Dubai Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner & Live Shows

4.95

(255 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I almost lost my sandal getting into the 4x4 — sand everywhere, but honestly, that was just the start. Our driver (Ahmed, who had this easy smile) cranked up some music as we left Dubai behind and suddenly it was all gold dunes and nothing else. The first few minutes of dune bashing were wilder than I expected — like a roller coaster but softer somehow, with sand spraying up against the windows and everyone laughing or half-screaming. I remember gripping the seatbelt and thinking, “Okay, this is actually happening.”

After that rush we stopped for a quick camel ride — not long but enough for a goofy photo (the camel blinked right as I tried to look serious). The air smelled dry and sweet from the grass they’d been eating. Ahmed pointed out how the light changed across the dunes at sunset; he said in winter you can see pink streaks if you’re lucky. It was warm but not too hot by then, just a breeze carrying some spice from the camp ahead.

The Bedouin camp felt lively in a way I didn’t expect — music playing somewhere, people trying on local scarves for photos (mine kept slipping off), and that smoky smell from the BBQ drifting around. There was henna painting (I let them do a tiny design on my wrist), and someone handed me sticky dates with coffee so strong it made my eyes water. I tried saying thank you in Arabic; Li laughed when I butchered it but the lady smiled anyway.

Belly dancing started just as we sat down with plates piled high from the buffet (the grilled lamb was my favorite). The tanoura dancer spun so fast his skirt turned into a blur of color — honestly hypnotic. Later there was a fire show too; sparks flying up into that huge dark sky. Sitting there under those stars with sand still in my shoes… I still think about that view sometimes when things get noisy back home.