A day in the desert of Dubai

The desert: something you have to see!

Dubai has a lot to offer. But the desert is something completely different. So different that it cannot be put into words. You simply have to experience the desert yourself, no explanation can match the extent as well as the fascination.

To explore the desert of Dubai there are many possibilities. On sites like getyourguide, Groupon, the EntertainerApp and many more, there are so many offers with tour guides. Depending on the offer, one usually takes part in a 4-hour or a 7-hour desert tour. There are also many different activities, which are partly included in the offers and sometimes can be booked in addition. Quad biking, dune bashing, sand boarding. Camel riding, BBQ, photo shootings, a desert safari, etc. You can choose between the numerous offers exactly what interests you personally the most.

However, it is not exactly easy to decide on an organizer. On the one hand, the offers are very similar and on the other hand, there are sometimes very bad reviews. We finally booked a 7-hour desert tour with quad biking, dune bashing, camel riding, sand boarding and BBQ + shows in a desert camp via Groupon. This tour was offered by Luxury Tours and was 70% off, so we paid the equivalent of about 60€ for the two of us.

With other offers it would have been mostly between 100–300€ and since we weren’t sure if it was worth the money then, we were happy about this unbeatable offer. And it was definitely worth it! I would definitely recommend the desert tour with Luxury Tours!

The desert tour with Luxury Tours

We booked the tour relatively spontaneously for the next day. It was no problem via Groupon. We were able to pay directly online and immediately received an email as confirmation. A few hours after booking, we also received a message from Luxury Tours via Whatsapp asking again about our hotel. We still had a few questions regarding our choice of clothes and whether cameras or even a drone are allowed. These were answered quickly and very friendly by our contact person.

On the day of the tour itself, we received another message a few hours before departure with the exact pick-up time at our hotel. So nothing could go wrong. Packed with backpacks, cameras and change of clothes, we set off punctually at 3 pm. As luck would have it, two other Germans were picked up at our hotel for the same tour. After we picked up another couple at another hotel, we were off into the desert.

Our driver explained to us how the day would go. First, we would drive to a spot where we would quad bike. Then we would all do the dune bashing together in his car and he would take us to the camp where the camel riding, sand boarding as well as the BBQ would take place. In our tour, these activities are all included. Also, it is possible to get a free henna tattoo at the camp. At the camp itself, quad biking as well as horseback riding is also offered once again. These activities can be booked on site for an additional fee if you wish. After the BBQ and the shows we will be picked up again and brought back to the hotels by our driver.

Quad tour in the desert

After about 30 minutes of driving we already reached the place where the quad driving takes place. It is a big place with a small supermarket, several covered areas and toilets. Under the tent roofs stand the Quads, with which it goes then into the desert.

On the spot, of course, Arabic scarves, jewelry and clothing are offered. I bought there before the Quad route still another headgear with a kind Diadem and was dressed also directly by the salesmen accordingly. There is a special way of tying the head scarves so that they fit tightly and at the same time can be used as a mouth guard against the sand.

There was also the possibility to take a photo with a hawk there for an extra charge. This we declined. However, we paid extra again so that we can ride together on a larger quad. As we learned afterwards from the two Germans from our hotel, it was only possible to drive with the small quads (which were included) in a closed-off area right next to the supermarket.

For about 60€ extra, you then get a larger quad and drive out into the desert in a 30-minute tour together with a guide. Before leaving, our driver brought us two cold water bottles with the words “Take it, you will need it!”. And yes, he was right.

The Quad Tour

Marc and I drove directly behind the guide and already on the first few meters in the blazing sun you get to feel the heat. Whole 47 degrees were it on this day there in the desert. On the first dune one is instructed to stop, so that a photo can be made. This one can acquire later naturally for sale. Since with each one of the entire group such a photo is made, one stands then a few minutes in the heat, before it finally continues.

The driving wind is more like a hairdryer instead of a cool wind but nevertheless it is more pleasant to feel the hot air than to stand on the spot. You drive behind the guide over the dunes and the further you get, the more endless and bigger the desert seems. You have such a wide view and there is no end in sight to the impressive sandy landscape.

The quads have a pretty good grip on the ground and so you can cruise around here with about 50–60 km/h without any problems. After about 15 minutes of driving you stop at a kind of viewpoint in the middle of the desert. Here you have the chance to take some pictures. I had to drink a bottle of water first, so hot it is there. I must honestly admit, I would not have expected such a heat. The happier and more grateful I am for the cool water.

Here there is also the possibility to take photos with a falcon, if you pay extra. Since the desert forms an impressive, breathtaking and unique scenery, we have the extra charge then but gladly accepted. After about 10 minutes (in which you can take photos or just enjoy the view) it then goes the same way back.

I was very glad when we were back at the starting point. The exhaust of the quad unfortunately blew the hot air to my bare calves during the ride, so they felt slightly burned. In addition, I had to fight a bit with the heat and was very glad when our driver, Marc and me in a room with air conditioning has brought. Here we then spent about 10–15 minutes until we were collected by him and it went on to the Dune-Bashing.

Dune-Bashing

The dune bashing takes place in the car with which we were also picked up at the hotel. Before it can start, however, air must be let out of all 4 tires. In addition, you need a special driving license to be allowed to do dune bashing, respectively to be allowed to drive through the desert and over the dunes.
After our tour guide has checked several times whether we are all strapped in, he instructs us once again that we should also hold on tight and as soon as he has received a “go” from all of us, we are off. The music is turned up loudly and with full throttle it goes away from the road and crosswise into the desert.

Already on the first meters — which actually still consist of a sand road or at least something that resembles a road — you have to hold on tight. The car slides back and forth, you are thrown up and down and around in the car. With the loud music, the matching bass and the adrenaline poured out, Dune Bashing resembles a wild roller coaster ride.

You can clearly see that our driver is having a lot of fun speeding through the dunes, taking sharp turns and thus whirling up the sand. Again and again he checks in the rear view mirror if everything is alright with us and when he notices that we all have as much fun with it as he does, he turns it up a bit more.

In the meantime we drive through the middle of the desert. Just driving up the dunes to break down again on the other side. The drive is getting wilder and wilder, we are now also driving sideways on the dunes and the car gets quite a lean every now and then. It’s almost like surfing on big waves. Only that we are in the desert and in a car. There’s no real way to describe what dune bashing feels like. You just have to experience it.

Suddenly our driver stops in the middle of the desert and gets out. We have a brilliant view of the sun and the enormous expanse of the desert. As it turned out later, the car suffered a bit and the rear of the left side broke off. Presumably, because we are too strongly somewhere set down or also got stuck. The drive is already very wild but that makes it all the more fun.

And one thing you have to give our driver credit for. He definitely knows what he is doing. There were a few moments when we all felt like our hearts were in our mouths because we thought we would tip over at any moment and end up on the roof of the car. No matter how slanted the car was, the driver was able to make up for it immediately and eventually got us safely to camp. Only his car was a little damaged, but that didn’t seem to bother him.

Camel riding

Arrived in the camp we were also directly welcomed by three camels and two horses. The camp is located somewhere in the middle of the desert, no idea where exactly. As with the quad riding before, we are lucky and are again the first group to arrive. So the camp and the area around it is still very empty and you can fully absorb the peace of the desert.

In addition, we can go directly to the camels, greet them in peace, stroke and examine before we are asked to take a seat on them. I am to mount in front and Marc is placed behind with. While the camel is still lying down, a local runs back and forth with our camera and shoots a few pictures of us. Although there is again a photographer but these photos would have to pay again in the end additionally. So we have our own photographer (although not quite professional) and save further costs.

We are advised to hold on tight now, as the camel is going to get up. This is very good advice. As the camel begins to wobble and slowly raise its front legs you have to hold on tight to not lose your balance. When it then comes with a kind of jump or jerk onto its hind legs, we are both glad to have listened to the advice.

Now we feel like we are several meters above the ground. The camels here are much bigger than I would have expected. But it is also very cool to be so high up and to be able to look at the desert from this perspective. After all 3 camels are standing, they start to move. Shaking, the camel riding begins.

However, the camels are led only once in a circle and that’s it. Before the camels lie down again, we are reminded to hold on very tightly. Although I really held on very, very tightly, I had the feeling that I was going to be thrown from the front of the camel. Without further warning this lets itself fall namely simply in front on its knees (which is already quite a bit) and I have trouble to hold the balance and not to fall simply down. When it then also goes down in the back, I am very relieved. I honestly didn’t expect that the camel would just let itself fall, so to speak, after it had stood up quite elegantly.

Afterwards we had once again time to stroke the camels or also to make photos with them. Since then, however, already the next group arrived, we have set out together with camera in the direction of the dunes.

Sand Boarding

Sand boarding is supposed to be very cool. With a kind of snowboard — or maybe it is even a snowboard — you are supposed to be able to ride down the dunes. Since I have never skied or snowboarded, my plan was to just sit on the board and ride down the dunes like on a sled.

Arrived at the top of the first dune, the board was right there. The two boys from our hotel had already discovered this and tried — meanwhile slightly desperate — to move the board down the dune. Despite all efforts, be it to jump with a running start on the board, to push it with one foot or to place it directly diagonally in the dune. Nothing helped. After just a few centimeters, the board was buried deep in the sand again, making it simply impossible to ride it down the dune.

But then I wanted to try it again in a sitting position. Maybe it would work better if the weight is distributed more on the board. But it didn’t really move with me either. We had fun hopping forward centimeter by centimeter but this gimmick was too exhausting and too warm after a short time.

The promised sand boarding did not take place but the view was even more beautiful!

Sunset in the desert

From the dunes you have a unique, breathtaking view of the eternal desert and the approaching sunset. The perfect time for photos. Among photographers, the hour before the sun sets is called the “golden hour”. The sinking sun now emits a golden light, the shadows are hardly present and this results in the perfect light for beautiful, well-lit pictures.

Of course, we took advantage of this accordingly. With the camera we walked over the dunes and took photos again and again. The couple, which was also from our group, also made quite a few photos with their phones and were anxious to shoot the perfect selfie. If you are only two on the road, you can always make nice and good photos of each other but photos of both together are always difficult. For this you need a tripod with a self-timer.

So we had the idea to offer the couple to take photos of them together and asked if they would take some of us. They immediately said yes and so we started a photo session of four of them. While Marc took the photos, I gave them instructions for new poses.

Again and again we swapped, so that alternately Marc and I as well as the other couple were in front of the camera. It got looser and looser and we kept coming up with new ideas for cool compositions, poses, etc. So we took advantage of the sun until the last ray of sunshine and shot countless, great photos.

The camp

When the sun was almost completely gone, Marc and I walked back towards the camp. A large, illuminated gate and a red carpet lead into the camp. Here, however, masks are compulsory again, so that we first had to look for our masks.

The camp itself is arranged like a circle around the stage in the middle. At the edge there are various small huts and stalls where you can get drinks, souvenirs and also the later buffet. For an extra charge, you can book an air-conditioned VIP lounge or proper tables and chairs. Otherwise, low tables and cushions are arranged around the stage where we are to take a seat. We are led to a special table and meet the two German guys from the hotel there again.

Opposite the entrance there are also toilets, which I visited directly once. There I washed first of all all the sand from the hands, arms, legs and from the face. The water was rather hot than warm but still it did very well to remove the sand a bit.

On the way back to our table Marc and I took some drinks (there were only two small bottles per person) and a first snack. We had a small wrap (supposedly vegetarian) and an Arabic dessert. Our guide came to us again and asked if everything was okay. He also told me that I could get a free henna tattoo in one of the tents on the edge. Of course I did that immediately.
BBQ & Shows

Little by little all the groups have arrived at the camp and by now it is already completely dark. At the same time the first show starts on stage. A belly dancer who swings her hips to Arabic music. Two more shows follow (another belly dancer and a man who actually just spun in circles for minutes).
Afterwards the BBQ is opened over loudspeakers. Due to Corona, you are supposed to wait until your own table is called by security. This is to avoid that everyone rushes to the buffet at once and the distance is no longer maintained. This seemed very sensible to me.

However, the implementation was not quite so sensible. Table after table was called, but these were invited directly one after the other to the buffet. This of course created long queues in front of the tent again, where it was impossible to keep the distance.

The buffet itself consists of several tables with various vegetarian salads, vegetables and rice and pasta creations. The waiters ask you what you want to have and distribute it accordingly on the plates. At the end of this long plate, there is a grill where you get the meat — the actual BBQ. Here, however, there is only a small piece of chicken and a small piece of lamb per person. So for meat lovers not so the real thing.

The food itself — as far as I can judge — was very tasty. During another fire show, one could enjoy the food and still buy souvenirs or even the photos that were taken before.

After the impressive fire show, the end of the evening was announced over loudspeakers and one by one everyone packed their things.

The journey home

At first we were not sure if our driver would come to pick us up at the table or if we should come outside. Therefore we first waited and then we were among the last to leave the camp. Our driver was already waiting there — with repaired car — and asked us again if everything had been ok and how we liked it.

After we all got in, he asked if we were all buckled up as well. I thought that was just a precaution. Marc still said “he will not drive now again with full throttle through the dunes” but wrong thought. Again at full throttle — and this time in the pitch dark — our driver sped off, giving us another (somewhat unintentional) dune-bashing.

What has already produced more than enough adrenaline in the light, is in the dark again a number harder. You can only see about 2 meters through the headlights of the car but the driver does not seem to care. He skillfully maneuvers us and his car through and over the dunes, circles sharp curves and seems to know exactly where to go.

Back on the road, we head directly for a kind of gas station. There already several jeeps wait, whose tires are filled again with air. Of course, the air that was let out in the beginning because of the dune-bashing has to be pumped back in now. After all tires have the right pressure again, we drive back over the highway in a calm way, until he finally lets us out at our hotel.

Conclusion

The desert tour with Luxury Tours was definitely worth it! Especially because of the big discount via Groupon we only paid about 60€ for the whole day. With round trip to the hotel, the quad driving, dune bashing, camel riding and the BBQ with shows you get a lot offered.

It is a pity that you have to pay an extra 60€ for the quad bashing to really go into the desert. If you do not do this, you can unfortunately only drive with mini quads right next to the supermarket over a few piles of sand. Under Quadtour in the desert one imagines then already something else. However, this is not due to the organizer of the Luxury Tours but to the place where the quad riding then takes place.

The camel riding is also much shorter than expected (at most 2 minutes in a circle) but I think that’s okay. In general, it is always a difficult topic when it comes to camel riding. It was also a pity that sand boarding was not possible. But the desert makes all that fade into the background. It is just impressive to be in the middle of the desert and watch the sunset there.

The food and shows are also perfectly fine, especially considering the low price. In summary, it was a great day, a great tour and a really great experience. I can only recommend Luxury Tours!