Dubai Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner

4.98

(271 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

You know that weird moment when you wake up and can’t quite believe where you are? That’s how it felt stepping out of the 4x4 into the Lahbab desert — just red dunes everywhere, heat shimmering in the air. Our driver, Khalid, grinned and handed us cold water before we even asked. The engine cooled as we stood there, sand already sneaking into my shoes. A couple of quad bikes buzzed past and I thought about trying one but chickened out (next time maybe). The main event was dune bashing — honestly, I didn’t expect to laugh so much. Khalid played Arabic pop on low volume while we bounced over the crests; my friend shrieked every time we slid sideways. Sand got everywhere but I didn’t care.

We stopped for photos at the top of a dune — sunset was coming on fast and the light made everything look gold. Tried sandboarding (I fell twice, laughed harder), then back in the car for a short drive to the camp. You could smell charcoal smoke before you saw anything else. Inside, lanterns flickered and people lounged on carpets drinking sweet tea or getting henna painted on their hands. There was this falcon guy who let me hold his bird for a photo — heavier than I thought! The camel ride was short but kind of magical with the sky turning purple overhead. One of the handlers joked about how clumsy I looked getting off (he wasn’t wrong).

Dinner came just as my stomach started to growl — grilled chicken, lamb kebabs, salads I couldn’t name but tasted fresh and spicy. Sitting cross-legged under string lights, watching dancers spin in those wild skirts and a fire juggler who made everyone gasp… it felt both touristy and real at once. People around us were from everywhere: families with little kids running in circles, couples sharing shisha quietly in corners. It got chilly after dark so someone handed out extra scarves — small kindnesses like that stick with you.