Dubai City Sights & Desert Safari with Dinner & Pickup

4.53

(19 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to feel so small standing by the Dubai Creek that morning — the air had that salty tang, and our guide, Samir, kept pointing out things I’d have missed: the way old men sipped tea by the water, or how the wind felt cooler in the narrow lanes of Al Fahidi. I tried saying “shukran” after he bought us dates at a tiny stall (I probably said it wrong; he just grinned). The city tour moved fast — gold souks glittering, mosque domes catching sunlight, and then suddenly we were snapping photos in front of Burj Al Arab like everyone else. It’s touristy but honestly? Still kind of wild to see up close.

After a quick hotel drop-off (I barely had time to wash off the dust), we got scooped up again for the desert safari. The switch from city noise to open sand was almost jarring — one minute skyscrapers, next minute endless dunes. Our driver, Khaled, cranked up Arabic pop as we bounced over dunes in his 4x4. I’m not sure if I laughed or screamed more during dune bashing. Sandboarding was harder than it looked (my landing was… not graceful), but nobody cared. Camels waited nearby looking unimpressed by all of us city folks wobbling around.

The sun started dropping fast — everything went gold and quiet except for some kids chasing each other near camp. There was this smell of grilled meat and sweet tea drifting on the breeze. We sat on low cushions under strings of lights while dancers spun and music picked up. I still think about that first bite of smoky lamb kebab — maybe it was just hunger or maybe food really does taste better outside after a day like that. The desert night felt huge above us, stars barely visible behind lantern glow.