Dubai Desert Safari: Quad Bike, Dune Bashing & Camp Dinner

4.95

(392 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the sand to feel so cold under my fingers when we stopped for photos — I always thought deserts were just scorching. Our driver, Kareem, laughed when I asked if it ever rains here. “Not enough,” he said, and pointed out the way the light was turning everything pink. The drive from Dubai was quicker than I thought (maybe 45 minutes?), but once we hit Lahbab Desert, it felt like another planet. The quad bikes were lined up waiting for us — noisy, a bit intimidating honestly — but once you start moving it’s just wind and grit and your own heartbeat. I got stuck on a small ridge and had to wave for help; Kareem jogged over grinning, no judgment.

The dune bashing part… well, let’s say my stomach still remembers it. Forty minutes of sliding sideways down red dunes in a 4x4 with music playing low and everyone half-laughing, half-yelling. There was this moment where the car paused at the top of a dune and all you could hear was wind — then we dropped again. Sandboarding after that felt almost peaceful by comparison. We stopped for sunset photos; I tried to take one but mostly just watched the sky burn out behind the dunes. Some people posed with a falcon (I passed — birds make me nervous), but I did try on an Arabian robe for a photo. It looked better on me than expected.

The camp had this smoky smell from the BBQ already going when we arrived — honestly made me hungrier than I’d admit. There were little tables set low to the ground, lanterns flickering everywhere. Henna artists worked quietly while kids ran around chasing each other near the camels. I got a simple henna design (my hand smelled like eucalyptus after), ate too much grilled lamb, and tried shisha for about two minutes before coughing like an amateur. The performances started as it got dark: belly dancing first (the dancer winked at someone in our group), then this wild fire show that made everyone lean back instinctively.

It’s weird how quickly you forget about your phone out there — no city noise, just laughter and distant music and stars coming out above the tents. On the ride back to Dubai I kept rubbing sand off my shoes and thinking about that moment at sunset when everything went quiet except for the breeze. If you’re even slightly curious about desert safaris in Dubai, just go — there’s something grounding about all that space.