4 Best Day Trips to Dubai Desert

This resort is a true oasis in the middle of the desert: undoubtedly one of the best getaways from the city.
4 Best Day Trips to Dubai Desert

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How many times are you going to have the opportunity to go on a desert excursion and experience an adventure with camels, quad bikes, ATVs and falconry shows?

1. Desert excursion with safari, camel ride and other activities

Camels resting| ©Fernando Jorge
Camels resting| ©Fernando Jorge

I like this excursion to the desert of Dubai with camel ride because in addition to including a basic activity in desert visits, which is the camel ride (then I'll tell you a little more), it offers the possibility of doing a series of extra experiences: you can choose between sandboarding (similar to snowboarding but on the desert sand), dune bashing, which consists of sliding on the dunes aboard an SUV.

In addition, it also includes the possibility of enjoying some falconry or belly dancing shows, henna workshops, etc., all accompanied by a traditional dinner, and all accompanied by a traditional barbecue dinner.

What does this excursion consist of?

The tour starts with a pick up from any of the main hotels in Dubai in a 4x4 Jeep, vehicle in which you will leave the skyscrapers behind and head to the heart of the desert where you can enjoy a variety of activities. This is the only way to enjoy this activity, as doing it on your own without an organized excursion is forbidden. And rightly so: driving over the shifting dunes is quite dangerous for an inexperienced driver.

Upon arrival in the desert you will spend the afternoon doing a series of activities of your choice from all those available, while resting for tea or coffee and traditional snacks. Afterwards, you will enjoy a dinner of barbecued meats at a camp in the middle of the desert, followed by mint tea and typical sweets while watching the fire and dance show.

Camel riding is one of the most typical activities you will find in Dubai and you will have a thousand opportunities to do it. In the case of desert experiences, it is still a fun activity but you may want to make better use of the time and take a camel ride through an oasis or an alternative route.

As a word of warning, the camel ride is usually one of the most popular activities and depending on the size of the group on your tour you will sometimes have to wait in a bit of a queue.

Book your camel trekking desert tour

2. Desert excursion with safari, barbecue and sand boarding

Sunset over the red dunes
Sunset over the red dunes

For me, the great attraction of doing a desert tour like Red Dunes is the experience of watching the sun set over the horizon from the top of a dune after having experienced the adrenaline rush of some unique experiences like Sandboarding or Dune bashing. It will give a beautiful contrast to your trip to Dubai by being able to see what life is like both among opulent skyscrapers and shopping malls and in the simplicity of the desert.

What this tour consists of

I'll tell you a little more about the different types of Sandboarding or Dune Bashing that you can do on this excursion so that you know what each one consists of and you can decide if this is the plan you want to do when you are there.

If you like snowboarding, you have to try sandboarding. Although there are some differences between the two sports, such as the lightness of the sandboard and the texture of the sand that will be softer when you fall off the board, both activities are very similar. In my opinion it is one of the most fun you can have in the desert, even though you might get a couple of bruises!

If you are a bit scared but still want to try it, don't worry because you will see many people using the board as a sled and simply sliding down the sand, which is also a very fun option.

In this activity the dunes of the Dubai desert become a roller coaster. A priori it may seem that this is going to be much ado about nothing, but when you are inside the 4x4 descending at full speed down a dune vertigo imposes quite a lot. If you get dizzy easily, this may not be the best activity for you, but it is certainly worth a try. To give you an idea, it usually lasts around 45 minutes.

Book your desert excursion with red dune safari

3. Desert excursion with barbecue and live show

Sandboarding| ©whatleydude
Sandboarding| ©whatleydude

This excursion combines the best of the previous excursions: the barbecue dinner and the live show in the desert of Dubai, so that your desert experience is much more complete. Besides, you don't have to give up the most typical desert activities: once there you will be offered the possibility to go sandboarding or take a camel ride while you make time for dinner.

What this excursion consists of

With this excursion to the desert with camels, falcons and dinner you will enjoy a day of about seven hours that begins with the pick up from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. The driver will take you to the Al Khayma camp in the Lahbab desert, where you will take a 45-minute ride through the red dunes, followed by a fun sandboarding session.

After the action, you will relax at the camp with unlimited refreshments, dress in traditional clothing (abaya or kandura), and enjoy the authentic cultural atmosphere. You will also have the opportunity to get a henna tattoo, ride a camel and interact with trained falcons. The finale will be a Bedouin-style dinner accompanied by a tanoura show, creating an unforgettable experience in the heart of the desert.

Book your desert excursion with dinner

4. Half day desert safari in Dubai with quads

Quad biking in the dunes| ©Maxi am Brunnen
Quad biking in the dunes| ©Maxi am Brunnen

This activity is only included in some Dubai desert quad tours and consists of racing with other travelers in your tour group in one of these all-terrain vehicles. Don't worry, because you will be given a driving lesson and tips on how to handle yourself in the dunes as well as all the equipment. If driving a quad is on your bucket list, what better way to do it than on the desert dunes!

What this excursion consists of

This experience begins with a pick-up at your hotel in Dubai and a transfer to the desert, where a team of professional instructors will be waiting for you. After a short training session, you will learn how to drive a quad bike through the dunes, following all the necessary safety measures.

For approximately 45 minutes, you will be able to drive freely through the sandy expanses, feeling the adrenaline of the desert. Afterwards, you will try sandboarding, sliding down the dunes as if you were in the snow, and to finish, you will enjoy a quiet camel ride before returning to your accommodation.

Book your quad excursion to the desert

Organize your excursion to the desert of Dubai

The Dubai desert| ©Toa Heftiba
The Dubai desert| ©Toa Heftiba

Unless you choose a morning tour, Dubai desert tours usually leave the city in the early afternoon, around 3pm, to take advantage of the afternoon in the desert, enjoy the sunset and dine outdoors as the duration of the activity is usually about 6 hours.

You will return to Dubai at night on a very quiet and peaceful route, to relax after the desert tour.

Best day of the week to go to the desert

During your visit to Dubai, you will notice that Friday is usually the day of rest and many of the stores close on this day. Therefore, that may be the day of choice for tourists to escape from the city to the desert. Even so, the excursions are well organized so that you will not find crowds or huge groups. Overall, it is quite a relaxing excursion.

Best time of the year to make the excursion to the desert

When preparing for a trip to Dubai, you've probably noticed that when it comes to weather and temperatures the city is invariable: it's always going to be hot. However, it is from June to September when the desert temperatures and aridity become really unbearable, so it is no surprise that Dubai's peak season is between October and April.

Therefore, my recommendation is that if you have a choice, visit Dubai and take a desert excursion in the "cooler" season, from November to February. Although you will find a greater influx of tourists than at other times of the year, the weather will be moderately bearable and therefore your trip will be more pleasant.

Eating on your excursion to the Dubai desert

After an afternoon of desert activities, the tour concludes at a camp where you will be served a buffet of typical food such as potato salad, hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, and fruit salad, and all kinds of grilled meats such as chicken, lamb and fish. Whatever you do, if you have the option, try the khuboos, the bread they give you to dip the hummus in. It's another roll!

For dessert, they will give you a taste of typical Arab sweets (eat as many luqaimat as you can!) and you will have an open bar of coffee, tea and drinks. Alcohol is not included, but you can pay extra if you feel like a cold beer in the desert after an afternoon of climbing up and down dunes.

After dinner, you will also be given a traditional water pipe or shisha, which usually comes with only one flavor. If you want to try other flavors, you have to pay separately.

What to take with you on the Dubai desert tour

You will spend a full day in the desert on this experience: take your own water bottle, comfortable and as cool as possible clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses and a cap or hat. I also advise you to bring sandals in your backpack, as it is very uncomfortable to get sand in your shoes all the time, especially while sandboarding!

I recommend you to bring a camera as you will surely come back from your trip with several anecdotes and some postcard pictures at sunset among the dunes, but remember to bring a bag for electronic devices to keep your camera and your cell phone and protect them from the sand.

If you get dizzy easily, sandboarding and dune bashing activities can be a bit of an ordeal for you, so I recommend taking some motion sickness medication before doing this experience. For the same reason, avoid trying to take pictures of the desert during the dune bashing experience.

Book your desert excursion with camelback ride

Practical tips for visiting the Dubai desert

Walking on the dunes
Walking on the dunes

Book in advance

Once you are clear about the dates you are going to travel to Dubai, book this experience as soon as possible, especially if you are going in high season (December and January). It tends to be quite popular and you run the risk of having to find another similar activity with a tour operator that doesn't live up to expectations.

About photography

Keep in mind that there is hardly any signal or coverage in this activity, since you will be in the middle of the desert. And since the fine desert sand is not the best for electronic devices you might want to leave your cell phone at the hotel, although my advice is to take it with you to take some pictures when you are back in Dubai.

If you have an Instagram account or are an Instagram user, you should know that there is a hashtag that most locals use in Dubai: #mydubai. The fun of using this hashtag is that if you've taken an awesome photo, you might get reposted on the official My Dubai Instagram and it will appear on some of the screens of the Burj Khalifa.

To keep in mind

Finally, remember that an excursion to the Dubai desert is not without some risks, especially if you don't drink enough water, but you don't have to worry about anything, as the guides are very professional and will remind you at all times what are the most common recommendations if it's too hot or if you are going to participate in any quad biking or sandboarding activities.

Book your quad excursion to the desert

Other interesting activities in Dubai

Burj Khalifa getting lost in the clouds| ©Marco Biasibetti
Burj Khalifa getting lost in the clouds| ©Marco Biasibetti

If you are exploring the option of doing some other excursion, visiting Abu Dhabi is easy and can be done with round trip in the same day. I have written a handy guide on 5 Best Day Trips to Abu Dhabi from Dubai for you to read all the details if you want to organize the visit.

And finally, you can't leave Dubai without climbing the Burj Khalifa. Whether you like heights or not, the view from up here is breathtaking, the feeling of going up in the elevator is unique and to be honest, it doesn't give you vertigo at all, as the viewpoint looks quite protected. I leave here the details for you to prepare your ascent: Dubai Burj Khalifa Tickets and Tours.

Book your tickets for the Burj Khalifa

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is included in a typical excursion to the Dubai desert?

    Most excursions include transportation from your hotel, camel rides, activities such as sandboarding or quad biking, traditional shows and a barbecue dinner at a desert camp.

  • Do I have to book in advance?

    Yes, especially in high season (October to April), when demand is very high. Booking in advance guarantees your place and allows you to choose from more options of schedules and activities.

  • Is it safe to do activities such as dune bashing or riding a quad bike?

    Yes, as long as you follow the guide's instructions and use the safety equipment provided. All excursions are organized by professionals who ensure your safety at all times.

Reviews from other travellers

4.6
· 8975 Reviews
  • V
    V. S.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    A very cool package deal. First a quad bike ride, then a ride in the driver's personal car along the dunes, then a camp with dinner and a show. Don't expect to ride a camel here, because there are only 2 and a long queue that only stands for photos. For a camel ride, it is probably better to book a separate tour, or accept that the exploitation of animals for entertainment is not good idea.
  • D
    D. H.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    A fantastic experience! We had an excellent guide who went out of his way to ensure everyone’s needs were met. The activities were really well organised and the timing very good. Highly recommended trip.
  • G
    G. M.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    One of the best experiences of my life! Our guide, Hashim, was absolutely exceptional. Friendly, courteous, and with an incredible knack for photography, he made this adventure truly unforgettable. The quad biking through the dunes is a must-do extra—every minute was exhilarating! The dune bashing was another adrenaline rush, and sandboarding brought lots of laughs. The camel ride was a delight, and if you’re like me, you might want to take a baby camel home! Don’t forget to say hi to the falcons and take a moment to gaze at the stars—pure magic. The food and shows at the Bedouin tents are something I’ll remember forever. The variety of flavors in the dishes will make your tastebuds explode! Hashim didn’t just guide us through the desert; he also captured the most amazing memories on my phone. Trust me, don’t skimp on this experience—go for the premium package. You won’t regret it!
  • P
    P.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The excursion to the desert is amazing, it leaves you speechless. The Dubai guide, on the other hand, allows you to get to know the city in a very special way. My favourite part was the 4x4 safari, a real adventure!
  • B
    B.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Amazing tour, friendly guides. The city and the desert are dreamlike, unforgettable!