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

Dune bashing hits hardest when the sand is soft and the light is turning gold.

A 7-hour desert safari in the Lehbab region near Dubai combines dune bashing in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, sandboarding, a camel ride at sunset, a falcon show, and a BBQ dinner with live dance performances at a Bedouin-style camp. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English-speaking guide, welcome drinks, coffee and dates, and a full buffet with vegetarian options. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or pregnancy. Children must be at least 5 years old.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with activities and dinner

• Pickup from hotel
• Drive to desert and adjust tire pressure
• Optional quad bike experience
• Red dune bashing in 4x4 Landcruiser
• Sandboarding on dunes
• Sunset camel ride
• Falcon show and photo opportunity
• Henna painting at desert camp
• BBQ dinner with belly and tanoura dance
• Return to hotel

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel and drives you into the Lehbab desert in about 50 to 60 minutes. Once there, the driver adjusts the Land Cruiser's tire pressure for sand driving, and you're ready to start. The dune bashing itself runs 30 to 45 minutes: the vehicle climbs and drops over the highest red dunes while you feel the motion through your whole body. It's the centerpiece of the afternoon, and the guide handles all the technical driving so you just experience it.

After the bashing, you move to sandboarding on the soft dunes. Your guide walks you through the basics, then you strap in and slide down the sand. The activity is gentler than it sounds but still engaging. As the light starts to shift toward sunset, you switch to a camel ride across the desert floor: the traditional way to move through this landscape, and the timing means you're riding as the colors change. The falcon show comes next at the camp: you'll hold the bird on your shoulder for photos and learn about falconry from handlers who work with these birds daily.

Dinner happens under the open sky at the Oscar Knight Tours Camp, a Bedouin-style setup where you sit low to the ground. The BBQ buffet includes kababs, koftas, kubbus, Arabic rice, pasta, and salads: vegetarian dishes are available. While you eat, professional dancers perform belly dance and Tanoura (spinning skirt dance). Coffee, tea, dates, and bottled water come throughout the evening. The whole experience wraps up with a drive back to your hotel, arriving after dark.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned 4x4 Land Cruiser.
• red dune bashing in the Lehbab desert.
• sandboarding on the dunes.
• camel ride at sunset.
• falcon show with photo opportunity.
• welcome drinks at the camp.
• fresh Arabic coffee, tea and dates.
• open BBQ dinner buffet with vegetarian options.
• bottled water and snacks.
• Tanoura and belly dance performances.
• English-speaking licensed safari guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 13:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 to 65 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 28 pickup points.Operator's directions: “Please include the name of your Hotel, Airbnb, residence, or cruise ship in your booking details.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Oscar Knight Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want multiple activities in one afternoon (dune bashing, sandboarding, camel riding, and a Bedouin dinner) on a set schedule that moves you through each without gaps, and if you prefer a small group where the guide can focus on you during the hands-on portions.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is dune bashing in Dubai?

Dune bashing is a 30 to 45 minute drive across the red sand dunes of the Lehbab desert in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, where the driver navigates steep slopes and valleys at speed. You sit inside the vehicle and feel the motion as it climbs and descends the highest dunes. It's an adrenaline activity but you're not driving yourself.

Can I do sandboarding if I've never tried it before?

Yes. Your guide explains the technique and safety guidelines before you start, then you strap a board to your feet and slide down the soft sand dunes. The guide is there to help you learn, and the sand is forgiving compared to snow or water.

What time of day does the camel ride happen?

The camel ride takes place at sunset, after the dune bashing and sandboarding. Riding during this time means you experience the changing light across the desert while you're moving at the camel's pace.

Is the falcon show included, and what does it involve?

The falcon show is included. Handlers demonstrate falconry, and you get to hold a falcon on your shoulder for photos. The show teaches you about the birds and their role in Emirati culture, though it's not available during the summer season.

What kind of food is served at the BBQ dinner?

The open buffet includes grilled kababs, koftas, kubbus, Arabic rice, pasta, and Arabic salad, with vegetarian options available. Coffee, tea, dates, and bottled water are served throughout the evening, and you can purchase alcoholic drinks at the camp if you choose.

How long is the whole experience from pickup to drop-off?

The safari runs 7 hours total, including the 50 to 60 minute drive to the desert, the dune bashing and sandboarding, camel ride, falcon show, and the BBQ dinner with dance performances at the camp, then the drive back to your hotel.