Private Morning Desert Safari Abu Dhabi: Camel Ride & Sand Skiing

4.41

(17 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the cool air—Abu Dhabi mornings can surprise you like that. Our driver showed up right on time in a white Land Cruiser, still smelling faintly of last night’s sand. We left the city behind fast, and soon the skyline faded into endless gold dunes. There’s something about watching the sun creep up over Al Khatim that makes you forget your phone even exists. The light changes every few minutes—one moment it’s soft pink, then suddenly everything glows orange.

We stopped at a camel farm before most folks were even awake. The camels were already up, chewing lazily and eyeing us with that slow blink they do. Our guide, Khalid, handed out tiny cups of cardamom coffee and dates—sticky sweet, just enough to wake you up. Then came the real fun: dune bashing. It’s loud and bumpy, but honestly? You end up laughing more than screaming as the 4x4 slides down sandy slopes. Sand skiing was next; I wiped out twice before getting the hang of it. Sand gets everywhere—shoes, pockets, even my camera bag—but it’s worth it for that rush when you finally glide all the way down.

At the Bedouin camp, Khalid wrapped a scarf around my head (he called it a ghutra) before we climbed onto our camels for a slow ride across the dunes. The silence out there is different—just wind and an occasional distant bird call. We snapped some photos at the top dune while sipping sweet tea under a canvas awning. By mid-morning, the sun was warming up fast and we were grateful for cold water back at camp before heading home.