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

The best thing about this Dubai safari is the sheer range of desert activities. You get the usual dune bashing and camel ride, then add a 30-minute ATV trail and a horse ride, two activities often left out of standard desert trips. It is a busy six-hour outing, but the variety keeps the day moving.

I like the combination of red dunes in Lahbab and the evening camp in Al Awir. I also like that hotel pickup, dinner, sandboarding, falcon photos, Arabic coffee, henna, and live entertainment are bundled into one price. The trade-off is simple: with so many activities, none of them gets unlimited time, and the camp can host up to 150 people.

• ATV time: Ride a quad bike for 30 minutes, with a safety briefing before setting off.
• Big desert action: Combine ATV riding, 4WD dune bashing, sandboarding, and sunset photography.
• Two animal experiences: Add both a horse ride and a short camel ride at the camp.
• Evening camp: Expect Arabic coffee, sweets, henna, shisha, local clothing, and falcon photos.
• Dinner and shows: A buffet BBQ includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, followed by Tanoura, fire, and belly-dance performances when permitted.
• Broad pickup area: Transfers are offered from selected locations in Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, with private transfer options available.

Why this safari packs more into six hours

Many Dubai desert safaris follow a familiar pattern: 4WD pickup, dune bashing, a camel photo, dinner, and a few stage shows. This one adds quad biking and horseback riding, so it suits you if you want a full activity day rather than a quiet sunset outing.

The price is $164.50 per person. That is not the cheapest desert safari in Dubai, but it covers hotel pickup and return, an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle, the 30-minute ATV session, dune bashing, sandboarding, a horse ride, a camel ride, dinner, and several camp activities. If you would otherwise pay separately for quad biking or a private transfer, the package becomes easier to justify.

The 6-hour timing also makes sense. Pickup starts around 2:00 pm, allowing the tour to reach the desert during the cooler part of the afternoon and remain at the camp into the evening. You will spend roughly three hours in the Lahbab area and another three hours at Al Awir, although exact timings can shift with traffic and the pace of the group.

Lahbab’s red dunes and the first three hours

After pickup, your English-speaking driver and guide take you toward Lahbab. This is the section built around motion and open desert views. On arrival, the driver prepares the 4WD vehicle for dune bashing while you have time to use the restroom and settle in.

The ATV session comes before the 4WD drive. You receive a safety briefing, then ride along the quad-bike trail for about 30 minutes. That is enough time to get a feel for the machine and enjoy the desert setting, but you should not expect a full-day ATV expedition. The ride is one part of a larger program.

Safety matters here. The safari vehicles are described as licensed and insured, with seat belts, roll bars, and other safety features. You still need to listen closely to the instructions and judge your own comfort. The tour advises you to be mentally and physically able to take part, and travel health insurance is sensible because desert driving and outdoor activities carry some risk.

After the ATV ride, you return to the starting point for dune bashing. This is the high-energy part of the afternoon, with the 4WD moving over the dunes rather than simply driving across a flat desert road. If you enjoy sharp movement and a brisk pace, this will likely be a highlight. If you are prone to motion sickness, the ATV and dune-bashing combination may feel like a lot in one stretch.

There is also time for sandboarding and a sunset photo stop. Sandboarding is a good inclusion because it gives you a way to interact with the dunes without adding another charge. The sunset stop gives the day a slower pause after the more physical activities, and it is the best moment to focus on the broad desert view rather than the schedule.

Wear loose, casual clothing. Summer visitors should choose light clothes, while a jacket is useful in winter because the desert can feel cooler after sunset. Closed, secure footwear is a practical choice for the ATV and horse ride, though the supplied details do not set a specific footwear rule.

The Al Awir camp after sunset

The second half moves to a desert camp in Al Awir. You are welcomed with Arabic coffee and sweets, then have time to try several cultural activities before dinner. This is not a quiet, isolated camp setting. With a maximum of 150 people, it has the feel of a large shared evening program, with plenty to do but less privacy than a small private camp.

Henna painting is available for ladies, and you can try on local Arabic clothing for photos. Shisha, also called an Arabic water pipe, is included in the camp experience. Alcohol is not included, though it can be purchased at the camp.

A falcon interaction is another useful detail. You can meet a falcon expert and take a photo with the bird. This is a short photo opportunity rather than a long wildlife presentation, so treat it as a cultural snapshot within the evening program.

The camel ride is also short and takes place around the camp. It gives you the classic desert-safari moment without making the entire night revolve around camels. The horse ride is the more unusual addition. Since no duration is specified for the horse ride, I would treat it as a scheduled camp activity rather than a long horseback excursion across the dunes.

That distinction matters when you decide if this is the right tour. You are paying for variety, not extended time with one activity. The experience works well for a first visit to Dubai when you want to sample many desert customs and outdoor pursuits in one afternoon.

BBQ dinner and three kinds of evening entertainment

Dinner is a buffet-style Arabian barbecue with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. The buffet format is practical for a large group because you can select what suits you without committing to one set meal. If food choice matters to you, the vegetarian option is clearly included.

The entertainment includes Tanoura dancing, a fire show, and belly dancing. A Ladies Khaliji Dance is also listed, along with additional performances. The Tanoura show is known for its spinning movement, while the fire performance provides the visual high point of the evening.

Belly dancing is not available during Ramadan, and entertainment can also be suspended on specified dry days and certain Islamic occasions under UAE law. The listed dates include several dates in April, May, June, August, September, November, and December, but dates can change under UAE rules and seasonal timing. Check the performance schedule before booking if the shows are a major reason for choosing this safari.

The camp program is designed for participation as much as watching. You can have coffee, try henna, wear local clothes, smoke shisha, take a falcon photo, and move between the activities before or after dinner. I like this flexible format because you are not forced to sit through one long presentation, though the number of options can make the evening feel organized around a timetable.

What the $164.50 price really covers

At $164.50, this is best judged against the amount included rather than against the cheapest headline price for a Dubai safari. You receive transportation from your selected hotel or location, a licensed 4WD vehicle, an English-speaking driver or guide, ATV riding, dune bashing, sandboarding, horse and camel rides, sunset photography, dinner, and camp entertainment.

The included ATV ride is important. Some lower-priced safaris advertise quad biking but charge extra at the desert site, or offer only a brief optional ride. Here, the 30-minute quad-bike session is part of the package. The horse ride also helps explain the higher price, since it adds an activity that is not standard on every desert outing.

Private transfers are available as an option, while shared pickup is part of the general arrangement. A private transfer could be worth considering if you want more control over pickup and return, but the supplied details do not state its extra cost. Ask for that price before confirming.

The price does not include alcoholic drinks or expenses not specifically listed. Keep a little room in your budget for those extras, but the main afternoon and evening program is already covered.

This safari is also booked, on average, seven days ahead. That is useful planning information. If your Dubai schedule is tight, reserve early rather than expecting a same-day place, especially for a weekend or holiday period.

Group size, comfort, and safety

The maximum group size is 150 people. That does not necessarily mean 150 people ride in one vehicle or do every activity at exactly the same time, but it tells you the camp is built for a substantial crowd. You should expect a social, commercial desert evening rather than a private Bedouin-style gathering.

Pickup is offered from Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, but you need to select a valid hotel or location when booking. The stated start time is 2:00 pm. Since pickup and traffic conditions can affect the arrival time, keep the afternoon free and avoid booking a fixed evening appointment immediately afterward.

Most people can participate, but you should be honest about your comfort with quad bikes, dune driving, horse riding, and outdoor heat. The provider accepts no responsibility for loss, accident, sickness, or injury, so travel health insurance is advised. That warning is standard for an active excursion, but it should not be brushed aside.

The vehicles are air-conditioned and fitted with safety equipment. Bring water, sun protection, and a phone or camera with enough battery for the sunset stop and camp photos. Keep valuables secure, since the provider does not cover loss.

Who will enjoy this Dubai desert safari most

I would recommend this experience to first-time Dubai visitors who want a full menu of desert activities in one booking. Families with older children, couples, and groups of friends may appreciate the mix of speed, animals, food, and entertainment.

It is also a good fit if you would be disappointed by a safari that only offers dune bashing and dinner. The ATV ride and horse ride give the day a more active feel, while the camel, falcon, henna, and Arabic clothing activities add the familiar cultural elements.

You may prefer a simpler safari if your main goal is a peaceful sunset, a small group, or a long camel ride. The schedule is full, the camp may be busy, and the animal rides are brief or unspecified in length. You should also think twice if you dislike bumpy driving or large shared programs.

The experience has a 4.8 rating from 20 reviews, with 95 percent recommending it. One Spanish-language review praised the guide’s attention and described being in the desert as a particularly beautiful moment. No guide names are provided, so you should not choose this tour expecting a specific named escort. The useful takeaway is that attentive guiding can make a packed program feel much easier to manage.

Booking, cancellation, and weather notes

Confirmation is provided when you book, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 2:00 pm start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made inside 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

The tour requires suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or low enrollment cancels the outing, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. This gives you some protection, but leave flexibility in your schedule if the safari is an important part of your Dubai plans.

Entertainment can change on Ramadan dates, dry days, and special Islamic days under UAE law. If live dancing is essential to your decision, confirm the current schedule rather than assuming every listed show will run.

Should you book this safari?

Book it if you want the widest selection of included activities in one Dubai desert outing. The combination of Lahbab’s dunes, ATV riding, dune bashing, sandboarding, horseback riding, a camel ride, falcon photos, BBQ dinner, and shows gives you a lot for the $164.50 price.

Skip it if you want a small, quiet camp or a long, focused horse or camel ride. The maximum group size is large, the afternoon is active, and the schedule gives you samples of many activities rather than extended time with one.

For most first-time visitors with only one desert evening available, I think the variety makes this a practical choice. Just book at least several days ahead, check whether the entertainment will run on your date, and arrive ready for a busy, energetic afternoon.

FAQ

How long does the Dubai desert safari last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours, beginning around 2:00 pm.

Where does the safari take place?

The outdoor activities begin in the Lahbab Desert, followed by an evening at a desert camp in Al Awir.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from your selected hotel or location. Transfers are offered from Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman.

Is an ATV ride included?

Yes. A 30-minute quad-bike ride is included, along with a safety briefing before you begin.

Does the tour include dune bashing?

Yes. Dune bashing in an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle is included after the ATV activity.

Is sandboarding included?

Yes. Sandboarding is part of the Lahbab desert activities.

Are horse and camel rides included?

Yes. Both a horse ride and a short camel ride around the camp are included.

Is dinner included?

Yes. An Arabian BBQ buffet is included, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices.

Which shows are included?

The program includes Tanoura dancing, a fire show, belly dancing, and a Ladies Khaliji Dance, along with other performances. Belly dancing is not available during Ramadan, and entertainment may be restricted on certain dry days and Islamic occasions.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refundable.