Dubai desert safari: Dune drive, camel ride, BBQ dinner

Spend an evening in the desert without arranging the drive or the meal

A desert safari tour from Dubai includes a 4-wheel drive dune bash, camel ride, sandboarding and henna painting, followed by a BBQ dinner buffet and live entertainment at a desert camp. The tour runs about six hours with hotel pickup and drop-off. You travel in a shared vehicle with six to seven other guests. A guide in English leads the activities and the evening runs from late afternoon into the night, with timing adjusted during summer months.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with activities and dinner

• Pickup by Land Cruiser
• 45 minutes dune bashing
• Camel riding
• Sandboarding and sand surfing
• Henna hand-painting
• Watch sunset at desert camp
• Take pictures in traditional dresses
• Enjoy international BBQ dinner buffet
• Watch live Arabian Tanura show
• Watch live belly dance
• Watch live fire performance
• Refresh with unlimited soft drinks and snacks
• Drop off at starting point

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Dubai hotel in the late afternoon and drives into the red dunes in a Land Cruiser. The first hour is the dune bashing itself: the vehicle tackles the sand at angles that feel steeper than they are, and the ride is the point. This is not a smooth crossing. Once at the desert camp, you have time to try sandboarding on the dunes, get henna painted on your hands, and ride a camel before the sun drops. A picture point lets you photograph the landscape, and there is a photo station with traditional dress if you want it.

Dinner happens on the ground, seated on carpets and cushions around low tables. The buffet includes meat and vegetarian options, with unlimited soft drinks, tea and coffee throughout the evening. While you eat, four live performances run on stage: an Arabian Tanura show, belly dance, Egyptian traditional dance and a fire performance. The whole experience sits between the late-afternoon pickup and a drop-off back at your hotel around 10 p.m., though summer timings shift earlier to avoid the heat.

The vehicle is shared, so you'll travel with six to seven other guests. A professional guide in English leads the dune drive and explains what you're doing at each stop. Infants can come in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• 45 minutes of dune bashing in a 4-wheel drive.
• camel ride.
• sandboarding.
• henna hand-painting.
• BBQ dinner buffet with vegetarian options.
• unlimited soft drinks, tea and coffee.
• four live performances including Arabian Tanura dance, belly dance, Egyptian traditional dance and fire show.
• photo point in the dunes.
• traditional dress photos.

Options for this experience

2 options

Dubai: Red Dunes, Sandsurf, Camel Ride, and BBQ Dinner at a Desert CampGuide in English · 13:45Pickup is included

Premium LoungeGuide in English · 13:45Premium Lounge at the desert camp: a comfortable, VIP-style space with elegant décor and a relaxed atmosphere, ideal for enjoying the desert in extra comfort. Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 13:45

AgesAdult (12 to 60 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 200

Live guideEnglish

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by The Millennium Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a complete evening with dune drive, camel ride, and dinner included in one shared departure. Everything coordinated for you, or upgrade to a quad bike or dune buggy instead of the standard drive.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly is dune bashing in Dubai?

Dune bashing is a high-angle drive across the red sand dunes in a 4-wheel drive vehicle, where the driver navigates steep slopes and valleys. It's the main activity of the first part of the tour, lasting about 45 minutes, and the vehicle's movement across the uneven terrain is what makes it thrilling rather than a smooth ride across flat sand.

Can I choose activities at the desert camp, or do I have to do everything?

You can pick which activities to do at the camp. Camel riding, sandboarding and henna painting are all available during the time before dinner, so you choose what appeals to you and skip the rest. The photo station with traditional dress is optional too.

Is the BBQ dinner vegetarian-friendly?

The dinner buffet includes vegetarian options alongside meat dishes, so vegetarians can eat from the same spread. Unlimited soft drinks, tea and coffee are available throughout the evening.

How many people travel in the vehicle, and will I be alone or with strangers?

The tour runs in a shared Land Cruiser with six to seven guests total, so you'll travel with other visitors. A professional guide in English leads the group through the dune drive and the camp activities.

What time does the tour start and end?

Standard pickup runs from late afternoon, with drop-off around 10 p.m. During the summer months of June, July and August, pickup shifts to 3:30–4 p.m. and drop-off to 9:45–10:15 p.m. to avoid the daytime heat. The whole experience is about six hours.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, the 45-minute dune drive, camel ride, sandboarding, henna painting, the BBQ dinner buffet with vegetarian options, unlimited soft drinks and tea, and all four live entertainment shows. A photo point and traditional dress photos are also included.