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Morning Desert Safari in Dubai

Red dunes in the cool of the morning — dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride or a quad bike, and back in the city by early afternoon.

See also:Desert Safaris

Planning a morning desert safari

How the morning goes

A morning safari starts with a hotel pickup around 7 or 8 am and a drive of about 45 minutes to the red dunes south-east of the city, around Lahbab. There the driver lets some air out of the tyres and takes the 4×4 up and over the dunes — dune bashing — with photo stops on the crests.

Then come the activities: sandboarding down a dune, a short camel ride and, on many tours, a quad bike or dune buggy session you drive yourself. Most trips last three to five hours, so you are back at your hotel by lunchtime or early afternoon.

Morning or evening?

The morning is cooler, the dunes are quieter and the low sun brings out the ripples in the sand — the best light for photos after sunrise. It suits travellers with plans for the evening, families with young children who go to bed early, and anyone flying out at night.

What the morning leaves out is the camp: no barbecue dinner, no fire or tanoura shows, no sunset. Some tours serve water and soft drinks, a few a light breakfast. A heritage safari in a vintage car to the Al Marmoom oasis is the gentle option, with less dune bashing and more wildlife.

Practical tips

Wear light, covering clothes and closed shoes, and bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat: the sand heats up fast once the sun is high. From May to September it is already hot by mid-morning, so take the earliest pickup; from October to April the morning is pleasant throughout.

Dune bashing is bumpy and not for pregnant women or people with back or neck problems, and quad bikes have a minimum age — check the listing. Tours are shared or private; each listing says what is included, and the list is ranked by traveller reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does a morning desert safari start?

Hotel pickup is usually between 7 and 8.30 am, earlier in summer. With the drive to the dunes and back, most tours end between 11 am and 1 pm.

What is included in a morning desert safari?

Usually hotel pickup, dune bashing in a 4×4, sandboarding and a short camel ride, with water or soft drinks. Quad bikes or dune buggies are included in some tours and an extra in others; the listing says which.

Is a morning or an evening desert safari better?

The morning is cooler, quieter and better for photos, and leaves your evening free. The evening adds the sunset and a camp with barbecue dinner and shows. Choose the morning for the dunes, the evening for the camp.

Is a morning desert safari good for children?

Yes — it is shorter and cooler than the evening safari, and children enjoy the sandboarding and the camels. Dune bashing has an age limit on some tours and quad bikes usually start at 16; check the listing.