A Guide to Desert Safari Dubai: The Ultimate Unmissable Adventure

Dubai: home to outstanding architectural feats (like the Burj Khalifa, the highest skyscraper in the world), one-of-a-kind and modern attractions, gorgeous beaches, and many other marvels. But if there’s one experience you simply can’t miss in the glitzy Emirate, it’s the desert safari.

The desert safari is a must on any Dubai trip. It takes you on a thrilling journey through the gorgeous Arabian desert and immerses you in rich local culture in the best way possible. 

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, here’s everything you need to know about going on Dubai desert safari tours:

Dubai’s unique landscape, with its captivating red, sandy desert, makes it the perfect setting for an action-packed desert safari tour. From morning to evening, desert safari tours offer a jam-packed experience, which includes exciting activities like dune bashing, sandboarding, camel rides, and more. You’ll also have roundtrip transfers to and from your accommodation, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the trip!

Here are the activities you can expect on the desert safari tour:

The highlight of the desert safari experience in Dubai is undoubtedly dune bashing, where you’ll journey across the massive sand dunes for 30 minutes on a jeep. Expect the thrill of high speeds, sharp twists, and exciting turns on the shifting terrain! It's a fantastic adrenaline rush that provides a great escape from the bustling metropolitan area of Dubai.

After a dune bashing experience, take the adventure up a notch with quad biking. You can feel the open air as you drive 350cc quad bikes, plow through the dunes, and ride through the uneven terrains while admiring the sea of Arabian sand around you. All the while, you’ll be guided by professionals and provided with safety gear, ensuring an awesome experience.

For those who love winter sports, sandboarding is the desert equivalent of snowboarding, offering just as much excitement! Enjoy riding down the sand dunes and discover new skills with this new activity that combines the elements of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding. It's a unique adventure everyone must experience when on desert safaris!

After an intense, sporty adventure, slow down and venture into the desert the traditional way: a camel ride! You can go either in the morning or during sunset, but either way, you’re guaranteed to see spectacular views.

Aside from thrills and views, the desert safari in Dubai allows you to have cultural experiences, like henna painting. While they were initially done to bring luck to nuptials, they are now modern beauty statements. Tourists are welcome to experience henna painting during their visit.

You’ll be famished after a day filled with fun activities, so a delicious barbecue dinner is just what you need! To further energize yourself after your journey, you can also sip on Arabian coffee or try shisha smoking, the traditional way to enjoy flavored tobacco. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a day of adventure.

End your entire experience with another culturally enriching activity: a belly dancing show. This features the mesmerizing traditional dance of Middle Eastern and North African cultures. The tanoura (which translates to “skirt” in English), a folkloric dance of Islamic countries, is also a part of the show. Tanoura features vividly colored costumes and movements that symbolize giving praise to nature.

To have the best possible experience on the desert safari in Dubai, we’ve gathered some handy tips! The first is the best time to do it, which is from November to April since Dubai’s winter months bring cooler weather and more pleasant afternoons. 

During the tour, expect the temperature to change throughout the day, so wear comfortable clothing that can accommodate warm weather. But make sure to pack hoodies, parkas, pullovers, and scarves for when it gets colder in the early morning or evening. These additional layers of clothing can also protect you from the sand! It’s also better to wear loose trousers that are still fitting for hot weather but can give you comfort inside air-conditioned vehicles. 

If you’re planning to visit during Ramadan, take note that alcohol will not be served, and the belly dancing shows will be postponed. 

You can book your desert safari Dubai tickets on Klook to enjoy all the activities we mentioned! When booking your tix, you can choose between two categories (morning and evening) and pick add-ons, like the quad biking activity, access to the sunset lounge, and a premium hummer desert safari camp. Or you can just pick among the following packages:

Your Klook ticket also includes transfers to and from your accommodation. You can choose a private, shared vehicle or a centralized bus pick-up.

Now that you know all the exciting things in the Dubai desert safari, it’s time to start planning your trip and head to the opulent city!