Morning dune bashing with sandboarding and a camel ride
4 h · starts 08:00 · 4.7 (3)
This is the trip we recommend to guests who care more about the dunes than the dinner. Your driver collects you at 08:00, when the city is still quiet, and we are at the edge of the red dunes off the Al Ain road before 09:00. Mornings have softer light for photos, cooler sand and far fewer cars in the desert, which means we can take longer, more interesting routes through the conservation area than the busy afternoon convoys allow.
The dune drive runs for 40 to 45 minutes, split into two sessions with a stop in between. It is bumpy and it is meant to be: long climbs, steep descents and side slides on the face of the dunes. For that reason the minimum age is five, and it is not suitable if you are pregnant or have back, neck or heart conditions. Every driver is licensed for desert driving, the cars are fitted with roll cages and recovery gear, and our convoys stay at four or five vehicles so nobody is waiting in a queue for the next dune.
Between drives we stop at a long slope for sandboarding; the boards are waxed and the first run is usually the funniest. Then we drive to a small camel farm area for a short ride and photos, with water, tea and light snacks at our shaded rest point. There is no buffet, no stage show and no shopping stop, and nothing at the desert is charged on top of your ticket apart from optional quad bikes, priced before you go. Cheaper morning tours often mean a short drive behind 20 other cars; ours is quieter and more personal. You are back at your door at about 12:00, sandy and smiling, in time for lunch or the pool.
How the time is spent
- 08:00Pickup from your hotel or home
Your driver messages you shortly before arrival. Have breakfast light: a coffee and something small is better than a full plate before dune bashing.
- 08:50Tyre stop and safety briefing
We meet the convoy at the edge of the dunes off the Al Ain road, lower the tyre pressure and run through seat belts, motion sickness and how to ask for a gentler ride.
- 09:05First dune drive
About 20 minutes of climbs and slides through the quiet morning dunes, with the low sun lighting up the ridges. Your driver stops for photos whenever the view is good.
- 09:30Sandboarding on a long slope
Time for a few runs on waxed boards, standing up or sitting down. Climbing back up is the hard part, so take water and go at your own pace.
- 10:15Second dune drive and camel ride
Another 20 minutes of dune driving to the camel area, where you get a short ride, photos and a rest in the shade with water, tea and snacks.
- 11:15Return to the road
Tyres are pumped back up at the desert edge and we take the main road back to the city, with a restroom stop if anyone needs one.
- 12:00Drop-off at your door
Most guests are back by noon, which leaves the rest of the day free for the pool, a nap or an evening plan in the city.
Times shown for the first start time; later runs follow the same plan.
Included
- Pickup and drop-off from Dubai hotels and homes
- Licensed desert driver and roll-caged 4x4
- 40 to 45 minutes of dune bashing in two sessions
- Sandboarding with waxed boards
- Short camel ride and photo stop
- Water, tea and light snacks at our shaded rest point
- Small convoy of four or five cars
Know before you go
- Minimum age is five; children under eight must ride in a booster seat, which we supply on request.
- Not suitable for pregnant guests or anyone with back, neck or heart problems, or who has had recent surgery.
- Wear trainers or closed shoes for sandboarding and clothes that cover your shoulders, plus sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Eat a light breakfast; guests prone to motion sickness should sit in the front seat and tell the driver.
- On Fridays the tour runs as normal and is back before the midday prayer traffic in most areas.
- Bring a cap and a refillable water bottle; we top it up at the rest point.
Questions about this experience
What is your cancellation policy?
Does the tour run in summer?
Can younger children come?
Is there any food on this tour?
Can I take photos and videos?
Guests on this experience
Colleagues from our Bangalore office visiting Dubai for a week. The team was split into two cars, one for the brave and one for the cautious, which was clever. Morning light on the dunes was stunning, and hotel pickup was at 7am sharp.
Booked the intense option and it delivered. Mohammed took the big red dunes with real skill and kept checking we were all fine. Quad biking afterwards and back in the city by noon. Exactly the adrenaline hit we wanted before brunch.
Good fun, but the dune bashing was gentler than I hoped after asking for the extreme version. Bilal explained it was because two passengers in our car were nervous, which is fair. Sandboarding and the camel photo stop were good.
More Dubai experiences
Red dunes at sunset with a licensed driver, sandboarding, a camel ride and a BBQ dinner at our own camp, with hotel pickup and no extras at the gate.
A small-group day in the Hajar Mountains: kayaking on the turquoise Hatta Dam, the heritage village, a honey bee garden and the mountain roads, with lunch.
Sunset dune drive, dinner by the fire, a tent with a real bed and a sky full of stars, then sunrise over the dunes and breakfast before the drive home.