Desert safari activities in Dubai: what's included and what costs extra

Ask ten people what a desert safari is and nine will say dune bashing. That's fair, it's the part everyone films. But the full list of desert safari activities in Dubai is a lot longer, and the evening has a rhythm to it: the adrenaline comes first, the camel and the camp in the middle, and dinner and fire shows once it's dark.

We run safaris every day, so this is the list we'd give a friend. What each activity is actually like, who it suits, and whether it's in the price or something you pay for on the day.

Adventure activities on a desert safari

These happen first, in the late afternoon while there's still light on the dunes. They're the reason most people book.

Dune bashing

Your driver lets some air out of the tyres, and the 4x4 climbs up the dunes, drops over the crest and slides sideways down the other side. It's loud, bumpy and much more fun than it looks from the road. Most groups are laughing by the second dune.

It comes with every safari, morning or evening. The drivers do this every day and know exactly how hard to push, so tell yours if you want it gentler. It isn't suitable during pregnancy or for anyone with back, neck or heart problems. In that case, tell us when you book and we'll keep your car on the calmer tracks.

Quad biking (ATV)

Here you're the one driving. A quad bike is a four-wheeled motorbike, and the automatic ones are easy to learn: thumb throttle, brakes on the handlebars, and a guide riding in front of the group. After five minutes most people stop worrying and start chasing the guide.

Quad biking isn't part of a standard safari. You can add it, or choose the quad bike desert safari, which includes 30 minutes on your own quad along with the full evening at the camp.

Dune buggy driving

A dune buggy is the bigger, faster cousin of the quad: a proper off-road car with a roll cage, seatbelts and a lot more power. You drive it yourself through the dunes, following a guide. It feels closer to rally driving than a quad bike does, and there's room to share. Buggies come with 1, 2 or 4 seats, so a couple can share one, or a family can ride together with one driver.

Buggy rides last 30 minutes and are booked separately. See dune buggy rides in Dubai for the seats and prices.

Sandboarding

It's snowboarding, but on a dune and with no lift back up. You walk up, strap your feet in (or just sit on the board, which most people end up doing), and slide down. It's slower than you'd think on soft sand, which makes it a good one for kids.

Sandboarding is included in our safaris and is free, so try at least one run. Climbing back up in deep sand is the real workout.

Hot air balloon ride

This one is a separate trip, not part of an evening safari. Balloons fly at sunrise, when the air is calm, so pickup is usually around 4:00 or 5:00 am. You float over the dunes for about an hour, often with gazelles and camels below, and land in time for breakfast.

Expect to pay around AED 800 to 1,000 per person. It's expensive and early, but people who do it rarely regret it. If you only have one morning in Dubai and want something special, this is it.

Cultural and traditional experiences

Once the driving is done, you arrive at the camp. This part is slower and, for many guests, the part they remember most.

Camel riding

Every safari includes a short camel ride, usually a minute or two around the camp. That's enough to feel the camel stand up (back legs first, so hold on and lean back) and get your photo. If you want a proper ride out into the dunes, longer camel treks are available for an extra charge.

Horse riding

Horse riding works the same way. Some camps offer a short ride as part of the evening, with longer, guided rides as a paid option. It's better for people who already ride a little, since the sand is heavy going for both horse and rider.

Falconry and photos with a falcon

Falconry is part of Emirati heritage, and UNESCO lists it as intangible cultural heritage, with the UAE among the countries that nominated it. At the camp, a handler brings out a falcon, shows you how it's trained, and lets you hold it on a leather glove for photos.

This is a premium extra, not part of the standard package. Ask for it when you book so we can check it's available at your camp that evening.

Henna painting

A henna artist at the camp paints a small design on the hand or wrist. The small design is free and included in the evening. If you'd like something larger or a custom pattern, that's a paid option. Henna is offered to ladies only. It looks dark orange at first and deepens over the next day or two, so keep it dry for a few hours.

Traditional dress and shisha

You can borrow traditional Emirati dress, a kandura and headscarf for men, an abaya and shayla for women, for photos at the camp. It's free and takes two minutes, and the photos are usually the ones people send home.

Shisha is free in the camp's shisha corner. If you want it brought to your own table, it costs around AED 100 to 150.

Evening entertainment and dinner at the camp

When the sun goes down, the camp lights come on and dinner starts. The shows run on a stage in the middle of the seating, so wherever you sit you'll see them.

• Live performances: on our evening safaris that means belly dance, two fire shows, tanoura (the spinning dancer with the lit-up skirt) and a Khaleeji dance, with traditional music. Some camps add a camel show.
• BBQ dinner and refreshments: a buffet with grilled meats and vegetarian dishes, salads, rice and bread, plus water, soft drinks, tea and coffee through the evening.

The VIP desert safari adds VIP seating and a live BBQ served at your table, so there's no buffet queue. It's a good choice for older guests or anyone who'd rather not sit on floor cushions all evening.

Which desert safari activities are included in the price?

This is the question we get most on WhatsApp, so here it is in one place:

Morning, evening or overnight: which safari to book

The activities depend a lot on the time of day you go. Here's how the three types compare.

Evening desert safari

From AED 99 to 350 per person, depending on the package. This is the classic one and has the most going on: pickup around 2:00 pm, dune bashing, the sunset stop, camel ride, sandboarding, the camp, dinner and shows, and back at your hotel around 9:30 pm. Pay more and you can add quad bikes, buggies or VIP seating. Start with the evening desert safari if it's your first time.

Morning desert safari

From AED 150 to 200 per person, with premium options such as quad bikes and buggies. The morning trip skips the camp dinner and shows, and focuses on the dunes: dune bashing, a camel ride, sandboarding and photos in traditional dress, back in the city by around midday. The desert is cooler and quieter in the morning, which makes the morning desert safari good for photographers, families with small children and anyone with dinner plans.

Overnight desert safari

You do the whole evening, then stay in the desert instead of driving back. After the shows, you sleep at the camp under the stars, wake up to sunrise over the dunes, and have breakfast before heading back. It's the quietest the desert ever gets, and the stars are far brighter than anything you'll see in the city.

Prices depend on the season and the type of tent, so message us on WhatsApp for today's price.

A few tips before you go

• Pick your extras when you book. Quad bikes, buggies and falconry are easier to arrange in advance, and the price is fixed upfront.
• Dress for sand and a cool evening. Our guide on what to wear on a desert safari covers it season by season.
• Eat lightly before dune bashing. A big lunch and a bumpy 4x4 don't mix well.
• Bring some cash. It's handy for extras at the camp, like a longer camel ride or shisha at your table.

If you're still deciding, compare all our desert safaris side by side, or message us with your dates and who's coming, and we'll suggest the one that fits.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions