Dune Bashing: A Must-Try Desert Experience in Abu Dhabi
Hey, fellow explorers! Lynne here with another adrenaline-fueled tale from my travels. This time, I'm taking you to the sweeping dunes of Abu Dhabi for a heart-stopping desert safari that I discovered on GetYourGuide — my fave app for booking experiences, tours and tickets when I travel.
Wondering what to expect on a desert safari and dune bashing experience in the United Arab Emirates? I’ve got you covered with my honest review, some top tips and the play-by-play to make sure you book the best tour and have the best time!
Can you tell I’m happy? The adrenaline from dune bashing combined with the beauty and serenity of golden hour and sunset in the desert would put a smile on anyone’s face :)
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Review: My Experience with the Dune Bashing Desert Safari
My honest review is that this tour was so much fun! I didn't realise it would be such an adrenaline rush, but it sure was, and a really fun experience from start to finish. The ride to the desert was quiet and I wasn't so sure what to expect, but the fun began when we hit the sand.
Our driver, Zahoor, was an expert driver who inspired confidence and humour even while driving off the edges of insanely steep dunes. And while the dune bashing was the highlight, the desert camp was also a very pleasant surprise. The camp itself has a nice bedouin-style setup, right next to a huge dune which offered great sunset views to those who climbed to the top. It’s so worth it!
I made friends with another solo traveller in my tour group who was so much fun — and bonus, check out all of the amazing photos he took! We tried sandboarding and sliding together, where we died laughing, and then rewarded ourselves with a cold beer after that workout. The belly dancing performance was lovely, and the end of the night, stargazing from the desert, was the perfect closing.
While I have mixed feelings about my visit to the UAE overall, this tour was without question a very fun and unforgettable day!
I was lucky to meet a new friend on my tour and we had a blast sandboarding together and taking photos with the sunset at Al Khathim desert camp
Tips for Your Desert Safari
In my last-minute, unprepared spirit of adventure, I learned a thing or two that could help you prepare for this adventure.
Travelynne Tips:
😍 Opt for an afternoon tour to catch the stunning desert sunset
🩴 Wear slip-on sandals or flip-flops so you can easily go barefoot in the sand
💃 If wearing a dress or skirt, wear leggings underneath so you’ll feel comfortable sandboarding (you will fall!)
💸 Consider bringing some cash in Dirhams if you want to buy a drink or tip the henna artist
🤢 Motion sickness prone? Consider medication like Dramamine or Gravol before the dune bashing (ideally non-drowsy!) and maybe avoid eating right before leaving
☀️ Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
Looking sporty af with the sandboard up top the huge dune next to the Al Kathim desert camp! I didn’t look quite so cool on it ;) But it was a ton of fun trying it out.
What To Expect On Your Dune Bashing Desert Safari
I’ll share my personal experience, but I can also say confidently that everyone in my group loved this tour from start to finish! Keep in mind that these tours will vary from company to company and city to city, and of course, we each enjoy different things. Of course, I cannot guarantee that your experience with every website, app or trip I share is going to be the same as mine.
Booking the Adventure: Seamless and Spontaneous
My journey into the desert was a last-minute decision. I booked the tour called "From Abu Dhabi: Dune Bashing Desert Safari" via the GetYourGuide app just around midnight before the tour. The sale price of this tour was $65.34 USD per person but can be up to $99. Note that there are many desert tours to choose from in Abu Dhabi — mostly in a similar price range — and I ended up choosing this one because the timing was ideal for me and the reviews were great - 4.8/5 stars with over 500 reviewers!
The particular tour I took is run by Desert Rose Safari. They are a reputable and experienced tour company in the UAE. In Abu Dhabi alone, they have 20-30 Land Cruisers heading into the desert daily to take visitors on adventures.
The Pick-Up: Starting the Adventure Right
Each dune-bashing tour is led by a driver who is also the tour guide. The Toyota Land Cruisers they use for these adventures are comfortable, clean and very capable vehicles. They can fit up to seven passengers per tour.
My tour guide and driver, Zahoor, picked me up from my hotel in downtown Abu Dhabi right on time at 2:15 PM. We picked up a few more people from another hotel to complete our group of six, which included one other solo traveller, a honeymooning couple and a pair of friends. It took about 40 minutes to make our way to the desert outskirts of Abu Dhabi.
Then, a crucial stop to deflate the tires hinted that we were about to hit the sand! I learned this is a typical preparation step for navigating the challenging desert terrain safely. Deflating the tires increases their surface area for better traction and prevents sinking by distributing the vehicle's weight more evenly over the soft desert sand.
Dune Bashing: The Thrill of the Desert
Led by Zahoor, our expert driver with over 30 years of experience behind the wheel, we plunged into the exhilarating part of the tour: dune bashing. The 4WD Land Cruiser handled the dunes with impressive ease, and Zahoor really showed off his driving skills!
Dune bashing is basically like a rollercoaster in a 4 x 4 navigating the ups and downs of the desert’s sand dunes. This adventurous activity involves climbing up, sliding down, and sometimes even traversing sideways on dunes, making for an adrenaline-pumping, experience amidst the vast desert landscape.
I’m not going to lie — it feels a bit unhinged at times — but then you remember that these drivers do this every day, and you just enjoy the ride. If you have a good driver, this will keep your rate heart up, and I guarantee you will be holding onto one of the “holy shit” handles or bars in the Land Cruiser!
The dune bashing begins! Our convoy of Toyota Land Cruisers and skilled drivers took on the dunes with precision and made this a truly unforgettable experience!
On this tour, we were dune bashing for around 40 minutes total, including a stop at a camel farm, before reaching the desert camp.
Desert Camp Activities: Sandboarding, Henna and More
Once we arrived — filled with adrenaline — our wobbly legs took us into the Al Khathim camp, next to a particularly gigantic dune. Our guide showed us to our table on the floor (see camp photo below), and traditional-style carpets and cushions were available for seating around the stage area.
This is the view of Al Kathim camp from the top of the giant dune next to it! The desert feels so expansive from here and the sunset was unreal.
The camp is a hub of activity. Here, I tried sandboarding, an unexpectedly intense workout that was loads of fun. The boards are provided, but of course, you need to get it to the top of the dune! That’s half the battle. Then, you slide your bare feet onto the board and make your way down, similar to snowboarding.
Visitors started sandboarding when we arrived at the camp, branding a tough walk up the giant dune right next to the camp!
I made friends with the other solo traveller in my group and we had a blast trying and failing to sandboard and make it up the dune! Eventually, we each managed a (brief) successful slide down. Pro tip: Maybe it’s the Canadian in me, but sitting on the board, lifting your feet and sliding down toboggan-style is also super fun! Just watch out for all the sand you'll eat ;)
The camp also offered opportunities for henna tattoos, trying on traditional Bedouin clothes, camel riding (I don’t feel comfortable with this so I opt-out), traditional tea or coffee with dates, and live entertainment.
Sunset Views, Dinner and Entertainment
The climax of the evening was watching the desert sunset from a dune's summit - an absolute must for any visitor. It’s not easy to climb a dune, but don’t back out of this part because it’s a really special experience.
As night fell, we enjoyed a belly dance show with a super lovely performer. The BBQ dinner offered a taste of local cuisine, with Arabic sweets and Bedouin coffee enhancing the experience. You can also opt to purchase alcoholic drinks if you want, starting at 25 Dirhams each, or about $6.80 USD / $9.10 CAD.
The belly dancer put on a beautiful show on stage as we watched from bedouin-style seating
Finally, there was a tanoura (folkloric Egyptian dance) performance, followed by a quiet stargazing moment. There was also the option to smoke shisha throughout the evening for those interested.
Back to Reality: A Calm Drive Back
Finally, the Land Cruiser tires were reinflated and we hit the road (a regular road this time!) back to Abu Dhabi in the dark. They dropped everyone back at their respective hotels — I arrived at mine at 9 PM — and we surely all spent the next while shaking sand out of clothes and having a good scrub because you just can’t avoid getting sand everywhere on this adventure! 😂
This Desert Rose Safari tour was just what I needed — a blend of excitement, culture, and calming natural beauty, making it a highlight of my Abu Dhabi visit. For anyone else visiting the United Arab Emirates — or another desert country like Qatar, Oman or Saudi Arabia — a desert experience like this is a must-try!
Only about a 40 minute drive into the desert and you already feel like you are in the middle of nowhere! It’s absolutely serene.
How to Book Your Tour
I book most of my tours with GetYourGuide, a convenient app and website offering a great range of experiences, tours and tickets for your travels. In my experience with GetYourGuide, you can find high-quality unique or typical tour experiences, as well as tickets for museums and other attractions. Plus, in case it’s ever needed, their customer service is excellent.
With GetYourGuide, you can choose from over 118,000 experiences in 150 countries, so you’ll definitely find something fun wherever you’re headed! Check it out:
P.S. Be sure to use the GetYourGuide links on my website (like the ones on this page or my booking page) to book a fun experience all while supporting my travel blog, at no extra cost to you!
Special Note from Lynne
As a passionate traveller and content creator, I had the privilege of receiving a generous discount on this tour in exchange for sharing video and photo content on Instagram mentioning GetYourGuide. I was not required to write a blog post or a review as part of this exchange. As always, you can trust that I am sharing my honest opinions and experiences with you on Travelynne and on my social media.
I do not get paid for Travelynne.ca, so one way you can support me is by booking your tours, hotels and transportation using the affiliate links on my blogs and booking page. I receive a small commission when you do and it doesn’t cost you any extra! Plus, you benefit from my support if you need it (just message me on Instagram or e-mail me), and it helps me continue keeping the blog alive. Thank you for your support! 😙