A Complete Guide to a Desert Safari Experience in Dubai

Every visit to Dubai will never be complete without a Desert Safari experience. From an exhilarating dune bashing ride and that obligatory photo with a sweeping sand dune backdrop to riding a camel and watching restless Tanura and belly dancers as you drink your third cup of hot tea, it's really one of those top touristy things you just have to do when in Dubai.

In our over seven years here in Dubai, I have already lost count of how many desert safaris we have gone on because every year, at least one friend from back home comes to visit us. My husband and I are huge fans of the weekend anyway, so if the desert safari is happening on our day off, it really takes a lot of willpower for us to say no. It's always fun, and ‘never say no to a fun-filled experience’ has always been our life’s mantra. 

I have learned quite a few things and some lessons too (sometimes even the hard way) over the years that we've been going on desert safaris with family and friends. So here are some tips and tricks that I hope will help you guys make sure you have a fun and memorable Dubai Desert Safari experience.

  CHOOSE A RELIABLE TOUR GUIDE

There are a lot of travel agencies and tour operators who offer Dubai Desert Safari tour services at different price points. I know that it’s very easy to opt for the cheapest tour, but you really have to be smart about it, as the cheapest doesn't always translate to quality, and expensive doesn't always mean the best. Sadly, I learned this the hard way.

One important tip: Always read and understand the fine print of your booking. A couple of years ago, we paid extra for an exclusive VIP tour after calling up the agency and being made to believe that our group would have the van all to ourselves. However, after picking us up from our place, we were shocked to discover that there would be other people with us too in the same van. What’s worse, we were made to wait for almost an hour because the other group came down late. The stressful complaining and confrontations we had with the tour operator that followed almost ruined the entire trip for us. Also, be wary of those tour operators who offer Desert Safari services at dirt-cheap prices. You can find these ‘too good to be true’ trap tours on many coupon or discount websites.

The keyword here to avoid getting duped is RESEARCH. Do your research about the company, call up, ask around, and read reviews online—lots and lots of them. Unless you personally know and trust the person who's written a positive review about a particular company or tour service, it's not enough to read only one or two reviews before booking.

PLANNING IS YOUR FRIEND

Most desert safari tours are booked online for convenience and because of the many promotional discounts available. But before you finalize a purchase, call and check available dates with the company first. It’s actually much better if you also email them to ensure you have confirmation in writing and that the date aligns with your itinerary. This will help avoid last-minute surprises and make it easier to process refunds in case the tour doesn’t happen as confirmed.

Last December, I made the mistake of booking without calling first. As a result, we ended up going on the desert safari just two days before my mom and brother’s flight back to Manila because it was the only available date. That was a close one and really made me realize that planning ahead is necessary to avoid hiccups in your itinerary.

Don’t forget to check the weather forecast too and schedule your tour when the weather is just right. You wouldn’t want to go on a desert safari when it’s scorching hot outside or when you risk freezing your butt off and literally eating dust because of sandstorms. Sandstorms may look super badass in the movies, but trust me, they’re not very pretty in real life.

INFORM AHEAD

It is really important that you call up and inform your guide about your tour group’s details and special needs before the start of the tour. This helps them prepare and manage expectations, avoiding issues or any untoward incidents as much as possible. This is especially advisable if you’re going on a desert safari with elderly individuals, small children, or people with special needs.

There was one time when we went on a desert safari with our family’s friends, who were both senior citizens. We specifically instructed our tour guide to skip the dune bashing ride and go straight to the campsite instead, as our friends might not be in the best condition for the experience. However, the guide transferred us to a separate vehicle and totally forgot to relay the information to the new driver. Of course, the clueless driver started driving like mad, thinking we were game. It took us a dreadful five minutes and a lot of screaming to clearly explain to him (P.S. The driver understood very little English) that we could not proceed with the dune bashing. We were so worried, but fortunately, our elderly companions, though a bit shaken, were still fine. I think I was the one who almost had a heart attack because of that misunderstanding. So not cool.

BRING SNACK WITH YOU

After you’re driven to the campsite, keep in mind that food is not always served right away. More often than not, it takes an hour or two before it’s served, and you even need to line up for food and drinks. Your patience can really be tested, and with the long wait, it’s easy to go from hungry to hANGRY real fast. Believe me when I say that nothing good ever comes out of that awful transition.

My advice: Come prepared. Pack some light snacks like biscuits, fruits, or chocolates to keep everyone sane while waiting for the buffet. Don’t forget to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. You’ll thank me later. You’re welcome.

SAY CHEESE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

Most Emirati males wear a keffiyeh—a traditional cotton scarf worn over their heads. These are sold at the campsite for around 25 to 30 dirhams in various colors and can make for a nice souvenir.

One tip: Instead of going straight to the booth selling the scarves, wait for the vendors to visit your table. Oftentimes, they offer the scarves at a discounted price and may even give in to your haggling. Instead of paying full price, you could end up paying only around 15 to 20 dirhams.

What’s a desert safari experience without a cool photo riding a camel to add to your imaginary swag bag, right? If you’re anything like me, who loves documenting her adventures and taking photos for posterity’s sake, take this down: Don’t fall for those professional on-site photographers who charge an arm and a leg for a not-so-flattering photo.

If you have the money and you look gorgeously happy in the photo, why not? Go ahead. I won’t take it against you. But if you want to be practical and ensure you get a winning shot from your best angle, just lean on a friend. I recommend splitting up and riding the camel in separate groups so you and your friends can take turns taking each other’s photos. If you don’t have talented friends and really want good photos, then be prepared to splurge some serious cash.

But you know what? Scratch that entire previous paragraph and take this advice to heart: ‘BE IN THE MOMENT.’ You’ll enjoy yourself more when you’re not constantly worried about looking good and documenting everything. Photos are nice, but you don’t actually need them to have a great time.

My point is: having a fun-loving and game attitude, along with wonderful friends to share the good and the bad, is more than enough to make a Desert Safari in Dubai an experience that’s totally one for the books.

Have you ever been to Dubai before and experienced going on a Desert Safari? How was it? 

By the way, how cool is it that my little slice of the interwebs here in Icing & Write has been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 50 Dubai Lifestyle Blogs on the web? I just read their email the other day and I still couldn't believe it. So honored! Thank you, Feedspot team! :)