarian

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Top 10 Dubai Tours

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a fixed schedule and a professional driver, so the dune bashing and the camp timing are set. You don't arrange transport or timing yourself. It suits travelers who want the adrenaline and the cultural evening without building the day piece by piece, and it works for families with children (who must be accompanied by an adult) as long as infants stay off the dune bashing portion and pregnant travelers skip it entirely.

Traveler reviews

4.74★★★★★★★★★★

77 verified traveler reviews

5 ★66

4 ★6

3 ★3

2 ★0

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Hindi, Filipino, Hungarian and Gujarati.

Can children come?

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

What is dune bashing like in a 4x4 Land Cruiser?

Dune bashing is a high-speed drive through steep sand slopes and sharp drops in a Land Cruiser piloted by an experienced driver. You sit as a passenger while the vehicle tackles the undulating terrain. It's designed to be thrilling and physically intense, which is why it's not recommended for pregnant travelers, infants under 3, or people with spinal or cardiovascular concerns.

Can I try sandboarding if I've never done it before?

Yes. Sandboarding is included and requires no prior experience. You strap on a board and slide down the dunes. It combines the motion of snowboarding with desert sand, and the tour provides the equipment and the slope.

How much time do I spend at the desert camp?

The camp portion makes up the second half of the 6–7 hour tour. You arrive around sunset and stay through dinner and entertainment, with activities like camel rides, henna painting, and the live shows running while you're there. You set your own pace for each activity.

Is the camel ride included, and can I do it more than once?

Yes, camel rides are included. They are short rides, but you can repeat them if you want another turn. There's no limit stated, so it depends on the camp's availability and your interest.

What happens if I want to upgrade to a Quad Bike or Dune Buggy instead of the 4x4?

Quad Bike and Dune Buggy options are available as upgrades with extra charges. You choose your preferred vehicle at checkout, and the rest of the day (camp, dinner, entertainment, camel ride) stays the same.

Does the tour run during Ramadan or public holidays?

The tour operates year-round, but during Ramadan and official public holidays, live entertainment and alcohol drinks are not provided per government guidelines. The dune bashing, camel rides, dinner and other activities continue as scheduled.