Actually, the day before we went on our desert safari, we met an older American couple who shared that they really disliked their entire desert tour experience. I was a bit skeptical. After returning to our hotel, I checked our tour itinerary and thought, "How is that even possible?" Fast forward to the next day… we so regretted not listening to that couple! 😭 Here is a breakdown of our rather disappointing tour experience—hopefully, it helps you avoid the same tourist traps!

At 3:00 PM, a dedicated driver picked us up from our hotel. As soon as we got in, we noticed the car was heavily modified—the roll bars were completely wrapped in thick crash pads! Yep, this was the exact 4x4 we'd be taking directly into the dunes for the safari, specially padded to protect passengers from getting bumped around.

We thought we'd be driven straight into the desert for the dune bashing, but instead, we were dropped off at this random spot ↓ to ride ATVs (AED 150 per person for 1 hour).

The driver was somewhat pushy, almost pressuring us into paying for it. Honestly, we didn't even bring that much cash with us… Fortunately, the other passengers in our car decided to do it, or I don't think the driver would have let it go. At this point, we were already starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. For a brief moment, we even worried if our driver might just ditch us in the middle of the desert! 😓 (Thankfully, he didn't…)

After what felt like forever waiting for everyone to finish their ATV rides, we finally got to the dune bashing—the only part of the itinerary that Cherry actually thought was pretty good. (Kevin, on the other hand, thought it was just okay and felt this entire desert safari could have been skipped altogether! 😆)

First, our driver took us deep into the desert to rendezvous with a group of other drivers. The most experienced guide led the convoy at the very front. Our driver reminded us to buckle up tightly (meanwhile, he drove one-handed the entire time without a seatbelt—wild! 😱). And then, the real fun officially began!

It honestly felt like being on a rollercoaster, though not a terrifying one. What was a little scary was the extreme angles—sometimes the car was so tilted we seriously wondered if it was going to flip over! The entire dune bashing session lasted around 15 to 20 minutes.

Next, the driver pulled over and announced we had exactly "five minutes" to take photos here. We were genuinely dumbfounded. Didn't we just waste fifty minutes waiting around at that random ATV track?! 😭 Afraid of actually getting stranded in the desert this time, we rushed through our five minutes and hastily snapped a few photos.

After that, he drove us to a desert camp just as the sun was setting. This campsite must have had around 400 to 500 tourists packed in! All those so-called "free" activities listed on the itinerary? They were all here. But… unless you pulled out your wallet for the paid upgrades, it was a test of patience. Take the free camel ride for example. For 400-500 people, there were only TWO free camels… You can probably imagine the length of that queue!

The Chinese translation on the billboard below is a bit weird, but the gist of it was that the free camel ride is a mere 100 meters long—you're done in less than two minutes round trip! The sign was advertising their paid "15-minute camel ride" upgrade for AED 30 per person.

However, in the spirit of science, we timed it ourselves. The result? The "long" paid version only lasted exactly 5 minutes in total! Still, since the free line was insanely long, if you want to save time, we highly recommend just paying for the upgrade.

These are the two free camels. 🐪🐪 Honestly, we felt so bad for them. They had to kneel down and stand back up for every single group of riders. With so many people that day, they just had to keep repeating that same exhausting motion over and over again.

And below are the camels for the paid ride, where they actually lead you around in a circle.

By the time we finally finished the camel ride, there was no time for any of the other activities because it was already dark and dinner had begun! When we went to grab food, we were handed just a few French fries and two triangular fried pastries. As we nibbled on those, the tanoura dance and fire shows kicked off on stage.

It wasn't until after the fire show ended that they suddenly announced over the speakers: dinner is now ready, please line up. (Turns out those few fries earlier were just the appetizer!) Can you imagine how terrifying it is to watch 400 to 500 people swarm a buffet all at once? While waiting, older ladies kept cutting in line. We could have brushed that off, but they were also chatting so loudly and spitting as they talked right over the food… honestly, I completely lost my appetite. 😖

We finally managed to grab some food and sat down just as the belly dance performance started. The moment the dance was over, dinner was abruptly concluded. From getting our main course to the end of the meal, we probably had a grand total of 12 to 13 minutes. In the end, I was left hungry, wondering what on earth I just did with my entire afternoon. I kept thinking, why didn't I listen to that American couple yesterday and just cancel this tour?! 😭 It was a classic "I told you so" moment.

Picking up the pieces of our broken hearts, we headed back. For the entire ride home, our driver steered with one hand while chatting on a messaging app the whole way… The fact that this tour company doesn't even enforce basic traffic safety and etiquette for their drivers just left me speechless.

So, the verdict is… if you want to go on a desert safari, we highly recommend being very picky about the tour you choose. Don't just book the cheapest option you find! The desert safari was originally the activity I was looking forward to the most. Instead, because we picked the wrong tour, it completely ruined the vibe. It easily became my absolute least favorite tour experience in Dubai, bar none!

We later did some deep diving into other desert safari tours on Klook and rounded up three highly-rated options for you to consider. Make sure to compare your options thoroughly before booking so you don't end up regretting it like we did! We really hope your desert safari turns out to be a beautiful and unforgettable memory!

🐪Morning Desert Safari Tour
🐪Evening Red Dunes Desert Safari
🐪Sunset Camel Trekking Tour

For more must-visit spots in Dubai, check out 👉🏻 Must-Read for Dubai Travel! Top 11 Things to Do in Dubai

On this trip, we ended up booking three different tours through Klook. While the desert safari was a huge letdown, our absolute favorite and highly recommended activity was "The Yellow Boats Sightseeing Tour"! You get to experience the thrill of speeding across the water while taking in unobstructed, stunning views of Atlantis and the Burj Al Arab right from the sea. If you want some effortless, Instagram-worthy shots, you cannot miss this! Check it out if you're interested:
👉🏻Dubai Marina: Speedboat Sightseeing Tour | Breathtaking Views of Atlantis & Burj Al Arab
👉🏻Book the Tour Here

We have plenty more articles covering Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including top attractions, hotel reviews, transport guides, and comprehensive itineraries! Keep reading below! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Dubai Travel Information

★ [Transport] Dubai Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus
★ [Passes] Klook Pass Dubai
★ [SIM Cards] UAE 5G eSIM
★ [Observatories] Burj Khalifa | Dubai Frame | The View At The Palm | Sky Views
★ [Theme Parks] LEGOLAND Dubai | Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
★ [Desert Tours] Morning Safari | Evening Safari | Camel Ride | Hot Air Balloon
★ [Abu Dhabi] Day Tour | Travel Guide
★ [Dubai Guides] Travel Guide | Where to Stay | Top Attractions

More Dubai Articles

Dubai Travel Guide: 30 Attractions, Transport, Hotels & Visas | Ultimate Itinerary
Top 11 Things to Do in Dubai | A Must-Read for Independent Travelers!
Navigating Dubai Transport: Metro, Bus, nol Card & Uber/Taxi Tips
Must-Do in Dubai ☆ See Fish While You Slide at Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
Palm Jumeirah Atlantis ☆ Complete Transport Guide ☆ The Palm Atlantis
You Haven't Been to Dubai If You Missed This! The World's Tallest Building: Burj Khalifa
The World's Largest Frame | Dubai Frame | A Must-Visit Spot
Jumeirah Abra Tour | The Best Views of Burj Al Arab & Madinat Jumeirah
Unmissable Dubai Aquarium | The Mystical Lost Chambers Aquarium
The World's Largest! Where to Start in Dubai Mall? | Anti-Getting-Lost Guide
Dubai Fountain | Spectacular Water & Light Show Schedule and Nearby Walks
How to Explore Old Dubai | Complete Guide to the Water Taxi (Abra)
Speedboat Tour in Dubai Marina | Effortlessly Enjoy Atlantis & Burj Al Arab
Burj Al Arab Underwater Restaurant ☆ A Golden Tunnel to a Gorgeous Underwater World
A Hipster's Paradise! A Local Favorite ~ La Mer Beach

Abu Dhabi Attractions & Transport

Abu Dhabi Ultimate Guide: 10 Attractions, Maps, Transport & Itinerary
Dubai to Abu Dhabi Transport Guide ☆ A Must-Read for Your Trip
Abu Dhabi Must-Visit Attractions ☆ Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque + Emirates Palace + Etihad Towers

Other Travel Guides

★ Middle East: Doha | Dubai | Abu Dhabi
★ Europe: Finland | UK
★ USA: New York | San Francisco | Las Vegas
★ Islands: Tahiti | Maldives | Fiji
★ Southeast Asia: Bali | Phu Quoc | Koh Samui