Red Dunes Desert Safari Dubai: Dune Bashing & Camp Entertainment

Slip and slide across the red dunes, then settle into a camp where the entertainment doesn't stop.

A full-day guided desert safari in Dubai's Lehbab Desert combines 45 minutes of dune bashing aboard a 4WD Land Cruiser with an evening at a traditional camp featuring camel rides, henna painting, seven live entertainment shows, and a BBQ buffet dinner. Hotel pickup is included, and you can choose the tour with or without the dinner component at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with dune bashing and camp

• Pickup from hotel in Dubai or Sharjah
• Arrive at Lahbab desert and short break
• Optional quad biking available
• 30-45 minutes dune bashing adventure
• Photo stop on high dune
• Proceed to traditional desert camp
• Enjoy camel rides and photos
• Relax with refreshments and snacks
• Try henna painting and falcon photo
• Watch live entertainment shows
• Feast on BBQ buffet dinner
• Drop off at hotel in Dubai or Sharjah

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Dubai or Sharjah hotel, then heads straight into the Lehbab Desert aboard an air-conditioned Land Cruiser. Once the driver deflates the tires for grip, you spend 45 minutes dune bashing: the vehicle pitches and rolls across the red dunes while you hold on, climbing to one of the highest points for a photo stop as the light changes. This is the adrenaline part, and it's over before the real heat of the afternoon sets in.

After sunset you arrive at the traditional camp, where the pace shifts entirely. A guide shows you to the majlis seating area, and you start with Arabic tea, coffee, dates and falafel. The camp has shisha stations, and you can ride a camel as many times as you want: some people go once, others keep going back. There's a henna artist on site, a falcon for photos, and a traditional dress photo setup. The entertainment runs through the evening: an oud player, Sufi dancing, Khaliji music, dabka, a Western performer, belly dance, and a fire show. The buffet dinner arrives during the shows: grilled meats and vegetables, Emirati and Mediterranean dishes prepared to Western tastes, with vegetarian options throughout. Everything from soft drinks to coffee stays unlimited.

The guide speaks English, Arabic, Hindi or Urdu depending on the group, and all drivers are DTCM licensed with years of desert experience. The Land Cruiser is fully insured with roll bars, seat belts, GPS and a first aid kit. If you book the option without dinner, the tour ends after the photo stop and you're back at your hotel in four hours. With dinner included, the full experience runs seven hours door to door.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Dubai or Sharjah.
• 45 minutes of dune bashing in an air-conditioned 4WD Land Cruiser.
• a photo stop at a high dune point.
• camel rides (unlimited).
• henna painting.
• shisha smoking.
• a falcon photo.
• traditional dress photography.
• unlimited soft drinks, tea, coffee and dates on arrival.
• seven live entertainment shows including oud, Sufi, Khaliji, dabka, Western, belly dance and fire show.
• a DTCM-licensed guide speaking English, Arabic, Hindi or Urdu.
• and if you choose the dinner option at checkout, a BBQ buffet with Emirati and Mediterranean dishes plus vegetarian selections.

Options for this experience

2 options

Desert Safari excluding a BBQGuide in 4 languages · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Duration: 4 hours. Half-day dune bashing tour: a 4-hour outing with 30-45 minutes of dune bashing, sandboarding and camel rides only. A great choice for visitors with limited time. Pickup is included.

Desert Safari including a BBQ dinnerGuide in 4 languages · 15:00Duration: 7 hours. Full-day all-inclusive tour: a 7-hour experience covering a dune drive, a camel ride, sandboarding, henna, belly dancing and a BBQ dinner. 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 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 15:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4)

Live guideEnglish, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Desert Knight Tourism

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the dune-bashing rush without spending the whole day driving. The camp evening keeps you entertained and fed in one place, so there's no downtime between the action and the shows. If you're short on time or prefer to skip the dinner, the four-hour option ends after the photo stop and gets you back to the city by early evening.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4).

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 exactly happens during the dune bashing part of the tour?

Dune bashing is 45 minutes of driving across the red dunes in a 4WD Land Cruiser with the tires deflated for traction. The vehicle climbs and descends the dunes in succession, and the ride culminates at one of the highest dune points where you stop for photos before heading to the camp.

Can I ride a camel, and is there a limit to how many times?

Camel riding is included and free at the camp. You can ride as many times as you want during the evening. There's no limit, so if you want to go back multiple times, you can.

What are the seven live entertainment shows at the camp?

The seven shows are an oud player, Sufi dancing, Khaliji music, dabka, a Western performer, belly dance, and a fire show. During Ramadan, belly dance is restricted, so you'll see the tanoura and fire show instead.

Is the BBQ dinner included, or do I need to pay extra?

The BBQ dinner is optional at checkout. You can book the desert safari without it and return after the dune bashing and photo stop, or add the dinner and stay for the full evening at camp with the buffet, shows and entertainment.

What's included in the buffet dinner?

The buffet includes grilled meats and vegetables, Emirati and Mediterranean dishes prepared to Western standards, and vegetarian options. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are unlimited throughout the evening.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the desert, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup from Dubai or Sharjah is included. The driver will collect you from your hotel lobby within 45 minutes of your selected departure time, so you just need to be ready and waiting.