Many of the more popular desert safari tour in Dubai involve a few extras like henna painting, traditional dance shows, and falcon experience. Some even offer quad riding and sandboarding. This safari is a bit shorter than the standard evening desert safaris. You’ll only do one short dune bashing session and less camel riding. It’s an excellent option for those who prefer a more relaxing experience.
It includes Arabic coffee and dates, a sunset falcon show with sparkling date juice, henna tattoos, and a starlit barbecue dinner. Most tours also include a hypnotic tanoura performance.
Dune Buggies
Dune buggies are a great way to have some fun in the Desert Safari Tour in Dubai. You will hop into a twin-seater buggy and follow a guide on an off-road adventure. You will drive up and down the dunes and take in the stunning desert scenery.
The best thing about this tour is that it’s a super-good value for money; for a relatively small amount of money you are picked up at your hotel, taken to the desert and then entertained all evening long with delicious food and entertainment in a Bedouin camp.
You’ll also have a camel ride and try out some sand boarding. There are also often cultural shows and falcon displays included.
During Ramadan, the sunset portion of this tour is replaced by a lavish iftar and you will spend the night in a traditional Bedouin tent with an Arabian-style breakfast in the morning.
Camel Ride
A camel ride is included within many of the better desert safaris. It will usually involve a guide who has around 2-3 double-humped camels that can seat two people each on them. You’ll get to take them for a short ride across the sandy dunes and see what it feels like to be a part of the nomadic Arabian desert life.
There is usually also a short stop in the Ras Al Khor Nature Reserve where you can see pink flamingos with Dubai’s skyscrapers in the background. The safari then heads to the desert where you will get to do some dune bashing before watching the sun set over the dunes at a traditional Bedouin camp.
This is one of the cheaper desert safari options, but it still includes a lot of features that you would expect to find on a higher-end tour such as:
Dune Bashing
Dune bashing is a crazy experience in which your car will drive over the sand dunes at varying speeds. This thrilling and adrenaline-pumping activity is often part of desert safaris. The ride usually lasts about 30 minutes. You will enjoy slipping and sliding across the dunes and giving out whoops of delight. The thrill is punctuated with sporadic seat-gripping and shrieks of joy.
Depending on the tour operator and desert safari package, you may also be offered camel rides, sandboarding, henna hand painting, trying on traditional clothing and even falcon or Saluki (desert hunting dogs) shows. Then, you will be escorted to a Bedouin-style camp where you can enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner and watch entertaining Tanura or belly dance performances.
While dune bashing is very fun, it’s a short time-out in a vast and diverse desert. If you want to really get a feel for the desert, consider booking a full desert safari and overnight camp. It’s an amazing way to spend your time in Dubai, especially if you only have a short layover between flights.
Royal Camp Dinner
If you’re looking for an exhilarating desert adventure with a bit of luxury, then consider a Semi Royal Desert Safari Tour in Dubai with Dinner. This tour includes dune bashing, sand boarding, a camel ride, and a delicious four-course meal in a royal camp. It also features unlimited drinks including coffee, tea, and water. You can even try Lebanese bread called “Khuboos,” which is like a warm, soft, deep-fried marshmallow. They’re so good, you’ll want 50 of them!
The dune bashing part of the safari is not as extreme, but you’ll get to experience some thrilling sand dune driving. Afterwards, you’ll be taken to a desert conservation reserve to spot some local wildlife. This is where the tour really starts to shine.
Once you’ve had some time to take photos and play in the sand, you’ll be taken to the desert camp for a BBQ dinner. You’ll also enjoy a dance show. Usually, this is a belly dancer, but sometimes it’s a Tanura dancer, an Egyptian folk dance where the dancer spins a weighted skirt that glows in the dark.
Unlimited Drinks
The majority of Desert Safari Tour in Dubai include unlimited drinks as part of the package. The selection varies from tour to tour, but often includes soft drinks like water and juices as well as wine, beer and cocktails.
Some tours also offer a shisha pipe and traditional Arabian tea for the ladies. Depending on the exact itinerary, some may also have henna painting and a short camel ride included as well.
The best part is that you get to enjoy all of this while watching a cultural Emirati entertainment show. The shows themselves vary but are usually extravagant and a real treat to watch. They also feature some pretty amazing dancers and singers. It’s a really fun way to spend the evening and a highlight of any desert safari experience in Dubai.