Desert Safari Dubai Travel Diary

Read my complete desert safari Dubai travel diary based on real experience, including all activities like dunebashing, camel ride, sandboarding, sunset photography, BBQ dinner and live shows.

During my Dubai trip, booking a desert safari adventure was one experience I was most excited about. I had seen countless videos of dune bashing in the red sand, luxury camps, activities, and tourists taking pictures at sunset. But the experience in reality was very different. When a 4x4 vehicle picked me up from my hotel and took me towards the desert, it was an unforgettable moment of my trip, and after reaching the desert, my first activity was dune bashing in a 4x4 vehicle. Before my desert safari Dubai trip, I was also thinking like other people that the desert safari is just the name of dune bashing, but it's not true. After dune bashing, I experienced multiple desert activities, and after the evening driver took us to the desert camp where the night shows start, I enjoyed a special buffet dinner. I will never forget this experience.

In this guide, I will cover the full desert safari Dubai travel Diary, from booking to pick up, and enjoying the safari and camp activities.

Preparing for the Desert Safari

Before the desert safari booking, I had seen multiple desert safari Dubai packages online. By comparing the inclusions of these packages, I spent quite a time. It's necessary to compare the inclusions of the packages. Almost all packages were looking the same, but when I deep down in inclusions section, I could feel the difference; some packages include the pickup and drop off service in a bus, while some in a 4x4 car. Some packages were looking very cheap, and some were very high-priced. But I chose the VIP desert safari with quad bike ride, as it was my first desert safari Dubai experience, and I wanted the full adventure without missing any activity. I saw in these packages, pickup and drop off service, dune bashing, camel ride, quad bike, sunset photography, BBQ dinner, live shows, henna painting, and Arabic costumes were included.

And the booking process was very simple, I just confirmed my details on the booking page and then pressed the button, my booking was confirmed, and within a minute I found the booking confirmation message on my WhatsApp.

The Pickup and Drive to the Desert

My pickup time was 2:00 PM in the afternoon, while the company driver texted me before an hour before to tell me the exact pickup time. It was a very professional impression. At the exact time, the driver picked me up from my hotel lobby. In the vehicle, there were other tourist that were also excited. During the drive, the driver explained the activities included in the tour and also shared some safety precautions. After about an hour, we reached the desert, where there was endless desert sand and dunes; it looked very minimalistic. At that time, I realized that photos and videos never capture the beauty as I had seen with my real eyes.

My Dune Bashing Experience in the Dubai Desert

After the short stop in the desert, everyone returned to the 4x4 vehicle for the dune bashing. Honestly, it was the most exciting and nervous part of the desert tour. But at the moment our dune bashing experience gets started, the driver ask for to put on the seat belt and stay calm during the activity. Finally, it het started, and the vehicle climbed over the high dunes, and the next moment it slid down over the soft sand. The speed was surprisingly high. The vehicle was full of laughing and screaming.

My Quad Biking Experience

Quad biking was one of the activities I was looking forward to. Before starting the ride, the guide gave me a safety briefing and provided the safety instruments like a helmet, goggles, and a scarf to save myself from any difficulty. Then my drive to the desert gets started. At first, I was nervous about the bike ride, but after 2 - 3 minutes, I got used to it. It was totally an amazing experience. It was different from the dune bashing, because there you sit in the vehicle, while during a quad bike ride, you can drive it at your own pace.

Some desert safari packages don’t include the quad bike ride, while some charge an additional fee, but in my opinion, it is worth choosing it.

My Sandboarding Experience

It was the most fun activity in the desert. It was the same as snowboarding, but in the desert, there was just sand, so it is known as sandboarding. After the dunebashing, the driver stops the car over the high dune to enjoy the sunset view and experience the sandboarding.

To slide over the soft dunes is really a very fun activity. Even a beginner can enjoy this activity. I enjoyed it, but in return, climbing to the dune was a bit difficult if you’re a beginner; it’s recommended to try this activity at a lower dune.

My Sunset Photography Experience

The best experience during my evening desert safari was the sunset view. It was the best time to take pictures and videos. At that time, everyone was capturing photos and videos by phones. Our driver was also a good photographer; he knows the good photography points and adjusts the lighting to take cinematic pictures. He takes my pictures by standing over the high dunes with a sunset view.

Arriving at the Desert Camp Experience

After the desert safari activities, the driver took us to the desert camp. Now, the sun had totally disappeared, and when I entered the desert camp, it was an amazing experience. The camp was designed in an Arabic style, and the lanterns hung throughout the camp. The camp setup caught my attention. Upon arrival, we were offered fresh juice and water, and then I visited throughout the camp, also taking night cinematic photography. Before dinner started, I experienced the henna painting and also tried out the Arabic costumes.

BBQ Dinner with Live Entertainment Shows

As my package includes VIP seating at the desert camp, I enjoyed the sofa seating at the camp with a live buffet dinner. At camp, I realized that booking a VIP section is a very good decision, while a normal package holder was standing in line for dinner, and I was seated at a table. In the BBQ dinner, there were both options including veg and non-veg options. At the end, the dessert was very delicious. After that, I experienced the fire shows, Tanoura shows, and belly dance.