Dubai Desert Safari: 4x4 Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner & ATV Ride

4.97

(470 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We jolted forward as our driver—Ahmed, who grinned like he’d done this a thousand times—gunned the 4x4 up a dune just outside Dubai. I grabbed the handle (probably too tight), sand rattling against the windows and my stomach somewhere between excitement and “should I have skipped lunch?” The desert looked endless from up there—soft gold everywhere. When we stopped, the quiet was almost weird after all that engine noise. You could hear nothing but wind and someone laughing in the next car over.

I tried sandboarding next. Honestly, it’s harder than it looks—my first attempt ended in a slow-motion flop that Ahmed politely pretended not to see. The sun was dipping low by then, making everything glow orange. We took turns on camels, their big eyes half-closed like they’d seen every tourist trick in the book. My friend snapped a photo of me waving awkwardly (I still can’t decide if I look brave or just confused).

The camp felt like another world: lanterns swinging gently, smoke from the BBQ drifting over carpets laid out under the open sky. Our guide handed us plates piled high with grilled chicken and rice—so much flavor I actually stopped talking for a minute (rare for me). Henna artists waved us over; my design smudged because I couldn’t sit still long enough. Later, dancers spun and a fire show lit up everyone’s faces—there was this moment when everything went quiet except for the crackle of flames and someone clapping off-beat behind me. I didn’t expect to feel so at home out there.