Dubai Desert Safari Review: What to Expect & Is It Worth Booking?
Back in November 2024, we spent a couple of days in Dubai. Between sightseeing, beach relaxation, trying some of Dubai’s popular restaurants, and attempting not to melt in the October heat, we decided to book two tours through GetYourGuide: the popular Desert Safari tour and a one-day trip to Abu Dhabi.
With so many providers offering these tours — most of them quite similar with only minor differences — booking can feel overwhelming. After some research we finally booked two tours that turned out to be fantastic. In this article, we review the Desert Safari Tour. You’ll find the review of our Abu Dhabi tour in the next post.
Desert Safari with VIP BBQ and Optional Quad Bike — Operated by Funtours Dubai
Funtours Dubai offers different tour options:
A 4-hour tour (both shared and private), which includes the desert experience but without dinner.
A 7-hour tour (available as shared or private), which includes dinner at a Bedouin camp.
We booked the shared 7-hour tour, so this review is based on that experience.
What the Tour Includes:
Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or selected location in Dubai
Guide
Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
Unlimited drinking water during transfers
40–50 minutes of dune bashing
Sandboarding
Sunset photo stop
Bedouin camp visit (only for the 7-hour tour) with welcome sweets (Gayamat) at the camp, Tanura and belly dance performances, a BBQ dinner and a small henna tattoo
Optional Add-ons:
Quad bike ride
Camel ride (if selected, can be repeated upon request)
Shisha smoking (if selected)
VIP private table at the Bedouin camp (if selected)
What’s Not Included:
Alcoholic beverages
Larger henna designs
Drinks en route
Price:
Prices vary depending on the season, demand, and discounts on GetYourGuide. In early October — considered a lower season for Dubai tourism — we paid €99 per person (€62 for the tour itself + €37 for a 30-minute quad bike session). Considering that the operators pick you up directly from your hotel, drop you off afterward, and handle all the logistics, I found this price fair for the experience.
What to Bring:
✔ Closed shoes (you’ll be in the sand a lot, and it gets hot!)
✔ A headscarf (the first stop is at a small store where they sell scarves for photos and sun protection, so if you have one, bring it!)
✔ Sunglasses
✔ Water (sometimes provided, but otherwise available for purchase)
Our Experience
Pickup & First Impressions
Pickup was scheduled between 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM. During booking, we had to provide a phone number for the operator to contact us with the exact pickup time. About 30 minutes before, our guide Qamar texted us via WhatsApp with the precise timing.
At this point, I have to give a huge shoutout to Qamar — he was amazing, reliable and made the tour even more fun! If he’s your guide, consider yourself lucky.
We were the last to be picked up. In the van, there were already seven other travelers: a lovely family from Portugal and a friendly young couple from Italy. The tour was conducted in English.
The drive to the desert took about 50 minutes.
Quad Biking in the Desert
Our first activity was a 30-minute quad bike ride. There’s also an option to ride in a closed circuit instead of the open desert. Some people in our group chose a buggy ride instead. Those who opted out relaxed at a small camp with a store and shaded seating.
The quad biking was a blast, though it took me a few minutes to get the hang of it. Our quad guide even helped us take fun photos. Along the way, we encountered locals with falcons offering photo opportunities — for a price, of course!
Dune Bashing: Buckle Up!
After the quad ride, we all got back into the van, and the 45-minute dune bashing session began. Warning: Not for those with a sensitive stomach!
With music blasting, Qamar expertly drove us through the rolling dunes, making it an exhilarating experience.
We stopped at the top of a dune to meet other groups for sandboarding. While this sounds thrilling, it was quite a short experience — just two boards available, and we took turns sliding down one at a time. Still, it was fun, and Qamar took great photos and videos of us!
After sandboarding, we continued dune bashing before heading to the Bedouin camp.
Bedouin Camp & Dinner
Upon arrival, we were greeted with Gemat — a traditional sweet. It was delicious! We each grabbed four!
Qamar led us to our shared table — low stools around a table. Those who had booked VIP seating had private tables with more comfortable chairs and a better view of the stage. But in my opinion, the VIP tables aren’t really worth the extra cost. I found the regular tables to be quite cozy.
Once all tables were filled, the buffet opened, and we were called up table by table to enjoy a starter of a samosa and a falafel sandwich, a main course featuring a selection of meats, salads, rice, and vegetables, followed by fresh fruit for dessert, with water and soft drinks provided for each table.
While we ate, we enjoyed three performances:
A belly dance show
A fire show
A sword performance
After six hours of adventure, we were exhausted. The drive back to the hotel was silent — everyone was asleep and snoring!
Final Thoughts
Was it worth it? Absolutely.
If you have a few days in Dubai and want some adventure, this tour is a must-do. The combination of quad biking, dune bashing, and a cultural experience made for an unforgettable day.
The only downside of the tour was the hidden costs. For example, the included henna design was small and basic, with extra charges for any modifications. Additionally, as I mentioned before, vendors try to talk you into buying headscarves or taking photos with a falcon – only to inform you afterward that there’s a fee.
Would I book the tour again? 100% YES!
Here’s the link to the Safari Tour organized by Funtours Dubai
Please note that our experience is based on the safari tour we took in November of 2024. The tour operator may make adjustments, which means the experience might vary depending on when you book.
Have you done a Dubai desert safari? Share your experience in the comments!