Top 10 Activities in Dubai Desert Safari

In this guide, we'll explore the top 10 activities in Dubai desert safaris, including dune bashing, camel riding, sandboarding, quad biking, BBQ dinner, and other experiences.

The Dubai desert safari is one of the most popular in the world. Every year, thousands of people visit Dubai, and almost 90% of them include this activity on their bucket list. Here you can enjoy the adventurous activities, cultural activities, and can enjoy the Arabian shows by relaxing at the desert camp in traditional style. Whether you are visiting Dubai for the first time or a returning visitor, in this guide we will explain everything about the desert safaris, including the best packages, activities like sandboarding, dunebashing, camel riding, sunset photography, BBQ dinner, henna painting, dune buggy, ATV quad bike ride, and the best packages you have to choose and how to select the best tour operator.

What Can You Do During a Dubai Desert Safari?

A desert safari is not just like an ordinary tour; it combines adventure, culture, entertainment, and sightseeing in one trip. A desert safari tour includes most of the adventurous activities like dune bashing, quad biking, and dune buggy rides. But these activities are not included in every desert safari package; it depends on your travel style and preferences. In a desert safari, you can also enjoy the cultural activities like henna painting, an authentic dinner under the stars, falcon photography, and try the authentic Arabic costumes, but not every safari offers these activities. In cultural activities, you can enjoy the belly dance, tanoura shows, and fire shows. But these activities are included in the evening desert safari, not in the morning desert safari.

Below are the top 10 desert safari activities you can see on your trip:

Dune Bashing

Dune bashing is a main highlight of the desert safari tour, and you can enjoy this activity in every desert safari package. It involves riding through the desert in a powerful 4 by 4 vehicle. In one car, a maximum of 6 people can sit, and after the ride start driver takes the vehicle towards the high dunes, and in one moment, the vehicle climbs over the dunes, and in the very next moment, it slides over the soft dunes. Most dune bashing lasts for 20 - 30 minutes; it's the most adventurous ride. You have to listen carefully to the driver's precautions before starting the ride.

Camel Riding

Camel riding is one of the traditional activities in the desert safari tour. You can enjoy camel riding in every desert safari package. By doing the camel riding, you can feel how camels were the mode of transport in ancient times. You can enjoy the short camel ride of 5 - 10 minutes. Mostly, visitors also take the best pictures while riding the camels. Children also enjoy this activity and can see the vast landscapes of the desert.

Sandboarding

Sandboarding is the most fun activity in the desert safari tour. It is the same as snowboarding, but in sandboarding, instead of snow, you slide over the red sand of the desert on a wooden board. It is the best activity for both children and adults. If you are trying it for the first time, it's recommended to slide from the lower dunes. Almost all desert safari packages include this activity. One of the best things about sandboarding is that you can enjoy it at your own pace. You can start from the lower dunes and can gradually move to the bigger ones.

Quad Biking

Quad biking is the most adventurous activity in the desert safari. You can add this activity as a add on activty in your package. It is also an adventurous activity, but unlike dune bashing, in which you sit as a passenger, during a quad bike ride, you can ride it at your own pace. Before the ride, a professional team gives you the safety briefing and essentials equipement for your safety, and then you can ride it according to your own style. The quad bike ride lasts for 30 minutes.

Dune Buggy Ride

Dune buggy ride is also an adventurous activity you can add it as an ad on in your package. It is also a thrilling activity, but it is more powerful than the quad bike. There are multiple types of buggies for 2-seater, 4-seater, and 6-seater. Dune buggy rides typically last for 30 min to 60 min, depending on the package. You can drive it at your own pace.

Sunset Photography

Sunset photography is the main highlight of the evening desert safari. After the dunebashing and sandboarding at the time of sunset, you can take beautiful pictures with your family. At the time of sunset, the golden sand of the desert makes a beautiful scenic view to clicking the best picture.

BBQ Dinner

A traditional BBQ dinner is the main highlight of the evening safari. You can enjoy the authentic Arabic cuisine at the desert camp under the stars. In the menu, you can see both veg and non-veg options, including the different types of salad, korma, and roti, naan, rice, biryani, samosas, chicken boti, and tikka, and at the end, sweet dishes are included.