Red Dunes Desert Safari Dubai: 4x4, Camel Ride & BBQ

Dune bashing at sunset, then camel rides and fire shows under the stars

A 7-hour desert safari from Dubai combines dune bashing in a Land Cruiser, a camel ride and sandboarding at a Bedouin campsite, followed by a BBQ dinner and live entertainment including a fire show and Tanoura dance. Pickup and drop-off from your hotel are included, and a guide speaks English, Hindi or Arabic. The evening option adds henna painting, Arabic costume photos, unlimited refreshments and a full buffet. The morning safari covers the dunes and camel ride only.

Step-by-step itinerary

Red Dunes Desert Safari Experience

• Pick up from Dubai location
• Drive through high red dunes
• Stop for sunset photography
• Arrive at Bedouin camp
• Enjoy short camel ride
• Try sandboarding
• Get traditional henna tattoo
• Take photos in Arabic costumes
• Feast on BBQ and buffet
• Watch live entertainment show
• Return to pickup location

The experience

You get picked up from your Dubai hotel in a Land Cruiser and driven straight into the red dunes for roughly two hours of dune bashing. A skilled driver handles the 4x4 while you sit back and watch the landscape tilt and roll. The route includes a pit stop for photos and the option to try a 4WD bike if you want to steer yourself across the sand. As the light drops, you head to the Bedouin campsite where the pace shifts entirely.

At the camp, you climb onto a camel for a short ride, then try sandboarding down the dunes if you want the rush. A staff member applies henna to your hands or arms (intricate patterns that take twenty minutes or so), and you can change into a traditional Arabic costume for photos. The evening unfolds with Arabic coffee and dates, then a full BBQ spread with vegetarian and meat options, all served under the open sky. The entertainment runs three hours: a belly dancer, a fire-breather, and the Tanoura, a spinning skirt performance that is harder to describe than to watch. Water, tea, coffee and snacks flow throughout. When the shows end, the driver takes you back to your hotel.

The morning safari skips the campsite activities, the BBQ, the shows and the refreshments. It is just the dune drive and the camel ride, shorter and lighter. The evening option is the full experience. Both versions run on a shared basis, meaning your Land Cruiser picks up other guests from their hotels too, so the exact pickup time lands on your phone the day of the tour. If you want a quad bike instead of the camel ride, that swap is available on some options at checkout.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your Dubai hotel in a shared Land Cruiser.
• two hours of dune bashing with a skilled driver.
• a camel ride and sandboarding at the Bedouin campsite.
• henna painting and Arabic costume wear (evening option only).
• a BBQ dinner with vegetarian and meat choices (evening option only).
• unlimited water, tea, coffee and snacks (evening option only).
• live entertainment including belly dance, fire show and Tanoura performance (evening option only).
• a guide who speaks English, Hindi or Arabic.

Options for this experience

4 options

Red Dunes Desert Safari with camel ride and BBQ, the top-rated option, including 4x4 pickup and drop-offGuide in English, Arabic or Hindi · 14:00Sharing 4x4 regular service: desert safari in a shared Land Cruiser with camel ride, henna painting, Tanoura show, fire show, dancing and cultural costumes. Duration: 6 hours. Land Cruiser/4x4 extreme dune bashing experience of up to 30 minutes with expert drivers. Pickup is included. Sharing basis: pickup and drop-off in a Land Cruiser on a shared basis. The exact pickup time will be confirmed by the driver/guide on the tour date. Pickup is included.

Premium PackageGuide in English, Arabic or Hindi · 14:30VIP Safari Package: seating in the VIP area of the camp with a 5-star buffet dinner and live shows, including dune bashing. Table service is not included. Sharing basis: pickup and drop-off in a Land Cruiser on a shared basis. The driver/guide will contact you for the exact pickup time on the tour date. Pickup is included.

Standard safari including a quad bike rideGuide in English, Arabic or Hindi · 14:30Combo Budget Package: standard desert safari with dune bashing, live shows, a barbecue buffet and more, plus a quad bike adventure of up to 20-25 minutes. Sharing basis: pickup and drop-off in a Land Cruiser on a shared basis. The exact pickup time will be confirmed by the driver/guide on the tour date. Pickup is included.

Premium safari including a quad bike rideGuide in English, Arabic or Hindi · 14:30Combo Package: VIP desert safari featuring dune bashing, a VIP camp and live shows, a VIP buffet dinner and more, plus a 20-25 minute quad bike adventure. Sharing basis: pickup and drop-off in a Land Cruiser on a shared basis. The exact pickup time will be confirmed by the driver/guide on the tour date. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

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

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Arabic and Hindi

Audio guideEnglish, Arabic and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sands and Sky Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the evening safari for the full campsite experience with henna, costumes, and live entertainment after dune bashing. Pick the morning version if you want only the dune drive and camel ride without the dinner and entertainment add-ons.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Hindi and Arabic.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What happens during the dune bashing part of the Red Dunes Desert Safari?

Dune bashing takes about two hours in a Land Cruiser driven by a skilled operator who navigates the high red dunes of Dubai. You sit as a passenger while the vehicle climbs and descends the sand, and there is a pit stop for photos and an optional 4WD bike ride if you want to drive yourself.

Does the Red Dunes safari include food and drinks?

The evening safari includes a full BBQ dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, plus unlimited water, tea, coffee and snacks. The morning safari does not include food or drinks beyond what you bring yourself.

What entertainment is there at the Bedouin campsite?

The evening safari features a belly dance performance, a fire show and a Tanoura show, a traditional spinning skirt dance, all performed after dinner. The morning safari does not include entertainment.

Is the camel ride included, or can I choose a quad bike instead?

The camel ride is included on the standard options. Some purchase options let you swap the camel ride for a quad bike experience instead. You choose at checkout which activity suits you.

How does pickup work for the Red Dunes Desert Safari?

Pickup from your Dubai hotel is included in the tour price. The exact time lands on your phone the day before, since the Land Cruiser collects guests from multiple hotels on a shared route. Drop-off returns you to your original location.

What is the henna tattoo and costume experience like?

A staff member at the Bedouin campsite applies traditional henna designs to your hands or arms: the patterns take about twenty minutes to apply. You can then change into an authentic Arabic costume and have photos taken. This activity is part of the evening safari only, not the morning option.