A morning desert safari packs the best of the dunes into four and a half hours and leaves your afternoon free, which is why many travelers prefer it to the evening version. You are collected from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, driven out to the red dunes and taken through the classic sequence: dune bashing in a 4x4, a self-drive quad bike ride of about twenty-five minutes in a designated area, a supervised camel ride of about fifteen minutes, a falcon photograph and sandboarding down the slopes. Breakfast is listed among the inclusions. The pace is lively without the late night and the big camp dinner, and the cooler morning air makes physical activity more comfortable, particularly in the warmer months. The tour is rated 5.0 from over three hundred reviews, and 99 percent of reviewers recommend it.
How it compares with the evening safari: the evening version is about sunset light, a camp dinner and stage shows; the morning version is about activities. If you want the entertainment, the belly dancing and the barbecue, choose the evening and the safari entry in this book. If you want to try the quad bike and sandboarding without a late night, if you are traveling with children who are early risers, or if you prefer to have your afternoon free for a beach or the pool, the morning is the better choice.
Sunrise-to-noon temperatures are far more comfortable than afternoons for physical activity, particularly outside winter.
Practicalities from the booking page
Pick-up is from your hotel anywhere in Dubai, with extra charges for outer areas such as Bab Al Shams and Dubai Parks, and the page does not list an exact start time, so confirm it the day before. Infant seats are available and no minimum age is stated, though the tour is not recommended for travelers with back problems, pregnant travelers or those with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
It is not wheelchair accessible. Groups can be large, up to a hundred travelers per tour, so the experience is organized rather than intimate. Free cancellation is listed up to 24 hours before the start.
Making the most of it
Wear a long-sleeved top and trousers or light layers to protect against sun and sand, bring sunglasses, a scarf or buff for the dust and closed shoes you do not mind filling with sand. Keep your phone and camera in a zip bag. Dubai and its desert operate normally, but some governments currently advise caution or reconsidering travel to the UAE, so check your own government's advice and your insurance before heading out to remote areas.
For a gentler, more scenic desert morning without the engine noise, look at the balloon flight; for a quiet independent outing, see Al Qudra Lakes.
What to expect
The experience
A morning tour with hotel pick-up: dune bashing in the red dunes, a self-drive quad bike ride of about 25 minutes, a camel ride of about 15 minutes, a falcon photo and sandboarding. Breakfast is listed among the inclusions.
Best time
Morning, in any season. The cool season is the most comfortable, but mornings are always cooler than afternoons.
How long
About four and a half hours, back in time for lunch.
Tips
Confirm the pick-up time. Wear sun protection and shoes for sand. Bring a scarf for dust. Check the medical restrictions. Expect a large group.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travelers who want the activities of a desert safari without a late night.
- Families
- Good for children who can handle the dunes and quad bikes, with infant seats available. Check health restrictions.
- Couples
- A fun, active morning that leaves the rest of the day free.
- Pair with
- A lazy afternoon at the beach or pool, and an evening in the Marina or the Creek.
- Time needed
- A morning.
Good questions
How long is the morning safari?+
About four and a half hours, with hotel pick-up and return. The page does not give an exact start time, so confirm it with the operator.
What activities are included?+
Dune bashing, a self-drive quad bike ride of about twenty-five minutes, a camel ride of about fifteen minutes, a falcon photo and sandboarding. Breakfast is listed among the inclusions.
Is it suitable for children and pregnant travelers?+
No minimum age is stated and infant seats are available, but the tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or anyone with back, heart or serious medical problems.
Is it better than the evening safari?+
It is cooler and gives you the afternoon, but has no camp dinner or stage shows. Choose by what you want from the desert.
Can I cancel?+
Free cancellation is listed up to 24 hours before the experience starts.
