A desert safari Dubai tour is considered to be a top tourist attraction in the city. In fact, TripAdvisor ranked it at number four on the list of top activities in the city. Anyone who visits the city for vacations should definitely needs to try this exciting experience. Plenty of tour operators offer Private Desert Safari Dubai tours at reasonable costs. You can easily book one for your group and enjoy exploring the deserts and cultural attractions of the region.
For your first-ever off-roading trip to Dubai, vast deserts on a safari tour, here is a complete guide regarding it. We’ll cover top locations, activities, packages, and how to prepare for it. So be sure to read till the end.
What is the Dubai Desert Safari Experience All About?
The desert safari experience in Dubai allows you to explore the beautiful deserts surrounding the city. By exploring these deserts, you get to enjoy and discover a completely different and unique side of the city, the one where nature thrives and is rather less crowded and peaceful.
There are plenty of exciting activities to enjoy here, starting with adventure rides like dune bashing, quad biking, and sandboarding. Afterward, cultural shows in the Bedouin-style campsites include dance performances, henna painting sessions, and falconry shows. All these activities make up for a memorable experience on vacations.
What to Expect in a Desert Safari Dubai Adventure
Here is a complete list of top activities you can try on a desert safari in Dubai. Remember, you don’t have to try all of them. Choose only those that you are interested in.
Dune Bashing
Dune bashing is the most popular activity of a desert safari. An expert driver will drive a 4×4 Landcruiser and take you on a roller coaster ride across the vast desert areas. You can click some awesome pictures of the area and experience the scenic beauty of the region.
Be sure to strap yourself with a seat belt because the ride will get bumpy. Dune bashing lasts approximately 30-40 minutes, but it’s more than enough to refresh your mind and give you an adrenaline-pumping experience.
Quad Biking
ATV quad biking is another exciting and fun activity to try on a desert safari tour. It is similar to dune bashing but more thrilling. ATV bikes are four-wheel bikes designed for driving in desert areas. A desert safari tour includes quad biking as an optional activity. If you still like to enjoy more adventure after dune bashing then add it to your itinerary.
Driving a quad bike at high speeds in the vast deserts is guaranteed to offer you a heart-pounding experience that you’ll love.
Sandboarding
Sandboarding is another fun and unique adventure to have on your desert safari tour. However, there are no vehicles involved here. Sandboarding, as the name is synonymous with snowboarding, is the same activity. You strap yourself on a wooden board and glide down from a height of 300. ft dunes while trying to maintain your balance.
Everyone can try it regardless of age or experience, and it’s completely safe. Your tour guide will further help you in understanding what exactly to do here. Do try this out on your Dubai vacation.
Camel Riding
Desert safari tours are not all about adventure and thrills. They are also a perfect opportunity to enjoy and experience the culture and traditions of the Arabs. Camel rides through the desert offer one such experience. These slow and bumpy rides take you back in time to when the locals used to travel in these areas by riding these animals.
No need to worry if you have never been on a camel ride before. An expert will help you become adjusted on a camel and explain how to handle the camel.
Campsite Entertainment and Dance Shows
Once the safari rides are over, the guests can head to the campsites, where fun and entertainment await. At the campsite, you can watch cultural performances, which include Tanoura, Belly, and Yalla dance shows. You can sit and relax on a comfortable sofa seating and drink coffee or qahwah while watching these performances.
Further, you can dress in traditional Arabic attire and click selfies for memories. Women and kids can try henna painting and get some beautiful designs on their bodies. Try chatting with locals and learning more about local culture or traveling on foot wearing slippers, exploring nearby surroundings, and clicking pictures of animals you might see.
BBQ Dinner and Local Cuisine
You will likely feel hungry and have a growling feeling in your stomach after all the dune bashing, quad biking, camel riding, and campsite entertainment. Well, fret not; at desert safari, there is a whole line of BBQ buffet dinners (which includes meat skewers, lamb chops, chicken, and much more) along with several international dishes. There is also a vegetarian option for those who don’t like meat.
All these dishes are sure to fill your appetite and let you gain your energy back.
Stargazing and Sleeping in the Tent
Those who like adventure and exploration at night can choose an overnight desert safari package (more on that later) and spend a night in the desert while tucked away in a sleeping bag, gazing at stars and seeing constellations in a crystal clear night. A romantic setting like this is ideal for couples who are on honeymoon vacations.
These are all the major activities you can try on a desert safari adventure in Dubai. Some tour operators might offer additional activities as well. You can inquire about all of it while booking.
Packages Available for the Desert Safari Dubai Tour
Here is a list of 3 major desert safari packages you can book. These packages differ depending on the time of day and activities included:
Morning Desert Safari
Morning desert safari tours begin early in the morning, around 9:00 AM, and you can either arrive at the location yourself or add a pickup/ drop in your package. The morning safaris are relaxing, and you can witness the sunrise and try dune bashing and sandboarding for a thrilling experience.
At the campsite, you can enjoy local refreshments like coffee, dates, and qahwa. For additional charges, you can include breakfast as well. Entertainment and dance performances are not part of the morning desert safari, so remember that before final booking. One advantage of morning safari is that there are little to no people around. If you are looking for a private and secluded setting, then this tour package is best for you.
Morning safari usually lasts 4 hours, and around 1:00 PM, you can return to the city.
Evening Desert Safari
Evening desert safari is the most booked safari package in Dubai because its timing is ideal, around 3:00 PM when the day heat has subsided. Plus, one can witness the beautiful sunset view and the changing colors of the sand. Also, here, one can try every activity mentioned above if they want to. It starts with dune bashing and ends with a BBQ dinner at the campsite.
For the best sunset views, you can climb on top of a dune using your quad bike or camel and take a few awesome pictures against the backdrop. So remember to take a camera along as well. You can include pick-and-drop service in this safari, too, if you want to.
For additional charges, you can also upgrade your camping experience from shared to private. Here, all the performances and dinner menus are customized as per your choice and are only for your group. You don’t have to share camp with other tourists at all.
Overnight Desert Safari
An overnight desert safari is an ideal package for those who like adventures and explorations in the dark. It begins around 4-5:00 PM and includes every activity offered in the evening safari, including overnight sleep at tents and an early morning breakfast when the tour ends.
Only choose this option if you are free the next day and don’t have to go to work or any other important activity.
These major desert safari packages you can book in Dubai offer thrills, adventures, and amazing cultural experiences that one will remember for a long time. Call Desert Planet Tourism llc today and book any of these packages at discount deals. If you have any other questions, our representatives are ready to help.
Best Locations for Desert Safari Adventure in Dubai
Here are the top spots in Dubai for a Desert Safari tour where you can travel to and spend a memorable time:
Al-Awir Desert
Al-Awir desert is located nearly 35 kilometers outside Dubai and is the ideal location to try dune bashing, quad biking, and sand boarding activities. Also, you can witness sunset/sunrise views by going on top of a dune and capturing some memorable shots of the location.
Camping facilities here are top-notch, and everything is provided as per your request.
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Dubai Conservation Reserve is home to several local and endangered animal species. So, if you are an animal lover, then this is the spot to go. All the safari activities are offered here, as we have mentioned. Also, please avoid injuring any animals you might see here on your quad biking ride.
Liwa Desert
Liwa desert is located in the region known as ‘Rub Al Khali’ or the empty quarter and is much further from Dubai, but it is much less crowded and also ideal for desert safari tours. The area has some of the tallest dunes in UAE, which makes it ideal for dune bashing, sand boarding, and quad biking. Although temperatures here can get extremely hot in summer, be careful when booking an evening or morning tour.
Many cultural shows and festivals happen here around the year, and that time is the best for desert safari.
Al Lahbab Desert
Al Lahbab desert is located 50 kilometers outside Dubai and is also one of the best spots for desert safaris. You can go and enjoy dune bashing and quad-biking here with ease. The best thing about this and the reason most people visit it is its signature red-colored dunes that are not found elsewhere. Plus, safari tours here offer the best entertainment at the campsite, along with the finest dinner options.
Preparing for the Desert Safari Tour
For first-time visitors, here are a few preparation tips to remember. A private desert safari Dubai tour is unlike anything we have done before. We must come prepared:
Choose a Reputable Tour Operator
The first and foremost thing is to choose a reputable safari operator with a good reputation. Read online reviews and consult with your friends before making a final decision. Don’t go for the cheaper options. If you are trying it for once in a lifetime, then it is better to spend some money and choose the best company.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
Comfort is very important to enjoy a desert safari to the fullest. That’s why we recommend wearing lightweight clothes that are not too tight or stylish. Avoid wearing anything made from synthetic materials.
For ladies, we recommend not to wear short skirts or anything too revealing. Such dresses go against the dress code in the UAE.
Bring Essential Items
Prepare a small shoulder bag and put your essential items in it. These items include a water bottle, sunscreen lotion, and medications if you have any. Bring a camera along with extra batteries to capture the desert scenery and your memories of the tour. A mobile also works if you don’t have a DSLR.
Choose the Best Timing of the Tour
Desert safari tours in Dubai are best enjoyed in winter seasons when the temperature is warm/cold. So book around that time. Also, it’s a peak tourist season, so always book in advance if you want at your preferred date and time.
Conclusion
So, here is a complete guide to a desert safari Dubai tour. Do try this awesome adventure on your visit to Dubai, and call Desert Planet Tourism for advance booking and guidance. Our experts and tour guides have more than 10 years of experience and are ready to make this tour the best thing you have ever experienced.
Bilal Mohsin
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