Dubai: All Inclusive Desert Safari with ATV, Camel, Horse ride, Vip & more

Red dunes make this safari worth the drive. This six-hour outing packs in far more than the usual camel-and-dinner routine, with a 30-minute ATV ride, dune bashing, sandboarding, a horse ride, a camel ride, and an evening camp meal. I especially like the unusual mix of motorized action and traditional desert activities.

I also like the simple pickup plan from Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, plus the option of a private transfer. The main caution is the size: the tour may include up to 150 people, so the camp portion can feel busy. At $164.50 per person, it offers strong value if you want many activities in one day, but less so if you prefer a quiet desert outing.

• Red-dune ATV ride: You get a self-drive quad-bike session before the main 4WD adventure.
• Two kinds of desert riding: A horse ride and a short camel ride add variety beyond the standard safari program.
• Three hours at Lahbab: The first half covers preparation, ATV riding, photo stops, sandboarding, and dune bashing.
• Bedouin-style camp evening: Arabic coffee, sweets, henna, local clothing, shisha, falcon photos, dinner, and stage shows follow.
• Flexible pickup area: Transfers are included from selected locations in Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman.
• Strong current rating: The experience carries a 4.8 rating from 20 submitted ratings, with 95 percent recommending it.

Why This Safari Packs So Much Into Six Hours

Many Dubai desert trips follow a familiar pattern: hotel pickup, a short camel ride, dune bashing, dinner, and a few performances. This one adds two activities that often cost extra or are absent altogether: an ATV drive and a horse ride.

That difference matters if you want an active day rather than a scenic transfer to a camp. You will spend roughly three hours in the Lahbab desert before moving to Al Awir for another three hours of camp activities, dinner, and entertainment.

The $164.50 price looks high beside a basic desert dinner trip. Still, it includes hotel or location pickup, air-conditioned 4WD transport, a 30-minute quad-bike session, dune bashing, sandboarding, horse and camel rides, dinner, shows, falcon photos, Arabic coffee, shisha, henna for women, and local clothing for photos.

I would judge the cost by how many of those inclusions you will actually use. If you want the ATV, horse ride, sandboarding, and shows, the package is reasonably priced for a full afternoon and evening. If you mainly want sunset photos and a meal, a simpler safari may suit you better.

From Dubai to the Red Dunes of Lahbab

Pickup begins around 2 pm. The exact pickup point depends on the location selected at booking, but transfers are offered from Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman. Transport takes place in an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle with an English-speaking driver and guide.

The first stop is Lahbab, known for its red dunes. Before the action starts, the driver prepares the vehicle for dune bashing while you have time to use the restroom and settle in. That pause is practical, especially because the next part is active and takes place in open desert conditions.

Lahbab is the right setting for this kind of tour. The red sand gives your photos more color than the pale dunes found closer to the city, and the open space allows room for quad biking and 4WD driving.

The vehicles used for dune bashing are described as licensed, insured, and fitted with seat belts and roll bars. You will receive a safety briefing before the quad-bike session. You still need to decide honestly if you are comfortable with speed, rough movement, heat, and sand.

The 30-Minute ATV Session

The quad-bike ride is one of the main reasons to choose this package. After the safety briefing, you drive the ATV yourself on a desert trail, with photo stops along the way before returning to the starting point.

Thirty minutes is enough to give you a real taste of quad biking, but it is not a full-day off-road excursion. That is useful for first-time riders who want a controlled introduction, though experienced riders may find the session short.

Pay attention during the briefing and follow the guide’s instructions. The supplied information does not promise a particular ATV model, speed, or private riding route, so you should expect an organized group activity rather than a free-form race across the dunes.

This is also the part of the day most likely to appeal to teenagers and active adults. Parents should consider the physical demands and make sure everyone in the group is mentally and physically ready for the activity. The operator advises travel health insurance because desert activities carry possible risks of accident, illness, or injury.

Sandboarding and Dune Bashing in the Same Morning

After the ATV ride, you return for the 4WD dune-bashing section. The driver takes the vehicle over the sand dunes, giving you the rolling, steep, and shifting motion that defines a Dubai desert safari.

The exact driving route can change. Weather, sand conditions, and safety decisions affect how the session runs, so you should not expect a fixed performance or identical ride each day. Seat belts are essential, and anyone prone to motion sickness should think carefully before booking.

Sandboarding is also included. The details do not specify a separate time limit or a long instructional session, so treat it as a chance to try sliding down the sand rather than a formal board-sports lesson.

The schedule includes photo stops during the desert portion and a sunset photo stop later in the day. Bring your phone or camera, but protect it from sand. Loose dust reaches everything in the desert, and a small bag that closes well is more useful than a large open tote.

Horseback Riding Adds Something Different

The horse ride is an unusual inclusion. Most desert programs focus on camels, quad bikes, and 4WD vehicles, so the chance to ride a horse gives this tour a broader range of activities.

The information does not state how long the horse ride lasts or whether riders follow a particular route. You should therefore see it as an included sample ride, not a long equestrian outing.

The horse ride may be especially appealing if you have already tried a camel ride elsewhere in the UAE. It also breaks up the motorized activities with something slower and more traditional.

Good judgment matters here. If you are not comfortable around horses, or if you have physical concerns, you do not need to force yourself to participate. The tour is designed for most people, but that does not mean every activity suits every person.

The Camp at Al Awir

After the Lahbab activities, the group continues to the Al Awir desert camp. The pace changes here. Instead of driving across dunes, you get time to sit, eat, take photos, and try a collection of cultural activities.

You are welcomed with Arabic coffee and sweets. You can also try henna painting, wear local Arabic clothing for a photo, smoke shisha, and meet a falcon expert for a picture with the bird.

These details give the evening a stronger cultural feel than a meal alone, though the camp presentation is clearly arranged for visitors. That is not a flaw, but it helps to set the right expectation. You are seeing a staged Bedouin-style evening, not visiting a working desert household.

The camel ride is short and takes place around the camp. It is enough for a first taste and a photograph, but it should not be confused with a long camel trek. If camel riding is your main goal, ask yourself if a brief circuit meets your expectations.

Henna is listed for women, and local clothing is available for makeovers. These activities are optional, so you can join in, watch, or simply rest after the more physical first half.

BBQ Dinner and the Evening Shows

Dinner is an Arabian barbecue buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. That range makes the meal easier for mixed groups, although the supplied details do not list individual dishes or special dietary arrangements.

The camp entertainment includes Tanoura dancing, a fire show, belly dancing, and Ladies Khaliji Dance. The show gives the evening a clear finale and helps fill the time between the activities and the return drive.

There are important calendar exceptions. Belly dancing is not offered during Ramadan, and both Tanoura and belly dancing can be absent on dry days or certain Islamic occasions under UAE law. The listed dates include several dates in April, May, June, August, September, November, and December, but the dates can change with UAE law and the season.

That means you should not book this tour solely for one particular performance. The ATV ride, dune bashing, horse ride, camel ride, and dinner remain the stronger reasons to choose it.

You can purchase alcoholic drinks at the camp, but they are not included. Any other expense not specifically named in the package is also extra.

Group Size, Comfort, and What to Wear

The maximum group size is 150 people. That is a substantial number, even if the group is divided among several vehicles and activity areas.

The camp may feel social and busy rather than personal. Large groups can also mean more waiting around for rides, photos, or food. On the other hand, a bigger operation may work well for families, mixed-age groups, and friends who want many options in one place.

Wear casual, loose clothing in summer. A jacket is sensible in winter, since desert temperatures can drop after sunset. Choose shoes and clothes that you do not mind getting sandy, and avoid anything that restricts movement during the ATV, horse, or camel activities.

The tour requires reasonably good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can accept another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 2 pm start time. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded.

Who Will Get the Most From This Experience?

I would recommend this safari to you if you want variety. It works well for couples, families with older children, groups of friends, and first-time Dubai visitors who want to combine adventure, desert scenery, dinner, and stage entertainment in one booking.

It is also a good choice if you do not want to arrange separate ATV and horse-riding activities. Having the transport, guide, dinner, and camp program bundled together removes much of the planning.

You may prefer a different safari if you want silence, a small private group, or a long time alone among the dunes. The size can reach 150 people, and the camp format includes several organized activities rather than a slow desert evening.

The package offers optional private transfers, which may improve the journey for people who want more control over pickup. The supplied details do not state that the entire camp experience becomes private, so confirm what the private option covers before paying extra.

My Take on the $164.50 Price

At $164.50, this is not the cheapest Dubai desert safari. Its value comes from the number of included activities, not from luxury or privacy.

The strongest inclusions are the ATV session, horse ride, dune bashing, sandboarding, dinner, and shows. Add the camel ride, falcon interaction, clothing, henna, coffee, shisha, and transfers, and the package becomes attractive for someone who wants to sample many parts of a desert evening.

The 4.8 rating from 20 ratings and a 95 percent recommendation rate support the idea that the overall experience is well received. The praise available is especially strong for the guide’s attentive service and the beauty of being out in the desert, with one Spanish-language response describing the guide’s care and the desert visit as a very beautiful moment.

Still, the score is based on a small number of ratings, so I would use it as a positive signal rather than a guarantee. Your enjoyment will depend heavily on your guide, group size, comfort with active rides, and expectations for the camp.

Should You Book This Dubai Desert Safari?

Book it if you want the broadest activity list in one six-hour outing. The combination of red-dune ATV riding, 4WD dune bashing, sandboarding, horse riding, camel riding, dinner, and live shows gives you a lot for the price.

Skip it if you want a quiet, private desert experience or if you are mainly interested in one activity. In that case, a smaller or more focused tour may feel better.

For most first-time visitors who want action and a full evening program, I think this is a sensible choice. Go in expecting a lively group camp, not a private desert retreat, and you are more likely to feel the package delivers good value.

FAQ

What time does the safari start?

Pickup and the experience start at approximately 2 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The safari lasts about six hours, with roughly three hours in Lahbab and three hours at the Al Awir camp.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included from your selected hotel or location.

Which areas have included transfers?

Transfers are offered from Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman.

Is private transportation available?

Optional private transfers are available.

How long is the ATV ride?

The included quad-bike session lasts 30 minutes.

Does the package include dune bashing and sandboarding?

Yes. Both 4WD dune bashing and sandboarding are included.

Are horse and camel rides included?

Yes. The package includes a horse ride and a short camel ride around the camp.

Is dinner included?

Yes. An Arabian barbecue buffet dinner is included, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Are the evening shows always available?

No. Belly dancing is not available during Ramadan, and Tanoura and belly dancing may not be offered on listed dry days or certain Islamic occasions under UAE law.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded.

What happens if poor weather cancels the safari?

You will be offered another date or a full refund if poor weather causes cancellation.