Dubai Desert Safari: Private 4x4, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner

4.95

(166 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was how the sand looked almost pink in the late afternoon light—never saw that coming. Our driver, Khalid, grinned as he let some air out of the tires before we hit the dunes. The 4x4 felt like a rollercoaster and I may have yelped once or twice (okay, more). The wind carried this dry, spicy smell—like warm stone and something sweet I couldn’t name. We stopped on top of a dune just as the sun started dropping; everyone got quiet for a second. I tried to snap a photo but honestly, it didn’t catch half of what it felt like to stand there.

I’d never tried sandboarding before—turns out it’s harder than it looks when you’re laughing so much. Afterward, we headed over to the camp where camels were waiting. My camel was called Lulu (at least that’s what I heard), and she gave me this side-eye when I climbed on. The ride was short but somehow calming after all that bouncing around in the car. There was henna for anyone who wanted it (my friend got a tiny flower on her wrist), and we sat drinking sweet tea while someone showed us how to wrap those long scarves—mine kept slipping off my head.

Dinner was outside under these lanterns that flickered in the breeze. The BBQ buffet had way more options than I expected—grilled chicken, salads, even veggie stuff for my friend who doesn’t eat meat. While we ate, dancers took turns on stage—spinning tanoura skirts, fire tricks that made everyone gasp, and belly dancing that had kids trying to copy the moves from their seats. At one point someone handed out Arabic costumes for photos; Li laughed when I tried to say thank you in Arabic—probably butchered it. The whole evening felt both relaxed and sort of electric at the same time.

I still think about that silence on top of the dunes—how big everything felt out there. If you’re looking for a private evening desert safari near Dubai with some real moments mixed in with all the fun stuff, this is probably it.