A Dubai Desert Safari is one of the most popular and sought-after experiences in the UAE for one epic reason: powder soft sand, dune bashing in the desert, dreamy sunsets and dinner at an authentic Bedouin camp offer an experience of a lifetime that you cannot have anywhere else in the world. So when planning my trip to Dubai, I knew I had to include a desert safari tour in order to have the ultimate bucket list experience!

How to Book A Desert Safari Tour

When booking your desert safari tour, you want to be sure to find a reputable and reliable company. If you’ve done a quick Google search to see what your options are, you already know there are upwards of 100 different companies that offer similar packages. After doing some pretty extensive research and scrolling through what felt like a million different reviews, I knew with certainty that OceanAir Travels was the best option (yep, there’s a reason they’re ranked #1 on TripAdvisor!).

It was important to me to find a tour company that was punctual, professional and had the ability to accommodate a tour for our large group of 30 friends. I also wanted to make sure the quality of the tour wasn’t compromised and that the sand dunes we visited were — well, for complete transparency and lack of a better word — pretty!

I booked the Evening Red Dunes Desert Safari with BBQ at Al Khayma Camp for $62/person that included an open dinner buffet and the tour was incredible! Another major advantage of booking with OceanAir was that the Al Khayma campsite is their own and is not shared among multiple tour companies. Why does this matter? It means you get a more attentive experience and a higher level of service.

Highlights of the Tour Include

• Dune Bashing over the red sand dunes for 30-45 minutes in the Lahbab Desert

• Desert Sunset photo stop in the Lahbab Desert: you can wander amongst the desert or try sandboarding down the red sand dunes

• Authentic Bedouin camp experience at the exclusive Al Khayma Camp

The tour included pick-up from and drop-off to our hotel. Our six land-cruisers arrived at our hotel early and were ready for us to hop in! The tour guides were genuinely friendly and attentive of our needs as a large group. We were able to comfortably fit 6 people to a car and we quickly befriended our tour guide, Abbas. He was so funny, played the best old school hip hop jams and made the entire experience an entertaining one for us!

Our first stop was at a rest area, where our tour guides released the air from the tires of our land-cruiser before heading into the desert. Meanwhile, we were able to take a restroom break, grab a snack or rent a Quad Bike / ATV to kick off the fun in the sand. A few of our friends tried out the ATVs and it looked like so much fun!

Dune bashing is easily one of the most unique and thrilling experiences you’ll have in the desert, so if you’re medically fit to do it, there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t!

Activities at Al Khayma Camp

• Welcome snacks on arrival at Al Khayma Camp (Arabian coffee & sweets)

• Try on traditional Arabic clothing (Abaya & Kandora)

• Camel Ride at Al Khayma Camp

• Bedouin activities at Al Khayma Camp: henna tattoos, shisha, and posing with a majestic falcon

• BBQ dinner buffet with local cuisine (there were both veg & non-veg options)

• Nightly entertainment: belly dancing, Tanoura & fire shows

Know Before You Go

• Check the weather: When I visited, it was warm in the afternoon but cooler at night, so grab a sweater or light jacket if needed!

• Bring sunglasses & sunscreen

• Stay hydrated! (bottled water is provided during your tour)

• Avoid eating 2-3 hours before the tour to prevent any nausea / vomiting from dune bashing

• Take your camera — you’ll want to capture this memorable and unique experience!

I had a blast on our desert safari with OceanAir Travels and I highly recommend anyone visiting Dubai to add this magical experience to their bucket list! It was without a doubt one of the highlights of my entire trip.

Is a Dubai Desert Safari on your bucket list?

Check Rates & Availability: OceanAir Travels

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This post was written in partnership with OceanAir Travels.
As always, all honest opinions are my own.