Dubai Desert Safari Tour: 10 Things to Check for Finding the Best Tour in Dubai 2024 (Best for First-Time Desert Explorers)
Want to find the best red dunes Dubai desert safari for an awesome and hassle-free experience, but don’t know which desert safari tour to choose? Look no further! This article will guide you in finding a tour that best suits your needs by informing you about the differences between tours and what you need to be aware of when selecting a desert safari tour. Additionally, I will introduce you to a highly-rated tour in the market that I personally recommend and am satisfied with.
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As the options for Dubai Desert safari trips varied, I spent some time comparing tour packages and prices for Dubai Desert safari trips in order to choose a high-quality tour that would provide a great experience for my friends and me at a great value. After evaluating each tour based on below important criteria, I ended up choosing this one that I really enjoyed. I’m sure that by considering these 10 criteria, you too can find the tour that best suits your needs and preferences.
List of Contents
- 1.Tour Duration
- 2. Activities In The Tour Package
- 3. Colours of the Dunes
- 4. Price
- 5.The Desert Camp and The Facilities
- 6.Food
- 7.Group Size
- 8.Safety
- 9.The Tour Reviews
- 10.Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off
- Frequently Asked Questions about Dubai Desert Safari Tour
- What Should You Wear for a Desert Safari in Dubai?
- When is the best time to go for the Dubai Desert Safari tour?
- Is it worth going on the Dubai desert safari?
- Best Dubai Desert Safari Tour recommendations
- Can unmarried couple stay in same hotel room together in Dubai and the UAE?
- Is public display of affection allowed in Dubai UAE?
1.Tour Duration
The duration of the desert safari tour depends on the activities included in your tour package. Some tours are shorter, lasting about 3-4 hours and including 2-3 activities. Other tours can last up to 6-7 hours and include more activities and food.
You can choose a tour package depending on your available time and the activities you want to experience.
2. Activities In The Tour Package
When selecting a Dubai Desert Safari tour package, it’s important to check what activities are included, as the wide range of available tour packages is a key factor contributing to price variation. While dune bashing and camel riding are the most common activities included in most tours, there are many other exciting desert activities to enjoy.
To help you choose the best tour for your interests and preferences, I have listed and explained some popular activities below:
Quad Biking
Quad biking, or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding in Dubai, is a thrilling outdoor adventure that participants can ride a 4 large wheeled motorbike on sand dunes by themselves and explore the beauty of the desert.
It’s a popular activity in Dubai Desert Safari tours that is great for adventure enthusiasts who want a unique and exciting way to explore the desert.
Note: when you join one, don’t forget to put on helmet the tour operator give you, and be careful when speeding up, especially when other riders are present.
If you want to try quad biking , here are 2 options:
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 many other activities as well.
Dune Bashing
Dune bashing is a thrilling activity in which a tour driver takes you on a speed ride up and down the tall sand dunes in a 4×4 vehicle for around 30 minutes (depending on the tour provider). The bumpy journey is like a roller coaster ride, but it’s very exciting and fun. With a highly experienced driver, safety is not a concern.
For the best experience, it’s recommended to do dune bashing in red dunes rather than normal sand dunes since the red dunes are taller and provide a more exciting journey. So, be sure to check if the tour packages you are considering mention red dunes.
Note: it’s important not to eat too much before going on a dune bashing tour, as it can cause car sickness. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Sandboarding
Sandboarding is an adventure activity that involves sliding down sand dunes while standing on a board. It is similar to snowboarding, but instead of snow, the board glides on sand.
If you are worried that you have never tried snowboarding and won’t know how to do sandboarding, there is no need to worry because I was in the same situation and managed to slide down successfully with instructions from the guide. And it’s my favourite desert activity of all!Even though I did fall off in the end, it was on the soft sand and I was so surprised that it didn’t hurt at all! It’s so much fun. I loved it!!
Camel Riding
One of the must-do highlights of a Dubai desert safari is riding a camel in the wild desert. Camel riding involves sitting on the hump of a camel and riding it through the sand dunes. It is a traditional mode of transportation in the Middle East and a popular activity for tourists visiting the region.
Typically, the tour will take you to a designated area for the ride, and some tours may allow you to repeat the short ride while others might not. The most funny part of the ride for me was when the camel went up and sat down, which feels like the start and the end of a roller coaster ride. It is for me a fun and unique experience, I hope you will enjoy it too!
Camel Feeding
Some tours will bring you to a desert camp that has an area for you to engage with and feed the camel with the straw. But not all of the tour has it, it will be mentioned in the tour description.
Henna Painting
Henna is a traditional and temporary form of body painting popular in the Middle East, India, and Pakistan. It involves using a paste made from the henna plant to create sophisticated designs on women’s hands and feet. Henna is often used to send wishes like good wishes such as good health, happiness, beauty, prosperity to brides. The dye fades after a few days just like a temporary tattoo.
Note: this activity is typically reserved for women only.
Falcon Experience
Falconry is a traditional Emirati sport and practice that involves training and flying falcons. According to the Visit Abu Dhabi official site, “Falconry has been practiced for more than 2,000 years.”
Some Dubai Desert Safari tours will give you a chance to meet falcons, the national bird of the UAE, and have them perch on your arms. It’s an amazing experience to get this close to such a magnificent animal.
One thing to note is that, during the day, the falcons are required to wear a mask over their eyes to prevent them from getting too excited by the light, so you won’t be able to see their eyes, but they are still incredibly beautiful. At first, I was a bit scared and hesitant to get too close, but after learning that they won’t get too excited or attack without seeing light, I became more relaxed.
BBQ Buffet, Dance Show
The BBQ/buffet/dining, either for lunch or dinner, is usually provided at desert camps if you join the 6-7 hour or overnight safari tour.
With some tours, you will also get to watch a dance show at the tour provider’s desert camp, giving you an opportunity to experience more of the Arabic culture.
Sunset Chasing
There are many places to see the sunset in the world, but experiencing it in the middle of the desert, atop the sand dunes, was an incredibly unique and breathtaking experience I’ve ever had.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you to join this tour(morning slot) and experience it as well!! And don’t forget to take lots of photos of beautiful desert sunsets!
3. Colours of the Dunes
Check if the tours operate on the Red Dunes or the normal desert is important.
The most popular and best kind of desert safari trips in Dubai are the ones that operate on the Red Dunes. If you choose the Red Dunes desert safari tour, your guide will most likely take you to Lahbab Desert or Al Madam Desert, which are closer to the high mountains and have taller sand dunes with a redder colour.
Compared to a normal desert safari trip, Red Dunes tours give you the chance to see more unique and beautiful red sand. You can also experience sandboarding (which requires tall dunes) and a more thrilling dune bashing ride.
When I was exploring tour options, Emiratis and local friends all recommended that I go for the Red Dunes tour.
So how can you tell if the tour you are interested in is going to the Red Dunes or the normal dunes? Look for keywords like “Red Dunes,” “Lahbab Desert,” or “Al Madam Desert” in the tour description. If you don’t see these words, it may not be the Red Dunes tour.
4. Price
The price range for Dubai Desert Safari tours starts from AED 70 (super budget) to AED 1500+ (stunning luxurious tour). The most popular, valued, and highly recommended ones are priced between AED 180 to AED 600, depending on the activities included in your tour package.
If this is your first time trying a Desert Safari trip and you are looking for quality service, I highly recommend choosing a tour package that covers all the Dubai desert safari activities mentioned in the activity section.
I personally booked this highly organised and with excellent customer reviews tour package and enjoyed it a lot and it’s worth the money.
5.The Desert Camp and The Facilities
There are many desert camps in Dubai where tour operators can run the desert safari tour. Some camps are shared by multiple tour providers, while others are exclusive to a single tour company.
How does this affect you? During peak season, if you join a tour that takes you to a shared camp, it may be crowded, and you may not have enough time to enjoy the activities or take photos as much as you would like. Additionally, some camps have aesthetic design, and are well equipped and have clean toilet facilities, while others do not.
6.Food
Good food can significantly enhance our travel experiences. However, as we all know, one of the most annoying and frustrating things while traveling is encountering food poisoning. So, it’s essential to choose a tour operator that serves clean food with good options.
Before you book your tour, make sure to check the photos on the tour information page and read reviews to check the food. Additionally, some tour operators also provide Arabic coffee and dates for you to try, as well as unlimited water and soft drinks from international brands for you to stay hydrated.
And if you are vegetarian, don’t forget to check if they have the options too.
7.Group Size
The group size always affects the experience of tours!
When joining a tour, I personally prefer to be in a small group. This way, the guide can provide better attention to each person, and there will be less noise and fewer problems. Additionally, there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and engage in activities. It also means that you won’t have to wait for a long time to do an activity, and you may even be able to repeat activities a few times if they allow you to.
If you share the same preference as me, I recommend picking a small tour that mention the size is only with a maximum of six people in the group when browsing tour options.
8.Safety
The Driver/Guide
If you search for a few tour operators, you will notice that some mention their guides/drivers are trained, some claim they are licensed, while others only mention the type of vehicle they provide. The best and safest tours to go with are those that claim their drivers/guides are licensed. This means that they are trained and experienced, and can safely navigate the desert roads and conditions.
Why is it better to go with a licensed driver/guide? Because not everyone is familiar with the desert roads and conditions. Going into the middle of the desert by ourselves or with a less experienced driver can result in getting stuck, and phone signals may not be reliable in such areas.
Therefore, it’s crucial to check the tour operator’s claims about the license and experience of their drivers/guides. Always prioritize safety when choosing a tour operator.
Vehicle
Check what type of vehicle is used for the desert safari trip.
For driving in the rough desert and for the dune bashing tour, a 4×4/4-wheel drive/4WD vehicle is necessary. In Dubai, most tour providers use this type of vehicle from Toyota and Nissan, which are both good options.
9.The Tour Reviews
This is super important! Always remember to check online reviews of the tour before booking. You can typically find reviews directly on the information page of each tour if you book it online.
10.Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off
Most of the Dubai Desert Safari Tour packages include hotel pick-up and drop-off services since it’s difficult to go to the desert camp without a car. However, it’s still important to check whether this service is included in the package and if they pick up and drop off at your hotel or living area.
Hotels in popular areas in Dubai are convenient and usually make it easier for the driver to arrange pick-up and drop-off for you. For recommendations on the best areas to stay in Dubai, please refer to “Convenient Areas to Stay in Dubai for Easy Access to Tours” part in this article.
I hope all the above information helps you find the best desert safari tour for you!
If you want to experience all the activities mentioned above with good quality and a well-organized operator, I suggest you go with this small group tour and select the morning tour and add quad biking to your package. This is the tour I went on and enjoyed a lot!
Our guide gave us a thorough safety briefing before sandboarding and quad biking, and we were provided with all the necessary safety gear, including helmets for riding a quad bike by ourselves. Additionally, the desert camp where this tour took us was an aesthetic Bedouin-style private camp that is well-equipped and well-maintained.
Overall, the tour offered a diverse range of activities that catered to all of our interests, and we never felt like we were missing out on anything. And we felt secure throughout the entire tour, which allowed us to fully enjoy the experience without any worries.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dubai Desert Safari Tour
What Should You Wear for a Desert Safari 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 22 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
Is it worth going on the Dubai desert safari?
If you have never experienced desert activities, then the 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. By following all the criteria I have mentioned above, you will easily decide on one that suits you the most.
Best Dubai Desert Safari Tour recommendations
After checking different tours based on the above criterias, THIS HIGHLY RATED TOUR is the tour I enjoyed going to and highly recommend to you too.
Hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!
Can unmarried couple stay in same hotel room together in Dubai and the UAE?
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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