Dubai Desert Safari, feel the Arabian adventure

Dubai Desert Safari is one of the most exciting adventures in Dubai.

 

Even though everyone would like to see Dubai highlights, such as Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall and the fountain, Madinat Jumeirah, a desert safari is a completely different experience.

 

Driving around the desert in a 4×4 air-conditioned jeep across red dunes, sandboarding, sunset and BBQ dinner with a dance show in camp make your time in the desert unforgettable.

Even if you are covered of sand after the excursion is finished, you will have a big smile on your face.
And a lot of photos on your mobile or camera, as well 🙂

 

How to book a trip to Dubai Desert Safari

If you are coming to Dubai with an organized tour, the agency will probably organize excursions for you.
But if you are coming in your arrangement, the best way is to book a trip through apps that offer a wide variety of tour packages. We booked our excursion by Get Your Guide, and it was an amazing experience 🙂

Just find the tour which seems appropriate for you considering the time (4-7 hours), and check what the tour package includes. Make a reservation online, and usually, the payment is online a few days before the excursion. Also, the cancellation is free if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Prices of excursions range from approximately 30 euros per person and up, depending on the program and whether they are organized or private tours.

On the day of the excursion, the tour operator will send you a message (usually by WhatsApp) about when they will pick you up in front of your hotel. And that’s all, just relax and have some fun 🙂

 

 

What to know before visiting Dubai Desert Safari

To enjoy this excursion, you need to know a few things.

1. What to wear in desert safari?

   So, wear comfortable and lightweight clothes from natural materials, such as cotton and linen, and avoid synthetics.
   Well, you are in the desert, it is hot, but also in the evening, the temperature falls when the sun goes down. So it is good to have something like a long-sleeved top. Light trousers are more convenient if you’re planning to ride a quad or a camel. But you can take short trousers if you like and if it fits your desert style 🙂
   If you select the option with the quad ride, then take sneakers. Otherwise, you can take also sandals or something open, because your legs probably will be covered by sand during sandboarding or walking up and down on dunes.

2. Protect your head and face
   

   Take sunglasses, suncream, a hat or a traditional scarf for your head. It will protect your face from sand, especially if you are riding a quad, sandboarding or just walking around dunes.

3. Sickness during the ride

   It’s advised not to eat 2-3 hours before the safari to prevent feeling sick during dune bashing. If you suffer from sickness, take a tablet before the ride, as well.

4. Not suitable for all

   This tour is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 3 years, people with back problems, or wheelchair users.

5. Not allowed

   It is not allowed to take luggage or large bags with you.
   

 

What to expect in the Dubai Desert Safari

 

Quad biking

So, after we picked up two more persons, we rode for about one hour straight to the Arabian desert.

Our 6-person group came to the first point of the excursion: the camp for riding quad bikes.

 

It is important to know that quad biking is a self-driving activity, and it is at your own risk. The insurance doesn’t cover any damages or accidents. So it is your responsibility to ride carefully.

 

Quad biking is optional, and if you don’t want it, you can watch quads, or take photos with a falcon.

 

 

There you can buy glass sand souvenirs, have a drink, and use the available toilet.

 

Also, you can buy a traditional scarf in various colours, to complete your safari look.

 

Dune bashing and sandboarding

After about 20 minutes, we continued to the place named Lahbab desert.
First, all vehicles had their tires partially deflated, to make them easier to drive on the dunes.
Then, all of them stood in line in a convoy, and we started our desert adventure.

 

Our guide Momo from Ammar Tours was a fantastic driver. Well, it was a roller coaster ride on the Dubai desert sand 🙂
The adrenaline was high, while fascinating scenes of vehicles riding around gold-red dunes. We screamed, we laughed, and we enjoyed the ride a lot.

 

It takes about 20 minutes, and then there is a short break for sandboarding and sunset.
And a lot of fantastic captured moments as well 🙂

 

It was amazing. You forget about all the problems at home and enjoy a 360-degree view of the desert landscape and the endless dunes under sunset.

 

At the same time, I felt so tiny and free, as well as the sand that slides down my fingers.

 

Sandboarding

Try sandboarding, on your feet or in another way, like we did 🙂
It looks easy to go up on dunes, but it is not. The further you climb up the dune, the more your feet sink into the sand.
And the wind slowly blows the sand over them…

 

 

You can take photos with a falcon in the desert as well.

 

 

 

After this fascinating break, we continued our trip to the Bedouin camp.

Take a look at a short video about the Dubai Desert:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bedouin-style camp

After a short ride, we arrived at the Bedouin camp – Al Jabal village.

 

First, we had a short camel ride. There is a professional photographer who can take a photo of you riding a camel. It costs 50 AED (about 13 EUR), and it is up to you whether you will take it or not.

 

Watch the sunset and beautiful sky in the desert…

 

Camp activities

Then, for the welcome, we tasted Qawha (Arabic coffee), and dates.
All visitors are situated around the central part of the camp which is the place for cultural performances.

 

The evening in the camp includes a few activities.
For example, you can take photos with a falcon, or enjoy a shisha (water pipe), which is paid as an extra charge.

Ladies can decorate their hands or legs with henna tattoos. All design is made in less than one minute and it looks beautiful 🙂

Also, you can take pictures in traditional Arabic clothes, or buy souvenirs on a little stand in the camp.

BBQ buffet dinner includes kebabs, chicken meat, hummus, rice, traditional bread, vegetables, various salads, and pasta. You can drink mineral water, Pepsi or Sprite as much as you want, but alcoholic drinks are extra charged.

BBQ dinner

 

Tanoura dance, fire dance and belly dance show

During the dinner, you can enjoy a tanoura performance, a fire dance, as well as a seductive belly dance show.
Please note that traditional dance performances are not available during Ramadan, and special Islamic days, as per UAE law.

Dance shows and Henna tattoo

 

And after the show, you can try delicious fruits, baklava or lugaimat. This is a traditional Arabian buffet dessert, deep-fried dumplings that are crispy on the outside, yet soft and fluffy on the inside. It is similar to Greek loukoumades and they are delicious.

Desserts: fruit, baklava, lugaimat

 

When the dinner was finished, and after the sunset, the riders dropped off all the visitors to their hotels.
Even though our desert adventures had ended, we were full of many interesting impressions.

 

 

Dubai Desert Safari, here we come again!

Well, I am sure that, if I come again to Dubai, I will go again to the Dubai Desert Safari.

Even if it is the same type of excursion, there are small differences between the safari in Dubai, Hurghada Desert Safari and Tunisia Desert Safari. The colour and softness of the sand vary slightly, but each tour offers unforgettable experiences.

 

Well, it is so good to experience the sunset in the desert:)
Just sand, dunes, wind, and nothing else around you.

 

So make memories, and leave only your footprints in the gold-red desert sand.