Dubai Desert Safari Tour: Is it Worth It? An Honest Review
If you have never experienced desert activities, then the Dubai desert safari tour is something really worth experiencing in Dubai, especially sandboarding, camel riding, quad biking, and visiting a Bedouin-style desert camp. However, you will want to do some research to find a good one that can bring you there hassle-free and let you enjoy the activities fully.
After spending some time comparing tour packages and prices for various Dubai Desert safari tours, I ended up choosing this one that I believed would provide a great experience for my friends and I. I’m happy to say that this tour met all my expectations, and it was a truly enjoyable experience.
I rate it 9 out of 10 for the following reasons:
- The tour was thoughtfully designed with both safety and well-being in mind, which allowed us to fully enjoy the experience without any concerns.
- The food provided by the tour company was not only varied but also prepared and served with great attention to cleanliness and hygiene.
- It includes hotel pick up and drop off and the guide is reliable and punctual.
- The facilities at the desert camp were well-maintained and the restroom is clean.
- The group size is small, only 6 people per group.
- The activities included in this desert safari tour were comprehensive and well-rounded.
- The tour was reasonably priced for the experience we had.
If you’re curious how the experience is like, I’ve posted a 15 seconds video of my Dubai Desert Safari adventure that you can watch here.
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Read on for more details about my experiences in this desert safari tour in Dubai:
List of Contents
Activities in this Dubai desert safari tour package & detailed reviews about it
This desert safari tour we joined offered a great variety of activities that kept us entertained throughout the day, striking a good balance between thrilling experiences like dune bashing, sandboarding and camel rides, and more relaxed activities like camel feeding, BBQ buffet, sunset chasing as well as traditional Arabic entertainment (including henna painting, falconry, shisha smoking, dance show). We also added an optional activity- Quad Biking to our desert safari day trip. To know more about each activity, keep reading 🙂
1.Quad Biking
We started our day by participating in an optional activity – riding quad bikes. These vehicles are similar to motorbikes but with four large wheels. We were given the opportunity to drive the quad bikes by ourselves in a designated desert area for around 20 minutes. It was a thrilling experience riding on the sand dunes, but we were grateful that our tour guide provided us with a thorough safety briefing and helmets before we set off. It is important to be careful when speeding up, especially when other riders are present.
To prioritise quad biking over dune bashing, you can opt for a tour package that offers 1 hour of quad biking. Alternatively, you can choose the dune bashing tour with the option to add quad biking. Both tours includes other activities. I recommend booking it in advance to help you easier plan the trips.
2.Dune Bashing
After quad biking, we headed straight to Lahbab Desert, which is known for its unique red sand dunes where we experienced dune bashing. Our driver took us on a thrilling 30-45 minute ride up and down the tall sand dunes with a 4×4 (4WD drive) vehicle, which was exciting and fun.
The ride was well bumpy and felt like a roller coaster, but we felt safe and didn’t have to worry thanks to our guide who was a skilled, highly experienced and licensed driver. During the journey he also ensured that we were all okay by frequently checking up on us and gave us bottles of water to keep us hydrated. Additionally, there was another 4-wheel drive vehicle (with no passengers) following us during dune bashing, so if anything happens, they have a team to support and react real fast. To add to the Arabian experience, our guide also played Arabic music during the ride, and made the journey more fun!
One thing to keep in mind is not to eat too much before the dune bashing tour as it can make you feel a bit car sick.
3.Sandboarding
This was my favourite activity of all! Even though I never tried skate boarding or skiing, I managed to slide down successfully with the instructions from the guide. I did fall off in the end, but the sand was so soft that it didn’t hurt at all! The challenging part is climbing up the sand dunes afterwards, as the sand keeps sinking and sliding down. You can take it as the desert work out I suppose haha!
As this tour only had a maximum of 6 people, I got to try sandboarding twice (I could have done more but walking up the sand dunes was too tiring), that’s why I love joining small size tours and suggest you too!
Climbing up may be a bit challenging as the sand keeps sinking and sliding down. You can take it as the desert work out I suppose haha!
Note: a great ride depends on the height and steepness of the dunes as well as the quality of the sand and the sand board, and that is why the great tours are taking you to the red dunes, which are the taller sand dunes near Dubai.
4.Desert Camp Experience
After completing the above activities, our guide took us to Al Khayma Desert Camp, their private, aesthetic, Bedouin-style desert camp. Here, we got to ride and feed camels, enjoy a BBQ buffet, try henna painting, hold a falcon, smoke shisha, and watch a dance show.
Other than the activities, the highlight of this camp is that it is well maintained, and the restroom is surprisingly very clean!
5.Camel Riding
One of the must-do and highlights of a Dubai desert safari is riding a camel in the desert. On the Get Your Guide tour that I joined, the camel riding activity took place in the desert area around the Al Khayma Desert Camp, providing an authentic experience of riding camels in the desert. I absolutely loved it, and what’s even better is that this ride can be repeated!
The funniest part for me was when the camel stood up and sat down; it was an unexpectedly weird move that felt like the start and end of a roller coaster ride. I encourage you to experience it for yourself and let me know how it makes you feel!
6.Camel Feeding
At the Al Khayma Desert Camp,there is an area for tour participants to engage with the camels. And the straw is provided for you to feed them.
7.Henna Painting
As women, we were lucky to experience the beautiful art of henna painting. This traditional Middle Eastern, Indian and Pakistani body painting involves using a paste made from the henna plant to create intricate designs on the hands or feet. Typically used for sending wishes like good health, happiness, beauty, prosperity, and awakeness to brides, henna is a temporary form of body art that fades in a few days.
The artists at the Al Khayma Desert Camp were skilled and created stunning designs. It was a cool cultural experience and I highly recommend any women to try it when joining the Dubai desert safari tour.
8.Falcon Experience
During the Dubai Desert Safari tour, we had the opportunity to meet falcons, which are the national bird of the UAE, and have them perch on our arms. During the day, falcons wear masks over their eyes to prevent them from getting too excited by the light. Although you can’t see their eyes, they are still stunningly beautiful.
At first, I was a bit scared and hesitant to get too close, but I soon learned that they wouldn’t become overly excited or attack without seeing the light, and I felt more relaxed. Somehow, after this experience, the falcon has become one of my favourite animals .
9.BBQ Buffet & Traditional Dance Show
The next activity on our desert safari tour was a BBQ buffet accompanied by a traditional dance show. The buffet, which was included in our 7 hours tour package, offered a variety of food options, including vegetarian dishes, and everything was hygienic and clean.
Our group, which consisted of two Asians, three Europeans, and one British person, all enjoyed the delicious food and did not experience any food poisoning reactions. The camp also provided Arabic coffee and dates for us to try, as well as unlimited water and soft drinks from well-known international brands.
As for the dance show, it wasn’t too impressive, but we were watching it while having BBQ so it’s ok, not a waste of time.
10.Sunset Chasing
As the final activity of our desert safari tour, we had the pleasure of witnessing the breathtaking sunset over the vast desert landscape. Our guide led us to a secluded spot on top of a sand dune, where we were able to fully immerse ourselves in the stunning scenery.
The experience of watching the sunset in the desert was unlike anything I had experienced before. The sun also looks so different, it is bigger in the desert than in the city in my opinion.
To top it off, our guide was pretty good at capturing the moment and snapped some great shots of us.
When you join the morning tour (I joined the 11:30am option), make sure to bring your camera and snap some pictures of this unforgettable sight!
Conclusion
Overall, this well-organised, highly-rated tour offered a diverse range of desert safari activities that catered to all of our interests, and we never felt like we were missing out on anything. By keeping group sizes small (maximum of six people), the tour company ensured that each participant received individual attention and had plenty of opportunities to ask questions and engage with the activities.I enjoyed it and got taken care of well and think it’s worth the money.
But if you don’t mind doing it with a bit more people, and want to save money, you can book this trip, it is also run by the same operator (the great one).
Other Popular Things To Do In Dubai
Below are some of the popular things to do in Dubai and I suggest to get the tickets in advance as some slot might be sold out well fast, especially Museum of the Future.
- Dubai Burj Khalifa Level 124 and 125: Entry Ticket Booking
- Dubai Atlantis Aquaventure & Lost Chambers Aquarium: Ticket Booking
- Dubai Museum of the Future: Admission Ticket Booking
- Dubai Speedboat Tour (Marina, Atlantis, Palm & Burj Al Arab) Ticket Booking
Convenient areas to stay in Dubai for easy access to attractions and tours
When visiting Dubai for a few days, staying in areas that are convenient for transportation and close to main attractions is crucial to avoid missing out on experiences. Especially when guided tours’ pick-up and drop-off services may not cover the whole of Dubai, staying in popular hotel areas makes it easier for drivers to arrange transportation.
Based on my personal experience with the Get Your Guide tour this time, the only downside was that they could not pick me up from Expo 2020 Dubai Village, as it is an area where they do not offer pick up and drop off services. Therefore, I had to meet with my friends in Dubai Marina for our pick up and drop off.
So, if you are looking for hotels with good views and convenient locations while traveling in Dubai, I recommend the following four awesome areas to stay in. Click the links below to find available hotels in your preferred area.
- Palm Jumeirah: a palm shaped artificial islands on the Persian Gulf with many luxury, international 5-stars hotels, aesthetic beach bars, restaurants and is an awesome and high end place for the beach holiday.
- Jumeirah Beach Residence: situated right on the beach area, offering a stunning view of Ain Dubai (the biggest ferris wheel in the world) and the magical Bluewaters Island. There are a great number of restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars for you to enjoy!
- Dubai Marina: is a nice canal city where you can find many restaurants along the canal and with stunning skyline view. It is close to the popular JBR beach, Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai (biggest ferris wheel in the world), as well as Dubai Mall, Pier 7 (where you get to find 7 decent restaurants that provide alcohol). So yes, it is certainly an energetic, convenient place to live or stay when you travel to Dubai. I stayed in InterContinental Dubai Marina when I lived in this area, and enjoyed it. You can check my review about it.
- Downtown Dubai: a vivid trendy area where Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) and the Dubai Mall located. If you love the vivid city life and seeing amazing skyscrapers from your hotels, you will love this area.
Important things to know about Dubai desert safari tour
What should you wear for a Desert Safari Trip in Dubai?
If camel riding, quad biking, and sandboarding activities are included in your tour package, I would suggest wearing comfortable clothes, ideally loose-fitting clothing as you will be very active during these activities.
For women, I would suggest avoiding shorts, skirts, or short dresses, as camel riding and quad biking may rub against your skin, and there might be mosquitoes, sand flies, or other insects in the desert. It is great to wear a jumpsuit or loose-fitting pants. If you want to take famous desert photos, you can bring a long dress or abaya.
For men, I recommend wearing long pants or not-so-tight jeans when joining a desert safari trip. Shorts are allowed, but not ideal, as there might be mosquitoes and other insects in the desert.
As for shoes, trainers (sneakers) or flat sandals are all good options.
If you have a headscarf, I suggest bringing it to protect yourself from the desert heat and cover your face from the sand. If you don’t have one, you can usually buy the Arabic style headscarf called “keffiyeh (Ghutrah)” from the tour and ask them to tie it for you.”
When is the best time to go for the Dubai Desert Safari tour?
From mid-October to March (late autumn to early spring), when the temperature is around 18 to 30 degrees Celsius, is the best time to travel to Dubai, UAE, and the best time to do the Dubai Desert Safari tour.
It is highly suggested that you do not do outdoor activities in the summer because the weather in Dubai, UAE is extremely hot during that time (35-50 degrees Celsius). I couldn’t go without AC for too long during the summer
Can unmarried couple stay in the same hotel room together in Dubai?
Check this article for full list of things to aware when traveling in Dubai UAE.
Is public display of affection allowed in Dubai UAE?
Check this article for full list of things to aware when traveling in Dubai UAE.
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